Patent GB-1429652-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for use in the manufacture of an electrical wiring harness
IPC: H01B13/012
Filed: 1972-11-17
Abstract: 1429652 Seaming non-metallic sheet material RISTS WIRES & CABLES Ltd 30 July 1973 [12 Aug 1972 17 Nov 1972] 37708/72 and 53086/72 Heading B5K [Also in Division H2] Apparatus for manufacturing an electrical wiring harness, e.g. for a motor vehicle, comprises a platform 11 for supporting harness leads, each including an outer thermoplastic sheath, in the pattern which they will occupy in the harness, the platform being apertured at 13a to permit lead-in and branch-out of leads intermediate the ends of the harness; and a heater unit 17 movable along the length of the platform 11 and including (a) a dispenser 18 for dispensing thermoplastic tape on to the leads as the unit 17 traverses the platform 11, (b) means 21 for heating the mutually presented surfaces of the tape and the thermoplastic sheaths of the leads, and (c) a pressure member 19 urging the heated surfaces of the tape and the leads into contact so that the sheaths of the leads fuse to the tape along the length of the tape as the unit 17 traverses the platform 11. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2, the platform 11 has turntable 12 at each end thereof and is formed with lead supporting portions 13, 14 and guideways 15, 16 having end portions 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b carried by the turntables 12. The pressure member 19 comprises a roller having a rubber sleeve thereon and the heating means 21 comprises a nozzle 24 for directing heated air to the region adjacent the roller 19. A platform engaging wheel 22 is motor-driven and an idler wheel 23 has a V-groove to engage one the guideways 15, 16 depending upon which portion 13, 14 is in use. In operation, the unit 17 is positioned on the right-hand turntable 12, Fig. 1, with the wheel 23 on the guideway 15 and leads are laid on the portion 13 and, if necessary, through the apertures 13a. The free end of the tape is fed under the roller 19 and the unit 17 is advanced until the roller 19 engages the leads. The nozzle 24 is brought manually into operative position and the unit 17 is advanced to effect joining. When the unit 17 reaches the left-hand turntable 12, it is arrested and the turntable is rotated through 180 degrees so that the unit 17 can be advanced along the portion 14 upon which leads have been positioned. In a modification, Fig. 5, the heating means comprises an infra-red source 31 of radiant heat, e.g. an electrically heated elongate filament in a glass or quartz envelope, positioned at right angles to the major axis of an ellipsoidal reflector 32. In another modification, Fig. 6 (not shown), the heat source is an incandescent filament (33) and the radiated heat and light is focused by a condenser lens system (34). A meniscus convex lens (35), Fig. 7 (not shown), may be interposed between the filament (33) and the system (34). In a further modification (not shown), the heat source is a laser. Legends providing identification of the harnesses may be impressed into the tape during joining by providing these legends, in relief, on one or more detachable panels on the platform 11. Specified thermoplastic materials for the sheaths and the tape are polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, melamine, acrylic materials, nylon and polypropylene.