Patent Publication Number: US-10766733-B2

Title: Electric wire processing apparatus, electric wire processing method, and electric wire holding structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-043675 filed on Mar. 8, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an electric wire processing apparatus and an electric wire processing method for processing an electric wire, and relates to an electric wire holding structure used in the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method. 
     2. Background Art 
     In a process of processing an electric wire used for a wire harness, a technique for holding a plurality of electric wires in an electric wire holding bar is disclosed in JP-A-2010-92788. A technique for sequentially conveying a plurality of electric wire holding bars to a supply position of an electric wire with terminal is disclosed in JP-A-2010-287369 and JP-A-2013-152856. 
     Further, an electric wire sorting apparatus for sorting electric wires processed by an electric wire processing machine and an electric wire accommodating apparatus for accommodating electric wires after treatment with an electric wire processing apparatus are disclosed in JP-A-2012-104425 and JP-A-2011-216363. 
     In JP-A-2010-92788, JP-A-2010-287369, JP-A-2013-152856, JP-A-2012-104425, and JP-A-2011-216363 described above, a technique of manufacturing a wire harness is disclosed on the premise that an electric wire of a normal length of about 2 m is processed. In the case of manufacturing a wire harness using a long electric wire longer than the electric wire of a normal length, there is a process performed manually by a worker, and there is room for improving productivity in such a process. 
     An example of the above-described process performed manually is as follows. That is, a process of pulling the electric wire out of a reel and processing it into a long electric wire of a predetermined length is automatically performed in the related art, but the worker conveys the electric wire to an automatic machine, which performs the next process (stripping of a sheath, crimping of a terminal, or the like) of processing the electric wire. The worker winds the long electric wire in an annular shape and conveys it to the automatic machine with a shape and a size suitable for the conveyance. 
     The invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electric wire processing apparatus and an electric wire processing method which contribute to improvement in productivity in a case of conveying a long electric wire to an automatic machine for processing an electric wire, and to provide an electric wire holding structure used in the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     in order to achieve the above-described object, an electric wire processing apparatus according to the invention is characterized by the following configurations (1) to (6),
     (1) An electric wire processing apparatus includes:   

     a gripping mechanism that is capable of gripping a part of an electric wire; 
     a driving mechanism that drives the gripping mechanism; 
     an electric wire winding mechanism that winds the electric wire; and 
     a rotating mechanism that rotates and drives the electric wire winding mechanism, wherein 
     the electric wire winding mechanism includes
         a winding drum on which the electric wire is wound,   an electric wire clip provided on the winding drum to hold a leading end of the electric wire, and   a holding member that holds an electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in an annular shape,       

     the driving mechanism moves the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip, 
     the rotating mechanism rotates the winding drum in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is held on the electric wire clip so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum, and 
     the holding member holds the electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in the annular shape. 
     (2) The electric wire processing apparatus of (1) further includes: 
     an electric wire cutting device that cuts the electric wire to a predetermined length and feeds the cut electric wire; and 
     an electric wire extracting device that receives the electric wire fed from the electric wire cutting device, wherein 
     the electric wire cutting device includes a first gripping mechanism serving as the gripping mechanism, 
     the electric wire extracting device includes a second gripping mechanism serving as the gripping mechanism, a second driving mechanism that drives the second gripping mechanism and serves as the driving mechanism, the electric wire winding mechanism, and the rotating mechanism, 
     the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire fed by the electric wire cutting device when the leading end is fed, 
     the second gripping mechanism grips the leading end and receives the electric wire when the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire, and 
     the second driving mechanism moves the second gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip. 
     (3) In the electric wire processing apparatus of (2), 
     the electric wire cutting device further includes a first driving mechanism that drives the first gripping mechanism and serves as the driving mechanism, and 
     the first driving mechanism drives the first gripping mechanism so that a direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first gripping mechanism is reversed from a forward feeding direction of the electric wire cutting device to a reverse feeding direction of the electric wire cutting device. 
     (4) In the electric wire processing apparatus of any one of (1) to (3), 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body around which the electric wire is wound, 
     the cylindrical body is provided with a notch which is recessed downward in an axial direction of the cylindrical body from an upper end of the cylindrical body in the axial direction, and 
     the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch so that an electric wire pinching direction coincides with a radial direction of the cylindrical body. 
     (5) In the electric wire processing apparatus of (4), 
     the driving mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, to be in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical body, and moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip. 
     (6) In the electric wire processing apparatus of (4), 
     the driving mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, to be in a state where the electric wire pinching direction of the electric wire clip is orthogonal to a direction in which the leading end of the electric wire extends, and moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, an electric wire processing method according to the invention is characterized by the following configurations (7) and (11). 
     (7) An electric wire processing method includes: 
     moving a gripping mechanism, which grips a leading end of an electric wire, toward an electric wire clip for holding the leading end of the electric wire to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip; 
     rotating a winding drum, on which the electric wire clip is provided, in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is held on the electric wire clip so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum; and 
     attaching a holding member to an electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in the annular shape. 
     (8) The electric wire processing method of (7) further includes: 
     gripping the leading end of the electric wire fed by an electric wire cutting device, using a first gripping mechanism serving as the gripping mechanism included in the electric wire cutting device that cuts the electric wire to a predetermined length and feeds the cut electric wire, when the leading end is fed; 
     gripping the leading end and receives the electric wire, using a second gripping mechanism serving as the gripping mechanism included in an electric wire extracting device that receives the electric wire fed from the electric wire cutting device, when the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire; and 
     moving the second gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip. 
     (9) In the electric wire processing method of (8), 
     the first gripping mechanism is driven so that a direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first gripping mechanism is reversed from a forward feeding direction of the electric wire cutting device to a reverse feeding direction of the electric wire cutting device. 
     (10) In the electric wire processing method of any one of (7) to (9), 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body around which the electric wire is wound, the cylindrical body is provided with a notch which is recessed downward in an axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction, and the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch, and 
     the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, is rotated to be in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical body, and the gripping mechanism is moved toward the electric wire clip. 
     (11) In the electric wire processing method of any one of (7) to (9), 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body around which the electric wire is wound, the cylindrical body is provided with a notch which is recessed downward in an axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction, and the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch, and 
     the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, is rotated to be in a state where an electric wire pinching direction of the electric wire clip is orthogonal to a direction in which the leading end of the electric wire extends, and the gripping mechanism is moved toward the electric wire clip. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, an electric wire holding structure according to the invention is characterized by the following configurations (12) and (13). 
     (12) An electric wire holding structure includes: 
     an electric wire; and 
     a holding member that holds an electric wire bundle, wherein 
     the electric wire is wound several times to form an annular shape, and is held by the holding member to maintain the annular shape. 
     (13) In the electric wire holding structure of (12), 
     the electric wire is held at three or more places by the holding member to maintain the annular shape. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatus of the configuration (1), the electric wire processing method of the configuration (7), and the electric wire holding structure of the configuration (12), the electric wire is wound several times to form an annular shape, the electric wire is held at three or more places by the clamp, and thus the electric wire holding structure for maintaining the annular shape is completed. According to the electric wire holding structure for holding the electric wire, even in the case of manufacturing a wire harness using a long electric wire longer than a normal length, there is no need for the worker to deform the electric wire to have a shape and a size suitable for conveying the long electric wire to an automatic machine which processes the electric wire. Further, since the shape of the electric wire holding structure is maintained in the annular shape, the electric wire holding structure may be conveyed to the automatic machine for processing the electric wire by being hung on a hook, and thus the conveyance of the electric wire holding structure is also easily automated. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatuses of the configurations (2) and (3) and the electric wire processing methods of the configurations (8) and (9), although existing equipment is used as the electric wire cutting device and a new equipment is used for the electric wire extracting device when the invention is performed, the invention c be applied to various electric wire cutting devices (existing equipment) when the electric wire extracting device processes the electric wire with the electric wire holding structure. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatus of the configuration (4), when the electric wire clip holds the leading end of the electric wire, the leading end of the electric wire can be disposed in a state where the electric wire is wound side by side around the winding rib. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatus of the configuration (5) and the electric wire processing method of the configuration (10), it is possible to maintain a state where a portion other than the leading end of the electric wire is located on the straight line through which the electric wire is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism when the electric wire processing apparatus is viewed from the top. Thus, the position of the electric wire is prevented from being shifted every time the electric wire is wound around the winding drum. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatus of the configuration (6) and the electric wire processing method of the configuration (11), the leading end of the electric wire can be easily pushed into the electric wire clip. 
     According to the electric wire holding structure of the configuration (13), when the electric wire bundle is held at a plurality of places, the electric wire can be maintained in an annular shape more similar to a circular shape. 
     According to the electric wire processing apparatus, the electric wire processing method, and the electric wire holding structure of the invention, it is possible to achieve an effect of contributing to productivity improvement in a case of conveying a long electric wire to an automatic machine. 
     The invention is briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the invention will be further clarified by an embodiment to be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an electric wire processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a main part of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view illustrating the main part of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an electric wire extracting device according to embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating of the electric wire extracting device according to embodiment of the invention as viewed from another angle; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a manipulator according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an electric wire winding mechanism in which electric wires are wound in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the electric wire winding mechanism in which electric wires are not wound in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view an electric wire clip in the electric wire winding mechanism according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a clamp in the electric wire winding mechanism according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an electric wire holding structure according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 21A and 21B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 22A and 22B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 23A and 23B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 24A and 24B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 25A and 25B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 26A and 26B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 27A and 27B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 28A and 28B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 29A and 29B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 30A and 30B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 31A and 31B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 32A and 32B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 33A and 33B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 34A and 34B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 35A and 35B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 36A and 36B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 37A and 37B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 38A and 38B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention: 
         FIGS. 39A and 39B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 40A and 40B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 41A and 41B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 42A and 42B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 43A and 43B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF E EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to each drawing. 
     Configuration of Electric Wire Processing Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. An electric wire processing apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the invention includes an electric wire cutting device  10  and an electric wire extracting device  50 . The electric wire cutting device  10  is a device that draws an electric wire from electric wires wound on a reel and supplies the electric wire cut to a predetermined length to the electric wire extracting device  50 . The electric wire extracting device  50  is a device that processes the electric wire of the predetermined length supplied from the electric wire cutting device  10  to have a shape and a size suitable for conveying to an automatic machine, which strips a sheath and crimps a terminal, using a manipulator to be controlled by a computer. 
     First, the electric wire cutting device  10  will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a main part of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  is a plan view of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view illustrating the main part of the electric wire cutting device according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     The electric wire cutting device  10  is configured in which a first electric wire guide  110 , a second electric wire guide  120 , a third electric wire guide  130 , an electric wire feeding mechanism  140 , an electric wire gripping mechanism  150 , a rotating mechanism  160 , and an electric wire cutting mechanism  170  are fixed to a support frame  180 . 
     The first electric wire guide  110  is a member that guides electric wires wound on a reel (not illustrated), which is disposed adjacent to the electric wire cutting device  10 , to the electric wire cutting device  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first electric wire guide  110  has a structure in which a plurality of disk members  111  having grooves formed along a circumferential direction are fixed to the support frame  180 . The plurality of disk members  111  is disposed in a line so that adjacent grooves are aligned in parallel. The electric wire wound on the reel is drawn toward one of the plurality of disk members  111  and is guided to the groove of the disk member  111 , thereby being disposed toward the electric wire cutting device  10 . 
     The second electric wire guide  120  is a member that guides the electric wire guided by the first electric wire guide  110  toward the electric wire feeding mechanism  140 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second electric wire guide  120  includes a bar-shaped guide body  121  having a rectangular cross-section that is fixed to the support frame  180  in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the disk member  111  of the first electric wire guide  110  is disposed. The guide body  121  is formed with a plurality of guide holes  122  penetrating through the guide body  121 . The guide hole  122  is perforated in the guide body  121  in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the guide body  121 . The electric wire guided by the first electric wire guide  110  is inserted into the guide hole  122  and is guided to the guide hole  122 , thereby being disposed toward the electric wire feeding mechanism  140 . 
     The third electric wire guide  130  is a member that guides the electric wire guided by the second electric wire guide  120  toward the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the third electric wire guide  130  includes a bar-shaped guide body  131  having a rectangular cross-section that is fixed to the support frame  180  in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide body  121  of the second electric wire guide  120 . The guide body  131  is formed with a plurality of guide holes  132  penetrating through the guide body  131 . The guide hole  132  is perforated in the guide body  131  in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide body  131 . The electric wire guided by the second electric wire guide  120  is inserted into the guide hole  132  and is guided to the guide hole  132 , thereby being disposed toward the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . In addition, each of the guide holes  132  is provided at a position facing each of the guide holes  122  of the second electric wire guide  120 . Therefore, the electric wire located between the second electric wire guide  120  and the third electric wire guide  130  is disposed substantially perpendicular to the second electric wire guide  120  and the third electric wire guide  130 . 
     The electric wire feeding mechanism  140  is a mechanism that feeds the electric wire toward the direction in which the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is located, that is, toward a direction opposite to the first electric wire guide  110  in the electric wire cutting device  10 . Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  includes an upper belt drive  141  configured with one annular belt  142  and a plurality of pulleys  143  meshed with an inner circumferential surface of the belt  142  and a lower belt drive  144  configured with one belt  145  and a plurality of pulleys  146  meshed with an inner circumferential surface of the belt  145 . The upper belt drive  141  and the lower belt drive  144  are arranged such that a part of the belt  142  and a part of the belt  145  are in contact with each other and the contacting part is disposed between the second electric wire guide  120  and the third electric wire guide  130  and on a segment between the guide hole  122  and the guide hole  132  facing each other. Therefore, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  can pinch the electric wire located between the second electric wire guide  120  and the third electric wire guide  130  at the contacting part between the belt  142  and the belt  145 . The electric wire feeding mechanism  140  drives the upper belt drive  141  and the lower belt drive  144  to revolve them in opposite directions in a state where the electric wire is pinched, so that the electric wire can be fed in the direction in which the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is located. 
     The electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is a member (may be referred to as a gripping mechanism) that grips a part of the electric wire guided by the third electric wire guide  130  and fed from the third electric wire guide  130 . Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  includes a first chuck  151  located at a front side in the direction in which the electric wire is fed (hereinafter, may be referred to as a feeding direction) and a second chuck  152  located at a rear side in the feeding direction. Each of the first chuck  151  and the second chuck  152  includes a contact surface for gripping the electric wire at the front of the guide hole  132  of the third electric wire guide  130 . For this reason, the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  can grip the electric wire guided and fed by the third electric wire guide  130  with the first chuck  151  and the second chuck  152 . 
     The rotating mechanism  160  is a mechanism (may be referred to as a driving mechanism) that converts a leading end of the electric wire guided by the third electric wire guide  130  and extending in a forward feeding direction to a reverse feeding direction. Specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rotating mechanism  160  is connected to the first chuck  151  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 , and can rotate the first chuck  151  by 180 degrees around a rotation axis P set apart from the first chuck  151  by a predetermined distance. As will be described in detail below, when the rotating mechanism  160  rotates the first chuck  151 , which is in the state of gripping the electric wire, by 180 degrees (at this time, the second chuck  152  does not grip the electric wire), the direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first chuck  151  is changed from the forward feeding direction toward the reverse feeding direction. 
     The electric wire cutting mechanism  170  is a mechanism that cuts the electric wire guided by the third electric wire guide  130  and fed from the third electric wire guide  130 . Specifically, the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  includes a V-shaped lower blade having an opening, which faces upward, and moving upward. The lower blade is disposed between the third electric wire guide  130  and the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . When the electric wire is fed from the third electric wire guide  130 , the lower blade is disposed separately from the third electric wire guide  130 . For this reason, the electric wire to be fed passes above the lower blade and advances toward the first chuck  151  and the second chuck  152  in the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . On the other hand, when the electric wire fed from the third electric wire guide  130  is cut, the lower blade approaches the third electric wire guide  130 . Therefore, when the lower blade is separated from third electric wire guide  130 , the electric wire passing above the lower blade is cut by the approach of the lower blade. 
     The support frame  180  is a frame that is used to fix the first electric wire guide  110 , the second electric wire guide  120 , the third electric wire guide  130 , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140 , the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 , the rotating mechanism  160 , and the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  at predetermined positions. 
     Although an example of the electric wire cutting device  10  is described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the electric wire processing apparatus, the electric wire processing method, and the electric wire holding structure according to the invention are not limited by the mechanisms of the electric wire cutting device  10 . 
     Subsequently, the electric wire extracting device  50  will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 12 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention as viewed from another angle.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a manipulator in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electric wire winding mechanism, in which the electric wires are wound, in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a manipulator in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electric wire winding mechanism, in which the electric wires are not wound, in the electric wire extracting device according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an electric clip in the electric wire winding mechanism according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a clamp in the electric wire according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an electric wire holding structure according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     The electric wire extracting device  50  includes a manipulator  510 , an electric wire winding mechanism  520 , and a clamp storage shelf  530  which are fixed to a support frame  540 . 
     The manipulator  510  is a mechanism that receives the electric wire cut to a predetermined length form the electric wire cutting device  10  and delivers the electric wire to the electric wire winding mechanism  520 . Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the manipulator  510  is a robot arm with three degrees of freedom. A claw-type hand  511  (may be referred to as a gripping mechanist is provided at a tip end of the manipulator  510 , while a base frame is attached to the support frame  540 . Motors  512  provided in three joints of the manipulator  510  are driven, and thus the hand  511  can move to an arbitrary position with an arbitrary angle in a working space (hereinafter, the motor  512  may be referred to as a driving mechanism). Although will be described in detail below, the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to grip the electric wire gripped by the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  of the electric wire cutting device  10  with the hand  511  and to receive the electric wire, and moves the hand  511  in a state of gripping the electric wire to deliver the electric wire to the electric wire winding mechanism  520 . Thereafter, the manipulator moves the hand  511  again to the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 , and repeatedly performs a series of operations of receiving and delivering with the hand  511 . 
     The electric wire winding mechanism  520  is a mechanism that receives the electric wire supplied from the manipulator  510  and processes a long electric wire to have a shape and a size suitable for conveying to an automatic machine which processes the electric wire. Schematically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the electric wire winding mechanism  520  is a mechanism in which a torque of a motor  522  is transmitted to a disk-shaped winding drum  521  by a pulley  523  and a belt  524  and a rotating shaft  525  rotates, whereby the winding drum  521  rotates. When the winding drum  521  rotates, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the electric wire is wound around the winding drum  521 . 
     A detailed structure of the winding drum  521  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the winding drum  521  is based on a base frame  611 . The base frame  611  has a flat circular shape and is formed with a hole at the center, and the above-described rotating shaft  525  penetrates through the base frame  611 . The base frame  611  is provided with a cylindrical winding rib  612  protruding from one surface of the base frame  611  so as to revolve along an edge of the base frame  611 . The winding rib  612  has a notch  613  recessed downward in the axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction. An electric wire clip  620 , which grips the leading end of the electric wire, is accommodated and attached in the notch  613 . The electric wire clip  620  will be described below. 
     In addition, the winding drum  521  traverses the winding rib  612  by extending outwardly in a radial direction of the base frame  611  from the center of the base frame  611 , and has three bar-shaped connection bodies  614  protruding from an outer circumferential surface (a surface being in contact with the electric wire to be wound) of the winding rib  612 . The connection body  614  includes an end located at the center of the base frame  611  and connected to the above-described rotating shaft  525  and an end located at an edge of the base frame  611  and connected to the base frame  611 . The three connection bodies  614  are disposed at an equal angle (120 degrees) when viewing one surface, on which the winding rib  612  of the base frame  611  is provided, from the front. The base frame  611  is connected to the above-described rotating shaft  525  via the three connection bodies  614 , so that the winding drum  521  rotates as the rotating shaft  525  rotates. 
     Further, the connection body  614  is characterized by the shape of the end located at the edge of the base frame  611 . That is, two guide plates  615  extending in a direction orthogonal to the revolving direction of the winding rib  612  are provided at the end of one connection body  614  so as to face each other with a distance therebetween. In addition, one guide plate  615  is configured in which a large protruding piece  616 , a small protruding piece  617 , and a middle protruding piece  618  are arranged in a protruding direction of the winding rib  612  at a position protruding from an outer circumferential surface (a surface being in contact with the electric wire to be wound) of the winding rib  612 . The large protruding piece  616  has the largest protruding length from the outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612 , the middle protruding piece  618  has a second-largest protruding length from the outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612 , and the small protruding piece  617  is the smallest protruding length from the outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612 . For this reason, a recess portion  619  is formed to be sandwiched between both sides of the large protruding piece  616  and the middle protruding piece  618  at the position protruding from outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the recess portion  619  plays a role of guiding the electric wire wound around the winding rib  612 , so that the electric wire wound around the winding rib  612  gathers in the recess portion  619 , thereby forming an annular electric wire bundle. In addition, a clamp  630  is accommodated in a space S formed between two guide plates  625  facing each other in the connection body  614 . The clamp  630  will be described below. 
     The electric wire clip  620  is a structure body that receives the electric wire from the manipulator  510  and pinches the leading end of the electric wire. As the electric wire clip  620  holds the leading end of the electric wire, the leading end of the electric wire is attached to the winding drum  521 , whereby the electric wire can be wound around the winding rib  612  when the winding drum  521  rotates. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the electric wire clip  620  has a structure in which a pair of pinching elements  621  for pinching the electric wire is fixed to a mounting base  622 . The pair of pinching elements  621  are configured in which a pushing direction (height direction) of the article to be pinched into the pinching element  621  extends longer than a pinching direction (width direction) and a thickness direction (depth direction) of the article to be pinched. When the electric wire clip  620  is attached to the winding drum  521 , the mounting base  622  is accommodated and fixed into the notch  613  so that the height direction of the pair of pinching elements  621  coincides with the protruding direction of the winding rib  612 , and the depth direction thereof coincides with the circumferential direction of the winding rib  612 . As a result of the fixation in this way, the pinching direction (width direction) of the article to be pinched between the pair of pinching element  621  coincides with the radial direction of the winding rib  612 . The electric wire clip  620  is attached to the notch  613  in this way, and thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the electric wire clip  620  holds the leading end of the electric wire, the leading end of the electric wire can be disposed in a state where the electric wire is wound side by side around the winding rib  612 . 
     The clamp  630  is a holding member that holds the annular electric wire bundle formed in a bundle by the winding of one electric wire. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the clamp  630  includes a box-shaped support frame  631  and a pair of flippers  632  in which one end thereof is rotatably supported on the support frame  631  and the other includes a bulging portion  633  which is bulged. The pair of flippers  632  can take a closed state in which the bulging portions  633  are in contact with each other and an open state in which the bulging portions are separated from each other and are opened. An elastic member such as a spring is connected to the pair of flippers  632 , and the bulging portions  633  are maintained in the closed state of being in contact with each other by an elastic force due to the elastic member. When the pair of flippers  632  are in the closed state, a space T surrounded by a lower end of the support frame  631  and an inner side surfaces of the pair of flippers  632  is formed in the clamp  630 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the clamp  630  accommodates the annular electric wire bundle formed in a bundle by the winding of one electric wire and holds the electric wire. When the annular electric wire bundle is accommodated in the space T, the pair of flippers  632  are opened while the electric wire bundle is pressed against the pair of flippers  632  being in the closed state in the vicinity of a contact point where the bulging portions  633  are in contact with each other, and the electric wire bundle slides into the space T as it is. In order to easily accommodate the electric wire bundle in the space T, the pair of flippers  632  have a tapered shape such that the outer side surface of the bulging portion  633  gradually widens as a distance increases from contact point where the bulging portions  633  are in contact with each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , three clamps  630  are attached to the annular electric wire bundle wound around the winding rib  612  to hold the electric wire bundle. At this time, each of the clamps  630  is accommodated in the space S formed between two guide plates  615 . For this reason, the two guide plates  615  are separated by a distance slightly longer than a thickness of the clamp  630 . After the three clamps  630  are respectively inserted into three spaces S to hold the annular electric wire bundle at three points3, the leading end of the electric wire is detached from the electric wire clip  620  and the annular electric wire bundle is removed from the winding rib  612 . At this time, the annular electric wire bundle is slid in the protruding direction of the winding rib  612  with respect to the winding rib  612  and removed from the winding rib  612 , but the electric wire bundle is slid over the middle protruding piece  618  of the guide plate  615  at that time. Conversely, the middle protruding piece  618  has a height such that the electric wire bundle can get over when the annular electric wire bundle is removed from the winding rib  612 . The annular electric wire bundle removed from the winding rib  612  in this way is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the clamps  630  holds three points of the electric wire bundle formed in an annular shape by the winding of one electric wire, and thus the annular electric wire bundle is maintained in a state of the annular shape. A structure including the electric wire and the clamps  630  is referred to as an electric wire holding structure  700  in which three points of the annular electric wire bundle formed in the annular shape by a several winding of one electric wire WT are held by the clamps  630  and the electric wire is maintained in the annular shape. The electric wire winding mechanism  520  is described above. 
     The clamp storage shelf  530  is a shelf in which the clamp  630  is stored. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a plurality of clamps  630  is loaded in a thickness direction in the clamp storage shelf  530 . 
     The support frame  540  is a frame that is used to fix the manipulator  510 , the electric wire winding mechanism  520 , and the clamp storage shelf  530  at predetermined positions. 
     Operation of Electric Wire Processing Apparatus 
     The configuration of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention is described in detail above. Hereinafter, an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention will be described in detail. 
     First Example of Operation of Electric Wire Processing Apparatus 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  to  FIGS. 30A and 30B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. “A” in the drawings is a plan view schematically illustrating a main part relating to the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is seen from the top. “B” in the drawings is a side view schematically illustrating the main part relating to the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is seen from the side.  FIGS. 14A and 14B  to  FIGS. 30A and 30B  illustrate a series of processes in which the electric wire processing apparatus  1  processes one electric wire W, and each of the drawings depicts one operation in this series of processes. After this series of processes is performed by the electric wire processing apparatus  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 30A , the electric wire holding structure  700  including the electric wire W and the clamp  630  is completed in which three points of an annular electric wire bundle C formed in an annular shape by a several winding of one electric wire W are held by the clamps  630  and the electric wire is maintained in the annular shape. The operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  will be described below. 
     After the previous series of processes is completed by the electric wire processing apparatus  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the leading end of the electric wire W cut by the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  of the electric wire cutting device  10  in the previous series of processes is in a state of staying on the electric wire cutting mechanism  170 . Further, the winding rib  612  of the electric wire winding mechanism  520  in the electric wire extracting device  50  is disposed in front of the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  of the electric wire cutting device  10 , whereby the winding rib  612  is located on a straight line through which the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. 
     First, as illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W to the extent that the leading end of the electric wire W passes through the first chuck  151  and the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . The number of rotations of the pulley  143  and the pulley  146  is counted when the electric wire W is fed, whereby a length L 1  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B  is measured. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the first chuck  151  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is closed to grip the electric wire W. In  FIG. 16B , the closed state of the first chuck  151  is represented by hatching in the range indicating the first chuck  151 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17A and 179 , the rotating mechanism  160  rotates the first chuck  151  by 180 degrees in a clockwise direction around the rotation axis P. As the first chuck  151  rotates, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. Additionally, a length L 2  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 17A and 179  is also measured. At this time, the length L 2  of the electric wire W fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  is shorter than a total extension of the annular electric wire W illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 30A , and preferably has a length to the extent that the electric wire W suspended by its own weight floats in the air without being in contact with the installation surface of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 17B . When the rotating mechanism  160  rotates the first chuck  151 , which is in the state of gripping the electric wire, by 180 degrees, the direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first chuck  151  is changed to the reverse feeding direction from the forward feeding direction. In this way, the electric wire W is fed after the first chuck  151  is reversed, and thus the first chuck  151  is moved to a position where feeding of the electric wire W with the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  is not disturbed. Further, when the direction of the leading end of the electric wire W is reversed, it is not necessary for the hand  511  to reverse the leading end of the electric wire W when the hand  511  inserts the leading end of the electric wire W into the electric wire clip  620  in the operation to be described below with reference to  FIGS. 21A and 21B , and the movement of the hand  511  can be suppressed. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 18A and 18B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  adjacently to the electric wire winding mechanism  520  of the first chuck  151 , and the hand  511  grips the electric wire gripped by the first chuck  151 . In  FIG. 18B , the closed state of the hand  511  is represented by hatching in the range indicating the hand  511 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , the first chuck  151  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is opened to release the gripped electric wire W. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 20A and 20B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to a position adjacent to the winding rib  612  and opposite to the side where the electric wire cutting device  10  is located. At this time, the hand  511  is located on the straight line through which the electric wire W is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the top as illustrated in  FIG. 20A , and is located at substantially the same height as the height at which the electric wire clip  620  is located when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the side as illustrated in  FIG. 20B . Further, as the hand  511  moves, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. Additionally, a length L 3  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 20A and 20B  is also measured. By the operation of the hand  511  and the electric wire feeding mechanism  140 , the electric wire W from the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  to the hand  511  is located on the straight line through which the electric wire W is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the top as illustrated in  FIG. 20A , and the electric wire W extending from the hand  511  descends toward the lower side (a downward side in  FIG. 20B ) of the winding rib  612  so as to bypass the winding rib  612  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the side as illustrated in  FIG. 20B  and ascends toward the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  from the moment of passing a position just below the winding rib  612 . With such a positional relation of the electric wire W, the electric wire W wound around the winding rib  612  can be easily collected in the recess portion  619  of the guide plate  615  when the electric wire W is wound around the winding rib  612  by the subsequent operation. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 21A and 21B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  adjacently to the electric wire clip  620  provided on the winding drum  521 , and thus the leading end of the electric wire W gripped by the hand  511  is pushed between the pair of pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620 . At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 21A , the hand  511  is rotated in a yaw direction, and thus a part of the leading end of the electric wire W partially protrudes to the side opposite to the base frame  611  of the winding rib  612 . In this way, the hand  511  is moved toward the electric wire clip  620  in a state where the hand  511  is moved in the yaw direction and thus the leading end of the electric wire W is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the winding rib  612 , whereby it is possible to maintain a stale where a portion other than the leading end of the electric wire W is located on the straight line through which the electric wire W is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the top as illustrated in  FIG. 21A . That is, the position of the electric wire is prevented from being shifted every time the electric wire is wound around the winding drum  521 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 21B , the hand  511  is rotated in a pitch direction so that the depth direction of the electric wire clip  620  corresponding to the position of the electric wire clip  620  coincides with the direction in which the leading end of the electric wire W extends (in other words, the pinching direction of the article to be pinched between the pair of pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620  is orthogonal to the direction where the leading end of the electric wire W extends). In this way, the hand  511  is moved toward the electric wire clip  620  in the state where the hand  511  is rotated in the pitch direction and thus the pinching direction between the pair of pinching elements  621  is orthogonal to the direction where the leading end of the electric wire W extends, so that the leading end of the electric wire W can be easily pushed between the pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620 . When the leading end of the electric wire W is pushed between the pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620 , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  once to the left side from the electric wire clip  620  in  FIG. 21A , and then the leading end of the electric wire W is pushed between the pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620  using the momentum that the hand  511  moves to the right side toward the electric wire clip  620 . When the hand  511  comes in to contact with the winding rib  612  in the case where the hand  511  moves toward the electric wire clip  620 , since the contact place between the hand  511  and the winding rib  612  is determined according to the position of the electric wire clip  620 , a notch is provided at a predetermined contact place to cope with the contact between the hand  511  and the winding rib  612 . A jig may be formed on the hand  511  to spread out the pinching element  621  of the electric wire clip  620 , and the leading end of the electric wire W may be accommodated inside the pinching element  621  which is spread out. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22A and 22B , the manipulator  510  opens the hand  511  to release the electric wire W which is gripped. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 23A and 23B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to an initial position. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 24A and 24B , the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . The winding drum  521  rotates counterclockwise in  FIG. 24B . During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 24A and 24B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  does not feed the electric wire W, so that the electric wire W slackened under the winding rib  612  is wound around the winding rib  612  by the rotation of the winding drum  521 . In this way, as illustrated in  FIGS. 25A and 25B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  does not feed the electric wire W until the electric wire W comes in contact with the lower end of the winding rib  612 , and the electric wire W is wound around the winding rib  612 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 26A and 26B , the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 26A and 269 , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. A length L 4  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 26A and 26B  is also additionally measured. At this time, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  controls the amount of electric wire W to be fed and the electric wire winding mechanism  520  controls the number of rotations of the winding drum  521  such that the length of the electric wire W fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  per time is equal to the length of the electric wire W wound around the outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612  per time.  FIGS. 26A and 26B  illustrate a state in which the winding drum  521  rotates several times and the electric wire W is wound around the winding rib  612  several times. Thereafter, when the total value of the lengths (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , and L 4 ) of the electric wire fed in four operations reaches a predetermined length, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  stops the feeding of the electric wire W, and the electric wire winding mechanism  520  stops the rotation of the winding drum  521 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 27A and 27B , the second chuck  152  of electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is closed to grip the electric wire W. Subsequently, the lower blade of the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  approaches the third electric wire guide  130  to cut the electric wire W. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 28A and 28B , the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is opened to release the gripped electric wire W. Subsequently, the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . Next, the rotating mechanism  160  rotates the first chuck  151  by 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction around the rotation axis P. During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 28A and 289 , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  does not feed the electric wire W. The other end of the electric wire W gripped by the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  in  FIGS. 27A and 27B  is wound around the winding rib  612  by the rotation of the winding drum  521 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 28A and 28B , the total extension length of the electric wire W cut into a predetermined length is wound around the winding rib  612 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 29A and 29B , three clamps  630  are attached to the annular electric wire bundle C wound around the winding rib  612 . At this time, the clamp  630  is accommodated in the space S formed between the guide plates  615 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 30A and 30B , the leading end of the electric wire is detached from the electric wire clip  620  and the annular electric wire bundle C is removed from the winding rib  612 . At this time, the annular electric wire bundle C is slid in the protruding direction of the winding rib  612  with respect to the winding rib  612  and removed from the winding rib  612 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 30A , the clamps  630  holds three points of the electric wire bundle C formed in an annular shape by the winding of one electric wire, and thus the annular electric wire bundle C is maintained in a state of the annular shape. 
     As described above with reference to  FIGS. 14A to 30B , the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention processes one electric wire W into the electric wire holding structure  700 . According to the electric wire holding structure  700 , even in the case of manufacturing a wire harness using a long electric wire longer than a normal length, there is no need for the worker to deform the electric wire to have a shape and a size suitable for conveying the long electric wire to an automatic machine which processes the electric wire. Further, since the shape of the electric wire holding structure  700  is maintained in the annular shape, the electric wire holding structure  700  may be conveyed to the automatic machine for processing the electric wire by being hung on a hook, and thus the conveyance of the electric wire holding structure  700  is also easily automated. Thus, according to the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method of the embodiment of the invention, and the electric wire holding structure used in the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect of contributing to improvement in productivity when the long electric wire is conveyed to the automatic machine for processing the electric wire. 
     The clamp  630  is used to maintain the annular shape of the electric wire bundle C in the example described above, but the invention is not limited to the case where the annular electric wire bundle C is held by the clamp  630 . For example, instead of the clamp  630 , a tape may be wound around the electric wire bundle C to maintain the shape of the electric wire bundle C in an annular shape. Briefly, various members can be applied to maintain the shape of the electric wire bundle C in an annular shape. 
     Further, three clamps  630  are used to maintain the annular shape of the electric wire bundle C in the example described above, but the invention is not limited to the case where the electric wire bundle C is held at three places. Even when the electric wire bundle C is held at one place, the electric wire bundle C can be maintained in an annular shape. On the other hand, when the electric wire bundle C is held at a plurality of places, the electric wire bundle C can be maintained in an annular shape more similar to a circular shape. 
     Second Example of Operation of Electric Wire Processing Apparatus 
     In the “first example of the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus” described above, as  FIGS. 20A and 20B , the case is described in which the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to the side opposite to the side on which the electric wire cutting device  10  is located with respect to the winding drum  521 , and then the electric wire extracting device  50  processes the electric wire W. In a “second example of the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus”, a case will be described in which the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to the same side as the side on which the electric wire cutting device  10  is located with respect to the winding drum  521 , and then the electric wire extracting device  50  processes the electric wire W. 
       FIGS. 31A and 31B  to  FIGS. 43A and 43B  are diagrams schematically depicting an example of an operation of the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. “A” in the drawings is a plan view schematically illustrating a main part relating to the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is seen from the top. “B” in the drawings is a side view schematically illustrating the main part relating to the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is seen from the side.  FIGS. 31A and 31B  to  FIGS. 43A and 43B  illustrate a series of processes in which the electric wire processing apparatus  1  processes one electric wire W, and each of the drawings depicts one operation in this series of processes. After this series of processes is performed by the electric wire processing apparatus  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the electric wire holding structure  700  including the electric wire W and the clamp  630  is completed in which three points of an annular electric wire bundle C formed in an annular shape by a several winding of one electric wire W are held by the clamps  630  and the electric wire is maintained in the annular shape. The operation of the electric wire processing apparatus  1  will be described below. 
     After the previous series of processes is completed by the electric wire processing apparatus  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 31A and 31B , the leading end of the electric wire W cut by the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  of the electric wire cutting device  10  in the previous series of processes is in a state of staying on the electric wire cutting mechanism  170 . Further, the winding rib  612  of the electric wire winding mechanism  520  in the electric wire extracting device  50  is disposed in front of the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  of the electric wire cutting device  10 , whereby the winding rib  612  is located on a straight line through which the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. 
     First, as illustrated in  FIGS. 32A and 32B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W to the extent that the leading end of the electric wire W passes through the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150 . Additionally, a length L 1  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 32A and 32B  is measured. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 33A and 33B , the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is closed to grip the electric wire W. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 34A and 34B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  adjacently to the electric wire winding mechanism  520  of the second chuck  152 , and the hand  511  grips the electric wire gripped by the second chuck  152 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 35A and 35B , the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is opened to release the gripped electric wire V. The “second example of the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus” differs from the “First example of the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus” in that the first chuck  151  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is not involved in the operation. Therefore, the operation of changing the direction of the leading end of the electric wire to the reverse feeding direction from the forward feeding direction is not performed. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 36A and 36B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to a position adjacent to the winding rib  612  and to the same position as the side where the electric wire cutting device  10  is located. At this time, the hand  511  is located on the straight line through which the electric wire W is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the top as illustrated in  FIG. 36A , and is located at substantially the same height as the height at which the electric wire clip  620  is located when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the side as illustrated in  FIG. 36B . Further, as the hand  511  moves, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. Additionally, a length L 2  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 36A and 36B  is also measured. By the operation of the hand  511  and the electric wire feeding mechanism  140 , the electric wire W from the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  to the hand  511  is located on the straight line through which the electric wire W is fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the top as illustrated in  FIG. 36A , and the electric wire W extending from the hand  511  is suspended by its own weight so as to draw a U-shape between the electric wire cutting device  10  and the electric wire extracting device  50  when the electric wire processing apparatus  1  is viewed from the side as illustrated in  FIG. 36B . With such a positional relation of the electric wire W, the electric wire W wound around the winding rib  612  can be easily collected in the recess portion  619  of the guide plate  615  when the electric wire W is wound around the winding rib  612  by the subsequent operation. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 37A and 37B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  adjacently to the electric wire clip  620  provided on the winding drum  521 , and thus the leading end of the electric wire W gripped by the hand  511  is pushed between the pair of pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620 . At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 37A , the hand  511  is rotated in a yaw direction, and thus a part of the leading end of the electric wire W partially protrudes to the side opposite to the base frame  611  of the winding rib  612 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 37B , the hand  511  is rotated in a pitch direction so that the depth direction of the electric wire clip  620  corresponding to the position of the electric wire clip  620  coincides with the direction in which the leading end of the electric wire W extends (in other words, the pinching direction of the article to be pinched between the pair of pinching elements  621  of the electric wire clip  620  is orthogonal to the direction where the leading end of the electric wire W extends). 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 38A and 38B , the manipulator  510  opens the hand  511  to release the electric wire W which is gripped. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 39A and 39B , the manipulator  510  moves the hand  511  to an initial position. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 40A and 40B , the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . The winding drum  521  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 40B . During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 40A and 40B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  does not feed the electric wire W, so that the electric wire W slackened between the electric wire cutting device  10  and the electric wire extracting device  50  is wound around the winding rib  612  by the rotation of the winding drum  521 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 41A and 41B , the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 41A and 413 , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  feeds the electric wire W. A length L 3  of the electric wire W fed by the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 41A and 41B  is also additionally measured. At this time, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  controls the amount of electric wire W to be fed and the electric wire winding mechanism  520  controls the number of rotations of the winding drum  521  such that the length of the electric wire W fed by the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  per time is equal to the length of the electric wire W wound around the outer circumferential surface of the winding rib  612  per time.  FIGS. 41A and 413  illustrate a state in which the winding drum  521  rotates several times and the electric wire W is wound around the winding rib  612  several times. Thereafter, when the total value of the lengths (L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 ) of the electric wire fed in three operations reaches a predetermined length, the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  stops the feeding of the electric wire W, and the electric wire winding mechanism  520  stops the rotation of the winding drum  521 . 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 42A and 42B , the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is closed to grip the electric wire W. Subsequently, the lower blade of the electric wire cutting mechanism  170  approaches the third electric wire guide  130  to cut the electric wire W. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 43A and 43B , the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  is opened to release the gripped electric wire W. Subsequently, the electric wire winding mechanism  520  drives the motor  522  to rotate the winding drum  521 . During the operation illustrated in  FIGS. 43A and 43B , the electric wire feeding mechanism  140  does not feed the electric wire W. The other end of the electric wire W gripped by the second chuck  152  of the electric wire gripping mechanism  150  in  FIGS. 42A and 42B  is wound around the winding rib  612  by the rotation of the winding drum  521 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 43A and 43B , the total extension length of the electric wire W cut into a predetermined length is wound around the winding rib  612 . 
     Thereafter, similarly to the operation described with reference to  FIGS. 29A to 30B  in the “first example of the operation of the electric wire processing apparatus”, three clamps  630  are attached to the annular electric wire bundle C wound around the winding rib  612 , the leading end of the electric wire is detached from the electric wire clip  620 , and the annular electric wire bundle C is removed from the winding rib  612 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the clamps  630  holds three points of the electric wire bundle C formed in an annular shape by the winding of one electric wire, and thus the annular electric wire bundle C is maintained in a state of the annular shape. 
     As described above with reference to  FIGS. 31A to 43B , the electric wire processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention processes one electric wire W into the electric wire holding structure  700 . According to the electric wire holding structure  700 , even in the case of manufacturing a wire harness using a long electric wire longer than a normal length, there is no need for the worker to deform the electric wire to have a shape and a size suitable for conveying the long electric wire to an automatic machine which processes the electric wire. Further, since the shape of the electric wire holding structure  700  is maintained in the annular shape, the electric wire holding structure  700  may be conveyed to the automatic machine for processing the electric wire by being hung on a hook, and thus the conveyance of the electric wire holding structure  700  is also easily automated. Thus, according to the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method of the embodiment of the invention, and the electric wire holding structure used in the electric wire processing apparatus and the electric wire processing method, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect of contributing to improvement in productivity when the long electric wire is conveyed to the automatic machine for processing the electric wire. 
     Here, the characteristics of the electric wire processing apparatus, the electric wire processing method, and the electric wire holding structure of the above-described embodiment according to the invention will be collectively exemplified in brief by following [1] to [12]. 
     [1] An electric wire processing apparatus ( 1 ) including: 
     a gripping mechanism (a first chuck  151  and a hand  511 ) capable of gripping a part of an electric wire (W); 
     a driving mechanism (a rotating mechanism  160  and a motor  512 ) that drives the gripping mechanism; 
     an electric wire winding mechanism ( 520 ) that winds the electric wire; and 
     a rotating mechanism (a motor  522 ) that rotates and drives the electric wire winding mechanism, wherein 
     the electric wire winding mechanism includes a winding drum ( 521 ) on which the electric wire is wound, an electric wire clip ( 620 ) provided on the winding drum to hold a leading end of the electric wire, and a holding member (a clamp  630 ) that holds an electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in an annular shape, 
     the driving mechanism moves the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip, 
     the rotating mechanism rotates the winding drum in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is held on the electric wire clip so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum; and 
     the holding member holds the electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in the annular shape. 
     [2] The electric wire processing apparatus according to [1], further including: 
     an electric wire cutting device ( 10 ) that cuts the electric wire to a predetermined length and feeds the cut electric wire; an 
     an electric wire extracting device ( 50 ) that receives the electric wire fed from the electric wire cutting device, wherein 
     the electric wire cutting device includes a first gripping mechanism (the first chuck  151 ) serving as the gripping mechanism, 
     the electric wire extracting device includes a second gripping mechanism (the hand  511 ) serving as the gripping mechanism, a second driving mechanism (the motor  512 ) that drives the second gripping mechanism and serves as the driving mechanism, the electric wire winding mechanism, and the rotating mechanism, 
     the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire fed by the electric wire cutting device when the leading end is fed, 
     the second gripping mechanism grips the leading end and receives the electric wire when the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire, and 
     the second driving mechanism moves the second gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip. 
     [3] The electric wire processing apparatus according to [2], wherein 
     the electric wire cutting device further includes a first driving mechanism (the rotating mechanism  160 ) that drives the first gripping mechanism and serves as the driving mechanism, and 
     the first driving mechanism drives the first gripping mechanism so that a direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first gripping mechanism is reversed from a forward feeding direction to a reverse feeding direction. 
     [4] The electric wire processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body (a winding rib  612 ) around which the electric wire is wound, 
     the cylindrical body is provided with a notch ( 613 ) which is recessed downward in an axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction, and 
     the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch so that an electric wire pinching direction coincides with a radial direction of the cylindrical body. 
     [5] The electric wire processing apparatus according to [4], wherein 
     the driving mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, to be in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical body, and moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip. 
     [6] The electric wire processing apparatus according to [4], wherein 
     the driving mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, to be in a state where the electric wire pinching direction of the electric wire clip is orthogonal to a direction in which the leading end of the electric wire extends, and moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip. 
     [7] An electric wire processing method including: 
     moving a gripping mechanism (a first chuck  151  and a hand  511 ), which grips a leading end of an electric wire (W), toward an electric wire clip ( 620 ) for holding the leading end of the electric wire to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip; 
     rotating a winding drum ( 521 ), on which the electric wire clip is provided, in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is held on the electric wire clip so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum; and 
     attaching a holding member (a clamp  630 ) to an electric wire bundle (C) wound around the winding drum in the annular shape. 
     [8] The electric wire processing method according to [7], further including: 
     gripping the leading end of the electric wire fed by an electric wire cutting device ( 10 ), using a first gripping mechanism (the first chuck  151 ) serving as the gripping mechanism included in the electric wire cutting device that cuts the electric wire to a predetermined length and feeds the cut electric wire, when the leading end is fed; 
     gripping the leading end and receives the electric wire, using a second gripping mechanism (the hand  511 ) serving as the gripping mechanism included in an electric wire extracting device ( 50 ) that receives the electric wire fed from the electric wire cutting device, when the first gripping mechanism grips the leading end of the electric wire; and 
     moving the second gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip. 
     [9] The electric wire processing method according to [8], wherein 
     the first gripping mechanism is driven so that a direction of the leading end of the electric wire gripped by the first gripping mechanism is reversed from a forward feeding direction to a reverse feeding direction. 
     [10] The electric wire processing method according to any one of [7] to [9], wherein 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body (a winding rib  612 ) around which the electric wire is wound, the cylindrical body is provided with a notch ( 613 ) which is recessed downward in an axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction, and the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch, and 
     the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, is rotated to be in a state where the leading end of the electric wire is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical body, and the gripping mechanism is moved toward the electric wire clip. 
     [11] The electric wire processing method according to any one of [7] to [9], wherein 
     the winding drum includes a hollow cylindrical body (a winding rib  612 ) around which the electric wire is wound, the cylindrical body is provided with a notch ( 613 ) which is recessed downward in an axial direction from an upper end in the axial direction, and the electric wire clip is accommodated and attached in the notch, and 
     the gripping mechanism, which grips the leading end of the electric wire, is rotated to be in a state where an electric wire pinching direction of the electric wire clip is orthogonal to a direction in which the leading end of the electric wire extends, and the gripping mechanism is moved toward the electric wire clip. 
     [12] An electric wire holding structure ( 700 ) including: 
     an electric wire (W); and 
     a holding member (a clamp  630 ) that holds an electric wire bundle (C), wherein 
     the electric wire is wound several times to form an annular shape, and is held by the holding member to maintain the annular shape. 
     [13] The electric wire holding structure according to [12], wherein 
     the electric wire is held at three or more places by the holding member to maintain the annular shape.