Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Aptiv Technologies Limited

John C McLane

John Thomas Kightlinger

Robert Alan McFall

Andrew Frank Rodondi

Nick M Loprire

James A Gourash

David R Peterson

Edward M Bungo

Shao Chung Hsieh

Mark J Vanden Wymelenberg

Keith B Adkins

Donald L McConnell

Robert A Mcfall

John T Kightlinger

A single machine configured to manufacture a wire cable assembly including an twisted wire pair and a drain wire having a conductive tape and an insulative tape spirally wrapped about said wire pair. The machine includes a first clamp that secures an end of the wire pair and a second clamp that secures the other end of the wire pair. The second clamp rotates while the first clamp is fixed thereby twisting the wires of the wire pair one about the other. The second clamp can also rotate synchronously with the first clamp thereby rotating the wire pair without twisting. The machine also has a tape reel configured to move parallel to the clamps as they rotate, wrapping tape around the wire pair. The apparatus can be configured to apply the tapes simultaneously to electromagnetically shield and insulate the cable assembly. A method of operating the apparatus is also provided.

Integrated wire cable twisting, wrapping, and testing apparatus and method of operating same

An automated wire harness machine is capable of manufacturing a wire harness in an automated process. The wire harness is generally a plurality of bundled, preferably un-stripped, insulated wires. Each un-stripped end portion of each wire is preferably terminated by an electrical terminal in one of a series of electrical connectors of the wire harness. Each connector has at least one wafer which houses a plurality of terminals. The wire harness machine utilizes a pallet that holds all of the wafers of one wire harness. A conveyor transports the pallet and wafers through a series of stations which perform automated manufacturing steps. The first station is a terminal inserter which inserts and locks the terminals within pre-assigned cavities of the wafers. The next station is an automated wire loader which measures, cuts and crimps the two ends of each wire into the respective terminals of the loaded wafer assembly. A third station, or ultrasonic welder, then galls an un-stripped non-ferrous core of the crimped wire to the terminal. The pallet with the loaded wafers, crimped terminals, and terminated wires are then transported to a wire marker station which marks each wire, preferably via a laser, for identification purposes.

Wire marker

Wire loader

The present invention is an automated wire harness machine () capable of manufacturing a wire harness () unique in-part due to the automation process. The novel wire harness is generally a plurality of bundled, preferably un-stripped, insulated wires (). Each un-stripped end portion () of each wire is preferably terminated to one of a series of electrical connectors () of the wire harness. Each connector has at least one wafer () which houses a plurality of terminals () preferably crimped and electrically terminated to the ends of the wires. The wire harness machine preferably utilizes a pallet () which holds all of the wafers of one wire harness. A conveyor () transports the pallet and wafers through a series of stations which perform automated manufacturing steps. The first station is a terminal inserter () which inserts and locks the terminals within pre-assigned cavities () of the wafers. The next station is an automated wire loader () which measures, cuts and crimps the two ends of each wire into the respective terminals of the loaded wafer assembly. A third station, or ultrasonic welder (), the galls an un-stripped non-ferrous core () of the crimped wire to the terminal. The pallet with the loaded wafers, crimped terminals, and terminated wires are then transported to a wire marker station () which marks each wire, preferably via a laser (), for identification purposes.

Wire harness manufacturing machine

Growing community of inventors

Girard, OH, United States of America

John C McLane