WO2019139548A1

WO2019139548A1 - Direction showing system in cable networks production

Info

Publication number: WO2019139548A1
Application number: PCT/TR2018/050279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet SANDAL
Original assignee: Elopar Elektrik Ve Otomotiv Parcalari Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Elopar Elektrik Ve Otomotiv Parcalari Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2018-01-11
Filing date: 2018-05-31
Publication date: 2019-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-11
Also published as: MA51550A; EA202091625A1; TR201800408A2; EP3738179A1; EP3738179A4

Abstract

Invention relates to a system showing direction to the operator and providing contacting and testing robustness of contacting in production of cable harnesses by means of software module (3), directing member (6) controlled by software module (3), housing module (8), reader (10).

Description

Direction Showing System in Cable Networks Production The Related Art

Invention relates to direction showing system in cable network production providing conduct of contacting created between cable terminals and connectors forming connection with the terminals in the most correct way in cable bundles (harness) production sector.

Therefore, the invention relates to a system that can be used in every sector where this connection operation is conducted and has cable harness and can be customized.

Background of the Invention

Today many systems need complex cable harnesses. Conduct of this operation in the most correct way is highly important for proper functioning of the device.

In current simple production providing connection is up to discretion of the operator and is conducted without direction. Only one simple wrong cabling on a single terminal on the connector by the operator is enough for malfunction of the device.

Another negative effect is the case of “not seated terminal” occurring when the connection between the terminal where the cable is connected and the cable is not provided fully. This situation may leads to serious problems. Electric current encounters air ambience when full connection onto connector which is another conducting member via conducting cable is not provided. Air ambience is a non-conducting ambience and therefore if the electric current encounters the air ambience and conducting via air occurs, a situation called electrical arc occurs. The arc current may result in failure of the system where cable harnesses are used, burning of the related device and moreover, loss of life and properties.

When the literature is searched, a patent application numbered US8069556 and entitled“Cable Harness Production System” was seen. The cable harness production system disclosed under the application consists of an electronic controller and at least one installation plate to which a plurality of mounting stations is fastened. Each of the mounting stations supports a receptacle for a functional element, which is directly connected to at least one cable harness or is shaped as a cable installation aid, such as a fork. In the system disclosed under said application, operator is not directed by means of a directing member having a directing system and components or any warning components. Therefore, there is no case tolerating the negativities causing creation of the invention.

As a result, due to above described disadvantages and inadequacy of existing solutions it has been necessary to make development in the related art.

Purpose of the Invention

The invention has been developed with inspiration from existing situation and aims to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages.

Main purpose of the invention is to make contacting operation controllable by an automatic system within all members and ensure that such contacting is not within operator's discretion. In line with this purpose, a system controlling connector which is connecting member and conducting members (cables and terminals) and therefore all connection components in the cable network is designed. The system is designed as a directing and controlling system controlling selection of proper cable terminal, proper connection of correct cable terminal to correct connector, robust connection and proper operation of all members of the system during operation.

The above mentioned purpose in its broadest manner is provided by means of directing the operator by means of data prepared according to matching of the connectors shaped according to requests and by software module programmed in line with such data and thus conduct of preliminary mounting of harness. Software module controls man-machine interface members and directing members and thus guides the operator. Contacting operation is conducted under full control by help of directing member wherein proper cable terminal is specified in line with directions and housing module wherein proper terminal of proper connector is specified.

A multiple control mechanism is developed for not fully seating terminal which is another negative effect stated under “Background of the Invention”. The multiple control mechanism can be customized as per system accuracy and requirements. In the multiple control mechanism, the status of whether or not the cable selected as per direction of the system and connector terminal is robustly contacted is tested. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this system is provided by double controlling. When the operator firstly pulls the cable contacted to terminal, from housing module, the system does not allow removal of connector from housing module and when pulled for the second time, seating of the terminal onto the connecter is guaranteed and operator is directed by means of directing member stating that the formed connection (connector and cable terminals) is robust.

The structural and characteristics features of the invention and all advantages will be understood better in detailed descriptions with the figures given below and with reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made taking into account the said figures and detailed explanations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of direction showing system in cable networks production disclosed under the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of casing of direction showing system in cable networks production disclosed under the invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the software module provided inside system casing.

Description of Part References

1. Adapter

2. Electric Switch

3. Software Module

3.1 Embedded System

3.2. Processor Casing

3.3. Communication Card

4. HMI Component

5. Input component

6. Directing Member 7. Directing Member Premise

8. Housing Module

9. Material Premise

10. Reader

11. System Casing

12. Carrier Frame

HMI: Human-Machine Interaction Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of direction showing system in cable networks production disclosed under the invention have been disclosed solely for the purpose of better understanding of the subject.

The system guiding in cable networks production disclosed under this invention shown in Figure 1 consists of adapter (1 ), electric switch (2), software module (3), embedded system (3.1 ), processor casing (3.2), communication cards (3.3), HMI components (4), input component (5), directing member (6), directing member premise (7), housing module (8), material premise (9), reader (10) and system casing (1 1 ).

Adapter (1 ) is a member which fixes the voltage received from mains at desired voltage and regulates alternative current from mains and converts into direct current signal and makes mains voltage as usable voltage for system. Adapter (1 ) is connected to processor casing (3.2). Thus, distribution of the energy to software module (3) members is provided by means of adapter (1 ). The power supplied by the adapter (1 ) supplies energy to all members in need via electrical connections.

Electric switch (2) is located on the system casing’s (1 1 ) external surface, and is used as pako switch in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Electric switch (2) is the component starting and ending power to the system members. Electric energy is transmitted to adapter (1 ) by electric switch (2). Distribution of the electric energy is provided when electric switch (2) is open. When electric switch (2) is closed, energy to the adapter (1 ) is cut.

The software module (3) is the system consisting of embedded system (3.1 ), processor casing (3.2) and communication cards (3.3) and is located inside the system casing (1 1 ). Software module (3) is the control mechanism providing correct contacting operation.

Embedded system (3.1 ) is the main component providing function of software module (3). The customer has the data of the products intended to be mounted and in which order and which product is to be mounted. The data are defined to the system programmatically. Embedded system (3.1 ) performs inspections such as presence, absence, mounting form and connection accuracy subject to defined program. In a preferred embodiment of the invention Arduino is used as the embedded system (3.1 ). Processor casing (3.2) is the component where the HMI components (4) are processed and which transmits the product data to the embedded system (3.1 ) in the communication between the embedded system (3.1 ) and the processor casing (3.2). Communication cards (3.3) are the parts providing entire system communication electronically.

HMI components (4) are the parts providing all interaction between the software module (3) and operator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a small player screen located on the system casing (1 1 ) and a monitor located on material premise (9) are designed as HMI component (4). The language of the HMI components (4) can be specified and changed by programs.

Input component (5) is one of the components controlling the directing member (6) which directs the operator, during multiple control test in the housing module (8). When seated into the related connector to the housing module (8) in line with product data, presence-absence test is made by means of input component (5) (switch in the preferred embodiment of the invention), energy transmission to directing member (6) located at housing module (8) is provided or cut and thus directing member (6) is controlled.

Directing member (6) is the member is the member directing the operator for selection of the right mounting product for performance of proper connection by the operator, processing the product in proper order, controlling the robustness of the connection and completion of product operations. Directing members (6) are 2 LED members located on the housing module (8), LEDs located on the directing member premise (7) and buzzer located on the system casing (1 1 ).

Directing member premise (7) is the place where directing members (6) for cable terminals are located in the system showing which cable terminals to be connected to which housing module (8). Directing member premise (7) is the structure keeping the directing members (6) designable according to system requirements.

Holder housings matching connector type diversity in harnesses are provided in the housing module (8). Connectors are seated into these housings for performance of operation. The preferred embodiment of the housing modules (8) consists of holder housing, 2 colour LEDs showing seating status of the housing and terminal showing LEDs customized according to terminals located in connector. The housing where connector is seated contains clamp and input component (5) (switch).

Material premise (9) is the place where the terminal to be connected and the connectors are kept. The design of the material premise (9) changes subject to cable to be used, connector diversity and order. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sections where cables are taken are designed as 3 lines 12 pipes and material premise (9) containing connectors are designed in 8 subject to number of connector.

Reader (10) (barcode, QR, etc.) reads the product code defined in software module upon operator's request and thus provides start of product program.

System casing (1 1 ) is the structure consisting of adapter (1 ), electric switch (2), software module (3) and housing modules (8). In a preferred embodiment of the invention system casing (1 1 ) is designed as lockable.

Carrier frame (12) is the carrier structure constituting main outlines of the system whereon system components are located.

Operating principle of the Invention

The system (machine) disclosed under the invention is turned on by means of electric switch (2) located on system casing (1 1 ). Then the software module (3) starts to direct the operator for the operations required to be conducted on HMI components (4) and directing member (6). At first step the operator gets the code of product read by reader (10) and product program created for the product is found and recalled in the software module (3). When the product starts, the 3 directing members (6) give signal in the system. The directing member (6) located on the directing member premise (7) directs the operator regarding the pipe of the material premise (9) from which the cable is to be taken. Thus operator selects the related cable. Then the operator directs the selected cable for contacting to the designated housing module (8) by directing member (6) to which signal is transmitted via software module (3). The operator receives information regarding the terminal in the selected connector housing to which the cable is to be connected by means of directing members (6) inside the selection housing or on the housing module (8) subject to connector type on the housing module (8). Then he places the taken cable in the related terminal on the designated housing module (8). After completion of contacting operation, the operator is to test if the cable inserted into housing module (8) is seated. When the operator pulls the cable for the first time, the directing member (6) provides operator with the information of completed operation in red colour. When the operator pulls the cable for the second time, when system guarantees that the terminal seats onto the connector, directing member (6) located on the housing module (8) changes into green and informs the operator that the robustness test is completed. Meanwhile, buzzer (bell) which is another directing member (6) rings once also upon instruction from software module (3) and informs the operator that he should skip to next step.

When the step is completed, above mentioned processes are repeated in order for each contacting. When all products are completed, the buzzer which is the directing member (6) rings three times and informs that all connection points on the harness are contacted and that the product is completed. Also the operator is informed and directed by means of screens provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention, one on the system casing (1 1 ) and other on the material premise (9) through HMI components (4). When the product is completed, the screen located on the carrier frame (12) displays“product complete” message. Then the new product code is given for reading by the reader (10) and operating process is continued for other product.

Claims

1. A system verifying correctness and robustness of contacting operation provided between cable terminals and connectors having connection with such terminals characterized by comprising;

❖ adapter (1 ), a member which fixes the voltage received from mains at desired voltage and regulates alternative current from mains and converts into direct current signal and makes mains voltage as usable voltage for system,

❖ electric switch (2), starting and ending energizing the system members,

❖ directing member (6) indicating to the operator to which connector the cable terminals will be contacted and after contacting whether or not contacting is made correctly,

❖ housing module (8) whereon said directing member (6) is located and containing housings providing fixing of the connectors,

❖ directing member premise (7) whereon said directing member (6) is located,

❖ HMI component (4) transmitting data to operator,

❖ directing member premise (7) whereon said directing members (6) are located,

❖ reader (10) providing receipt and transmission of product data of cable network to be produced,

❖ software module (3),

• consisting of embedded system (3.1 ) performing mounting type and connection correctness inspections subject to data of products intended to be mounted and which product and in which order are desired to mount, consisting of processor casing (3.2) where HMI components (4) are processed and which transmits the product data to embedded system (3.1 ), • communication cards (3.3) providing entire system communication electrically,

• receiving the product data received from said reader (10),

• using the product data received from said reader (10) after cable is received and controlling said directing member (6) and providing direction of the operator for contacting,

• managing said directing member (6) on said housing module (8) and thus providing operator to contact right connector to cable,

• upon pulling of the cable of contacting by operator, controlling said directing member (6) and transmitting information to operator in order to test robustness after contacting

• controlling said HMI components (4) and providing information to operator,

❖ system casing (1 1 ) whereon said housing module (8), said HMI component (4) said directing member (6), said reader (10) and said software module (3) are located,

❖ material premise (9) to make system eligible for operator and customizable as per product requests,

❖ input component (5) controlling the directing member (6) directing operator during multiple control test in said housing module (8).

2. A system according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; the material premise (9) providing protect of cable terminals to be connected.

3. A system according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; a carrier frame (12) whereon system components are located.