Cable assembler

Abstract

A cable assembler which makes it possible to carry out in a short tact time the assembling of cable terminal which needs a plurality of jigs and tools. A robot delivers a bobbin of cable to various stations in a working area. Processing in accordance with the invention reduces tact time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cable assembly method comprising: 
 obtaining a first bobbin of cable as a first work;    sequentially delivering said first work to each workstation in a first area having one or more workstations;    delivering said first work to a first workstation in a second area having a plurality of workstations, processing times of each workstation in said second area being about equal to each other, said processing time being greater than a total processing time of said one or more workstations in said first work area; and    during processing of said first work in said first workstation: 
 obtaining a second bobbin of cable as a second work;  
 sequentially delivering said second work to said one or more workstations in said first area; and  
 delivering said second work to a second workstation in said second area,  
   wherein completion of said first work in said first workstation is followed by completion of said second work in said second workstation by a period of time less than said processing time of said workstations in said second area.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said obtaining steps include manipulating a robotic arm to receive a bobbin of cable disposed in a loader, and said delivering steps include manipulating said robotic arm to transfer said first and second works among said one or more workstations in said first and second areas.  
     
     
         3 . The method of claim I further including sequentially delivering said first work to each workstation in a third area having one or more workstations upon completion of processing in said first workstation and then delivering said first work to an unloader, said processing time of said workstations in said second area being greater than a total processing time of said one or more workstations in said third area.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said workstations in said second work area each provides an identical function.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further including, subsequent to said delivering said first work to an unloader, delivering said second work to said one or more workstations in said third area and then delivering said second work to said unloader, wherein said first and second works are delivered to said unloader in a time less than said processing time of said workstations in said second area.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said one or more workstations in said first area include an outercoat stripper and a connector part inserter, said workstations in said second area are curing ovens, and said one or more workstations in said third area include a grinder and a polisher.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further including delivering a work from said polisher to said unloader prior to delivering a work from said grinder to said polisher, when a work is available at each of said grinder and said polisher, and delivering a work from said grinder to said polisher prior to loading a work to said one or more workstations in said first area, when a work is available at said polisher.  
     
     
         8 . A system for assembling cables comprising: 
 a first work area;    a robotic arm disposed within said first work area;    a first plurality of workstations disposed about said first work area and within reach of said robotic arm;    a loading station for receiving a bobbin of cable as a first work, said loading station disposed within reach of said robotic arm;    a first workstation disposed downstream of said first plurality of workstations;    a second plurality of workstations disposed downstream of said first workstation; and    a controller operatively coupled to said robotic arm, said controller configured to cause said robotic arm: 
 to retrieve said first work from said loader and to sequentially deliver said first work to said first plurality of workstations, wherein said first work is processed in sequential fashion;  
 to deliver said first work to said first workstation, said first workstation having a processing time greater than processing times of said first plurality of workstations;  
 to sequentially deliver said first work to said second plurality of workstations; and  
 to retrieve a second work from said loader and sequentially deliver said second work to said first plurality of workstations during processing of said first work in said first workstation.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said first workstation is a first oven.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further including a second oven, wherein said controller is further configured to deliver said second work to said second oven while said first work is still being processed by said first oven.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said controller is further configured to deliver said first work from said first oven to said second plurality of workstations while said second work is still in said second oven.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said first plurality of workstations includes an outer coat stripper and a connector part inserter and said second plurality of workstations includes a grinder and a polisher.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said robotic arm includes an articulated chuck configured to grip an end portion of said cable and to provide approximately 180° of arcuate range of motion of said end portion in a vertical plane.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  further including a second work area having a second robotic arm disposed therein, a second plurality of workstations disposed in said second work area about said second robotic arm and within reach of said second robotic arm, and a second loading station for receiving said bobbin of cable, wherein said bobbin of cable is processed in said second work area prior to being processed in said first work area.  
     
     
         15 . A system for assembling cables comprising: 
 means for receiving a bobbin of a cable as a first work;    a first means for performing a first plurality of operations on a cable portion of said first work;    a thermal processing means for a thermal treatment of said cable portion, said thermal means having at least a first and a second heating unit;    a second means for performing a second plurality of operations on said cable portion; and    robotic means for delivering said first work to said first means, then to said first heating unit, and then to said second means,    said robotic means configured to deliver a second work to said first means and then to said second heating unit, while said first work is being processed by said first heating unit.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said robotic means includes a chuck having an approximately 180° arcuate range of motion in a vertical plane, for positioning a cable end portion of said work which is received in said chuck.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said robotic means is further configured to deliver said first work to said second means while said second work is being processed by said second heating unit.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said first means includes an outer coat stripper and a connector part inserter and said second means includes a grinder, a polisher, and an unloader.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said robotic means is further configured to deliver a work from said polisher to said unloader prior to delivering a work from said grinder to said polisher when a work is available at each of said polisher and said grinder, and further configured to deliver a work from said grinder to said polisher prior to loading a work to said first means when a work is available at said polisher.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  further including a third means for performing a third plurality of operations on said cable portion, wherein said first work is processed by said third means and then delivered to said first means.