AUTOMATIC TERMINATED WIRE LEAD INSERTION MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAID MACHINE

摘要

An apparatus (10) configured to manufacture a wire harness assembly having a plurality of terminated leads (32) and a plurality of connector bodies into which the terminated leads (32) are inserted and a method (200) of manufacturing a wire harness assembly that can be used to operate the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) includes an imaging system (44) and gripper units (22, 24) that move the terminals laterally, vertically, longitudinally, and rotationally to ensure proper alignment of the terminals into the connector bodies. The apparatus (10) also includes a wire separation tool (50) that moves previously inserted leads so that cavities are clear to insert a lead in any insertion sequence. The wire separation tool (50) includes a split conical protrusion (50A, 50B) to move the previously installed leads. The apparatus (10) also uses a "push- click-tug" procedure when inserting to the terminals into the connector bodies to verify proper insertion.