ABAC - Automated Booting Assembly Cell
Description
The Automated Booting Assembly Cell is a six station Linear Transfer Line developed for automatic assembly, manipulation, and inspection of car ignition cables and cable-boot assemblies. ABAC is capable of doubling the production rate and improving the consistency of the quality of assembly.
Features
- Location and Orientation of Terminals: Station #1 aids the operator in loading the two terminal-ends of the cable simultaneously, for automatic booting. A fixture guides the terminals during insertion, to ensure proper location against a reference. Orienting pins advance to rectify the orientation of terminals.
- Automated Assembly: Stations #2 and #5 assemble the boots over the two terminals at the end of cable.
- Rectification of Assembly: In Station #6, the cable is gripped very close to the boot, while the boot is pressed against a specially profiled anvil. This ensures on-line rectification if the assembly is improperly performed.
- Inspection of Assembly: In Station #3, the distance between the terminal tip and the face of straight booting is automatically inspected. The accuracy of the right angled boot assembly is inspected by a specially profiled gauge in Station #6.
- Grease Injection: In Station #3, the grease injector detects a need for, and applies, lubricant, to the mechanism.
- Transfer, Handling, and Segregation Mechanisms: Inter-station cable and cable-boot assembly transfer, and their handling within each station are addressed. A faulty cable-boot assembly is segregated and ejected.
- Modularity and Reconfigurability: All the end-effectors can be quickly replaced, facilitating reconfigurability for a range of terminal sizes. Furthermore, the cell provides modularity for integration with alternate functional configurations.