US-20260124742-A1 - Substrate Manipulation System and Method

Abstract

A wiring harness installation assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a first rotation feature. The second arm has a set of first ribs. The second member includes a third arm and a fourth arm. The third arm has a second rotation feature rotatably coupled to the first rotation feature. The fourth arm is configured to flex between a first position and a second position. The fourth arm has a set of second ribs configured to engage the set of first ribs to inhibit rotation of the first member relative to the second member when the fourth arm is in the first position. The first rotation feature is configured to rotate relative to the second rotation feature when the fourth arm is in the second position.

Inventors

• Jeffrey Michael
• Ryan Lewis
• Robert Dean
• Jared Bilas
• Joseph Sudik, Jr.
• David R. Peterson

Assignees

• Aptiv Technologies AG

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A wiring harness installation assembly comprising: a first member including a first arm having a first rotation feature, and a second arm having a set of first ribs; and a second member including a third arm having a second rotation feature rotatably coupled to the first rotation feature, and a fourth arm configured to flex between a first position and a second position, the fourth arm having a set of second ribs configured to engage the set of first ribs to inhibit rotation of the first member relative to the second member when the fourth arm is in the first position, the first rotation feature configured to rotate relative to the second rotation feature when the fourth arm is in the second position.
2. 2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first rotation feature includes one of an axle or an aperture, and the second rotation feature includes the other of an axle or an aperture.
3. 3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of first ribs at least partially form a third rotation feature.
4. 4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the set of second ribs at least partially form a fourth rotation feature.
5. 5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the set of first ribs at least partially form a recess, and wherein the set of second ribs at least partially form a protrusion disposed within the recess.
6. 6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fourth arm includes an aperture, wherein the second arm includes an axle rotatably disposed within the aperture.
7. 7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second arm includes a first frustoconical wall at least partially defining the recess.
8. 8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the set of first ribs extend from the first frustoconical wall.
9. 9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the set of second ribs each include an outer surface collectively forming a second frustoconical wall, and wherein the first frustoconical wall faces the second frustoconical wall.
10. 10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fourth arm includes a first end coupled to an end of the second member, and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the set of second ribs are disposed proximate the second end.
11. 11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fourth arm includes a manipulation feature disposed proximate the end of the second member.
12. 12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first member forms a first conduit, and the second member forms a second conduit.
13. 13 . A first wiring harness installation member comprising: at least one wall including a first end and a second end; a first arm extending from the first end of the at least one wall and including a first rotation feature configured to rotatably couple to a second rotation feature of a second wiring harness installation member; and a second arm extending from the first end of the at least one wall and configured to flex relative to the first end between a first position and a second position, the second arm including: a third rotation feature configured to rotatably couple to a fourth rotation feature of the second wiring harness installation member; and a set of first ribs configured to engage a set of second ribs on the second wiring harness installation member to inhibit rotation of the first wiring harness installation member relative to the second wiring harness installation member when the second arm is in the first position, the first rotation feature configured to rotate relative to the second rotation feature when the first arm is in the second position.
14. 14 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 13 , wherein the first rotation feature includes one of an axle or an aperture, and the second rotation feature includes the other of an axle or an aperture.
15. 15 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 13 , wherein the set of first ribs at least partially form the third rotation feature.
16. 16 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 15 , wherein the set of second ribs at least partially form the fourth rotation feature.
17. 17 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 16 , wherein the set of first ribs at least partially form a recess, and wherein the set of second ribs at least partially form a protrusion disposed within the recess.
18. 18 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 15 , wherein the third rotation feature includes a protrusion, and wherein the second arm includes an aperture extending through the protrusion.
19. 19 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 15 , wherein the set of first ribs each include an outer surface collectively forming a frustoconical wall.
20. 20 . The first wiring harness installation member of claim 13 , wherein the second arm includes a manipulation feature configured to receive a tool.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to substrate manipulation systems and methods and more particularly to a system for manipulating a wire harness with a robot. BACKGROUND Modern vehicles (e.g., automobiles) rely on electrical wiring and electrical connections to facilitate the transmission of electricity within, and between various components of, the vehicle. Wiring harnesses (e.g., connectors and bundles of wires) play an important role in ensuring the integrity of these electrical connections and the reliability and performance of the vehicle. Wiring harnesses often lack the structural integrity (e.g., rigidity) to ensure the accurate and repeatable handling, positioning, and securement of the wiring harnesses and/or other components during an assembly process. Often, these wiring harnesses require manual installation or complex tooling to install, which can increase the cost and complexity of the wiring harnesses. For example, the wiring harnesses may be placed inside another component (e.g., a substrate) to provide the rigidity necessary to install the wiring harness robotically. These substrates are often costly and complex. In view of the foregoing, while known substrate manipulation systems for vehicle wiring systems have proven acceptable for their intended purpose, a continuous need for improvement remains in the pertinent art to address the challenges associated with accurate and efficient assembly of the wiring harnesses. The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. SUMMARY This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. One aspect of the disclosure provides a wiring harness installation assembly. The wiring harness installation assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a first rotation feature. The second arm has a set of first ribs. The second member includes a third arm and a fourth arm. The third arm has a second rotation feature rotatably coupled to the first rotation feature. The fourth arm is configured to flex between a first position and a second position. The fourth arm has a set of second ribs configured to engage the set of first ribs to inhibit rotation of the first member relative to the second member when the fourth arm is in the first position. The first rotation feature is configured to rotate relative to the second rotation feature when the fourth arm is in the second position. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a first wiring harness installation member. The first wiring harness installation member includes a first arm, a second arm, and at least one wall. The at least one wall includes a first end and a second end. The first arm extends from the first end of the at least one wall and includes a first rotation feature configured to rotatably couple to a second rotation feature of a second wiring harness installation member. The second arm extends from the first end of the at least one wall and is configured to flex relative to the first end between a first position and a second position. The second arm includes a third rotation feature and a set of first ribs. The third rotation feature is configured to rotatably couple to a fourth rotation feature of the second wiring harness installation member. The set of first ribs is configured to engage a set of second ribs on the second wiring harness installation member to inhibit rotation of the first wiring harness installation member relative to the second wiring harness installation member when the second arm is in the first position. The first rotation feature is configured to rotate relative to the second rotation feature when the first arm is in the second position. The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a wiring harness installation assembly in a first orientation in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the wiring harness installation assembly of FIG. 1A in a second orientation in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the wiring harness installation assembly of FIG. 1A in a third orientation in accordan