The Challenge:

Eliminate manual labor and successfully automate the attachment of plastic hose clips onto automobile drain hoses.

Currently, plastic hose clips used in drain hose assemblies are taped on by hand using polyester or PVC-type tapes. During the attachment process, inconsistencies develop due to tape tension from attaching the clips manually. If not corrected, the drain hose will collapse during shipment to the assembly plant or during installation in the interior of the automobile. This type of drain hose assembly is labor-intensive and costly. When the attachment of hose clips is complete, each drain hose will contain a number of clips that vary in style. Each hose clip is attached at different locations along the length of the drain hose, both in parallel or rotated positions. Conventional automatic-type tape applicators fail to sufficiently secure the hose clips. This allows the clips to skew during the drain hose assembly and automobile installation process.

The Solution:

The only way to securely attach the plastic hose clip is by mechanically overlapping the tape on the clip before the automatic wrapping process takes place. This type of automated taping and wrapping eliminates any movement or skewing of the hose clips on the drain hose during the final automotive installation.

Examples of various tape-on clip sizes and shapes ...