CA2093654A1 - Device for supplying and exchanging a plurality of cables - Google Patents
Device for supplying and exchanging a plurality of cablesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2093654A1 CA2093654A1 CA 2093654 CA2093654A CA2093654A1 CA 2093654 A1 CA2093654 A1 CA 2093654A1 CA 2093654 CA2093654 CA 2093654 CA 2093654 A CA2093654 A CA 2093654A CA 2093654 A1 CA2093654 A1 CA 2093654A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cable
- unit
- cables
- storage means
- supply unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R43/28—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Storing, Repeated Paying-Out, And Re-Storing Of Elongated Articles (AREA)
Abstract
A b s t r a c t Disclosed is a device for supplying and changing a multi-plicity of cables, having a cable change and supply unit, which is provided with stationary counter reels as a guide for the individual cables fed from a cable storage means and releasable clamping elements assigned to the individu-al cables as well as a moveable drive unit having a drive reel, and having a routing tool which can be positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit and is provided with a length-cutting unit.
The present-invention is distinguished by the cable change and supply unit being disposed stationary and being con-nected to the routing tool via a flexible tube, and there being provided between the cable storage means and the cable changing and supply unit an intermediate storage means for the cables cut in the routing tool and returned to the cable changing unit by means of said drive reel.
The present-invention is distinguished by the cable change and supply unit being disposed stationary and being con-nected to the routing tool via a flexible tube, and there being provided between the cable storage means and the cable changing and supply unit an intermediate storage means for the cables cut in the routing tool and returned to the cable changing unit by means of said drive reel.
Description
209365~
D e s c r i P t i o n Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables according to the preamble of claim 1.
State of the Art A device of this type is known from ~ -~- ~ 3 ~ In this state of the art device the cable change and supply ~lol~
unit and the routing tool are combined in one unit which ~3/
is positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit, by way of ~o2 illustration an industrial robot. As the combination of a 7/1 change and supply unit and a routing tool, the weight of the unit which an industrial robot is to position is com-paratively large, a relatively large and therefore more expensive industrial robot will be required for position-ing. Moreover, movement by the state of the art device is encumbered as all the cables always run continually from the cable storage means to the hand of the robot. In this way, by way of illustratïon, the industrial robot cannot execute 360 rotations as this would "twist and tangle"
the cables.
A device from another class .is known from US Patent~_____ In this device, a so-called "capstan" drive is pro-vided with which the drive reel is connected to a drive engine in a disconnectable manner. By means of this devel-opment of the feed unit, the weight and construction vol-ume of this device is even greater than the weight and construction volume of the device known from DE-A-37 03 011 .
D e s c r i P t i o n Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables according to the preamble of claim 1.
State of the Art A device of this type is known from ~ -~- ~ 3 ~ In this state of the art device the cable change and supply ~lol~
unit and the routing tool are combined in one unit which ~3/
is positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit, by way of ~o2 illustration an industrial robot. As the combination of a 7/1 change and supply unit and a routing tool, the weight of the unit which an industrial robot is to position is com-paratively large, a relatively large and therefore more expensive industrial robot will be required for position-ing. Moreover, movement by the state of the art device is encumbered as all the cables always run continually from the cable storage means to the hand of the robot. In this way, by way of illustratïon, the industrial robot cannot execute 360 rotations as this would "twist and tangle"
the cables.
A device from another class .is known from US Patent~_____ In this device, a so-called "capstan" drive is pro-vided with which the drive reel is connected to a drive engine in a disconnectable manner. By means of this devel-opment of the feed unit, the weight and construction vol-ume of this device is even greater than the weight and construction volume of the device known from DE-A-37 03 011 .
-2- 2~ 9365 ~
Furthermore, a device for supplying a multiplicity of cables is known from DE-AS 1 299 336, in which a suited feed means is provided for each cable. Consequently, this device is not suited for operation with an industrial robot but is provided with an own two-axes positioning unit.
Description of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying and changi~g a multiplicity of cables, which can be employed in conjunction with a relatively small and therefore economic positioning unit.
An inventive solution to this object is set forth in claim 1 hereto. Further improvements of the present invention are described in the sub-claims hereto.
Striking is that the solution to the object set in accor-dance with the present invention is still based on a de-vice for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables according to the preamble of claim 1 hereto. An key ele-ment of the present invention is, however, understanding that it is not necessary to position the cable change and supply unit in conjunction with the actual routing tool by means of the multi-axial positioning unit. An element of the present invention is rather the stationary placement of the cable change and supply unit and only positioning the routing tool. In order to ensure the cable is fed to the routing tool in an orderly manner by the cable change and 8upply unit, resp. following termination of the rout-ing procedure returned, in any position of both parts of the invented device, the cable change and supply unit is connected to the routing tool via a flexible tube through _3- 2~9365~
which a cable is fed to the routing tool from the change and supply unit and returned. In order not to have to transfer the returned cable back into the cable storage means which, by way of illustration, can be a conventional commercial cable reel, an intermediate storage means for the cables cut in the routing tool and returned to the cable change unit by means of the drive reel is provided between the cable storage means and the cable change unit.
The invented device permits trouble-free supplying, routing and subsequently changing of cables.
It is a~vantageous if, according to claim 2 hereto, the flexible tube connecting the cable change ~and supply unit to the actual routing tool is a hose which is flexible enough for the varying diameters of fed cables. In this manner cables with different diameters can be routed with the invented device without any danger of a cut cable end "getting stuck" in the connecting tube.
An especially simple embodiment of the invented device is obtained, according to claim 3 hereto, if the intermediate storage means is a coiled stock storage means in which, by way of illustration, the returned cable simply "hangs freely and slack".
The further improvement described in claim 4 hereto ac-cording to which a straightening unit is provided between the cable storage means and the cable change and supply unit, has the advantage that by means of the straightenng procedure, by way of illustration, the cable unrolled from a cable reel can be fed through the flexible tube without any difficulty.
_4- 20~36~4 In any event, it is advantageous if a monitor unit is pro-vided for monitoring the cable being fed in the cable change and supply unit (claim 5) and this monitor unit measures the feeding of the cable, by way of illustration in a state of the art manner, by determining the number of revolutions turned by the drive or counter reel. Moreover, it is advantageous if according to claim 6 hereto the monitor unit is provided with two spaced light barriers which check whether a cable is present or not. In this manner the cut cable can be drawn back so far that the end of the cable is positioned between the two light barriers.
The present invention is made more apparent in the follow-ing section by way of example without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of the overall inventive con-cept using preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing, to which it is explicitly pointed out is to be re~erred for the disclosure of all invented details not explained further in the text.
Brief Description of the Drawings Shown are in:
Fig, 1 a cross section of an invented device for supply-ing and changing a multiplicity of cables, and Fig. 2 a top view of the cable change and supply unit.
The Best Method of Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 show8 a routing tool 11) which can be attached to a not depicted multi-axial positioning unit, by way of il-lustration an industrial robot, by means of an exchange flange, not depicted in detail, and which is connected to 20~6~4 a stationary cable change and supply unit (2) via a flex-ible hose (3). In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the routing tool (1) is a contacting tool which is provid-ed, in addition to guide reels and feed reels, with a length cutting, resp. cutting unit (1.1) which, by way of illustration, can be designed according to the length cut-ting unit described in DE-A-37 03 011.
The stationary cable change and supply unit (2), which is shown in in a top view in fig. 2, is composed of a basic unit (2.2) on which a drive unit (2.1) can be moved in the direction of an arrow (2.3) (cf. fig. 2) by means of a linear moving unit (11). The drive unit (2.1) is provided with an engine-driven (4) drive reel (4.1), whlch can be applied with the aid of a pneumatic cylinder (5) in direc-tion of the cable (6) to be transported.
In the stationary basic unit (2.2) of the cable change and supply unit (2), there is a rotating counter reel, resp. a rotating reel (7) provided for each cable (6) to be trans-ported. Furthermore, for each cable there are provided two light barriers (9) and a detention mechanism (10), the function of which will be made more apparent below.
Furthermore, the illustrated preferred embodiment of an invented device is provided for each cable with a straightening unit (8) which has several "straightening reels" and is disposed between the actual cable change and supply unit (2) and a cable storage means (12) designed by way of ilustration as a cable drum.
How the invented device functions is explained in the fol-lowing:
2093~a~
If a cable (6), which is in the routing, resp. contacting tool (1), is routed and another cable is to be routed in the next routing step, first the cable in the tool is cut with the length-cutting unit (1.1) provided therefor.
Then the cable is returned in direction opposite to the normal transport direction by means of the transport device which is formed by the reels (4.1) and (7) by suited driving of engine (4). For this purpose the trans-port reel (4.1) is set onto the cable (6) by the pneumatic cylinder (5). The returned cable (6) forms a loop (6.1) between the cable change and supply unit (2) and the straightening unit (8) in such a manner that it is stored intermediately for later use.
The return stretch of the cable (6) is controlled first via a rotating reel (7) or via a rotation generator at-tached to the transport reel (4.1) and secondly via two light barriers (9). As soon as the light barrier (9) dis-posed on the side of the routing tool (1) is no longer dampened by the drawn bac~ cable (6), the engine (4) is turned off. In this way it is ensured that the cable (6) is no longer in the supply hose (3) but completely within the cable change and supply unit (2). Furthermore, the de-tention mechanism (10) ensures that the cable cannot slip out of the ready position in the cable change and supply unit (2).
In order to change a new cable in the routing tool (1), the moveable drive unit (2.1) in conjunction with the electric engine (4) and the transport reel (4.1) is brought linearly to the ready position of the desired cable with the aid of linear unit (11). After reaching the position, the driven transport reel (4.1) is lowered onto the prepared cable with the aid of the pneumatic cy-20936~
linder (5). By means of suited triggering of electric en-gine (4), the cable is inserted through the hose (3) into the routing tool (1) after releasing the detention cyclin-der (10). Following the routing procedure a cable change procedure is carried out as aforedescribed.
In the previous section, the present invention has been made more apparent using a preferred embodiment without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of the over all inventive concept, within which there are, of course, many very different modifications possible. In particular, the invented device can be designed in such a manner that the control of the industrial robot or a special program-mable memory control can be integrated fully automatically in automated cable harness production.
Naturally, in individual cases construction may deviate from that of the described preferred embodiment. Thus, instead of a linear unit 11 for moving drive unit 4.1, by way of illustration, a rotatory unit may be provided Industrial E~ploitation The invented device for supplying and changing a multipli-city of cables can be utilized in combination with a rela-tively small and therefore economic positioning unit.
Furthermore, a device for supplying a multiplicity of cables is known from DE-AS 1 299 336, in which a suited feed means is provided for each cable. Consequently, this device is not suited for operation with an industrial robot but is provided with an own two-axes positioning unit.
Description of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying and changi~g a multiplicity of cables, which can be employed in conjunction with a relatively small and therefore economic positioning unit.
An inventive solution to this object is set forth in claim 1 hereto. Further improvements of the present invention are described in the sub-claims hereto.
Striking is that the solution to the object set in accor-dance with the present invention is still based on a de-vice for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables according to the preamble of claim 1 hereto. An key ele-ment of the present invention is, however, understanding that it is not necessary to position the cable change and supply unit in conjunction with the actual routing tool by means of the multi-axial positioning unit. An element of the present invention is rather the stationary placement of the cable change and supply unit and only positioning the routing tool. In order to ensure the cable is fed to the routing tool in an orderly manner by the cable change and 8upply unit, resp. following termination of the rout-ing procedure returned, in any position of both parts of the invented device, the cable change and supply unit is connected to the routing tool via a flexible tube through _3- 2~9365~
which a cable is fed to the routing tool from the change and supply unit and returned. In order not to have to transfer the returned cable back into the cable storage means which, by way of illustration, can be a conventional commercial cable reel, an intermediate storage means for the cables cut in the routing tool and returned to the cable change unit by means of the drive reel is provided between the cable storage means and the cable change unit.
The invented device permits trouble-free supplying, routing and subsequently changing of cables.
It is a~vantageous if, according to claim 2 hereto, the flexible tube connecting the cable change ~and supply unit to the actual routing tool is a hose which is flexible enough for the varying diameters of fed cables. In this manner cables with different diameters can be routed with the invented device without any danger of a cut cable end "getting stuck" in the connecting tube.
An especially simple embodiment of the invented device is obtained, according to claim 3 hereto, if the intermediate storage means is a coiled stock storage means in which, by way of illustration, the returned cable simply "hangs freely and slack".
The further improvement described in claim 4 hereto ac-cording to which a straightening unit is provided between the cable storage means and the cable change and supply unit, has the advantage that by means of the straightenng procedure, by way of illustration, the cable unrolled from a cable reel can be fed through the flexible tube without any difficulty.
_4- 20~36~4 In any event, it is advantageous if a monitor unit is pro-vided for monitoring the cable being fed in the cable change and supply unit (claim 5) and this monitor unit measures the feeding of the cable, by way of illustration in a state of the art manner, by determining the number of revolutions turned by the drive or counter reel. Moreover, it is advantageous if according to claim 6 hereto the monitor unit is provided with two spaced light barriers which check whether a cable is present or not. In this manner the cut cable can be drawn back so far that the end of the cable is positioned between the two light barriers.
The present invention is made more apparent in the follow-ing section by way of example without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of the overall inventive con-cept using preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing, to which it is explicitly pointed out is to be re~erred for the disclosure of all invented details not explained further in the text.
Brief Description of the Drawings Shown are in:
Fig, 1 a cross section of an invented device for supply-ing and changing a multiplicity of cables, and Fig. 2 a top view of the cable change and supply unit.
The Best Method of Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 show8 a routing tool 11) which can be attached to a not depicted multi-axial positioning unit, by way of il-lustration an industrial robot, by means of an exchange flange, not depicted in detail, and which is connected to 20~6~4 a stationary cable change and supply unit (2) via a flex-ible hose (3). In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the routing tool (1) is a contacting tool which is provid-ed, in addition to guide reels and feed reels, with a length cutting, resp. cutting unit (1.1) which, by way of illustration, can be designed according to the length cut-ting unit described in DE-A-37 03 011.
The stationary cable change and supply unit (2), which is shown in in a top view in fig. 2, is composed of a basic unit (2.2) on which a drive unit (2.1) can be moved in the direction of an arrow (2.3) (cf. fig. 2) by means of a linear moving unit (11). The drive unit (2.1) is provided with an engine-driven (4) drive reel (4.1), whlch can be applied with the aid of a pneumatic cylinder (5) in direc-tion of the cable (6) to be transported.
In the stationary basic unit (2.2) of the cable change and supply unit (2), there is a rotating counter reel, resp. a rotating reel (7) provided for each cable (6) to be trans-ported. Furthermore, for each cable there are provided two light barriers (9) and a detention mechanism (10), the function of which will be made more apparent below.
Furthermore, the illustrated preferred embodiment of an invented device is provided for each cable with a straightening unit (8) which has several "straightening reels" and is disposed between the actual cable change and supply unit (2) and a cable storage means (12) designed by way of ilustration as a cable drum.
How the invented device functions is explained in the fol-lowing:
2093~a~
If a cable (6), which is in the routing, resp. contacting tool (1), is routed and another cable is to be routed in the next routing step, first the cable in the tool is cut with the length-cutting unit (1.1) provided therefor.
Then the cable is returned in direction opposite to the normal transport direction by means of the transport device which is formed by the reels (4.1) and (7) by suited driving of engine (4). For this purpose the trans-port reel (4.1) is set onto the cable (6) by the pneumatic cylinder (5). The returned cable (6) forms a loop (6.1) between the cable change and supply unit (2) and the straightening unit (8) in such a manner that it is stored intermediately for later use.
The return stretch of the cable (6) is controlled first via a rotating reel (7) or via a rotation generator at-tached to the transport reel (4.1) and secondly via two light barriers (9). As soon as the light barrier (9) dis-posed on the side of the routing tool (1) is no longer dampened by the drawn bac~ cable (6), the engine (4) is turned off. In this way it is ensured that the cable (6) is no longer in the supply hose (3) but completely within the cable change and supply unit (2). Furthermore, the de-tention mechanism (10) ensures that the cable cannot slip out of the ready position in the cable change and supply unit (2).
In order to change a new cable in the routing tool (1), the moveable drive unit (2.1) in conjunction with the electric engine (4) and the transport reel (4.1) is brought linearly to the ready position of the desired cable with the aid of linear unit (11). After reaching the position, the driven transport reel (4.1) is lowered onto the prepared cable with the aid of the pneumatic cy-20936~
linder (5). By means of suited triggering of electric en-gine (4), the cable is inserted through the hose (3) into the routing tool (1) after releasing the detention cyclin-der (10). Following the routing procedure a cable change procedure is carried out as aforedescribed.
In the previous section, the present invention has been made more apparent using a preferred embodiment without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of the over all inventive concept, within which there are, of course, many very different modifications possible. In particular, the invented device can be designed in such a manner that the control of the industrial robot or a special program-mable memory control can be integrated fully automatically in automated cable harness production.
Naturally, in individual cases construction may deviate from that of the described preferred embodiment. Thus, instead of a linear unit 11 for moving drive unit 4.1, by way of illustration, a rotatory unit may be provided Industrial E~ploitation The invented device for supplying and changing a multipli-city of cables can be utilized in combination with a rela-tively small and therefore economic positioning unit.
Claims (6)
1. A device for suppyling and changing a multiplicity of cables, having a cable change and supply unit (2), which is pro-vided with stationary counter reels (7) as a guide for the individual cables (6) fed from a cable storage means (12) and releasable clamping elements (10) assigned to the in-dividual cables as well as a moveable drive unit (2.1) having a drive reel (4.1), and having a routing tool (1) which can be positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit and is provided with a length-cutting unit (1.1), characterized in that said cable change and supply unit (2) is disposed stationary and is connected to said rout-ing tool (1) via a flexible tube (3), and that for said cables (6) cut in said routing tool and returned to the cable changing unit by means of said drive reel (4.1) an intermediate storage means (9) is provided between said cable storage means (12) and said cable changing and sup-ply unit.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said flexible tube is a hose (3), which is flexible for varying diameters of fed cables.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said intermediate storage means is a coiled stock storage means (6.1).
4. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a straightening unit (8) is provided between said cable storage means (12) and said cable change and supply unit (2).
5. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a monitor unit for monitoring the feeding of the cable is provided in said cable change and supply unit.
6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said monitor unit is provided with two spaced light barriers.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2093654 CA2093654A1 (en) | 1990-10-10 | 1990-10-10 | Device for supplying and exchanging a plurality of cables |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2093654 CA2093654A1 (en) | 1990-10-10 | 1990-10-10 | Device for supplying and exchanging a plurality of cables |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2093654A1 true CA2093654A1 (en) | 1992-04-11 |
Family
ID=4151433
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2093654 Abandoned CA2093654A1 (en) | 1990-10-10 | 1990-10-10 | Device for supplying and exchanging a plurality of cables |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2093654A1 (en) |
-
1990
- 1990-10-10 CA CA 2093654 patent/CA2093654A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |