CN107005016B

CN107005016B - Centering unit, crimping device and cable processing equipment

Info

Publication number: CN107005016B
Application number: CN201580065910.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 威利·巴里肯斯托费尔; 马库斯·瓦尔泽; 迈克尔·约斯特
Original assignee: Schleuniger Holding AG
Current assignee: Schleuniger Holding AG
Priority date: 2014-12-04
Filing date: 2015-12-04
Publication date: 2020-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-04
Also published as: KR20170088990A; WO2016088091A1; JP2017538268A; CN107005015A; WO2016088088A1; JP2017536684A; CH712087B1; KR20170088991A; CN107005015B; CH712088B1; CN107005016A

Abstract

A centering unit (Z) for a cable processing device, in particular for a crimping station (C), has a support frame (1) and at least two centering jaws (2a, 2b) which can be adjusted relative to the support frame (1). The centering jaws (2a, 2b) are independently adjustable relative to each other and relative to the support frame (1). The centering unit (Z) is used in a cable processing device having at least two processing stations, preferably a plurality of processing stations arranged in an at least partially circular arrangement, wherein at least one insulation stripping station and at least one further crimping device (C) and at least one movement unit for feeding and withdrawing an end of a cable (K) to be processed to and from a processing station are provided in the device.

Description

Centering unit, crimping device and cable processing equipment

Cross-referencing

This application claims priority to european application No. EP14196417.1 filed on 12/4/2014 as if fully incorporated herein, the entire contents of which are expressly and unequivocally incorporated by reference in its entirety and in any portion thereof for all intents and purposes.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a centering unit for a device for cable processing, in particular for a crimping station, to a device for connecting a component to an end of a cable by means of a crimping process, and to a cable processing installation.

Background

Wire (0.35-6 mm) typically fitted in automobiles²) Even when slightly bent when it is pressed down by vibrationAnd slight chatter, while maintaining relatively good quality. There is no noticeable problem in the crimping process. However, very thin wires (e.g., 0.13 mm)²) Increasingly, in automobile assembly. Even considered to have a thickness of 0.05mm²A wire of wire cross section. The problem of processing small wire cross sections in fully automatic cable processing equipment is: the smaller the wire cross-section, the more unfavourable the size ratio. The wire clamp, crimping station, crimping tool were initially configured for larger cross-sections. For smaller cross-sections, remaining constantly beyond the end of the wire clamp creates the following problems: the thinner excess wire ends do not have the same axial stability as the thicker wires. When the lowering movement of the gripper is triggered in the usual manner, an impact pulse is generated in the lower region of the lowering movement. The end of the wire beyond the clamp must follow a lowering motion and be lowered to the crimp clamp. In this case the following may occur: individual cables cannot be inserted very neatly into the crimp clamp or the depth of axial insertion varies greatly, so that the possibilities required with regard to the insertion depth in the crimp clamp for conforming the cable to the required specifications (manufacturing, formulation and use value (MFU-Werte)) are not or only marginal. In order to achieve a gentle insertion of the wire end into the crimp clamp, the clamp holding the wire end needs to achieve as low an oscillating downward movement as possible.

WO 2009/017653 a1 therefore proposes a device and a method for lowering and positioning a conductor in a processing station of a processing device, which is designed as a crimping station. The servo drive is arranged to lower a clamp holding the end of the wire independently of the crimping press lift. The crimping tool likewise has an actuating drive for the contact strip feed, which likewise operates without taking into account the crimping press. This device enables the various processes to be started in sequence: the contact lug is pushed into the crimping position in the crimping tool, the wire clamp holding the wire end is then pivoted in the crimping axis, the wire clamp holding the wire is then lowered by means of a servo drive via a gear and rack drive until the wire end is located in the crimping clamp, at which point the crimping press is triggered and crimped at the wire end to produce the contact. All these actions can be performed programmatically and without impact by means of a servo axis, which is however very expensive and complicated. Although this known solution for accurately and shock-free processing of thin wires is very suitable, it is also very expensive and complicated. Furthermore, the machine power becomes relatively low by the sequence control.

To overcome these disadvantages, a device for lowering and positioning a thin wire in a processing station is known from WO 2011/004272 a1, which comprises a punching base with a drive device which moves a punching slide back and forth along a central axis between a top dead center and a bottom dead center with a speed profile similar to a sinusoidal profile. Furthermore, a central plunger is provided, which is arranged parallel to the center axis and whose one end is fixed in a fixing device, by means of which the plunger is rigidly connected to the punch slide of the crimping station, so that the punch slide and the plunger move synchronously in the downward stroke. By means of a single clamp with a clamp head and at least one pair of clamp claw pairs, the clamp positions at least one wire end of a conductor in a crimping zone of a crimping tool provided on a punch slide with an upper crimping tool part and a lower crimping tool part, the conductor being crimped by a crimping clamp of a contact in a defined swivel position. In this case, the central ram is arranged alongside or alongside at least one advancing lowering device which, with advancing stroke of the ram, performs an air-inlet impact on the gripper head and lowers the gripper head speed, advances the lowering, and in this case moves the wire end from the pivoted position into the defined crimping position. The disadvantage of this wire positioning device is that its construction is very complicated, which results in high manufacturing costs and is difficult to adjust.

In order to reduce the construction costs and at the same time also to achieve a targeted positioning of very thin electrical lines in the processing station of the processing device, EP 2590275 a1 discloses a line positioning device whose lowering device has a pressure element for supporting a line guide, which pressure element is spring-loaded by means of at least one spring element, wherein the at least one spring element is arranged in a tube. In this case, the pressure element, by means of a movement of the lowering device perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, places the wire accommodated in the wire guide directly on the wire guide, so that the pressure element lies flat on the upper side of the wire guide. In this way, vibrations of the wire guide and the free end of the wire projecting from the wire guide are damped not only in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire but also in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wire. However, the drop prevents further movement of the wire to be processed, which may be an advantageous or necessary operation in most processes, and adjustment to the appropriate position and switching to other process parameters is relatively complicated.

Patent document US 6038763 a discloses a clamp-like or tweezers-like clamping assembly which is fixed in a stationary manner on a support plate, with which a cable or cable can be positioned. In this case, the two jaw segments, which are acted upon by the common support segment, are pressed against one another and/or spread apart toward the opposite side by an actuating jaw which is received between the jaw segments and is displaceable parallel to the jaw segments. Thus, only the two claw sections can be operated and moved jointly and coupled to one another. The position of the claw sections relative to the support section and relative to each other cannot be adjusted independently.

The document EP 0586252 a2 also relates to a spring-loaded gripping device similar to a pair of pliers or tweezers. Due to this simple, spring-actuated construction, the opposing claw parts of the clamping device are positively connected in a large-scale movement. This simple construction does not allow for a positional adjustment of the clamping device with respect to its supporting structure.

In contrast, patent documents CH 673858 a5 and US 4779334 a show two clamping devices with jaws of V-shaped cross section, which are arranged on arms that can be rotated relative to one another and clamp a cable or an elongate object in a clamping manner, wherein all these clamping devices work with jaws that are connected with a large movement. Furthermore, the position at which the claw member grips the corresponding object is fixed invariably by the structure of the gripping device. With this arrangement it is not possible to achieve either a counter-motion or a co-motion of the gripper jaws, in particular a parallel movement along a straight guide rail.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a method and a device for positioning a conductor in a conductor processing device, in particular comprising a crimping station, in such a way that an optimized positioning of the cable end to be processed in the axial direction and at least in the transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable end is achieved in a simple manner. In this case, the positioning should be able to be adjusted simply and also improved and have a high degree of flexibility in terms of the adjustable position of the cable ends.

In the centering unit of the device for cable processing according to the invention, in particular for a crimping station, even the finest wires, in particular micro-coaxial cables and also very thin stranded cables, can be reliably inserted with respect to the longitudinal and transverse position into the processing station, for example between the crimping jaws of a crimping contact or of another component to be connected to the end of the cable, without causing bending or damage to the inner conductor, dielectric or insulation.

To this end, such a device consists of a support frame and at least two centering jaws which can be adjusted relative to the support frame and between which the cable to be processed is accommodated, characterized in that the at least two centering jaws which lie opposite one another can be adjusted relative to one another independently of one another and relative to the support frame independently of one another. The centering process can thus be adjusted in diameter and height (i.e. in terms of relative position with respect to the support frame) by the centering jaws which can be moved relative to one another independently of one another, and the cable end can thereby be clamped or guided axially movably in an axial direction at any height position relative to the machining position and/or the component to be connected to the cable, in particular the crimp connection. All these movements may take place sequentially or also simultaneously. Preferably, at least two centering jaws that can be adjusted independently of one another can be moved by drive means that can be controlled independently of one another.

Preferably, in this case, the maximum possible adjustment paths of the centering jaws which lie opposite one another and can be adjusted independently of one another at least partially overlap one another. More preferably, the adjustment paths completely overlap each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the centering jaws, which can be adjusted independently of one another, can be moved by a respective drive and these drives can be operated independently of one another.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the centering jaws or their drive are connected to at least one monitoring and/or control unit. Preferably, such a control unit is operated programmably. Thereby, for each processing step and all types of cables, a simple and very flexible programming of the positioning of each of the centering jaws independently of the other centering jaw can be achieved. The positions and parameters for the cable guide, cable centering member and cable clamping member can be easily and quickly changed and adapted according to various requirements during cable processing. This can be achieved, for example, by a coupling to a programmed program of the plant control, by which the positions and parameters are adjusted on the basis of the settings of the remaining plant components. The centering units can also be programmed individually.

In this case, the monitoring and/or control unit is preferably designed for moving the centering jaws toward and away from one another in order to achieve a guiding or clamping of the cable ends and to adjust them as desired or necessary. Alternatively and preferably, the monitoring and/or control unit can also be designed for moving the centering jaws in the same direction. In this way, precise relative positioning of the cable end and the machining position can be carried out on the component to be connected to the end of the cable or on the crimp contact.

In order to obtain a position in which a predetermined cable can be fixed at least in the transverse direction of the cable, an embodiment of the centering unit is provided in which the mutually facing sides of the centering jaws lying opposite one another are each provided with at least one concave cutout, preferably with a V-shaped cutout.

Preferably, according to the invention, each centering finger is provided on a respective sliding part, wherein the sliding parts are guided in parallel and opposite to each other in the support frame, and wherein each sliding part is connected to a respective drive.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, if the support frame is open on at least one side thereof at a height between the outermost end positions of the centering jaws, the cable to be processed can be simply swiveled into the region of the centering jaws transversely to the cable longitudinal axis by the swivel unit, so that a large axial movement of the cable can be avoided. For this purpose, it is preferred that the support frame is open in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the centering jaws, in order to ensure a design of the centering unit and its movable components that is as simple and compact as possible. In one embodiment, a centering claw is provided on or at the sliding part, which is advantageously also provided with a guide opening or through opening of this type or a similar cutout.

The above-mentioned technical problem is also solved by a crimping device for connecting a component with an end of a cable by a crimping process, having a crimping tool and a centering unit arranged in front of the crimping tool and designed as described in the preceding paragraph.

In this case, the centering unit is preferably positioned directly at a fixed distance in front of the crimping tool. This position is preferably in the region directly adjoining the section of stripped insulation of the inserted cable. By centering or setting the centering device directly in front of the crimp pressure device and thus in front of the component to be connected to the cable end, and by making the centering jaws movable independently of one another as explained above, the centering device can thus be adjusted in diameter as well as in height. In this way, a precisely defined and precisely controllable movement of the cable end into the predefined position is made possible even in the case of a long extension of the cable (i.e. a large distance between the cable end and the gripper jaws of the cable actuating unit). All movements required for this in the longitudinal direction of the cable and in the transverse direction of the cable can take place successively or also simultaneously.

The cable centering device can be placed close to the crimping press and at the crimping contacts housed within the crimping press. Depending on the configuration of the press and the available space proportions, the cable centering device can even be integrated in the crimping press. Since the gripper/gripper jaw does not have to perform a vertical movement (cable lowering), the gripper/gripper jaw can be constructed to be stronger and lighter, which also leads to a higher runnability of the overall lighter rotary unit.

Preferably, the centering unit and the crimping tool are mounted on a common support.

In this case, the centering unit is preferably rotatable relative to the crimping tool in order to ensure simple and rapid accessibility of the movable parts of the crimping tool and of the centering unit. In this case, the centering unit is preferably rotatable about a preferably horizontally oriented axis. The axis preferably extends in the lower region of the support frame. The centering unit, in particular the support frame, can be rotated about an axis, preferably being fitted on a common support frame. In this case, the axis of rotation of the centering unit is preferably arranged in the lower region of the support frame in order to simplify the accessibility of the upper part for inspection and maintenance.

A cable processing installation with at least two processing stations, preferably with a plurality of processing stations arranged in an at least partially circular arrangement, can also be designed to solve the aforementioned technical problems. Typically in such equipment at least one of the processing stations is an insulation stripping station and at least one other processing station is a crimping device. For introducing and withdrawing the end of the cable to be processed into and from the processing table, a movement unit is provided, preferably a rotation unit, which is also used to rotate the end of the cable along the circular arrangement of the processing table. Such a movement unit for actuating a cable has a clamping device for holding the cable, in particular a clamp having clamping jaws for the cable.

The cable processing device according to the invention is characterized in that a centering unit as described above is arranged between the crimping means and the moving unit.

An alternative embodiment of such a cable processing installation is characterized in that the crimping device is designed as described in the preceding paragraph.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will emerge from the following description which is described with reference to the figures and the examples of the invention. The use of each of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description, individually or in any combination, is intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

The list of reference numerals is an integral part of the present disclosure. The drawings will be described continuously and fully. Like reference numerals refer to like parts; reference numerals with different indices indicate components with the same or similar function.

Drawings

The attached drawings are as follows:

figure 1a is an exploded view of a centering unit according to the invention in a first embodiment,

figure 1b is a schematic view of the centering unit as seen from the side of the operating unit for the cable,

figure 1c is a schematic view of the centering unit as seen from the side of the crimping table,

figures 2a-2e show a series of steps in inserting a cable end into a crimp contact as an example of a member to be connected with the end of the cable,

figure 3a is an exploded view of a centering unit according to the invention with a side opening for cable swinging in another embodiment,

figure 3b is a schematic view of the centering unit in figure 3a as seen from the side of the operating unit for the cable,

figure 3c is a schematic view of the centering unit of figure 3a as seen from the side of the crimping table,

FIG. 3d is an enlarged area of the opening for cable swing, an

Fig. 4 is a crimping station with a centering unit and a common control unit according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a centering unit Z for a cable end to be processed, in particular for inserting the end of a thin insulation-stripping cable into a crimp contact, for example. Fig. 1b and 1c show a centering unit Z in the assembled state (fig. 1b) viewed from the direction of the immediately adjacent processing table, and a centering unit Z in the assembled state (fig. 1c) viewed from the direction in which the cable K can be guided through the centering unit Z to the processing table by a moving, handling or transport unit for the cable (e.g. a rotary unit with grippers of a cable processing plant). The support frame 1 is fixed on the support structure by means of a bearing block 1a, wherein the bearing block 1a defines a preferably horizontal axis at the lower end of the support frame 1. The bearing block 1a is preferably mounted on a common support for the centering unit Z and for a processing station for the cable end, which is arranged immediately behind the centering unit Z, in particular a processing station of the crimping device C with an upper crimping tool 11 and a lower crimping tool 12, for preferably fixing the contact 9 and/or the plug on the cable end.

The two centering

jaws

2a, 2b are held in a movable manner in the support frame 1, wherein the preferably concave, in particular V-shaped or triangular-section cable receptacles of the centering

jaws

2a, 2b face one another. The centering

jaws

2a, 2b are fixed on support plates 3a, 3b as sliding parts or are formed on support plates 3a, 3b, wherein the support plates 3a, 3b are movable in the vertical direction in the support frame 1.

The movement of the support plates 3a, 3b relative to each other and to the support frame 1 is effected by means of respective linear motors 4a, 4b as drive means. The two linear motors 4a, 4b are fastened to a common motor holding plate 5, which is preferably connected to the support frame 1 on the side of the support plates 3a, 3 b. The shafts 6a, 6b of the linear motors 4a, 4b are connected to the support plates 3a, 3b, for example, by means of helical gears or in the form of worm gear.

The linear motors 4a, 4b are preferably connected to a monitoring and/or control unit S, by means of which the linear motors 4a, 4b can be operated independently of one another and also independently of the direction. Such a control is preferably carried out by a corresponding programmable control unit, which may also be part of the device control comprising the described centering unit Z. The support plates 3a, 3b and thus also the centering

jaws

2a, 2b can therefore be moved up and down in the vertical direction independently of one another by corresponding programming and control of the linear motors 4a, 4 b. The centering

jaws

2a, 2b can thus be opened or closed and can also be moved together and in parallel in the same direction in order to position the cable K centered or even clamped between the centering

jaws

2a, 2 b. Thereby, the centering

jaws

2a, 2b are closed, opened or moved in their "intermediate position" depending on the direction and speed of movement of the engine shaft. All these movements can also be programmed so as to overlap one another, so that for example the opening or closing of the centering device can be carried out simultaneously with the movement of the "intermediate position".

The supporting plates 3a, 3b are held on the supporting frame 1 by the cover 7, so that the supporting frame 1 together with the cover 7 ensures the guidance of the supporting plates 3a, 3b and prevents the penetration of dirt (see also fig. 1 b). If the support plates 3a, 3b are alternatively already used movably in the guide on the support frame 1, the cover plates 7 serve only to protect the guide and the support plates 3a, 3 b.

In the support frame 1, a vertical slot 8 is provided through which the end of the cable K to be machined is guided and during the mounting, a component on the cable end (for example, a crimp contact 9) can be clamped or guided by the centering

claws

2a, 2b at any height along the slot 8. However, the centering unit Z can be applied in all processing steps, wherein guiding and/or clamping in different positions of the cable axis requires a special sequence. In fig. 1b, the cable K is also shown.

Preferably, the centering unit Z is combined with a crimping device C for connecting the member with the end of the cable K by a crimping operation. In this case, the centering unit Z is preferably positioned immediately in front of at least one crimping tool 1, 12 of the crimping apparatus C, preferably at a fixed distance. In this case, in order to guarantee an optimal guidance and precision when inserting the cable end into the component (for example the crimp contact 9), the centering unit Z is preferably arranged in a corresponding region located before the crimping device C, which is the region immediately adjacent to the section of stripped insulation of the introduced cable K when inserting the cable (i.e. the process immediately before the crimping of the contact 9 or plug with the cable end is carried out).

As previously mentioned, the centering unit Z and the crimping device C with the crimping tools 11, 12 are preferably mounted on a common support so as to maintain a mutual spacing and mutual orientation perpendicular to the cable longitudinal axis a reliably and reproducibly. Nevertheless, in order to be able to easily handle the centering unit Z and its components and also the crimping tools 11, 12 for maintenance, replacement or repair, it is preferred that the centering unit Z is mounted rotatably relative to the crimping station C or at least the crimping tools 11, 12. In this case, the rotation is preferably carried out about a horizontal axis 15 on a common support, wherein the axis 15 is located in a lower region of the support frame 1, preferably extending in the region of the lower edge of the support frame 1. If necessary or advantageous, the axis of rotation can also be arranged in other positions and in other orientations, for example laterally and vertically on the support frame 1, so that the support frame 1 can be swung away from the crimping device C like a door. Furthermore, in the case of particularly small spaces, in order to avoid the space requirement for the pivoting movement, it is conceivable to arrange the support frame 1 in a preferably vertical or also horizontal sliding guide for removing the support frame 1 by simple pulling out. The centering unit Z is advantageously mounted on a common support, as shown in fig. 4, so as to be rotatable together with the two lateral bolts in the bearing block 14, wherein the centering unit Z can be fixed by any means at least in a position perpendicular to the cable axis a and in the farthest pivoted position. Fig. 4 also shows sensor and/or control lines 13 extending between the crimping station C and the monitoring and/or control unit S, and sensor and/or control lines 13 extending between the centering unit Z and the monitoring and/or control unit S.

A particularly advantageous application is that the above-described centering unit Z is used in a cable processing installation with at least two processing stations, preferably a plurality of processing stations positioned in an at least partially circular arrangement. It is generally necessary to center the cable end to be processed in an apparatus having at least one insulation stripping station and crimping devices, in which the contact or plug 9 is placed by crimping on the stripped cable end. In these apparatuses, the wire K is positioned toward and away from the processing table by a moving unit for introducing and withdrawing an end of the wire to be processed. This movement unit acts in the form of a swivel arm with cable clamp 10 as a clamping device for holding the cable K and to undertake a possible rotation of the end of the cable along the circular device of the processing station. Furthermore, the crimping device is preferably integrated in the apparatus for cable processing as described above as one of the processing stations.

An advantageous method of connecting, for example, a crimp connection to an end of a cable K stripped of insulation, for example using the above-mentioned centering unit Z, is described below with reference to fig. 2a-2 e. After the stripping and bundling of the insulation layer at the cable end, to which the plug or crimp contact 9 is to be fixed, the cable end must be inserted precisely, for example, into the crimp contact 9, in order to avoid damage to the cable end and to ensure good fixing and contact. In this case, the cable K is clamped by the clamp 10 on an axis that is misaligned with respect to the axis of the crimp contact 9, and has its end outside the crimp contact 9. Then, the cable end is moved by the axial movement of the cable K and by the movement of the axis a of the end of the stripped insulation of the cable K, either simultaneously or in successive steps, coinciding with the axis of the crimp contact 9, after which the crimp contact 9 can be crimped on the fully introduced cable K.

By means of the above-described centering unit Z, the cable K is moved axially into the centering unit Z by means of the clamp 10, as shown in fig. 2 a. The cable end finally passes through the vertical slot 8 and comes into contact with the longitudinal section between the centering

jaws

2a, 2b directly connected to its end stripped of insulation. As shown in fig. 2b, the centering

jaws

2a, 2b are then programmed by the monitoring and/or control unit S to move relative to one another, but do not completely clamp the cable around. At this point, the cable end is guided between the centering

claws

2a, 2b, i.e. precisely in height and in the transverse direction and even then can be moved axially back and forth over the crimp contact 9 (see in particular fig. 2d in comparison with fig. 2 c).

Also in fig. 2a, the axis of the crimp contact 9 (the cable axis a coincides with the axis of the crimp contact 9 in the finished state) is lower when the centering

jaws

2a, 2b are still open and the cable axis is at the same height as the centering jaw central axis. In this intermediate position it is ensured that the cable end of the stripped insulation does not touch any part of the crimp contact 9.

Subsequently, as shown in fig. 2c, the two centering

claws

2a, 2b are preferably lowered again by program control, whereby the cable end of the stripped insulation is also lowered to the level of the axis of the crimp contact 9, but preferably does not reach all the way. The relative distance of the centering

jaws

2a, 2b is usually constant during this process, but can also be closed further or opened again if desired.

Next, as shown in fig. 2d, the cable K is moved axially in a subsequent step by means of the gripper 10 and/or the gripper jaws of the rotary unit towards the crimp connection 9 to an axially positioned final position. If the axes are not perfectly aligned in the preceding step, it is also possible to lower the

centring claws

2a, 2b completely after this step in order to insert the cable K completely coaxially into the crimp contact 9.

Finally, the crimp contact 9 is crimped on the end of the stripped insulation of the cable K by means of crimping tools 11, 12. Depending on the requirements, the cable K is only guided by the centering

claws

2a, 2b, or the centering

claws

2a, 2b can also be closed further by program control in order to hold the cable firmly with a slight pressure.

All these machining movements, in particular each machining movement of the centering

jaws

2a, 2b, are programmed. In addition, the movements described above in the individual steps can also be combined or combined in any desired manner into a continuous movement process.

As shown in fig. 1a to 1c, the centering and insertion process described above can be optimally designed by the centering unit Z, but at the beginning a relatively large movement of the clamp 10 is required and thus a displacement and/or a displacement or rotation unit in the axial direction of the cable K is required.

In order to avoid excessive axial movements of the cable and a large movement range of the relatively heavy movement unit for introducing and withdrawing the cable end, the centering unit Z can be further modified as shown in fig. 3a-3 d. In the support frame 1, a notch 1c is provided on at least one side. On the side of the recess 1c, which is preferably oriented in a direction at an obtuse angle to the direction of movement of the centering

jaws

2a, 2b, the support plate 3b for the upper centering jaw 2b is also provided with a recess or at least without any material in this region. The same applies to the cover plate 7. The direction of the recess 1c is preferably vertically aligned with the vertical movement direction of the preferred centering

jaws

2a, 2 b. This design allows a simple lateral pivoting of the cable ends in the elongated holes 8 of the centering unit Z by means of the rotary unit of the preferred cable processing device.

A recess 3c is provided in the support plate 3a for the lower centering claw 2a, the size of which recess preferably corresponds to the size of the recess 1c of the support frame 1. By means of the recesses 1c, 3c which are in each case located at a height of the support frame 1 between the extreme end positions of the centering

jaws

2a, 2b, preferably in the intermediate region between the end positions, the cable K (as is clearly visible in the enlarged partial view of fig. 3 d) can be swung laterally in the region between the open centering

jaws

2a, 2b and transversely to the cable longitudinal axis.

List of reference numerals

1 supporting frame

1a bearing block for a support frame

1c in the recess of the supporting frame

2a, 2b centering jaws

3a, 3b support plate of centering jaws

3c recesses in the support plate

4a, 4b centring claw drive

5 Engine mounting plate

6a, 6b drive axis

7 cover plate

8 vertical slot

9 crimping contact

10 clamp for cables

11. 12 crimping tool

13 sensor or control conductor

14 support block

15 axis of rotation for centering unit

Z centering unit

C crimping table

K cable

S control unit

A cable axis

Claims

1. A centering unit (Z) for a device for cable machining, having a support frame (1) and at least two centering jaws (2a, 2b) opposite to each other, adjustable with respect to the support frame (1), between which centering jaws (2a, 2b) a cable (K) to be machined is accommodated, characterized in that at least two centering jaws (2a, 2b) opposite to each other are adjustable independently of each other and independently of each other with respect to the support frame (1), such that the position of the cable (K) can be adjusted with respect to the support frame (1) when the cable (K) is accommodated between the at least two centering jaws (2a, 2 b).

2. The centering unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is used for a crimping station (C).

3. Centering unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the largest possible adjustment paths of the centering jaws (2a, 2b) that are opposite each other and can be adjusted independently of each other at least partially overlap each other.

4. A centring unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the maximum adjustment paths of the centring claws (2a, 2b) completely overlap each other.

5. A centring unit (Z) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each of the centring claws (2a, 2b) that can be adjusted independently of one another can be moved by means of a respective drive means (4a, 4b), and the drive means (4a, 4b) can be operated independently of one another.

6. A centering unit (Z) according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the centering jaws (2a, 2b) or their driving means (4a, 4b) are connected with at least one monitoring and/or control unit (S).

7. A centering unit (Z) according to claim 6, characterized in that the monitoring and/or control unit (S) is programmable.

8. A centering unit (Z) according to claim 6, characterized in that the monitoring and/or control unit (S) is designed to move the centering jaws (2a, 2b) closer to and further away from each other.

9. Centering unit (Z) according to claim 6, characterized in that the monitoring and/or control unit (S) is designed to move the centering jaws (2a, 2b) codirectionally.

10. A centering unit (Z) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that mutually facing sides of the centering jaws (2a, 2b) lying opposite one another are each provided with at least one concave cut-out.

11. A centering unit (Z) according to claim 10, characterized in that mutually facing sides of the centering jaws (2a, 2b) lying opposite one another are each provided with a V-shaped cut-out.

12. Centring unit (Z) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each centring claw (2a, 2b) is provided on a respective slide member (3a, 3b), wherein the slide members (3a, 3b) are movable in parallel and relative to each other in the support frame (1), and wherein each slide member (3a, 3b) is connected to a respective drive means (4a, 4 b).

13. Centering unit (Z) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support frame (1) has a guide opening (1c) on at least one side of the support frame (1) at least at the height between the most distal end positions of the centering jaws (2a, 2b) that are opposite to each other.

14. A centring unit (Z) according to claim 13, characterised in that the guide opening (1c) is in a central region between the end positions.

15. Centring unit (Z) according to claim 13, characterised in that the guide mouth is located on the side of the support frame (1) parallel to the direction of movement of the centring claws (2a, 2 b).

16. Centering unit (Z) according to claim 12, characterized in that the support frame (1) has a guide opening (1c) on one side of the support frame (1) and the sliding part (3a, 3b) has a guide opening on at least one side of the sliding part (3a, 3b) at least at the height between the most distant end positions of the centering jaws (2a, 2b) that are opposite to each other.

17. A centring unit (Z) according to claim 16, characterised in that the guide mouth (1c) of the support frame (1) is in a central region between the end positions.

18. Centring unit (Z) according to claim 16, characterised in that the guide mouth (1c) of the support frame (1) and the guide mouth of the sliding member (3a, 3b) are on the side parallel to the direction of movement of the centring jaws (2a, 2 b).

19. Crimping device for connecting a component with an end of a cable by a crimping process, having crimping tools (11, 12) and a centering unit placed in front of the crimping tools (11, 12), characterized in that the centering unit is a centering unit (Z) according to claims 1-18.

20. Crimping device according to claim 19, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is positioned directly in front of the crimping tools (11, 12) at a fixed distance.

21. Crimping device according to claim 20, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is positioned in a region directly adjoining a section of stripped insulation of the inserted cable (K) during cable processing.

22. Crimping device according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) and the crimping tools (11, 12) are fitted on a common support.

23. Crimping device according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is rotatable relative to the crimping tool and is rotatably fitted on a common support.

24. Crimping device according to claim 23, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is rotatable about an axis relative to the crimping tool.

25. Crimping device according to claim 23, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is rotatable about a horizontal axis with respect to the crimping tool.

26. Crimping device according to claim 23, characterized in that the centering unit (Z) is rotatably mounted on a common support in the lower region of the support frame (1).

27. A cable processing installation with at least two processing stations, wherein at least one processing station in the cable processing installation is an insulation stripping station and at least one other processing station is a crimping device (C), and with at least one movement unit for transporting and retrieving the end of the cable to be processed to and from the processing stations, wherein the movement unit has a clamping device for holding the cable, characterized in that a centering unit (Z) according to any one of claims 1 to 18 is arranged between the crimping device (C) and the movement unit.

28. The cable processing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least two processing stations are a plurality of processing stations positioned in an at least partially circular arrangement.

29. The cable processing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the movement unit is further adapted to rotate the end of the cable along the circular arrangement of the processing table.

30. A cable processing installation with at least two processing stations, wherein at least one processing station of the cable processing installation is an insulation stripping station and at least one other processing station is a crimping device (C), and with at least one movement unit for transporting and retrieving an end of a cable to be processed to and from the processing stations, wherein the movement unit has a clamping device for holding the cable, characterized in that the crimping device (C) is designed according to any one of claims 19 to 26.

31. The cable processing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least two processing stations are a plurality of processing stations arranged in an at least partially circular arrangement.

32. The cable processing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the movement unit is further adapted to rotate the end of the cable along the circular arrangement of the processing table.