EP0271742A2 - Unloading method for a cable-making installation, and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for disposing of a system for the assembly of cables and a device for performing the method. The method is characterized in that the ready-made cables are each gripped at a location which is locally determined by the controlled conveying process during assembly and are pulled over a shelf (10), after which the location gripped is released in a certain position.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for the disposal of a system for the assembly of cables.

There are two fundamentally different types of system for the assembly of cables, which differ in their structure and in the way in which the cable is gripped and conveyed. Thus, in one type of system, the cables with opposite ends are conveyed transversely to their longitudinal extent to the processing stations arranged in two parallel rows (DE-PS 24 40 264). In the other type of system, the cables are laid out in loops before the assembly process begins, so that the two ends of the cable are arranged parallel to one another and run through the individual processing stations arranged in a single row (US Pat. No. 3,283,398). Today, both types of plant are used next to each other for different assembly tasks. In both cases, further manufacturing stages can follow the assembly process. The further processing can consist in attaching additional installation parts to the cable, assembling the cable in a device or packaging the cable. As a rule, the different cable ends of the finished cable are processed or processed differently.

Such systems are now disposed of very simply by an operator. So that the cables do not simply fall to the floor at the end of the assembly process, it is known to have one at the end of the system Arrest station to arrange. This collecting station consists of hook-shaped bars onto which the finished cable falls at the end of the conveyor of the system. The cables are then disordered on the rods and are periodically removed by the operator, ordered, summarized, and. U. bundled and placed on a frame suitable for further processing. For assembly systems in which the cable ends are conveyed through the systems in parallel next to one another, in addition to the previously described activities of the operator, another is necessary. The cables fall onto the collecting station in the same form as they are conveyed through the system. However, since the cable ends that differ from one another are processed differently, the operator must carry out the activity "separating the cable ends" before the "organizing" activity.

The described way of disposing of assembly systems therefore requires a lot of manual effort. At the same time, the number of cables produced by the systems per hour depends on the performance of the operator. If the system produces more cables than the operator can remove, the cables jam at the end of the system and can become entangled. For the reasons mentioned above, the known method cannot be used in systems which have a considerably higher performance.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset which can be used universally for any packaging system and which reduce the proportion of manual work.

The above object is achieved in accordance with the method in that the ready-made cables each on one by the controlled conveying process during the confectioning process, a locally determined location is gripped and pulled over a shelf, after which the gripped location is released in a specific position.

The proposed method can be used in the first as well as in the second type of installation without additional measures. Grasping and releasing each cable at the same place ensures that the cables are properly arranged on the shelf for the further production process. Due to the pulling movement when storing the cable, it is ensured that regardless of the way in which the cable is conveyed through the respective system, the two cable ends are spatially separated for their different further processing.

To implement the new method, a device is proposed which is characterized by a first conveyor arranged directly behind the conveyor device of the system and a cable holder for receiving the cables in the conveying direction of the conveyor. The proportion of manual work is significantly reduced by the sponsor. At the same time, the performance of the packaging system can be increased, since the remaining portion of manual activities only has a small amount of time. In addition, depending on the further production stages, different cable shelves can be used in their shape, since the cable does not simply fall onto the shelf, but is pulled into a specific position by the conveyor.

If cables are assembled with relatively large lengths, then the problem arises of placing the finished cables after the end of the assembly process in such a way that the cable ends do not lie on the floor and thus interlock can loop. It is therefore proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that the cables are pulled over a storage space interrupted in the direction of extension of the cables and conveyed into the interruption with a certain section of their length. At the end of the conveying process, the cable forms a total of three loops on the shelf, which significantly shortens its length. At the same time, it is again ensured here that the different cable ends are spatially separated from one another.

The three loops of the cable can be formed in different ways. So it is possible that the cable is first pulled over a clipboard arranged between the first conveyor and the tray, which is provided with a second conveyor. After the transfer to the clipboard, the cable is held there at a specific point and the specific length section of the cable is conveyed into the interruption by means of the second conveyor. It is also conceivable that the cable is conveyed at two points at different speeds. For this purpose, the clipboard has two conveyors, which also take over the holding function for the cable. But it is also possible that the certain length of the cable is already conveyed into the interruption while it is still being pulled over the shelf. This considerably accelerates the process.

A further acceleration of the method can be achieved in that a separating device 88 is arranged between the intermediate storage 80 and the second conveyor 82 and that a cable can be positioned with respect to the storage 10 by the second conveyor 82, while at the same time by the first conveyor 40 a further cable can be transported onto the double tray 80. The separating device makes it possible for the separate successive steps from one another, so that two processes which can otherwise only be carried out one after the other can take place simultaneously.

In order to further limit the proportion of manual activities, it can be provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the cables are automatically combined there by a device after their positioning on the shelf. It is possible to provide for the cables to lie loosely next to and on top of one another, and also to be combined into bundles or packages by appropriate means. The cables can also be combined in various ways. So it is possible that the tray is provided with a slide that shifts the cables positioned in front of him by the first conveyor at periodic or number-dependent intervals in a different position. So that the production process does not have to be interrupted, it is advantageous if the slide is provided with a roof and the shelf is provided with a scraper which interacts with the roof. This makes it possible for the fully advanced cable to fall onto the roof when the slide is fully extended and then be pushed onto the shelf by the scraper when the slide is retracted. Another way to summarize the cables is that the storage is moved in periodic or quantity-dependent time intervals by a certain path. The route to be traveled and the time period depend on the desired number of cables combined.

A further embodiment of the invention is that a transfer device is provided between the first conveyor and the system. This further increases the flexibility and the speed of the method or the device.

• Fig. 1 eine vereinfachte perpektivische Dar­stellung einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Entsorgung einer Anlage für die Konfektionierung von Kabeln,
• Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 in einer Stellung während des Ablegens eines Kabels ,
• Fig. 3 eine vereinfachte perspektivische Dar­stellung einer zweiten Vorrichtung mit nur teilweise gezeigter Übergabeeinrich­tung
• Fig. 4 eine vereinfachte Ansicht einer dritten Vorrichtung,
• Fig. 5 eine vereinfachte Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 4,
• Fig. 6 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 5,
• Fig. 7 a, b, c ein Ablegeschema für eine Vor­richtung gemäß Fig. 4.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

• 1 is a simplified perspective view of a first device according to the invention for the disposal of a system for the assembly of cables,
• 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a position during the laying down of a cable,
• Fig. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a second device with the transfer device only partially shown
• 4 shows a simplified view of a third device,
• 5 shows a simplified top view of a device according to FIG. 4,
• 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5,
• 7 a, b, c a storage scheme for a device according to FIG. 4.

For the explanation of the method and the device according to the invention, a system for assembling cables is assumed, in which the cable ends arranged parallel to one another are conveyed through the individual processing stations of the system. The end of a conveyor belt 100 of such a system is shown in the drawing figures 1 to 4. The conveyor belt 100 carries a plurality of cables held in clamp holders 102. The schematic representation of a conveyor belt with However, the invention does not restrict the cable ends arranged parallel to one another exclusively to such systems.

1 and 2 show the simplest embodiment for the disposal according to the invention of a system for the assembly of cables. It consists of a depositing mandrel 12 serving as a deposit 10, a transfer device 20 and a first conveyor 40. As shown in FIG Cable-carrying clamp holder 102 of the conveyor belt 100 opened. In the example, the clamp holder 102 carrying the other end of the cable is opened at the same time, but further back in the conveying path, by the same power cylinder 24 via a further actuating crank 28. In the present case, the tilting position of the front clamp holder at the deflecting end of its conveyor chain ensures that the cable end falls out of the open jaws of the holder into a transport device 30 of the transfer device 20. In contrast, the cable end held by the rear clamp holder falls to the floor. Of course, it is also possible for the front cable end to fall to the ground and the rear end to be gripped by the transfer device 20. The transport device 30 can have a wide variety of designs. In the present case, it consists of two pliers halves braced against each other by a spring. The transport device is pivoted by means of a further power cylinder 22 in such a way that the cable end held up to that point is grasped and conveyed further by two cooperating conveyor belts 42, 44 of the first conveyor 40 (FIG. 2). The first conveyor 40 then drags the cable about half over the storage mandrel 12 serving as a tray 10, after which the conveyor belts 42, 44 clear the end of the cable which has been further transferred up to that point give. The cables collected on the storage mandrel 12 can then be removed there in a well-ordered manner. The embodiment of the first conveyor 40 can also be any other. For example, it is conceivable that it is constructed similarly to the conveyor 100 of the system. This embodiment would have the advantage that the cable can be released at any point on the first conveyor 40 by means of a further power cylinder. Thus, cables of different lengths could be pulled over the shelf 10 with the same structure of the device. In addition, it is possible that the cables can be stored on the storage mandrel 12 with ends of different lengths.

3 shows a further embodiment of the device. Here, the transfer device 20 and the first conveyor 40 are constructed in the same way as in the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In contrast, a table 14 is provided as a tray 10, the height of its table surface 16 being slightly less than the conveying height of the first conveyor 40. A device 60 for combining the cables is attached to the table. It consists of a slide 62 which can be moved by a power cylinder 64 perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the first conveyor. In its initial position, the slide 62 is located under the first conveyor 40, so that the cables deposited by it lie in front of it. The slider 62 is extended by the power cylinder 64 at adjustable, periodic or quantity-dependent time intervals, so that these cables are spatially separated from the cables brought up by the first conveyor 40. This ensures that the cables are already bundled ready so that they only have to be removed from the table and placed on a frame suitable for further processing. So that the disposal can continue during the extension of the slide 62, the slide 62 has a width parallel to the table surface 16 provided the roof 68. The length of the roof 68 corresponds at least to the entire extension length of the slide 62. The cables which are further advanced during the extension movement of the slide 62 can thus fall onto the roof 68 of the slide 62. When the slide 62 is retracted, these cables are pushed down by a scraper 66 fixed to the table 14 or to the first conveyor 40, so that they lie on the table surface 16 in the same position as the cables brought in by the conveyor 40. The device 60 just described for combining cables can also be attached to the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the same or somewhat modified form.

In the device according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the transfer device 20 can be omitted. The first conveyor 40 is then brought directly to the conveyor of the system.

A further device for carrying out the method for disposing of a system for the assembly of cables is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, which is particularly suitable for cable lengths over 2 m. But it is also possible to use the system for shorter cables. In this device, an elevator 32, serving as a transfer device 20 and provided with a clamp holder 33, grips an end of the cable released by the conveyor 100 of the system and transports it to the first conveyor 40, which is attached at a sufficient height for the respective cable lengths. There, the cable is gripped by the first conveyor 40, which is provided with three clamp holders 46, and pulled over an intermediate storage 80. A mobile frame 18 for final storage of the cables can be pushed under the clipboard 80. The cables placed on it can then be brought to further processing by means of the frame. This essentially eliminates any manual activity. The frame 18 can be constructed depending on the type of further processing. The frame 18 has, for example, a horizontally arranged, square frame at its upper end. The two frame parts running transversely to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 40 are provided on their upper sides with vertically aligned pins which are arranged at equal intervals from one another. In the spaces between the tenons, the cables come in various forms for final storage. 7 a, b, c show the different shapes for the cables of different lengths. The clipboard 80 is used to generate the different shapes.

The intermediate shelf 80 has a V-shaped incision 86 running parallel to the first conveyor 40 and arranged below it, which is closed at its lower end with a horizontally movable closing plate 88 serving as a separating device. The end plate 88 is fixedly connected to two rollers 82, 84 arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 40 and having a vertical axis. The first roller 82 in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 40 is driven in contrast to the rear roller 84. Compared to the two movable rollers 82, 84, two identical, but stationary rollers 83, 85 are arranged. The distance between the front pair of rollers 82, 83 and the rear pair of rollers 84, 85 in the conveying direction can correspond exactly to the distance between the frame parts of the frame 18 provided with the pins. Between the two pairs of rollers 82, 83; 84, 85 there are two partially vertically extending letible plates 90, 92, the guide plate 80 attached between the two horizontally movable rollers 82, 84 additionally having a horizontal leg. This horizontal leg extends below the opening of the V-shaped slot 86. The two baffles 90, 92 form a vertical gap extending in the conveying direction, which, like that through which Roller pairs 82, 83; 84, 85 formed gap of the respective cable shape is adaptable.

If the first conveyor 40 has gripped a cable from the elevator 32, it pulls it over the clipboard 80. The cable is inserted into the V-shaped slot 86 closed by the end plate 88. This process is supported by a guide roller 98 having a vertical axis and two guide plates 96 which are arranged in the insertion region of the V-shaped slot 86. As soon as the first conveyor with the gripped cable in or intermediate storage 80 has passed, the end plate 88 moves to the side together with the rollers 82, 84, as a result of which the cable falls onto the L-shaped guide plate 90. The end plate 88 then moves into its starting position back, with the two rollers 82, 84 taking the cable along the L-shaped guide plate 90. The cable is now held by the two pairs of rollers 82, 83; 84, 85. Both the pairs of rollers 84, 85 in the direction of conveyance of the first conveyor 40 and the rear pair 82, 83 can serve as brake rollers for the first conveyor 40. The first conveyor 40 travels with the gripped cable end in the conveying direction until it reaches a fixed stop (not shown), where the first conveyor 40 drops the cable end , which thus forms the first leg of a loop The location of the stop depends on the desired H, for example, required for further processing height of the cable end above the floor on the frame 18. Simultaneously or at an earlier point in time, the two driven rollers 82, 83 begin to convey the cable section into the frame 18, which is located outside the intermediate position 80 against the conveying direction. The two rear rollers 84, 85 in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 40 hold the cable firmly. As soon as the desired depth of the middle cable loop is reached (Fig. 7a), the two rollers move 82, 84 together with the end plate 88 to the side so that the cable can fall onto the frame 18. Since the first conveyor 40 has meanwhile already taken a new cable and pulled it over the clipboard 20, when the two rollers 82, 84 and the end plate 88 move to the side, this cable falls on the L-shaped guide plate 90. The cycle just described begins again.

If the cable according to FIG. 7 b is to be placed on the frame, this process differs from that just described in that the two driven rollers 82, 84 only have a holding function. As soon as the first conveyor 40 releases its gripped cable end, the two horizontally movable rollers 82, 84 can also move to the side, so that the cable falls down in the form shown.

If it is desired that the cable according to FIG. 7 c comes to rest on the frame 18, the two driven rollers 82, 83 also convey the cable into the intermediate space formed by the frame of the frame 18.

Depending on the spatial conditions at the place of use of the system, it may be possible that the first conveyor 40 cannot carry out the extension movement necessary for the desired length of one leg of the loop. In this case, it can be provided that the rear rollers 84, 85 of the clipboard 80 in the conveying direction can also be driven. Depending on the desired shape of the cable on the frame 18, the conveying speed of the two pairs of rollers 82, 83; 84, 85 may be different. As a rule, the front pair of rollers 82, 83 in the conveying direction will have a greater conveying speed than the rear pair of rollers 84, 85.

Depending on the quality, size, shape and weight of the cable to be conveyed, the pressure of the two pairs of rollers 82, 83; 84, 85 can be designed variably. In the case of particularly heavy cables, 80 support rollers with horizontal axes can also be installed in front of, between and / or behind the clipboard.

So that the same number of cables comes to rest in each space between two pins of the frame 18, it can further be provided that a driven endless belt 99 moves the frame 18 in freely selectable periodic periods by a certain path perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 40 . At the same time, this makes it possible for a plurality of frames 18 to be continuously guided past the disposal device in succession. Depending on the construction of the frame 18, the conveyor belt 99 can be designed differently.

As with the devices according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first conveyor 40 of the device can be brought directly to the conveyor 100 of the system. The elevator 32 is then omitted.

Claims (13)

1. A method for disposing of a system for the assembly of cables, characterized in that the ready-made cables are each taken at a location determined by the controlled conveying process during the assembly and pulled over a tray (10), after which the taken place in a certain position is released. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cables are pulled over an interrupted in the direction of extension of the cable tray (10) and conveyed with a certain section of their length in the interruption. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the particular length of each cable is already conveyed into the interruption while the cable is still being pulled over the shelf (10). 4. The method according to claim 1 for a system in which the cable ends are arranged parallel next to each other during assembly and the cable forms a loop, characterized in that the loop of the cable is released by a pulling movement and that the cable on the shelf ( 10) is deposited in the form of one or more loops. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cables after their positioning on the shelf (10) there are automatically summarized by a device in certain periodic or quantity-dependent periods. 6.Device for disposing of a system for the assembly of cables, in particular for performing a method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a first conveyor (40) arranged directly behind the conveyor of the system and a cable storage (10) for receiving the cables in Direction of conveyance of the conveyor (40). 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the tray (10) consists of at least one rod-shaped body (12) extending perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor (40). 8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the tray (10) has a table (14) extending parallel to the conveying direction of the first conveyor (40), the table surface (16) at most the same height as the first conveyor (40) owns. 9. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that between the first conveyor (40) and the tray (10) is provided with a second conveyor (82) provided clipboard (80). 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that a separating device (88) is arranged between the intermediate storage (80) and the second conveyor (82) and that a cable with respect to the storage (10) by the second conveyor (82) can be positioned, while at the same time a further cable can be transported to the clipboard (80) by the first conveyor (40). 11. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the tray (10) can be moved by a certain path. 12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that a device (60) for automatically combining the cables is provided on the shelf (10). 13. Device according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that a transfer device (20) is provided between the first conveyor (40) and the system.

Images