EP0272395B1 - Transport device for an electric cable - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transport device for electrical cables in a manufacturing station for processing electrical cables of a certain length, with at least one stepwise horizontally movable perpendicular to the axis of the cable ends, equipped with openable and closable grippers that hold the cable ends, and a displacement device at the end of the displacement device arranged cable storage.

Such a transport device is part of a manufacturing station for processing electrical cables of various lengths, cross sections or types, for wiring electrical systems in automobile and vehicle construction, for household appliances or the like. The individual cables are automatically selected from a wire feeder and cut into pre-selected lengths and taken over by the transport device, which leads them step by step along a processing line from processing station to processing station. The two cable ends are stripped, for example, and provided with different types of connections, such as plug contacts, cable lugs, etc. Both individual pieces of cable as well as multiple connections plugged into collective plugs can be automatically produced in any quantity for further processing.

A cable transport device in such a manufacturing station for the transport of cable sections perpendicular to their axes has become known in addition to other associated devices with DE-OS 26 22 360. 1 and 2 show a side view of an endlessly rotating transport system with a transport chain deflected around two chain wheels with transport clamps for gripping one end of a cable section. Two jaws each Transport clamps are each pivotably mounted between two links and two hinge axes of the endless transport chain and are kept closed by the force of a spring. In the area of cable takeover and cable delivery, the clamping jaws are opened by control cams and control rollers against the force of the spring. The transport chain is driven step by step, controlled by a specially designed worm gear driven by a geared motor equipped with braking devices. Alongside and above this, various processing stations are arranged along the upper run of the transport chain, depending on the desired type of processing of the respective end of the cable section. The description further shows that the entire transport device consists of two such units arranged in parallel next to one another and the parallel spacing of the two chains can be set by displaceably supporting one unit on a machine frame. The distance between the two units depends on the length of the cable sections to be processed and is set in each case via an adjusting device, not shown.

A disadvantage of this cable transport device is that practically two identical transport units assembled in mirror image are necessary. Another disadvantage is that the lengths of the cables to be processed are limited and can only vary between a minimum length when the transport units are completely retracted and a maximum length when the transport units are fully extended. Cable sections with a length greater than 2-3 meters can no longer be processed with this transport device. Furthermore, two independent processing lines are required for processing the two cable ends.

With DE-OS 33 40 744 another such cable manufacturing station has become known, which also has a cable transport device in the form of two endless in one has a certain distance parallel arranged side by side and deflected over two sprockets transport chains. Aligned, releasable gripper pairs are arranged around the circumference of both chains, which grip the two ends of each individual cable. The distance between the two chains is invariable and the cut cables hang depending on their length more or less deep between the two transport chains and form a loop. So that a loop can form in the area of the cable feeder, it is necessary to design the connecting plate serving as a cable guide between the two transport chains as a pivotable door or flap, which opens automatically when necessary and closes again when a new cable is fed in. Below the transport device, additional formwork is required between the two chains, so that hanging cable loops cannot get caught anywhere during transport. A number of processing stations for treating the two cable ends are provided one behind the other on the outside of the transport chains. A stepper drive, actuated by an electric motor via a worm and a Maltese cross gear, moves the cable blanks step by step from processing station to processing station.

A disadvantage of this transport device is that two independent processing lines are also required for processing the two cable ends. In addition, this device is not enough to properly transport longer cables. Loops of cables that are longer than approx. 2-3 meters would spread out in an uncontrolled manner on the floor and would drag on the floor during transport from processing station to processing station. Another disadvantage is that it is very difficult to dispose of individual wiring harnesses in the event of malfunctions. In such cases, usually the entire bundle of cable loops lying one above the other and partially pushed into one another can be removed.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a cable transport device which can transport cable sections of greater lengths without any problems, without cable loops being dragged over the floor or cladding plates along the transport path against the clinging of cable loops and in which only one processing station for each Processing of both cable ends is required, the processing station should be able to be set up on one or on the other side of the transport route.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of the first claim.

The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially to be seen in the fact that cable sections of up to approx. 10 m in length can be transported along the processing stations without a loop of the cable being dragged and damaged on the ground or being able to get stuck at one point on the station. The rotatability of the holding device makes it possible to machine both gripped ends of each cable section from the same processing stations. One of the relatively expensive processing stations previously required in pairs can be saved. Different processing stations can thus only be arranged in succession on one side of the processing line, or alternately left and right on both sides of the processing line. Another advantage is that individual cable harnesses can be disposed of in the event of a fault.

Fig. 1

einen schematisch dargestellten Grundriss einer Kabel-Bearbeitungs-Anlage;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt gemäss Linie II-II der Fig. 1 durch die Kabel-Bearbeitungs-Anlage;

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt gemäss der Linie III-III der Fig. 1 durch die Kabel-Bearbeitungs-Anlage mit einer Ausführungsvariante für eine Kabeltransportvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

einen Längsschnitt gemäss der Linie III-III der Fig. 1 durch die Kabel-Bearbeitungs-Anlage mit einer anderen Ausführungsvariante für die Kabel-Transport-Vorrichtung;

Fig. 5

Detail einer Kabelübergabestation gemäss Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

Detail einer Kabelzuführstation gemäss Schnitt VI-VI der Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

einen Längsschnitt gemäss der Linie III-III der Fig. 1 durch die Kabel-Bearbeitungs-Anlage mit einer weiteren Ausführungsvariante für die Kabel-Transport-Vorrichtung;

Fig. 8

Detail eines Transportorganes mit abstehenden Stegen;

Fig. 9

Detail eines Transportorganes mit angelenkten Mitnehmern;

Fig.10

Detail eines Transportorganes mit beispielsweise angenieteten Stegen.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematically illustrated floor plan of a cable processing system;

Fig. 2

a cross section along line II-II of Figure 1 by the cable processing system.

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section along the line III-III of Figure 1 by the cable processing system with an embodiment for a cable transport device.

Fig. 4

a longitudinal section along the line III-III of Figure 1 by the cable processing system with another embodiment for the cable transport device.

Fig. 5

Detail of a cable transfer station according to FIG. 2;

Fig. 6

Detail of a cable feed station according to section VI-VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7

a longitudinal section along the line III-III of Figure 1 by the cable processing system with a further embodiment for the cable transport device.

Fig. 8

Detail of a transport element with protruding webs;

Fig. 9

Detail of a transport device with articulated drivers;

Fig. 10

Detail of a transport element with, for example, riveted webs.

The fully electronically controlled cable processing system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for processing insulated electrical cables 19. It mainly consists of a cable selector 1, a cable feeder 2 with a length measuring and cutting device, a cable pull module 50, and a slide-mounted deflector 49, a cable processing line 3, a cable storage 4, a possible cable pulling device 48 and a fully electronic microprocessor control, not shown. The cable processing line 3 is composed of two tables 5, 6 provided with quick-change plates, a number of processing stations, such as stripping stations 7, 8, various differently equipped presses 9, and a transport device 10. The transport device 10 has a number of displaceable receiving devices, referred to as transport containers 11, with a filling opening 11.1, a number of stationary gripper modules 13, 14 arranged in pairs, and a displacement device 25 consisting of a number of transfer modules 17 which can be moved forwards and backwards in cycles. The transport containers 11 describe a closed orbit 29, 40 with a forward 30, 44, a return 31, 45 and two reversing stations 32, 33. FIGS. 3 and 4 show two variants of such an orbit 29, 40. In FIG. 3 is an orbit 29 is shown with a forward rail 34, a return rail 35 and two deflection rails 36, 37. The transport containers 11 can be equipped with an ejection device in the form of a sliding double floor 12. In the area of the feed rail 34, a cable bundle 20 is assigned to each transport container 11, the two cable ends 21, 22 of each individual cable bundle 20 alternately being gripped by grippers 15, 16 of the stationary gripper modules 13, 14 or by a gripper 18 of the displaceable transfer module 17. The displaceable transfer modules 17, 17ʹ, 17ʺ are at the same intervals corresponding to a stroke 38 on a parallel attached to the leader 30 arranged transfer carrier 26. The transfer carrier 26 is displaceably guided in bearings 27, 28 and is for example cyclically moved back and forth by a pneumatic actuator (not shown). The arrows 39 indicate the direction of rotation for the transport containers 11. The cyclical displacement of the transport container 11 can also be carried out, for example, by pneumatic actuators (not shown). At the end of the cable processing line 3, the cable storage 4 is provided.

4 shows an orbit 40 for the transport containers 11 with a transport element 41, for example a toothed belt or a chain, and two deflection wheels 42, 43 which are arranged at a distance from one another and form a forward 44 and a return 45. The arrows 46 indicate the running direction of the transport container 11. A cable bundle 20 is likewise assigned to each transport container 11 in the area of the lead 44 and the two cable ends 21, 22 of each individual cable bundle 20 are also alternately of the grippers 15, 16 of the stationary gripper modules 13, 14 or of the grippers 18, 18 'of the displaceable transfer module 17 , 17ʹ, 17ʺ. The displaceable transfer modules 17, 17ʹ, 17ʺ are also carried here by a transfer carrier 26 arranged parallel to the lead 44 of the transport container 11. The transfer carrier 26 is displaceably guided in bearings 27, 28 and can be moved forwards and backwards in cycles by a pneumatic actuator (not shown) or by another drive unit. The transport containers 11 can also be equipped with movable double floors 12, with which the cable bundle 20 is ejected into a cable storage 4 at the end of the lead 44. The transport member 41 is driven step by step by a corresponding drive unit 50.

The cable transfer station is shown enlarged in section 5. The transport container is designated with the number 11. Inside the transport container 11, the movable double floor 12, which can be used as required, and the cable bundle 20 are arranged. The two cable ends 21, 22 of the cable bundle 20 are gripped by the grippers 15ʹ, 16ʹ of the stationary gripper modules 13ʹ, 14ʹ and by the gripper 18 of the transfer module 17. The transfer modules 17 are fastened to the transfer support 26 arranged above the transport containers 11, which in turn is guided displaceably in the bearings 27, 28 attached to the support frame 47.

6 schematically shows the area of the cable feed station with the cable selector 1, the cable feeder 2 and a cable pull module 50 equipped with a gripper 51. The cable pull module 50 is slidably mounted between the cable selector 1 and a stop 24. A guide tube 53 of a guide module 52 consisting of two halves which can be tilted about a horizontal axis, together with a deflector 49 of a sliding module 54 which can be displaced in the horizontal direction of movement of the transport containers 11 via the filler opening 11.1 of the respective transport container 11, for guiding the cable 19. Inside the transport container 11, an inserted cable loop 20 is indicated. One end 21 of the cable 19 is gripped by a gripper 15 of a stationary gripper module 13.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the orbit 40 for receiving devices in the form of transport spaces 62, which are formed by the transport member 41, for example a toothed belt or a chain with projecting webs 57 and two side walls 55, 56 arranged laterally next to the transport member 41 and one Have filler opening 62.1. The two deflection wheels 42, 43 of the transport member 41, which are arranged at a distance from one another, form the forward flow 44 and the return 45. The arrows 46 indicate the running direction of the transport member 41. In the area of the lead 44 is a cable bundle 20 is assigned to each transport space 62 and the two cable ends 21, 22 of each individual cable bundle 20 are held alternately by grippers 15, 16 of the stationary gripper modules 13, 14 or by a gripper 18, 18ʹ of a displaceable transfer module 17, 17ʹ, 17ʺ of a displacement device 25 . The displaceable transfer modules 17, 17ʹ, 17ʺ are carried by a transfer carrier 26 arranged parallel to the lead 44 of the transport member 41. The transfer carrier 26 is guided displaceably in the bearings 27, 28 and can be moved forwards and backwards in cycles by a pneumatic actuator (not shown) or by another drive unit. The cycle stroke executed in each case is designated by the number 38. At the end of the forward run 44, the cable bundle 20 is tipped into a cable tray 4 or its entire length is pulled out of the transport space and handed over to the cable tray 4 in an elongated form. The transport member 41 is also driven step by step by a corresponding drive unit 50.

8, 9 and 10 represent three different design variants for the transport member 41 according to FIG. 7, an endlessly circulating toothed belt being provided as an integral part. FIG. 8 shows webs 57 formed directly on the toothed belt and projecting vertically from the tread, which each form the transport space 62 between two webs 57. Joint points 64 are arranged on the toothed belt according to FIG. 9 at uniform intervals, transversely to the direction of movement, at which in each case a U-shaped driver 61 is articulated. The driver 61 has a base 60 and two vertically projecting webs 58, 59 and a bearing point 63 which can be connected in the middle of the base 60 to the articulation point 64 of the toothed belt. The transport spaces 62 are either formed between two webs 58, 59 belonging to a driver 61 or between two webs 58, 59 each belonging to an adjacent driver 61. On the timing belt 10 shows riveted webs 57 forming the transport space 62, for example.

The device described above works as follows: The cable selector 1, as a link between the processing point and a certain supply of cables, brings a selected cable 19 into a takeover position, in which the protruding cable end 21 is gripped by the gripper 51 of the cable pull module 50 and is advanced as far as possible, until the cable pull module 50 is in contact with the stop 24. During this pulling movement, the cable feeder 2 consisting of two feed belts pressing against the cable is inserted one after the other, the two-part guide tube 53 of the guide module 52, encompassing the cable 19, is tipped over, the deflector 49 designed as a guide plate is pushed over the opening of the transport container 11 and the cable end 21 gripped by the gripper 15 of the first stationary gripper module 13. The cable 19, which is held at one end, is pushed further through the cable feeder 2 and, with the aid of the deflector 49, is passed through the filler opening 11.1 into the transport container 11. This forms a cable bundle 20. As soon as the predetermined length of the cable 19 has been determined by a measuring and cutting device (not shown) associated with the cable feeder 2, the two grippers 18 of the transfer module 17 grip the cable 19 and the cutting device separates the cable bundle 20 formed from the cable supply while the guide tube 53 opens and the gripper 15 of the first stationary gripper module 13 releases the cable end 21. This results in the second gripped cable end 22. The transfer support 26, which is equipped with further transfer modules 17, now, when actuated by the pneumatic actuator (not shown), executes a forward cycle that is perpendicular to the previous cable movement. Regardless of this, the transport container 11 is also moved forward in exactly the same cycle and in the same direction, so that the cable bundle 20 together with the gripped cable ends 21, 22 simultaneously and perpendicularly to the cable ends by one cycle moved further, where the two cable ends 21, 22 are again taken over by the grippers 15ʹ, 16ʹ of a pair of stationary gripper modules 13ʹ, 14ʹ. At this point there is the first stripping station 7, which now strips the one cable end 22, while the transfer carrier 26 executes a backward cycle together with the associated transfer modules 17 with open grippers 18. At the end of the cycle, the gripper 18 of the first transfer module 17 grips the two cable ends 21, 22 of a new cable bundle 20 formed in the meantime, while a gripper 18ʹ of a second transfer module 17ʹ grips the cable ends 21, 22 of the previous cable bundle and at the same time as the associated one Moving the transport container forward by a further cycle, to the location where the second stripping station 8 is located, which strips the other cable end 21. The cyclical displacement of the cables 19 continues until all of the operations provided are carried out at each cable end 21, 22 of a predetermined number of cables 19. At the end of the processing line, each finished cable 19 can either be tipped out of the transport container 11 as a cable bundle 20 or ejected by moving the insertable double floor 12, or the cable 19 can be pulled out of the transport container 11 with the aid of the pull-out device 48 in order to be a stretched unit to be available for further processing.

3 and 4 show the manner in which the transport containers 11 make their orbit 29, 40. For example, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, an intermediate cycle is required, in which the first transport container 11 has to be shifted upwards and the last one downwards before a work cycle, the upper row of the transport containers 11 in the forward direction (advance 30) and at the same time the lower row moved in the reverse direction (return 31). In this embodiment, each transport container 11 always assumes the same horizontal position. It would be possible here for the cable ejection device to be moved vertically by relatively moving the raised floor 12 Direction instead of somewhere in the area of return 31 to operate at the end of the processing line. The cyclical movement of the transport containers 11 takes place, for example, by pneumatic actuators (not shown) or by an electromechanical drive unit.

4, the transport containers 11 move on an endless orbit 40 of the transport member 41, at the top in the area of the cable processing line 3 in the feed 44, at the bottom in the return 45 and at both ends around the deflection wheels 42, 43. The transport containers 11 take here again in the flow 44 a position with the filling opening at the top, while in the return 45 this filling opening is at the bottom. Here, too, a sliding double floor 12 of the transport container 11 at the end of the processing line can eject the cable bundle 20 from the transport container 11. However, it is also conceivable that the cable bundle 20 is simply tipped out of the transport container 11 when the transport container 11 rotates around the deflection wheel 43, wherein other forms of the transport container than shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are also possible. The movement of the individual transport containers 11 takes place by the drive unit 50 driving the transport member 41, and also here in cycles, similarly as already mentioned above.

The transfer carrier 26 with the transfer modules 17, 17ʹ, 17ʺ can also be seen from the two FIGS. 3 and 4. At one work cycle, the transfer carrier 26 in the bearings 27, 28 moves parallel to the movement path of the transport containers 11 by one cycle stroke 38 in order to then move backwards by one cycle stroke 38 into the starting position. The grippers 18 of the transfer modules 17 remain closed during the forward stroke and open during the reverse stroke. With each cycle stroke or with each processing point, it is also possible to rotate each individual transfer module 17 about its vertical axis by 180 °, so that the two cable ends 21, 22 can be directed to either side of the cable processing line. This makes it possible to alternately provide different stripping stations 7, 8 and different presses 9 for processing both cable ends 21, 22 on both sides of the cable processing line 3, or it is also possible to have three different stripping stations 7, 8 on only one side of the processing line and presses 9 to be arranged one behind the other, which can also be used for both ends of each cable 19.

It is easily conceivable to provide at least individual stationary gripper modules 13, 14, 13ʹ, 14ʹ for swiveling, tilting or sliding movements if such movements are required for special machining or treatment of the cable ends, such as for example immersing the bare cable ends in one Flux and in a tin bath or for evading a gripper module in front of a processing station to create a larger free space for processing etc.

It is also readily possible, instead of a transport device with receiving devices for cable bundles in the form of transport containers 11, to be provided in the form of transport spaces 62, as described and illustrated with FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Claims (13)

1. Transport device, for electrical cables in a production station for the processing of electrical cables (19) of a certain length, with at least one displacing device (25), which is horizontally movable in steps perpendicularly to the axis of the cable ends (21, 22) and equipped with openable and closable grippers (18) retaining the cable ends (21, 22), and a cable deposit (4) arranged at the end of the displacing device (25), characterised thereby, that the transport device displays at least one receiving equipment (11), which is capable of receiving cables of different lengths and movable in steps in a circulation path (29, 40) by a drive device, wherein an excess length of the cable (19) is introducible into the receiving equipment (11) and again removable therefrom at least in the region of the cable deposit (4), and that the grippers (18) of the displacing device (25), which grip both the cable ends (21, 22), are arranged together at at least one transfer module (17, 17', 17''), which is fastened at a transfer carrier (26) movable cyclically forwards and rearwards and which is rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the cable ends (21, 22) and perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the displacing device (25), wherein the cable ends (21, 22) are retained in an in itself known manner by grippers (15, 16, 15', 16') of stationary gripper modules (13, 14, 13', 14') before and after the cyclical movement.
2. Transport device according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the receiving equipment for the reception of cables (19) of different lengths is a transport container (11).
3. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that the excess length of the cable (19) gripped at one end is pushable through the cable feeder (2) into the transport container (11) with the aid of a deflector (49), which is arranged to be displaceable, is layable into the circulation path (29, 40) and which forms a cable coil (20).
4. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that the transport container (11) displays a rectangular base area with four lateral surfaces and an upwardly open filling opening (11.1) and that a double base (12), which is displaceable perpendicularly to the base area and serves as ejector device, is arranged in the interior of the transport container (11).
5. Transport device according to claim 3, characterised thereby, that the deflector (49) is a metal guide plate covering the entire filling opening (11.1) of the transport container (11).
6. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that an extractor device (48), which is capable of extracting the cable (19) from the transport container (11), is arranged at the end of the displacing device (25).
7. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that the transport container (11) is arranged on the circulation path (40) at an endlessly circulating transport organ (41).
8. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that at least the length of the filling opening (11.1) of the transport container (11) is greater than the length of the base area.
9. Transport device according to claim 4, characterised thereby, that the transport containers (11) are slidingly guided on the circulation path (29) by rails (34, 35, 36, 37) and that the transport containers (11) are pneumatic setting members of a drive unit movable in steps.
10. Transport device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that at least one gripper module (13, 14, 13', 14') is arranged to be tiltable about an axis extending parallelly to the direction of movement of the displacing device (25).
11. Transport device according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the receiving equipment for differently long cables (19) displays at least one transport chamber (62), which is formed by an endlessly circulating transport organ (41), is led at least in the forward run (44) through between two side walls firmly arranged parallelly to the direction of movement of and perpendicularly to the running surface of the transport organ (41) and which is bounded by perpendicularly projecting webs (57, 58, 59) forming a front and a rear end wall.
12. Transport device according to claim 11, characterised thereby, that the transport organ is a toothed belt (41) and the projecting webs (57) are firmly arranged at the toothed belt (41) as integral component thereof.
13. Transport device according to claim 11, characterised thereby, that two projecting webs (58, 59) are parts of a U-shaped entraining member (61), which is articulated at the transport organ (41) in the centre of the base (60) to be tiltable perpendicularly to the direction of movement of transport organ, wherein the pitch of the entraining members (61) at the transport organ (41) is twice as great as the centre-to-centre spacing between two webs (58, 59).

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