EP1604932B1 - Interface for a cable winding device and method for operating this interface - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cable winding machine interface for the connection of a cable winding machine with a cutting machine and a method for operating a cable winding machine for assembling cable rings together with a cutting machine with an interposed interface for adapting any cutting machine to a cable winder.

Devices for automatically cutting to length and possibly stripping cables are well known and available on the market. Such, hereinafter referred to as cutting machines devices include at least one cutting device and a feed for further transport of the cable. Typically, this is a so-called crawler feed. About a corresponding control device, the process runs automatically. Furthermore, automatic devices are known on the market, assemble the cables and wind up a cable ring with a very specific length. These also have corresponding drives and gripping devices and a control device in order to run the process automatically. Such devices are in Hereinafter referred to as cable winding machines. For the complete assembly of a cable thus both a cutting machine and a cable winding machine are required. Since sometimes for an entire system, the cutters come from another manufacturer than the cable winding machines, an interface is required, which allows an adjustment of the two machines to each other. So far it has been customary to design individual solutions for this interface.

DE 196 14 585 A discloses a cable winding machine interface for the connection of a cable winding machine with a continuous extruding machine wherein the interface has a cable storage with at least one movable dancer roller and at least two pulleys. The cable is cut to length in the cable winding machine.

From the prior art JP8197131 A and FR2443412 A is further known a cable storage with at least one movable dancer roll and at least two pulleys wherein the stationary pulleys are arranged on one side of a cable penetration channel, and the dancer roll at least for automatic shooting on the pulleys opposite Side of the bullet channel is movable.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to propose a possibility with which a universal interface for a cable winding machine can be realized, which can be connected to any cutting machines of different manufacturers.

This object is achieved by a cable winding machine interface with the features of claim 1 and by a method for operating a cable winding machines together with a cutting machine and the interposed interface. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the respective dependent subclaims.

According to the invention, the cable winding machine interface on a cable storage with a housing in which at least one movable dancer roller and at least two pulleys are arranged on. Such cable storage are also referred to as dancers and serve to buffer an incoming cable at different discharge speeds by forming a loop. Depending on the application, several dancer rollers and corresponding pulleys can be provided. The side of the housing has an inlet and an outlet opening for the automatic shooting of a cable, wherein the stationary deflection rollers are mounted in a respective roller housing and the roller groove for receiving the cable with the roller housing forms a through hole. Due to the special design of the pulleys in the roller housing, a close and accurate guidance of the inserted cable, which is tangential to the pulleys is moved past. The through holes of the deflection rollers are aligned with the inlet and outlet openings and thereby form a straight through channel for the cable to be buried in the cable winding machine. While the stationary deflection rollers are arranged on one side of the shooting channel, the dancer roller is at least for automatic shooting on the opposite sides of the deflection rollers of the shooting channel movable. Thus, the dancer roll can take the cable transversely to the direction of movement of the cable after shooting through the cable and form the necessary for the further function of the interface and their interaction with the cable machine and the automatic stripper loop.

According to a further embodiment of the interface, a displacement sensor for detecting the position of the dancer roller, preferably an inductive displacement sensor, is arranged on the housing. According to the position of the dancer roller, the speed of the cable winder is regulated.

Furthermore, a cable sensor, preferably a ring sensor, for detecting the presence of a cable is advantageously provided at the outlet opening. This cable sensor is used in particular to detect the beginning of the cable and the cable end, so that controls the control of the cable according to the take-up.

After shooting in the cable, the dancer roll is movable to a basic position on the side of the implementation route on which the pulleys are located. Thus, the loop is formed, the cable is then guided over the two pulleys and the dancer roll. The basic position, which can be selected according to the requirements of the respective cutting machine corresponds to the standstill of the take-up device in the cable winder, and an end position at the other end of the housing of the maximum speed of the take-up device in the cable winding machine. Between this basic position and this remote end position, the dancer roll is movable during operation, wherein the displacement sensor according to the Distance from the home position emits an electrical signal. The dancer roll is moved with a predetermined force from the basic position as soon as the cable is transported, so that the cable storage is filled. Depending on the difference between the feed speed of the automatic stripper and the winding speed of the cable winder, the dancer roll moves from the basic position. The cable tension is the counterforce to the dancer roller moving from the home position force. Consequently, the rewinder tries to move the dancer roll to the home position.

Advantageously, the control device of the cable winding machine also controls the winding device in the cable winding machine according to the signals of the displacement sensor and the cable sensor.

The method for operating the interface in connection with the cable winding machine and the automatic stripper is controlled and regulated by a control device in the cable winding machine. The controller receives signals from both the trimming machine and sensors in the interface and controls the rewinder with the following steps:

Adjusting the basic position in the interface with the dancer roller in a shot position, in which a penetration channel for the cable is formed in the interface;

Shooting in the cable through the automatic cutting machine to the winding machine and holding the cable end in the cable winding machine;

Moving the dancer roll in the interface transverse to the direction of movement of the cable to store the cable provided by the automatic stripper;

Winding the cable through the cable winder with a speed dependent on the position of the dancer roll;

Stopping the cable winding machine at a predeterminable minimum filling of the interface after the automatic cutting machine has recognized the cable end and has completed the further transport of the cable;

Winding the rest of the cable through the cable winder after disconnecting the cable through the automatic stripper.

After stopping the cable winding machine, the dancer roll is advantageously moved to the insertion position, the cable end detected by the cable sensor when winding up the rest of the cable and sent a signal to the control device of the cable winding machines.

The interface according to the invention and the method are characterized by a simple structure which makes it possible to adapt the cable winding machines via the interface to the cutting machines only by using small information from the cutting machine. For the control of the interface in connection with the winding device of the cable winding machines, only the transport speed of the cable and a signal is required on the part of the cutting machine, which reports the cut of the cable in the cutting machines and the release of the cable end, for example by a crawler feed. Everything else is done by the control of the cutting machine in connection with the interface.

Figur 1

eine schematische Blockbilddarstellung (Figur 1 a) einer Anordnung mit einem Ablängautomaten, einer Schnittstelle und einem Kabelwickelautomaten mit zugehörigem Blockschaltbild (Figur 1b);

Figur 2

die perspektivische Darstellung eines Kabelwickelautomaten mit integrierter Schnittstelle;

Figur 3

die Vorderansicht der Schnittstelle;

Figur 4

die Rückansicht der Schnittstelle;

Figur 5

die vergrößerte Darstellung X gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 6

Schnitt C-C gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 7

den Schnitt A-A in vergrößerter Darstellung gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 8

den Schnitt B-B in vergrößerter Darstellung gemäß Figur 4.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. They show:

FIG. 1

a schematic block diagram representation (Figure 1 a) of an arrangement with a Ablängautomaten, an interface and a cable winding machine with associated block diagram (Figure 1b);

FIG. 2

the perspective view of a cable winder with integrated interface;

FIG. 3

the front view of the interface;

FIG. 4

the back view of the interface;

FIG. 5

the enlarged view X of Figure 3;

FIG. 6

Section CC according to Figure 3;

FIG. 7

the section AA in an enlarged view of Figure 3;

FIG. 8

the section BB in an enlarged view according to Figure 4.

FIG. 1 shows as a block diagram a cable winding machine 1 and a cutting machine 2, between which the interface 3 is located. Both the automatic slicer 2 and the cable winding machine 1 are generally known and available on the market machines. The cutting machine 2 can also make a stripping of the cable end at the same time depending on the version. The procedural sequence will be described in the following in connection with such a cutting and stripping (abbreviation: automatic cutting). The cutting machine 2 includes a crawler feed, not shown here for further transport of the cable and corresponding cutting and Abisoliereinrichtungen. The cable winding machine 1 includes a winding device 7 with corresponding, also not shown grippers for the end of the cable 4 and a control device 1 '. This control device 1 'needs for the proper operation according to the invention using the interface 3 for winding the cable 4 of the cutting machine 2 information about the timing of the cut, the opening of the crawler feed and during the further transport on the speed of the cable transported.

FIG. 1a shows the mechanical components in the block diagram, and FIG. 1b shows a simplified block diagram with regard to the signal sequences. The control device 1 'of the cable winding machine 1 controls the Winding device 7 with all associated and not explained in detail, known and conventional elements. The control device 2 'of the Ablängautomaten 2 receives from the cutter 8 and the caterpillar feed 9 corresponding signals and delivers them together with the speed of the crawler feed to the control device 1'. The displacement sensor 5 and the cable sensor 6 supply corresponding signals to the control device 1 ', which regulates the take-up device 7 in dependence thereon. Also connected to the control device 1 'is the drive 10 for the dancer roller, which moves the dancer roller 15 out of the basic position via the control device 1'.

Figure 2 shows in a perspective view of the cable winding machine 1 with an interface 3, which is connected via a standard bullet tube 11 with the cable winding machine 1. In the cable winding machine 1 is indicated schematically and not further explained, as well known, the winding device 7 and the control device 1 '.

In the enlarged front view of the interface 3 in Figure 3, the housing 12 of the interface is shown, which houses two stationary pulleys 13 and 14 in this embodiment. Between the two deflection rollers 13, 14, the rear side of the housing 16 of the dancer roller 15 can be seen in the figure, which is movable along the guide rod 17. Side of the guide rod 17 is the displacement sensor 5 with the signal generator 19, which inductively detects the position of the dancer roller 15 along the guide rod 17 and emits a corresponding signal.

In the housing there are an inlet opening 20 (Figure 2) and an outlet opening 21 at the end of a housing located on the outlet pipe 22. In the position of the dancer roller 15 shown in Figure 3 is formed from the inlet opening 20 to the outlet opening 21 a through-channel for the cables to be inserted.

FIG. 4 shows the rear side of the housing 12 with the rear wall 23 removed (FIG. 3).

In the enlarged view of the detail X in Figure 5, the rollers 13 to 15 are shown again.

The enlarged sectional view C-C in Figure 6 shows the housing 16 of the dancer roller 15 and the formation of the bullet channel 25 below the guide roller 13 and above the dancer roller 15. The dancer roller 15 is moved over the carriage 6 along the guide rod 17. This figure shows a pneumatic cylinder 24 in the sectional view AA in Figure 7. This figure shows the firing channel 25 in its entire length, starting at the inlet opening 20 to the outlet opening 21 at the outlet pipe 22. The firing channel 25 extends under the two pulleys 13 and 14 and over the dancer roller 15. Between the guide roller 14 and the beginning of the outlet pipe 22 is a cable sensor 6, which is designed as a ring sensor and inductively detects the beginning or the end of the cable 4.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view through the guide roller 13 with the housing 27, which is formed such that by a corresponding groove 28 in the housing 27 and a groove 29 in the guide roller 13 (or 14), a through hole 30 is formed, which is a part of the shooting channel 25 forms.

The expiration of the winding process is now such that in the starting position, the dancer roller 15 is in the position shown in Figures 3 to 5. As soon as the automatic stripper 2 moves the cable 4 through the firing channel 25 and the cable sensor 6 detects the beginning of the cable, the winding device 7 is positioned and the end of the cable 4 is captured in a known manner. Due to the structure, the distance between the cable sensor 6 and the take-up device 7 is known. The cutting machine 2 provides the control device 1 ', the shot speed of the cable 4. Once the cable 4 was caught by the take-up, the dancer roller 15 is moved over the pneumatic cylinder 24 upwards, the Counterforce is generated by the voltage of the cable 4. The Aufwickeldrehzahl the takeup 7 is now controlled by the position of the dancer roller 15, wherein in this embodiment, about 10 percent of the filling of the housing, the speed of the winder is zero. If the filling exceeds 10 percent, the take-up device 7 starts to wind up, the speed increasing with the filling of the housing 12. The controller 1 'controls the rotational speed of the winding device 7 according to the position of the dancer roller 15, so that a standstill of the winding device 7 is reached only when a filling of the housing 12 of 10 percent.

Once the automatic cutter 2 has detected the desired length in the usual manner, he stops the cable 4 to strip. By stopping, the cable winding machine 1 wraps until 10 percent is reached. Then the dancer roller 15 is in the normal position and the take-up device stands still. After the cable has been cut by the cutting machine 2, it sends a corresponding signal to the controller 1 ', which moves the dancer roller back into the position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. After the release of the end of the cable 4 by the cutting machine 2 (opening of the crawler feed) this gives a corresponding signal to the controller 1 ', which causes the take-up device 7, with a fixed speed to wind the rest of the cable 4. Since the end of the cable 4 is also detected by the cable sensor 6, the cable can be defined wound. The subsequent operations such as releasing the wound cable ring and setting are familiar to the expert and not the subject of the invention.

The above-mentioned minimum filling of the housing 12 with 10 percent is selectable and dependent on the components of the entire system, but in particular of the respective cutting machine 2. In the embodiment, a cutting machine 2 is used, the same time still stripped. When stripping the cable is pulled back by the machine, so Therefore, in this embodiment, a minimum filling must be ensured.

The interface according to the invention is characterized, as will become apparent from the description, by simple structural and control measures.

Claims (9)

1. An interface for a cable winder, for connecting a cable winder (1) to a cropping device (2), characterised in that a cable store with housing (12) is provided, in which at least one movable dancer roll (15) and at least two deflection rollers (13, 14) are arranged, and the stationary deflection rollers (13, 14) are each accommodated in a roller stand (27), and the cable groove (29) and the roller stand (27) together form a feed-through hole (30) for accommodating a cable (4), infeed and outfeed apertures (20, 21) are situated on the side of the housing (12) to enable a cable (4) to be fed through automatically, the feed-through holes (30) of the deflection rollers (13, 14) are flush with the infeed and outfeed apertures (20, 21) and form a straight feed-through channel (25) for the cable (4) that is to be fed into the cable winding device (1), the stationary deflection rollers (13, 14) are situated on one side of the feed-through channel (25), and the dancer roll (15) is movable on the side of the feed-through channel (25) opposite the deflection rollers (13, 14) at least for automatic infeeding.
2. The interface as recited in claim 1, characterised in that a travel sensor (5), preferably an inductive travel sensor, is situated in the housing (12) to detect the position of the dancer roll (15).
3. The interface as recited in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a cable sensor (6), preferably a ring sensor, is provided in the area of the outfeed aperture (21) to detect the presence of a cable (4).
4. The interface as recited in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that after the cable is fed in, the dancer roll (15) is movable to a starting position on the side of the feed-through channel (25) on which the stationary deflection rollers (13, 14) are also located.
5. The interface as recited in any of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterised in that during operation the dancer roll (15) is movable between the starting position and an ending position at a distance from therefrom, and the travel sensor (5) emits an electrical signal corresponding to the distance from the starting position.
6. A method for operating a cable winder (1) to produce cable rings together with a cropping device (2) with an interface (3) arranged therebetween for adapting any cropping device (2) to a cable winder (1), with a controller (1') that receives signals from both the cropping device (2) and sensors (5, 6) in the interface (3), and controls both a dancer roll (15) in the interface and the wind-up device (7) in the cable winder (1), consisting of the following steps:

   setting the starting position in the interface (3) with the dancer roll (15) in an infeed position, in which a feed-through channel (25) is formed in the interface (3) for the cable (4);

   feeding the cable (4) in through the cropping device (2) as far as the cable winder (1) and securing the end of the cable (4) in the cable winder (1);

   moving the dancer roll (15) in the interface (3) transversely to the direction of movement of the cable (4) for storing the cable (4) output from the cropping device (2);

   winding up the cable (4) via the cable winder (1) at a speed that is determined by the position of the dancer roll (15);

   stopping the cable winder (1) when a specifiable minimum level is reached in the interface (3), after the cropping device (2) has detected the end of the cable (4) and stopped forwarding the cable (4);

   winding up the remainder of the cable (4) via the cable winder (1) after the cable (4) has been cut off by the cropping device (2).
7. The method as recited in claim 6, characterised in that the start of the cable (4) is detected by a cable sensor (6) and a signal is sent to the controller (1') as the cable (4) is fed in.
8. The method as recited in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the rotating speed is varied between stopped and maximum speed as the cable (4) is wound up, wherein the stationary state of the cable winder (1) is defined for a starting position of the dancer roll (15) that differs from the infeed position.
9. The method as recited in any of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterised in that after the cable winder (1) is stopped, the dancer roll (15) is moved into the infeed position, the end of the cable (4) is detected by the cable sensor (6) as the remainder of the cable (4) is wound up, and a signal is sent to the controller (1') of the cable winder (1).

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