EP1635432B1 - Motor driven crimping device - Google Patents

Abstract

Crimping device comprises a machine stand (1) with crimping tool pairs (2, 3), a drive (5) for moving the crimping tools and sensors (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) for determining the crimping force produce in the direction of the crimping tool (2). Each sensor and the drive are connected to signal lines. Preferred Features: The sensors are pressure sensors arranged between the machine stand and the crimping tool (2). An adjusting part with a pressure sensor is also provided and has an electric motor.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a motor-driven crimping device.

State of the art

The invention relates to a motor-driven crimping apparatus comprising a machine frame with a plurality of pairs of crimping tools, each formed by a crimping tool displaceable in the machine stand and a crimping tool immovable in the machine stand, wherein at least one motor drive actuatable by a first signal for displacing the slidable crimping tools is provided in the direction of the immovable crimping tools, wherein each crimping tool pair is associated with at least one sensor for detecting the resulting during a displacement of the displaceable crimping tools in the direction of the immovable crimping tools crimping, the providing a signal proportional to the crimping force, each sensor and the drive being signal conductively connected, characterized in that a controller effects a return of all displaceable crimping tools to their initial position upon the occurrence of a second signal at at least one sensor exceeding an arbitrarily settable threshold.

Such a crimping apparatus is known from US-A-8 067 828. An unsatisfactory crimp result will cause a signal to be sent or the machine to be shut down. It may be necessary to remove the incorrectly crimped cable with considerable effort.

Another crimping apparatus is known from EP 0499 141 B1. It is used in the connection of electrically conductive cables of a diameter of several millimeters and includes a signal-actuated electric motor for displacement of the displaceable crimping tool. However, it is necessary to match the size of the displacement of the crimping tool exactly with the thickness of all cables to be determined and with the size of the crimping connector used in order to obtain a perfect crimping result on all wires. If, on the other hand, only one too thick cable or too thick a crimp connector is used, based on the tuning done, then damage to the crimping tools, the crimped connector and / or the cable can occur. This is especially of great disadvantage if the error is not noticed and the power line is disturbed in at least one cable.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object to develop such a device such that time-consuming repairs and Operational interruptions of the crimping device and time-consuming checks are no longer necessary.

This object is achieved with a crimping tool of the type mentioned by a device having the features of claim 1. In advantageous embodiments, the dependent claims relate.

In the apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that the machine stand comprises a plurality of pairs of crimping tools which are each formed by a crimping tool displaceable in the machine stand and by a crimping tool which can not be pushed in the machine stand, at least one motor drive actuatable by a first signal for displacing the slidable crimping tools is provided in the direction of the immovable crimping tools, each crimping tool pair is associated with at least one sensor for detecting the resulting during a displacement of the displaceable crimping crimping force, which provides a crimping force proportional signal and wherein the sensor and the drive are signal-connected and the controller effects a return of all displaceable crimping tools to their starting position when a second signal occurs at at least one sensor which exercises an arbitrarily adjustable threshold value rschreitet. Thus, in such a case, no self-contained crimping takes place, which is immediately recognizable to the operator or can be made clear by a separate display. The too thick cable and / or incorrectly supplied or too thick crimp connector can be easily replaced by a correct element and then continue the operation without damaging the crimping device or causing a faulty crimped connection.

In order to avoid damage to the crimping device, it is sufficient in itself to immediately shut down the motor when the threshold value is exceeded and, for example, to use a brake motor as the motor. However, such motors are more expensive than conventional motors and there is a loss of time to initiate the backward movement of the movable crimping tool to its original position. According to the invention, therefore, a tyristor-controlled design is preferred in which the backward movement directly follows the interrupted forward movement.

The device is particularly useful for applications in which at least three pairs of crimping tools are provided parallel to each other. Such training, for example, when crimping conventional safety plug on supply cables of household appliances used. They include at least three juxtaposed conforming pairs of crimping tools operated simultaneously and in parallel to simultaneously connect the three adjacent mating contacts of such plugs to the three wires of the cable. An application of the invention to applications in which crimp connectors are to be fixed to 10 or more wires of a cable, this does not stand in the way.

The invention can consequently also be used with regard to the assembly of multiple plugs, which u. U. significantly more than three matching designed, adjacent wires and contacts and which can be used, for example, in the power or EDP sector.

The sensor may be a push or pull sensor depending on the particular allocation to the movable and / or immovable crimping tool, the machine stand and / or the motor. It preferably covers the size of elastic deformations that result from the intended use of the crimping device at its resting or moving individual parts when multiple cores are to be equipped with crimp connectors.

In a particularly easy to manufacture design of the crimping device according to the invention, it is provided that between each non-displaceable crimping tool and the machine stand an autonomous pressure sensor is arranged, based on the other crimping tools. The individual pressure sensors can be integrated into a central receiving plate such that the crimping forces of each of the crimping tool pairs occurring during the crimping process are detected independently of one another. Such installation of the sensors presupposes that the measuring sensors contained therein are deformable to the required extent and independently of one another. For most sensors this is sufficient for a deformability in the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter. The instructions for use of such commercially available sensors give more information. Some of them are designed to be so small that a closely spaced arrangement is possible in the smallest space without any mutual influence on the measurement result. Further, the crimping tools may be mounted on relatively movable pins or may include such pins to transmit the forces occurring in the crimping tools to remotely mounted sensors. These can be for example different levels one above the other, next to each other and / or distributed one behind the other to create the space required for the accommodation.

Alternatively or additionally, such a pressure sensor can also be integrated in the actuator of the displaceable crimping tool. Under the actuator are in the context of the invention, all parts of the crimping device to understand, which are included in the transmission of motive forces of the motor on the sliding crimping tool, especially the components of possibly reaching reaching transmission, push rods, levers, wedge adjustments and / or a connecting rod and / or a link drive.

In the simplest case, it is sufficient to have only one central drive for all displaceable crimping tools available. This may comprise an actuatable by a pressure medium or by electric current motor and in particular consist of a Koiben- / cylinder unit or an electric motor. However, this does not rule out that each displaceable crimping tool can, if necessary, be displaceable by its own motor.

In the simplest case, an electric motor is used, in particular an electric motor with a rotor rotating about an axis, which is connected by a gear with the displaceable crimping tool. It may be provided according to an advantageous embodiment, that between the rotor and the movable crimping tool cooperating with a threaded rod threaded rod is provided, which together form the rotational movement of the rotor in a transverse movement of the mother and the movable crimping tool. It is expediently provided in such a design that between the electric motor and the displaceable crimping tool, a transmission housing is provided in which the threaded rod axially immovable and rotatable and the threaded nut is axially displaceable and non-rotatably received. In order to reduce the height, the gear housing and the motor housing can be arranged side by side lying and the threaded rod and the rotor of the electric motor to be connected by a belt drive. Such a belt drive offers the advantage, with extremely low production costs, that the presently desired, very large transmission ratios can be realized very easily.

If an electric motor for displacement of the displaceable crimping tool is used, it is advisable, in addition or alternatively, to use a sensor which detects the crimping force resulting from the crimping process based on the current consumption of the motor and the second one needed to control the crimping device Signal transforms. Such sensors are also commercially available. The current variation of the motor, however, has a time shift based on the force relationships resulting from the crimping tools during the crimping process, which is due to the long gear ratio. A detection of the crimp force ratios directly on the crimping tool is therefore preferred within the scope of the invention.

The advantages achieved by the invention are, above all, that damage to the crimping device during the intended use is excluded even in the event of faulty supply of cables, in particular cables that are too thick, and / or faulty crimp connectors. As a result, machine failures do not occur due to such causes. Within normal wear rates, the crimping tools used for the application can be used much longer than before, without the need for readjustment. Furthermore, it is possible to individually declare the compounds obtained as "controlled error-free", which is economically advantageous.

Brief description of the drawing

Fig. 1

shows an exemplary embodiment of the crimping device according to the invention in a perspective view from the front

Fig. 2

shows the crimping module used in Fig. 1 for application in an enlarged view.

Embodiment of the invention

The crimping apparatus shown in FIG. 1 consists of a machine frame 1 with several pairs of crimping tools, which are each formed by a crimping tool 3 which is displaceable in the machine frame 1 and by a crimping tool 2 which is immovable in the machine frame 1, wherein at least one motor can be actuated by a first signal Drive 5 is provided for the displacement of the displaceable crimping tools 3 in the direction of the immovable crimping tools 2.

The Crimpwerkzeugpaare are summarized in a replaceable module, Fig. 2, which is releasably inserted into the crimping apparatus of FIG. 1 and interchangeable with a few simple steps. The module is adjustable outside the crimping device, which promotes economic efficiency. It consists essentially of a base plate 6, which comprises the immovable crimping tools 2, rigidly mounted column guides 7 with a vertically slidably mounted upper yoke 8 and three displaceable in the direction of the immovable crimping tools 2 crimping tools 3, which are rigidly mounted in the upper yoke 8 and the form in this embodiment components of a single, unseparated plate. The upper yoke 8 is separated by a mushroom head 9 from the in a downwardly open, C - shaped guide a backdrop 10 and inserted through this vertically displaceable. The relative distance can be changed by the Relatiwerdrehung two adjusting discs 12, which rest with not shown screw threads on each other and depending on the size of the relative rotation together can have a different support height. The upper of the support discs is pressed by a compression spring, not shown, directly to the bottom of the gate 10 and acts as a pressure plate. About them, the pressure forces are transmitted from the gate 10 on the movable crimping tools 3.

In the gate 10, one end of a connecting rod 11 is mounted with a bolt 13 extending perpendicular to its direction of movement. The other end of the connecting rod is mounted on an eccentric shaft 14 of the drive 5. This includes a gearbox and a belt drive in addition to an electric motor. If the drive is actuated, then this has a circular movement of the eccentric shaft 14 and, as a consequence thereof, a vertical reciprocation of the link 10 and at the same time the displaceable crimping tools 3 in the direction of the immovable crimping tools 2.

The immovable crimping tools 2 are formed by columnar pins which are mounted together and independently movable in a rigid guide 15 of the base plate 6. The mobility of the pins can be limited to a few mm. By the term "immovable" is thus meant in the context of the invention that the affected crimping tools are not directly displaced by the drive 5 but only indirectly by those forces exerted by the sliding crimping tools during the implementation of crimping processes on them. The pins are for this purpose independently and preferably with compression springs movable on the sensors 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 mounted, which are formed in the embodiment shown by pressure sensors and accommodated in a base plate arranged under the base plate. The base plate contains the electrical connections of the sensors 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. The electrical connections therefore need not be solved for an exchange of the module.

Each crimping tool pair 2, 3 is thus assigned a sensor 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 for detecting the crimping force resulting from a displacement of the displaceable crimping tool 3, which provides a second signal proportional to the crimping force. Each of the sensors 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and the motor drive 5 are signal-connected so that a return of all movable crimping tools 3 is brought into its initial position when a second signal at least one sensor 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, the an arbitrarily adjustable threshold exceeds.

The threshold value at which a return of all displaceable crimping tools is not yet brought to their original position but the crimping process is completed and completed continuously corresponds to a value at which the crimped connection obtained by the crimping process has the required properties with certainty and is completely free from errors. Its attainment can be used to obtain the resulting crimp compound, e.g. marked with a stamp as controlled error-free.

On the other hand, if the threshold value of the crimping force is exceeded on at least one crimping tool pair, then this corresponds to a total of faulty crimped connection. This can be eliminated immediately.

The threshold value is exceeded, for example, if a cable that is too thick or a faulty crimp connector is inserted in such a way that the Performing the crimping process may result in damage to at least one pair of crimping tool. For this purpose, considerably larger forces are required than for a normal crimping process. Setting the right values therefore presents no difficulty to the person skilled in the art. It requires at best few attempts.

In order to make it possible to detect an exceeding of the threshold value, the electromotive drive 5 is provided with a control, not shown in the drawing, which effects a comparison of the second signal with the threshold value and, if the threshold value is exceeded, a reversal of the drive 5 and thus an immediate return causes all displaceable crimping tools 3 in their initial position. This is characterized by the fact that the faulty crimp connection can be discarded in order to re-introduce further cables and crimp connectors to be processed into the crimping device and to be able to continue the work.

In the design shown in Fig. 1 three Crimpwerkzeugpaare are provided. The sensors 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 are formed as pressure sensors and arranged under the immovable crimping tools 2 so that the crimping forces can be detected independently of each other and converted into the second signal. Of course, it is also possible to generate the second signal in a different sensor. Narrow space at the measuring point can even force such training.

The signal-conducting connections between the sensors 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and and the controller and between the controller and the drive 5 are not shown in the illustration. They consist of conventional cable connections, which are connected by plug-in connections releasably connected to the respective unit or module.

Claims (11)

1. A motor-actuated crimping device comprising a machine column (1) with several crimping tool pairs (2,3) each of which is formed by a crimping tool (3) which can be moved, by means of an actuator, in the machine column (1) and by a fixed crimping tool (2) in the machine column (1), with at least one motor drive (5), which can be actuated by a first signal, being provided for the sliding movement of the sliding crimping tools (3) in the direction of the fixed crimping tools (2), with at least one sensor (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) being assigned to each crimping tool pair for the detection of the crimping force resulting during a sliding movement of the sliding crimping tools (3) in the direction of the fixed crimping tools (2), that provides a signal proportional to the crimping force, with each sensor (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and the drive (5) being connected for the conduction of signals, characterized in that a controller effects a return of all sliding crimping tools (3) to their starting position when a second signal that exceeds a threshold value, which can be arbitrarily set, occurs at at least one sensor (4.1, 4.2, 4.3).
2. A crimping device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least three crimping tool pairs (2, 3) are provided.
3. A crimping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) is a pressure or tension sensor.
4. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, with each sensor (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) being embodied as a pressure sensor, characterized in that the pressure sensors are arranged between the machine column (1) and the fixed crimping tools (2).
5. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an autonomous pressure sensor is arranged between each sliding crimping tool (3) and the actuator.
6. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator itself includes a pressure sensor.
7. A crimping device according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each actuator can be moved by its own motor.
8. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the motor is an electric motor.
9. A crimping device according to claim 8, characterized in that the electric motor has a rotatable rotor and that a gear unit and a sliding block (10), which can be moved by a connecting rod (11), are arranged between the rotor and the moving crimping tools (3).
10. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fixed crimping tools are formed by pins running parallel to each other that are mounted, able to move independently of each other, in a rigid guide (15) of the baseplate (6) so as to be moveable in the compression direction.
11. A crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a sensor is provided that detects the crimping force by using the current consumption of the motor.

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