EP1988045B1 - Cable processing machine and method for manufacturing and processing a cable section - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a coiler (17), which forms a cable section to a coil with a sleeve. A storage unit includes a joining unit (27), where the storage unit provides the coil with a frame wood. The coiler is arranged between a separation/stripping unit and a rotary arm. A band section is arranged in a cable feed direction after the coiler, where the band section provides a band for producing the frame wood. The frame wood is produced during processing of the leading cables ends of the cable section. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing and processing a cable section.

Description

The invention relates to a cable processing machine and a method for producing and processing a cable section, wherein the cable section is cut from a cable supply and is processed at the cable ends according to the definition of the independent claims.

The publication DE 42 35 007 A1 discloses a winding device for cable sections, in which the inner walls of a drum serve as contact surfaces for the formation of the coil and thus predetermine the outer diameter of the roll. In this device, the drum remains at rest during the insertion of the cable and is opened after reaching the cable length and setting of the coil. After the transfer of the two cable ends of the roll to transfer gripper subsequent cable finishing, such as crimping and / or grommets put on, feasible. In addition to advantages of low-moving masses, disadvantages are also to be mentioned, such as, for example, uncontrollable bending radii during insertion and compression of the various winding layers for setting. Whether the individual wraps always rest against the wall is uncertain. Minimum bending radii at the entrance and exit of the cable in or out of the drum are also not given.

From the Patent EP 1 387 449 B1 a winding device with controllable minimum bending radius for cables, especially optical fibers has become known. In this device, the cable section is wound by means of a winding unit to a winding, the cable ends after reaching the correct cable length are the same length and the cable ends are taken over after the setting of the roll of transfer grippers for further processing. For optical fibers, the high cost of mechanics and control is justified rather than for cables with copper conductors.

The font WO 03/018456 A1 discloses a winding device for a cable with a rotating winding mandrel, are arranged in the hanging and spreadable winding arms. Depending on the cable section, the arms are more or less spread so that after reaching the cable length approximately both cable ends are the same length. For the processing of the cable ends, the winding is taken over after setting of transfer grippers.

The font US-A-5,427,327 discloses a winder for holding and positioning cables. This winder has a vertical axis. This document is considered to be the closest prior art.

The document EP 1 004 512 Al relates to a device for winding and tying cables, ropes and other objects. The winding takes place in a basket with a vertical axis. A roll is then removed with a gripper from the basket and fed to a setting unit. The depositing or dispensing of the set roll is then again separately.

The font US 5 063 974 relates to a machine for processing cables and the like. This machine includes a spindle with vertical axis for winding cables. After winding on the spindle a winding is tied off. This is done by the winding with a gripper or the like lifted from the spindle and moved away to a Abbindestation. There, the winding is then tied only. Subsequently, the set winding is gripped again and stored, for example, on a pallet.

The document US 4,253,289 concerns a further device for winding and setting. For example, this is about the winding and tying of telephone cables. It is not produced here circular winding with uniform radius of curvature, but it is about the winding of cables in the form of deformable loops.

The handling of long cable sections (for example, 7 m cable length) is difficult in many types of cable processing machines. For swivel machines with swivel arms, the cable tray must be as long as the cable section. In transfer machines with transfer units that can be moved on a straight line, a plurality of loop-shaped cables lie on top of each other during transport, which can cause relatively high cable pulling forces during rapid transport by means of the transfer unit because the cable is held only at the ends.

In the above-mentioned writings are solutions for Transfer machines have been shown. Separate, the cable processing machine downstream winders could not prevail, because with the serial machining processes, the cycle time or the total processing time for a coiled cable section was correspondingly long.

The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention, as characterized in the main claims, solves the problem of providing a device and a method for producing long cable sections without prolonging the entire processing time.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The inventive device is particularly suitable for cable processing machines with swivel arms. However, the inventive device can also be used in transfer machines with linearly movable transport units, if additional grippers and transfer devices for handling the cable ends and the cable winding are provided.

In the exemplary embodiment of a cable processing machine with pivoting arms shown below, the winder is arranged between a separating / detaching unit and a second pivoting arm. The winding of the cable section is effected by means of a winding plate, which is rotatable by means of a controlled motor in response to a likewise motor-driven belt drive, the belt drive is the cable feed and the length measurement of the advanced cable. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for elastic cables. The leading cable end of the cable to be wound is by means of Edited processing stations and after processing by means of a first swivel arm swung back to the separation / Abisoliereinheit and advanced with the tape drive a short length, the winder can grab the leading cable end. Then, the tape drive advances the cable to the desired length of the cable section and the winder winds the advanced cable simultaneously to a reel. After the winding process, a linearly displaceable depositing unit grips the winding. The winder disc relaxes its clamping fingers pneumatically and moves pneumatically to the rear. Shims act as scrapers and prevent the pulling of the coil to the rear. Then, the laying unit moves back with the winding so that the trailing end of the cable can be separated and stripped and, if necessary, machined, with a second pivot arm feeding the trailing end of the cable to processing stations. Grippers of the depositing unit hold the winding and the depositing unit moves to about below the pivot point of the second pivot arm and the trailing end of the cable can, if necessary, be pulled out of the winding for the processing of its end by means of the second pivot arm. After processing the trailing cable end, the depositing unit moves further in the cable feed direction for storage. During processing of the trailing end of the cable and on the way to the storage, the winding can be provided with a joinery. The winding may be provided with the joinery during processing of the trailing cable end or during processing of the leading cable end of the next cable section. The set winding can then be dispensed into containers, on conveyor belts or other receiving means, such as mandrels.

The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially to be seen in the fact that the Abbindvorgang takes place on the winding time parallel to the processing operation on the cable section. Thus, the total processing time for the cable section, also called machine cycle time, not extended. The total processing time remains the same with or without joinery. The time for making the coil is comparable to the time taken to deposit a stretched cable section in a conventional cable processing machine.

Mechanically, the winder and the depositing unit are not connected as a separate device to the cable processing machine, but form an integral unit of the cable processing machine. The manufactured and to be processed cable section is cut from the cable stock, processed at the leading end of the cable, wound up, possibly processed at the trailing cable end and handed over as a winding with Abbund the tray without manual intervention is necessary.

It is also advantageous that the cable processing machine builds short in spite of long cable sections compared to a conventional cable processing machine. The length of the cable processing machine is not determined by the length of the cable section.

In the cable processing machine and the method for producing and processing a cable section of the cable section is cut from a cable supply and processed at the cable ends, wherein a winder is provided, the Cable section forms into a winding with at least one turn and provides a laying unit with a Abbindeinrichtung the winding with a Abbund.

Reference to the accompanying figures, the present invention will be explained in more detail.

• Fig. 1
  einen zu einem Wickel geformten Kabelabschnitt,
• Fig. 2
  eine Kabelbearbeitungsmaschine im Grundriss,
• Fig. 3
  eine Kabelbearbeitungsmaschine in dreidimensionaler Darstellung,
• Fig. 4
  einen Wickler, der den Kabelabschnitt zu einem Wickel formt,
• Fig. 5
  den Wickler von der Rückseite her gesehen,
• Fig. 6
  Linearführungen eines Wicklertellers,
• Fig. 7
  Einzelheiten des Wicklers,
• Fig. 8 bis Fig. 10
  eine Bandstation zur Vorbereitung eines Klebbandes,
• Fig. 11 und Fig 12
  eine Ablegeinheit bei der Übernahme des Klebbandes,
• Fig. 13 und Fig. 14
  eine Abbindeinrichtung beim Abbindvorgang.

Show it:

• Fig. 1
  a cable section formed into a winding,
• Fig. 2
  a cable processing machine in plan,
• Fig. 3
  a cable processing machine in three-dimensional representation,
• Fig. 4
  a winder that forms the cable section into a roll,
• Fig. 5
  the winder seen from the back,
• Fig. 6
  Linear guides of a winder plate,
• Fig. 7
  Details of the winder,
• Fig. 8 to Fig. 10
  a belt station for preparing an adhesive tape,
• Fig. 11 and FIG. 12
  a depositing unit when taking over the adhesive tape,
• Fig. 13 and Fig. 14
  a setting device during Abbindvorgang.

Fig. 1 shows a cable section 1, which is formed with a plurality of turns 3 to a winding 2, wherein the turns 3 are held together by means of a 4 Abb. The Abbund 4, for example, consist of a tape with adhesive applied on one side, wherein the adhesive side of the tape comprises the turns 3 and the tape ends are adhesive side to each other. The leading cable end 5 is processed, for example, a crimp contact 6 is possibly struck with a grommet. The leading cable end 5 can also only be stripped or not processed. The trailing cable end 7 is processed, for example, a crimp contact 8 is possibly struck with a grommet. The trailing cable end 7 can only be stripped or not processed.

Fig. 2 shows a cable processing machine 10 in plan and Fig. 3 the cable processing machine 10 in three-dimensional representation.

At the entrance of the cable processing machine 10, a cable feed device is provided, consisting of a belt drive 11 and a length measuring device 12. The belt drive 11 leads a cable 13 to a first pivot arm 14 with a first gripper 15. The tape drive 11 advances the cable 13 and the length measuring device 12 measures the extended cable length, the extended cable length corresponds to the produced and to be processed at the ends cable section. Not shown is the cable supply, such as a cable drum or a cable coil.

By means of drives, the first pivot arm 14 can be placed in a symbolized by an arrow P1 pivoting movement and / or in a symbolized by an arrow P2 linear motion. The first pivot arm 14 serves as a feeding device by means of rotary motion P1 and linear movement P2 side of the cable longitudinal axis KL arranged processing stations 16 (for example, crimping presses and / or Tüllenbestücker) with leading cable ends. 5

After processing the leading cable end 5 brings the first pivot arm 14 by means of gripper 15, the leading cable end 5 back into the cable longitudinal axis KL. Then the cable 13 is advanced by means of belt drive 11 until a winder 17 can reach the leading cable end 5. Thereafter, the tape drive 11 advances the predetermined cable section 1 measured by the length measuring device 12, and the winder 17 synchronized with the tape drive 11 winds the advanced cable section simultaneously to form a reel 2 Fig. 1 on. After the production of the coil 2, the cable section 1 is separated from the cable 13 by means of a separating / Abisoliereinheit with separation / Stripping 18 and / or stripped. The leading cable end of the next cable section is taken by the first pivot arm 14 by means of grippers 15 and fed to the processing stations 16 for processing.

The trailing cable end 7 of the wound Cable section 1 is taken by a second pivot arm 19 by means of second gripper 20 and placed in a symbolized by an arrow P3 pivoting movement and / or in a symbolized by an arrow P4 linear movement, the trailing cable end 7 laterally of the cable longitudinal axis KL arranged processing stations 21 (for example crimping presses and / or Tüllenbestücker) is supplied.

Before processing the trailing end of the cable 7, the winding 2 is taken over by winding grippers 22 of a laying unit 23. Thereafter, the depositing unit 23 moves in the direction of cable feed in the direction of a tray 24 until the depositing unit 23 comes to rest approximately below the swivel arm drive 25 of the second swivel arm 19.

Before processing the trailing cable end 7, a belt station 26 provides a belt section for the production of the truss 4. The band section is taken over by a setting device 27 of the laying unit 23.

After processing the trailing cable end 7 of the second arm 19 brings by means of gripper 20, the trailing end of the cable 7 back approximately in the cable longitudinal axis KL and the depositing unit 23 is moved with the winding 2 in the direction of tray 24. On the drive of the depositing unit 23 to the tray 24, the joining 4 is produced by means of the binding device 27. The winding 2 with Abbund 4 is sorted according to good / bad criteria placed in one or the other container 31 of the tray 24. A belt drive 28 moves the laying unit 23 by means of belts 85 along a linear guide 29 arranged on a machine frame 30.

In Fig. 3 the directional arrows x, y and z are entered. The cable 13 is advanced by means of the belt drive 11 in the x direction, or the cable longitudinal axis KL is in the x direction. The laying unit 23 moves in the x-direction and places the finished roll 2 in the z-direction in the corresponding container 31. The winder 17 is for stripping the roll 2 as in Fig. 6 shown movable in the y-direction.

Fig. 4 shows the winder 17, which forms the cable section 1 to a winding 2. On a rotatable Wicklerteller 32 support fingers 33 and clamping fingers 34 are circular, peripherally arranged. Support fingers 33 and clamping fingers 34 carry the turns 3 of the coil second Fig. 7 shows details of the fingers 33,34. The Wicklerteller 32 lies in the plane spanned by the axes x and z plane and rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation 86 which is parallel to the y-axis. After processing the leading cable end 5 of the tape drive 11 pushes the cable 13 before. As soon as the leading cable end 5 passes through a first roller 35 of a cable guide 38, the roller 35 and a counter-finger 42 are additionally set into a rotational movement P7 by means of a drive unit 43 into a linear movement P6 and the counter-finger 42. At the same time, the roller 35 displaces a guide finger 36 into a rotational movement P5 about a fixed axis 48, wherein the guide finger 36 moves toward the counter-finger 42 and deflects the cable 13 in the direction of an open winder gripper 37 during advancement. Guide fingers 36 and counter-fingers 42 also serve as guide aids for laterally guiding the cable 13. The winder gripper 37 is arranged on the winder disk 32 within the circle formed by the fingers 33, 34. Roller 35, guide finger 36, counter-finger 42 and the Linear movement P6 generating drive unit 43 form the opposite the Wicklerteller 32 fixed cable guide 38. The length measuring device 12 measures the extended cable length and the controller stops the belt drive 11 as soon as the cable gripper 37 necessary cable length is reached. Then the winder gripper 37 encompassing the cable end is closed. A winder drive 39 drives the Wicklerteller 32, wherein the winder drive 39 and the tape drive 11 are synchronized during manufacture of the coil 2, which advances the tape drive 11 to cable is wound from the Wickler plate 32 at the same time, the turns 3 of the resulting roll 2 on the Fingers 33,34 rest. After the winding process, the winding 2 is taken by the winding grippers 22 of the depositing unit 23 and the Wicklerteller 32 moves in the y direction by means of a cylinder 41, wherein a between the fingers 33,34 cross, relative to the Wicklerteller 32 fixedly arranged scraper 40 the winding. 2 from the fingers 33,34 pushes. Details are in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown.

Fig. 5 shows the back of the winder 17 and Fig. 6 The front of the Wicklertellers 32 with linear guides 47. A motor pulley of the winder drive 39 drives a toothed belt 45 which drives a Wicklerpulley 46 and thus the Wicklerteller 32. The Wicklerteller 32 is movable together with the winder drive 39 along linear guides 47 in the y direction by means of cylinder 41 for the purpose of stripping the roll 2 of the fingers 33,34, the winding 2 is present on the fixed scraper 40 and so on the fingers 33, 34 is pushed. 49 designates an air connection, via which compressed air can be supplied to pneumatic units (winder gripper 37, clamping finger 34) of the winder disk 32. The motor pulley 44 is connected to the winder drive 39 by means of a coupling 50.

Fig. 7 shows details of the winder 17 in particular arranged on the Wicklerteller 32 pneumatic units such as Wicklergreifer 37 and clamping fingers 34. The support fingers 33 carry the turns 3 of the coil 2. The clamping fingers 34 carry and hold the turns 3 of the coil 2. Each clamping finger 34 points at the free End of a nose 51, which restrain the winding 2 during the winding process. In addition, the clamping finger 34 is rotatable about an axis 53 by means of a pneumatic drive 52. In the position shown, the winding 2 can be stripped off by the fingers 33, 34 by means of scrapers 40. The pneumatic actuator 52 actuated by means of a cylinder 54 about an axis 73 rotatable lever 55 which rotates the clamping finger 34 by means of engaging in slots 56 bolt 57 about the axis 53 until the clamping finger 34 has the same position as the support fingers 33. In this position, the Wicklerteller 32 ready for the winding process.

Fig. 7 shows the Wicklergreifer 37 for holding the leading cable end 5. The two gripper halves 58 shown in the closed position are pneumatically rotatable about an axis 59 and open and engage around by means of fingers 60 the cable end.

Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 show a belt station 26 in which an adhesive tape 61 is prepared with one-side applied adhesive layer to a necessary for the Abbund 4 length. A tape supply 62 is located on a z-direction by means of cylinder 63 vertically adjustable belt plate 64, which is for the first time, manual threading of the adhesive tape 61 for better accessibility in the upper layer. On the belt plate 64, a finger 65 with two finger pins 66 is arranged. The adhesive tape 61 is on the adhesive-less or dry side manually peeled off the plate-like finger bolt 66 and the beginning of the tape glued on the side with the adhesive layer on the finger plate remote from the blade 66. The manual threading is completed and the belt plate 64 is lowered and pivoted by means of cylinder 67 until the adhesive tape 61 as in Fig. 9 shown in line is with an extendable deflecting pin 68 and a band gripper 69 with knife 70. Thereafter, the band gripper 69 is closed and the adhesive tape 61 severed by means of knife 70. As in Fig. 10 shown the belt plate 64 is pivoted back into the starting position. The tape residue sticking to the remote finger pin 66 is manually removed. A linearly actuatable by means of pneumatic linear unit 71 in the y-direction tape take-off gripper 72 is then moved open between deflecting pin 68 and belt gripper 69. Subsequently, the tape take-off gripper 72 is closed and the tape gripper 69 is opened. The linear unit 71 now moves the tape take-off gripper 72 back and with it the adhesive tape 61 is pulled along from the tape supply 62 by the length as it is necessary for the production of 4 Abb.

Instead of the adhesive tape 61, a tape with comparable properties can be used. For example, a plastic band with hemispherical hemispherical heads arranged on one side, wavy on a short trunk, which by compressing one another give rise to a firm but detachable connection, is also suitable.

Fig. 11 and FIG. 12 show the laying unit 23 in the acquisition of the adhesive tape 61 prepared by the tape station 26. Fig. 11 shows the depositing unit 23 together with parts of the belt station 26 from below, for the sake of clarity, only the upper winding gripper 22 is made visible, the lower winding gripper is in Fig. 11 not shown. The winding gripper 22 are not yet closed, the winding 2 is in Fig. 11 still held by the fingers 33,34 of the Wicklertellers 32. The drawn from the tape take-off gripper 72 from the tape supply 62 adhesive tape 61 is held by two each consisting of a rotatable roller arm 74 and a fixed pressure arm 75 roller grippers 76, wherein the tape take-off gripper 72 has already been opened. The roller grippers 76 are part of the binding device 27. When the band gripper 69 is closed, the adhesive tape 61 running in the y direction is severed by means of the knife 70 at the point 77 marked with dots. The cable storage-side end of the adhesive tape 61 is held by the band gripper 69. As in Fig. 12 Shown is the depositing unit 23 and the binding device 27 ready for the movement in the x direction to the tray 24 and on the way to the tray 24 for the production of the composite 4. The winding 2 has been taken over by the winding grippers 22 from the winder 17 and is of these recorded. The section of the adhesive tape 61 is held in place by means of the roller grippers 76 and is ready for the setting process.

Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show the Abbindeinrichtung 27 during Abbindvorgang. The winding grippers 22 have not been shown for the sake of clarity. The roller arm 74 of the roller gripper 76 can perform the rotational movement P8 and is rotatable by means of a pneumatic rotary unit 78. A roller 79 of the roller arm 74 presses the adhesive tape 61 against the pressure arm 75, wherein the non-adhesive side of the adhesive tape 61 on the pressure arm 75 and the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape 61 on the roller 79 is located. Reel grab 76 and rotary unit 78 are movable by means of a pneumatic linear unit 80 in the y-direction, wherein the two roller claws 76 are movable against each other or apart. The two pneumatic linear units 80 are in turn movable in the x-direction by means of a pneumatic, consisting of push rods 82 and cylinder 83 linear unit 81. As in Fig. 13 The roller grippers 76 have been moved in the x-direction against the cable feed direction to the winder 17, the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape 61 coming to rest on the winding 2. Due to the relative movement of the roller gripper 76 relative to the winding 2, the in Fig. 11 shown, free end 84 of the adhesive tape 61 pulled over the rollers 79 without leaving them. In the in Fig. 13 For the production of the composite 4, the two roller claws 76 are moved in the y-direction against each other, the pressure arms 75 put the adhesive tape 61 around the winding 2 and the two remaining Press tape ends adhesive layer on adhesive layer on each other, leaving the ends 84, the rollers 79. Subsequently, the linear unit 81 pushes the linear unit 80 and with it the roller gripper 76 in the in Fig. 14 shown end position in x-direction. The winding 2 with the Abbund 4 is now ready for transfer to the tray 24 in one of the container 31. The transfer takes place by opening the winding gripper 22nd

Claims (5)

1. Wire processing machine (10) for manufacturing and processing a cut length of wire (1), wherein the cut length of wire (1) is cut to length from a wire stock and its wire-ends (5, 7) are processed, wherein a coiler (17) is provided, which forms the cut length of wire (1) to a coil (2) with at least one winding (3),
   characterized in that
   a stacker unit (23) is provided which contains a binder unit (27) which provides the coil (2) with a bind (4), and in that viewed in wire-advance direction after the coiler (17) is a tape station (26), which readies a tape (61) for manufacturing the bind (4), and in that the binding device (27) has roller grippers (76) to accept the tape (61) from the tape station (26), and in that the stacker unit (23) has coil grippers (22) to accept the coil (2) from the coiler (17) and can be caused to travel from the coiler (17) to a deposit (24).
2. Wire processing machine according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the coiler (17) is arranged between a cutting-off/insulation-stripping unit (18) and a second swivel arm (19).
3. Method for manufacturing and processing a cut length of wire (1), the cut length of wire (1) being cut to length from a wire stock and its wire-ends (5, 7) processed, wherein, after processing of the leading wire-end (5), the cut length of wire (1) is coiled by a coiler (17) into a coil (2), characterized in that the coil (2) is provided with a bind (4) by a stacker unit (23) that contains a binding device (27),
   and in that a tape (61) for manufacturing the bind (4) is readied by a tape station (26), which, viewed in wire-advance direction, is arranged after the coiler (17),
   and in that roller grippers (76) of the binding device (27) take over the tape (61) from the tape station (26),
   and in that coil grippers (22) of the stacker unit (23) take over the coil (2) from the coiler (17) and that the stacker unit (23) is transported by the coiler (17) to a deposit (24).
4. Method according to Claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the bind (4) is manufactured during processing of the trailing wire-end (7) and/or during processing of the leading wire-end of the following cut length of wire.
5. Method according to Claim 3 or 4,
   characterized in that
   during manufacture of the coil (2), an adhesive tape (61) is readied as tape which, in the subsequent manufacture of the bind (4), is laid around the coil (2).

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