Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
  • H02G1/06—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
  • H02G1/08—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H51/00—Forwarding filamentary material
  • B65H51/02—Rotary devices, e.g. with helical forwarding surfaces
  • B65H51/04—Rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements
  • B65H51/08—Rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements arranged to operate in groups or in co-operation with other elements
  • B65H51/10—Rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements arranged to operate in groups or in co-operation with other elements with opposed coacting surfaces, e.g. providing nips
  • B65H51/105—Rollers, pulleys, capstans, or intermeshing rotary elements arranged to operate in groups or in co-operation with other elements with opposed coacting surfaces, e.g. providing nips one of which is an endless belt
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
  • B65H2701/34—Handled filamentary material electric cords or electric power cables

Definitions

• This invention relates to a mechanism and method for feeding a length of twisted pair cable.
• the invention relates to such a mechanism and method for use in an automated or robotic wiring system.
• Twisted pair cabling is commonly used in telecommunications networks, and comprises two individual insulated wire conductors wound together in a regular helical configuration, to reduce interference and increase strength.
• the wiring of telecommunications network distribution frames using twisted pair cable has conventionally been performed by hand, or using simple hand-operated tools.
• a typical distribution frame may comprise many thousands of individual connections, requiring constant maintenance and re-wiring. Performing such operations by hand is therefore slow, labour intensive and susceptible to error. Consequently, the introduction of automated wiring systems is therefore highly desirable.
• a mechanism for feeding a length of twisted pair cable comprising:
• - drive means adapted to effect motion of at least one of said first and second contact surfaces, thereby to drive a length of twisted pair cable along said path; and wherein said path is sufficiently narrow such that said first and second contact surfaces embrace a length of twisted pair cable inserted into the path, and sufficiently long such that at least two nodes of said length of twisted pair cable are accommodated therein, such that in use, said twisted pair cable is driven along the path, without causing rotation of said twisted pair cable about its axis.
• a mechanism for feeding a length of twisted pair cable comprising:
• - a capstan having a substantially circular periphery; - a continuous belt supported so that a portion thereof embraces an arc of the capstan periphery;
• the first contact surface comprises a capstan having a substantially circular periphery
• the second opposed contact surface comprises a portion of a continuous belt supported such that said portion embraces an arc of the capstan periphery
• the drive means is adapted to effect rotation of the capstan, thereby to effect feeding of a length of twisted pair cable around said arc of the capstan periphery, without causing rotation of the twisted pair cable about its axis.
• the path along which the twisted pair cable is fed by the mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention is at least partially defined by the arc of the capstan periphery.
• the path comprises an arc of substantially 90°.
• the continuous belt is preferably supported on at least two, and more preferably three, rollers.
• the rollers are preferably arranged such that the axes thereof are parallel to one another and to the axis of the capstan.
• these are preferably arranged relative to one another so as to form the corners of a triangle, and arranged relative to the capstan such that an arc of the capstan periphery intersects one side of said triangle.
• the three rollers are arranged relative to one another so as to form the corners of a right-angled triangle, and arranged relative to the capstan such that an arc of the capstan periphery intersects the hypotenuse of said right-angled triangle.
• At least one roller preferably comprises a cylindrical body adapted to receive the continuous belt, and upper and lower flanges extending radially beyond the cylindrical body so as to constrain the belt therebetween.
• the upper and lower flanges extend radially beyond the cylindrical body a distance at least as large as the thickness of the continuous belt.
• an annular groove may be formed in the cylindrical body of the roller, for receiving the continuous belt therein.
• the capstan preferably also comprises a cylindrical body, defining the first contact surface for a length of twisted pair cable, said cable also being embraced by the second opposed contact surface defined by the continuous belt.
• the capstan may desirably also be provided with upper and lower flanges extending radially beyond the cylindrical body so as to constrain the cable and belt therebetween.
• the twisted pair cable feeding mechanism preferably further, comprises guide means adapted to direct the twisted pair cable around an - A - arc of the capstan periphery.
• the mechanism comprises first and second guide means adapted, respectively, to direct the twisted pair cable towards, and away from, the capstan periphery.
• the first and second guide means therefore further define the path along which the twisted pair cable is fed.
• the path comprises an arc of substantially 90°
• the first and second guide means are thus preferably arranged at substantially 90° to one another.
• Each guide means may preferably comprise a block having a channel formed therein, adapted to receive passage of a length of twisted pair cable therethrough. Where the path comprises an arc of substantially 90°, the axes of the channels of the first and second guide means will necessarily also be arranged at substantially 90° to one another.
• the drive means preferably comprises an electric motor coupled to the capstan to effect rotational movement thereof.
• the drive means, or further drive means may be adapted also to effect rotational movement of the rollers.
• the rollers may be adapted to rotate freely upon rotation of the capstan.
• the mechanism preferably further comprises means for adjusting the tension of the continuous belt. This may be achieved, for example, by mounting at least one of the rollers such that the axis thereof is adapted for translational motion relative to the axes of the other rollers, and/or the capstan.
• the capstan may be mounted on a first platform, and the rollers mounted on a second platform; with at least one of said first and second platforms being adapted for translational motion relative to the other.
• the mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention is preferably adapted for feeding a length of twisted pair cable to a wiring head of an automated or robotic wiring system.
• a method of feeding a length of twisted pair cable comprising the steps of:
• a method of feeding a length of twisted pair cable comprising the steps of:
• the first contact surface comprises a capstan having a substantially circular periphery
• the second opposed contact surface comprises a portion of a continuous belt supported such that said portion embraces an arc of the capstan periphery
• the capstan is driven to effect feeding of a length of twisted pair cable along a path at least partially defined by said arc of the capstan periphery, thereby effecting feeding of the twisted pair cable without causing rotation of said twisted pair cable about its axis.
• the path at least partially defined by said arc of the capstan periphery preferably comprises an arc of substantially 90°.
• the method according to the second aspect of the present invention preferably effects the feeding of a length of twisted pair cable to a wiring head of an automated or robotic wiring system.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a twisted pair cable feeding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.
• the mechanism 10 comprises a capstan 1 1 having a cylindrical body 12 presenting a circular periphery, and first and second guide means 13,14 respectively, arranged to direct a length of twisted pair cable 15 around an arc 16 of the capstan periphery.
• a continuous belt 17 is supported on three rollers 18 arranged so as to define the corners of a notional right-angled triangle.
• the continuous belt 17 would define all three sides of said notional right-angled triangle defined by the three rollers 18, if the roller 18 and belt 17 ensemble were in isolation.
• the rollers 18 are arranged in close proximity to the capstan 1 1 , such that said arc 16 of the capstan periphery intersects the hypotenuse of said notional right-angled triangle.
• the continuous belt 17 is thus diverted from its linear path, along the arc 16 of the capstan periphery.
• An arcuate path 16 for the length of twisted pair cable 15 is thus defined between a first contact surface formed by the cylindrical body 12 of the capstan 1 1 and a second opposed contact surface formed by the belt 17 (the first and second contact surfaces are not visible in Figure 1 ).
• the spacing between the first and second contact surfaces must be sufficiently small such that the length of twisted pair cable 15 is gripped between the said contact surfaces, so as to be urged along the arcuate path 16 upon rotation of the capstan 1 1. Additionally, the length of the arcuate path 16 must be sufficiently long such that at least two nodes 19 of the twisted pair cable 15 are accommodated therein, so that no net force acts to rotate the cable 15 about its axis, but only to urge the cable 15 along the arcuate path 16.
• the cylindrical body 12 of the capstan 1 1 is provided with upper and lower flanges 21 having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical body 12 so as to constrain the twisted pair cable 15 and the belt 17 therebetween, along the arcuate path 16.
• a similar construction is adopted for the rollers 18, each of which comprises a cylindrical body 22, which may be provided with upper and lower flanges 23 extending radially beyond the cylindrical body 22 so as to constrain the belt 17 therebetween.
• the capstan 1 1 is rotatable about a central axle 24, whilst each roller 18 is also rotatable about a central axle 25, each said axle 24, 25 extending parallel to one another.
• An electric motor (not shown) is coupled to the capstan axle 24 so as to drive rotation of the capstan 1 1 .
• the axles 25 of the rollers 18 are adapted to rotate freely in response to the motion of the belt 17 caused by rotation of the capstan 1 1 .
• drive means may also be coupled to the roller axles 25 so as to drive rotation of the rollers 18.
• the first and second guide means 13, 14 are arranged to direct the twisted pair cable 15 around the arc 16 of the capstan 1 1 .
• Each said guide means 13, 14 comprises a block 26 having a channel 27 formed therein.
• Each channel 27 is sized to allow the length of twisted pair cable 15 to be passed therethrough upon operation of the mechanism 10.
• the channels 27 of the respective guide means 13, 14 are arranged at 90° to one another in order to facilitate passage of the length of twisted pair cable 15 along the arcuate 90° path 16.
• the length of twisted pair cable 15 must be introduced through the first guide means 13, and into the arcuate path 16 defined between the first contact surface formed by the cylindrical body 12 of the capstan 1 1 and the second opposed contact surface formed by the belt 17. Rotation of the capstan 1 1 by operation of the electric motor (not shown) then urges the cable 15 through the remainder of the arcuate path 16, from where the cable 15 can be threaded through the second guide means 14. On emerging from the second guide means 14 the cable 15 is then fed to a wiring head (not shown) of a robotic wiring system.
• the capstan 1 1 In use, to move the twisted pair cable 15 in the direction of arrow a the capstan 1 1 should be driven to rotate in a clockwise motion, whilst to move the twist pair cable 15 in the direction of arrow b, the capstan 1 1 should be driven to rotate in a counter-clockwise motion.

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• Forwarding And Storing Of Filamentary Material (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-03-07 GB GBGB0704383.9A patent/GB0704383D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2008
  • 2008-03-04 WO PCT/GB2008/050153 patent/WO2008107719A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-03-04 US US12/523,138 patent/US20100044408A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-03-04 EP EP08709672A patent/EP2118975A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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