EP2243143A1 - Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method - Google Patents

Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method

Info

Publication number
EP2243143A1
EP2243143A1 EP09710539A EP09710539A EP2243143A1 EP 2243143 A1 EP2243143 A1 EP 2243143A1 EP 09710539 A EP09710539 A EP 09710539A EP 09710539 A EP09710539 A EP 09710539A EP 2243143 A1 EP2243143 A1 EP 2243143A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electric wire
slack
transfer
time point
absorbing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09710539A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2243143A4 (en
Inventor
Keigo Sugimura
Takeshi Kamata
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yazaki Corp
Original Assignee
Yazaki Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yazaki Corp filed Critical Yazaki Corp
Publication of EP2243143A1 publication Critical patent/EP2243143A1/en
Publication of EP2243143A4 publication Critical patent/EP2243143A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B65H51/30—Devices controlling the forwarding speed to synchronise with supply, treatment, or take-up apparatus
    • 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
    • B65H51/20—Devices for temporarily storing filamentary material during forwarding, e.g. for buffer storage
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H59/00—Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators
    • B65H59/10—Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators by devices acting on running material and not associated with supply or take-up devices
    • B65H59/36—Floating elements compensating for irregularities in supply or take-up of material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
    • H01B13/34—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables for marking conductors or cables
    • H01B13/345—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables for marking conductors or cables by spraying, ejecting or dispensing marking fluid

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus and electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire which is transferred intermittently along one direction.
  • the motor vehicle is provided with a wiring harness for transmitting electric power from a power source and control signals from a computer to the electronic instruments.
  • the wiring harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.
  • the electric wire includes an electrically conductive core wire and a coating made of electrically insulating synthetic resin, which coats the core wire.
  • the electric wire is a so-called coated electric wire.
  • a connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing that receives the terminal fitting therein.
  • the terminal fitting consisting of electrically conductive sheet metal or the like, is attached to an end of the electric wire and electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire.
  • the connector housing is made of electrically insulating synthetic resin and formed in a box-shape.
  • the electric wire of the wiring harness must be distinguished in terms of a size of the core wire, material of the coating (concerning with alteration in the materials depending on heat-resisting property), and a purpose of use.
  • the purpose of use means, for example, a purpose of use for a control signal for an air bag or antilock brake system (ABS) and a purpose of use for a system in a motor vehicle, in which the electric wires are used, such as a power transmission system. Therefore, outer surfaces of the electric wires used in the wiring harness are colored with desired colors in order to distinguish the purpose of use as described above.
  • the wiring harness When the wiring harness is assembled, first, an outer surface of a long electric wire wound up around a roller is colored with a desired color and the electric wire is cut into a predetermined length and then, a terminal fitting is attached to an end of the electric wire after removing the coating near the end. An electric wire is connected to another electric wire according to a need. Afterward, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wiring harness is assembled.
  • an electric wire cutting device When the outer surface of the long electric wire is colored and cut into a predetermined length, an electric wire cutting device is used (for example, see Patent Publication 1).
  • the electric wire cutting device includes at least a frame as a device body (i.e. device body frame), a guide roll, a delivery roll, and a cutting mechanism.
  • a coloring device is attached to the electric wire cutting device.
  • the guide roll is supported rotatably at one end part of the device body frame and winds up the long electric wire before being cut therearound.
  • a pair of the delivery roll is supported rotatably at an opposite end part of the device body frame. The pair of the delivery roll puts the electric wire therebetween and pulls and transfers the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire.
  • the cutting mechanism is arranged at a downstream side of the delivery roll in a transferring direction of the electric wire.
  • the coloring device is arranged between the guide roll and the delivery roll.
  • the electric wire cutting device intermittently transfers the electric wire by a predetermined length. An outer surface of the electric wire is colored by the coloring device while the electric wire is transferred. When the electric wire is stopped, the electric wire is cut by the cutting mechanism.
  • an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus is attached to the electric wire cutting device.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus is arranged between the guide roll and the coloring device.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus includes a pair of guide rollers-supporting frame, a pair of guide rollers, a transfer roller-supporting frame, a transfer roller, and an air cylinder.
  • the pair of guide rollers-supporting frame is fixed to the device body frame and supports the respective guide rollers rotatably.
  • the pair of the guide rollers is arranged below the electric wire.
  • the transfer roller-supporting frame is fixed to the device body frame and supports the transfer roller rotatably.
  • the transfer roller is arranged above the electric wire and arranged between the pair of the guide rollers along the transferring direction of the electric wire.
  • the air cylinder includes an air cylinder body and an expansion rod expandable from the air cylinder body.
  • the air cylinder body is fixed to the transfer roller-supporting frame and arranged above the electric wire.
  • the expansion rod expands and contracts downward (i.e. in a direction in which the expansion rod approaches the electric wire) from the air cylinder body.
  • the transfer roller is attached to the expansion rod.
  • the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus makes the expansion rod of the air cylinder expand and contract so as to displace the transfer roller downward, so that the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus urges the electric wire along a direction crossing at right angles the transferring direction of the electric wire so as to absorb the slack of the electric wire.
  • Patent Publication 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-134371
  • the present invention is to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the pressing means includes a rotatable roller member, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire and which presses the electric wire in accordance with a command from the control means.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a brake part which stops rotation of the roller member.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a biasing means always biasing the roller member toward the electric wire.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a coloring means coloring an outer surface of the electric wire.
  • the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is again transferred after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon stop of the electric wire, the pressing means presses the electric wire from a time point before a slack of the electric wire starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire is stopped, therefore the slack of the electric wire before and after the stop of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is transferred again after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon start of the transferring of the electric wire, the pressing means presses the electric wire from a time point before a slack of the electric wire starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire is transferred, therefore the slack of the electric wire before and after the start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter and since the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is transferred again after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore the slack of the electric wire upon both of the stop of the electric wire and start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the pressing means includes a rotatable roller member, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire and which presses the electric wire in accordance with a command from the control means, that is, the roller member rotates when the roller member presses the electric wire, therefore a friction between the electric wire and the roller member is relaxed and therefore, ablation of a part contacting the electric wire can be reduced.
  • the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a brake part which stops rotation of the roller member, therefore rotation of the roller member due to own inertia of the roller member or inertia of the electric wire can be removed and the roller member under such a stop condition can press the electric wire upon stop of the electric wire and upon start of the transferring of the electric wire, thereby the electric wire can be securely pressed.
  • the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a biasing means always biasing the roller member toward the electric wire, therefore a certain tension can be always applied to the electric wire so that a slack of the electric wire can be further securely prevented from occurring and also a slack of the electric wire during transferring of the electric wire can be prevented from occurring.
  • the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a coloring means coloring an outer surface of the electric wire, therefore an outer surface of the electric wire having no slack can be colored, so that the electric wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern and discrimination of the electric wires can be securely carried out.
  • the electric wire since according to a transfer length of the electric wire, the electric wire is pressed along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore a slack of the electric wire upon stop of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the electric wire since according to a transfer length of the electric wire, the electric wire is pressed along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is again transferred after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore a slack of the electric wire upon start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • FIG. 1 A view illustrating a construction of an electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 An enlarged view illustrating a slack-absorbing unit shown in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 3 A diagram illustrating a construction of a spouting unit of a coloring unit shown in Fig. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 A diagram illustrating a construction of a control device shown in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 5 A timing chart illustrating action of a delivery roll and slider controlled by a control circuit shown in Fig. 4;
  • FIG. 6 A flow chart illustrating action of a delivery roll and slider controlled by a control circuit shown in Fig. 4;
  • FIG. 7 A plan view (partly cross sectional view) illustrating a state when an electric wire shown in Fig. 1 is colored.
  • coloring unit (coloring means) 43 control circuit (control means) [BEST MODE FOR CARRING OUT THE INVENTION]
  • a slack-absorbing apparatus 1 is an apparatus which absorbs a slack of an electric wire 5 when the electric wire 5 is intermittently transferred in a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5, for example, on a occasion that an outer surface of the long electric wire 5 is colored io and cut into a predetermined length.
  • the electric wire 5 includes an electrically conductive core wire 51 and an electrically insulating coating 52.
  • the core wire 51 is formed by twisting a plurality of element wires 51a together. Each element wire 51a is made of metal.
  • the core wire 51 may
  • the coating 52 is made of synthetic resin, for example, polyvinyl chloride.
  • the coating 52 coats the core wire 51. That is, an outer surface of the coating 52 is an outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • the coating 52 has a single color N (shown with white base color in
  • a desired coloring agent may be mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52 so that the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 has a single color N or, alternatively, a color of the coating 52 itself may be a single color N without mixing a coloring agent into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52. In the latter case, the outer
  • non-colored 25 surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is called non-colored, that is, the coating 52 is called non-colored.
  • the "non-colored" means that a color of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is a color of the synthetic resin itself constituting the coating 52 without mixing a coloring agent into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52.
  • a mark 6 shown in Fig. 7 is formed on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • a color of the mark 6 is color A (indicated by parallel diagonal lines in Fig. 7).
  • the color A is different from the single color N.
  • a shape and an arrangement (i.e. a position on the electric wire 5) of the mark 6 are determined according to a predetermined pattern.
  • the electric wire 5 is cut by a cutting mechanism 17 (explained later) into a predetermined length, then a plurality of the electric wires 5 are bundled up and a connector is attached to an end of each electric wire 5, so that a wiring harness is constructed.
  • Such connectors are coupled with mating connectors of various electronic instruments in a motor vehicle, so that the wiring harness, that is, the electric wires 5 transmit various signals and electric power to the various electronic instruments.
  • the electric wires 5 can be distinguished from each other by changing the color A of the mark 6 to various different colors.
  • the color of the mark 6 becomes a sign for distinguishing a kind of wire or system. That is, a color of the mark 6 of the electric wire 5 is used to distinguish purposes of use of electric wires 5 of the wiring harness.
  • the slack-absorbing apparatus 1 includes a frame 11 as an apparatus body, a guide roll 12, a delivery roll 13 as the transfer means, a correcting unit 14 as a tension-imparting means, a slack-absorbing unit 20, a coloring unit 30 as the coloring means, a duct 15, an encoder 16 as the detecting means, a cutting mechanism 17 as the machining means, and a control device 40.
  • the frame 11 is placed on a floor or the like of a plant.
  • the frame 11 extends in a horizontal direction.
  • the guide roll 12 is rotatably attached to one end part of the frame 11.
  • the guide roll 12 winds up the long electric wire 5 therearound, on an outer surface of which no mark is formed.
  • the guide roll 12 delivers the electric wire 5 to the correcting unit 14, slack-absorbing unit 20, coloring unit 30, duct 15, encoder 16, and cutting mechanism 17 in turn.
  • a pair of the delivery rolls 13 is provided at an opposite end part of the frame 11.
  • the pair of the delivery rolls 13 is rotatably supported by the frame 11 and lined up along a vertical direction.
  • the delivery rolls 13 are rotated by a drive source such as a motor (not shown in the figure) in inverse directions to each other with the same revolution number.
  • the delivery rolls 13 put the electric wire 5 therebetween and pull the electric wire 5 from the guide roll 12 along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5.
  • the delivery rolls 13 transfers the electric wire 5 along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5 so as to transfer the electric wire 5 and a spouting unit (explained later) relatively to each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5.
  • the delivery rolls 13 is linked to the control device 40 and repeats its rotation and stop in accordance with a command from the control device 40, so that the delivery rolls 13 intermittently transfers the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5.
  • the electric wire 5 is transferred from the guide roll 12 to the delivery rolls 13 along a direction indicated by an arrow P shown in Fig. 1.
  • the direction indicated by an arrow P is the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the correcting unit 14 is provided at the delivery rolls 13 -side of the guide roll 12, that is, provided between the guide roll 12 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the correcting unit 14 is provided at a downstream side of the guide roll 12 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. That is, the correcting unit 14 is provided at an upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the correcting unit 14 includes a plate-shaped unit body 14a, a plurality of first rollers 14b, and a plurality of second rollers 14c.
  • the unit body 14a is fixed to the frame 11.
  • the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c are rotatably supported by the unit body 14a.
  • the plurality of the first rollers 14b are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and arranged above the electric wire 5.
  • the plurality of the second rollers 14c are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and arranged below the electric wire 5.
  • the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c are arranged in a zigzag shape.
  • the correcting unit 14 puts the electric wire 5 delivered from the guide roll 12 by the delivery rolls 13 between the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c.
  • the correcting unit 14 makes the electric wire 5 in a straight shape.
  • the correcting unit 14 imparts (i.e. gives) a friction force to the electric wire 5 by putting the electric wire 5 between the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c. That is, the correcting unit 14 imparts the friction force having the first biasing force Ql working in a direction inverse to the pulling direction (i.e. the transferring direction of the electric wire 5) in which the delivery rolls 13 pulls the electric wire 5.
  • the first biasing force Ql is weaker than the pulling force that the delivery rolls 13 pulls the electric wire 5. Therefore, the correcting unit 14 imparts a tension along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5 to the electric wire 5 so as to stretch the electric wire 5.
  • the slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 which is intermittently transferred along the direction P.
  • the slack- absorbing unit 20 is provided at the delivery rolls 13 -side of the correcting unit 14.
  • the slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided between the correcting unit 14 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided at the downstream side of the correcting unit 14 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the slack-absorbing unit 20 includes a pair of guide roller- supporting frames 21, a pair of guide rollers 22, a pressing p art- supporting frame 23, and a pressing part 24 as the pressing means.
  • the guide roller-supporting frames 21 are fixed to the frame 11. Each guide roller-supporting frame 21 rises upward from the frame 11. The pair of guide roller- supporting frames 21 is lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 having a distance therebetween.
  • Each guide roller 22 is rotatably supported by the corresponding guide roller-supporting frame 21.
  • the guide roller 22 is arranged below the electric wire 5 and an outer peripheral surface of each guide roller 22 comes in contact with the electric wire 5, so that the guide roller 22 guides the electric wire 5 preventing the electric wire 5 from coming out from the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. That is, the guide rollers 22 guide the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the pressing part- supporting frame 23 is fixed to the frame 11.
  • the pressing part- supporting frame 23 rises upward from the frame 11.
  • the pressing part- supporting frame 23 is provided in the vicinity of the pair of guide roller-supporting frames 21.
  • the pressing part 24 includes a linear guide 26, a drive part 29, a roller member 27, and a brake part (not shown in the figure).
  • the linear guide 26 is attached to the pressing part- supporting frame 23.
  • the linear guide 26 includes a rail 26a and a slider 26b.
  • the rail 26a is fixed on an outer surface of the pressing part-supporting frame 23.
  • the rail 26a is formed in a straight shape and provided along the vertical direction.
  • the slider 26b is movably supported by the rail 26a along a longitudinal direction of the rail 26a.
  • the slider 26b attaches an air cylinder 25 as the biasing means.
  • the air cylinder 25 includes a cylinder body 25a and an expansion rod 25b expandable from the cylinder body 25a.
  • the cylinder body 25a is fixed to the slider 26b and arranged above the electric wire 5.
  • the expansion rod 25b extends downward from the cylinder body 25a along the vertical direction. That is, the expansion rod 25b extends from the cylinder body 25a in a direction in which the expansion rod 25b approaches the electric wire 5.
  • a roller member 27 is attached to the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25.
  • the air cylinder 25 biases the expansion rod 25b, that is, biases the roller member 27 downward along the vertical direction with the second biasing force Q2.
  • the air cylinder 25 always biases the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2.
  • the second biasing force Q2 is weaker than the first biasing force Ql .
  • the drive part 29 includes a motor 29a as a drive source, a screw shaft 29b, and a nut 29c.
  • the motor 29a is fixed to the pressing part- supporting frame 23.
  • the screw shaft 29b is arranged along the vertical direction.
  • One end part of the screw shaft 29b is linked to an output shaft of the motor 29a, while an opposite end part of the screw shaft 29b is supported by a bearing 29d fixed to the pressing part-supporting frame 23.
  • the screw shaft 29b is supported by the pressing part- supporting frame 23 rotatably around an axis of the shaft.
  • the nut 29c screws with the screw shaft 29b and is fixed to the slider 26b.
  • the motor 29a of the drive part 29 acts, the output shaft of the motor 29a rotates to rotate the screw shaft 29b, the nut 29c moves along the vertical direction, and the slider 26b moves along a longitudinal direction of the rail 26a, that is, along the vertical direction.
  • the slider 26b moves along the vertical direction
  • the air cylinder 25 fixed to the slider 26b moves along the vertical direction, so that the roller member 27 attached to the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 moves along the vertical direction.
  • the drive part 29 transfers the roller member 27 along the vertical direction.
  • the roller member 27 is rotatably supported by the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 and supported by the air cylinder 25 and the linear guide 26 movable along the vertical direction.
  • the roller member 27 is arranged above the electric wire 5 and arranged at a center between the pair of the guide rollers 22.
  • the roller member 27 is supported movable along the vertical direction, so that the roller member 27 is supported movable along a direction crossing at right angles (or crossing) the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the drive part 29 transfers the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43, the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5, and an outer peripheral surface of the roller member 27 is provided rotatable coming in contact with the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5.
  • the brake part stops the rotation of the roller member 27 and is, for example, a known powder brake or friction disc brake.
  • the brake part acts in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43 upon stop or transfer- start of the electric wire 5 to stop the rotation of the roller member 27, making the roller member 27 securely press the electric wire 5.
  • a mechanism of the brake part may be mechanical or electromagnetic provided that the brake part stops the rotation of the roller member 27.
  • the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5 along the vertical direction even after the electric wire 5 is stopped so as to absorb a slack of the electric wire 5.
  • the vertical direction is a direction crossing at right angles (crossing) the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 extends so as to bias the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2, thereby imparting specific tension to the electric wire 5.
  • the slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 and imparts the specific tension to the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is stopped to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped.
  • the electric wire 5 tends to have a slack due to its inertia even when the electric wire 5 once stopped is again transferred.
  • the pressing part 24 of the slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the stopped electric wire 5 as described above and the air cylinder 25 imparts (i.e. gives) specific tension to the electric wire 5.
  • the slider 26b starts to move upward along the vertical direction simultaneously when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred and even at that time the roller member 27 is pressing the electric wire 5 along the vertical direction.
  • the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 biases the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2 while the expansion rod 25b is contracting, so as to impart specific tension to the electric wire 5.
  • the slider 26b returns to an initial position thereof, so that the pressing to the electric wire 5 by the roller member 27 is released.
  • the coloring unit 30 includes a unit body 31 and a plurality of spouting units 32.
  • the unit body 31 is fixed to the frame 11 and supports the plurality of the spouting units 32.
  • the plurality of the spouting units 32 are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. Twelve spouting units 32 are provided in an example shown in Fig. 1.
  • the spouting units 32 are provided at the delivery rolls 13-side of the slack- absorbing unit 20. That is, the spouting units 32 are provided between the slack-absorbing unit 20 and the delivery rolls 13.
  • the spouting units 32 are provided at the downstream side of the slack- absorbing unit 20 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and provided at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the plurality of the spouting units 32 spout respective coloring agents having colors different from each other toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. Thereby, the electric wires 5 having various coloring patterns can be produced.
  • the plurality of the spouting units 32 may not spout coloring agents having colors different from each other. Since the plurality of the spouting units 32 have the same structure, in the following, a spouting unit 32 (hereinafter, a first spouting unit 32A) will be explained as a representative one.
  • the first spouting unit 32A includes a first nozzle 33 A, a first valve 34 A, and a first coloring agent supply source 35A.
  • the first nozzle 33A faces the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • the first nozzle 33 A is provided with a hole to let the coloring agent pass therethrough.
  • the hole extends straight toward the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5.
  • the coloring agent is supplied into the hole from the first coloring agent supply source 35 A.
  • the first coloring agent supply source 35 A receives a coloring agent having a color A.
  • An opening of the hole faces the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 and lets the coloring agent pass thereinside.
  • the first valve 34A is provided between the first nozzle 33 A and the first coloring agent supply source 35 A and connected to the first nozzle 33 A and the first coloring agent supply source 35 A.
  • the first coloring agent supply source 35A is connected to a pressurized gas supply source 36.
  • the pressurized gas supply source 36 supplies pressurized gas into the first coloring agent supply source 35 A.
  • the pressurized gas supply source 36 is also connected to coloring agent supply sources 35B - 35L of other spouting units 32 (hereinafter, second to twelfth spouting units 32B - 32L) and supplies pressurized gas into the coloring agent supply sources 35B - 35L.
  • the coloring agent existing within the hole of the first nozzle 33 A is spouted toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 passing through the opening of the hole by the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source 36.
  • the first valve 34A is closed, the spouting of the coloring agent existing within the first nozzle 33 A is stopped.
  • the first valve 34 A is opened for a predetermined time period by a signal from a first valve drive circuit 47A (explained later) of the control device 40, so that the first spouting unit 32A spouts a predetermined amount of the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • the first spouting unit 32A ejects a predetermined amount of the coloring agent each time toward the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5.
  • the "eject” means that the liquid coloring agent in a form of a liquid drop (or liquid drops) is emitted vigorously from the first nozzle 33 A toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • each of the second to twelfth spouting units 32B - 32L spouts a predetermined amount of the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 by a signal from each of the second to twelfth valve drive circuits 47B - 47L (explained later).
  • each of the first to twelfth spouting units 32A - 32L spouts the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 so as to color the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • the coloring agent described above is a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in a solvent.
  • the coloring material is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances and synthetic substances). Sometimes, a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye.
  • the coloring agent is a coloring liquid or coating material.
  • the coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
  • the coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion.
  • the pigment adheres to the outer surface 5a without permeating into the coating 52.
  • the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating 52 in order to securely permeate the dye into the coating 52 or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. That is, the spouting unit 32 dyes a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a dye or, alternatively, coat a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a pigment.
  • "to color the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 3" means to dye a part of the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5 with a dye or to coat a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a pigment.
  • the duct 15 is provided at the delivery rolls 13- side of the spouting unit 32. That is, the duct 15 is provided between the spouting unit 32 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the duct 15 is provided at the downstream side of the spouting unit 32 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the duct 15 is formed in a tube-shape and lets the electric wire 5 pass therethrough.
  • the duct 15 is connected to a suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump. The suction means sucks gas existing in the duct 15 so as to prevent the solvent and the liquid dispersion contained in the coloring agent from flowing out to the outside.
  • the encoder 16 includes a pair of rotators 16a.
  • the pair of the rotators 16a is provided at the downstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
  • the rotator 16a is rotatable around its axis. An outer peripheral surface of the rotator 16a comes in contact with the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 put between the pair of the delivery rolls 13. That is, the pair of the rotators 16a puts the electric wire 5 therebetween.
  • the revolution number of the rotator 16a is proportional to a transfer length of the electric wire 5 along the direction P.
  • the encoder 16 is connected to a pulse counting circuit 42 (explained later) of the control device 40.
  • the encoder 16 When the rotator 16a rotates a predetermined angle each time, the encoder 16 outputs a pulse signal toward the control device 40. That is, the encoder 16 detects a transfer length of the electric wire 5 along the direction P and outputs data according to the detected transfer length toward the pulse counting circuit 42.
  • the electric wire 5 is cut into a predetermined length and the pulse signal, which is outputted when the transfer length of the electric wire 5 reaches the predetermined length, is denoted by Bl here.
  • an encoder outputs a pulse signal according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 by friction between the electric wire 5 and the encoder-attaching roll (i.e. rotator).
  • the transfer length of the electric wire 5 does not necessarily coincide with the number of the pulses depending on a condition of the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5
  • data of the transfer length of the electric wire 5 may be obtained at a different place to subject said data to feedback and computation.
  • the cutting mechanism 17 is provided at the downstream side of the pair of the rotators 16a of the encoder 16 in the direction P.
  • the cutting mechanism 17 includes a pair of cutting blades 17a.
  • the pair of the cutting blades 17a is lined up along the vertical direction.
  • the cutting blades 17a approach and leave each other along the vertical direction.
  • the cutting blades 17a put the electric wire 5 delivered by the delivery rolls 13 therebetween and cut the electric wire 5.
  • the cutting blades 17a leave each other the cutting blades 17a leave the electric wire 5.
  • the control device 40 includes a box-shaped device body 41, the pulse counting circuit 42, the control circuit 43 as the control means, a delivery rolls drive circuit 44, a linear guide drive circuit 45, a valve selection circuit 46, and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L (only a part thereof being shown in Fig. 4).
  • the device body 41 holds the pulse counting circuit 42, the control circuit 43, the delivery rolls drive circuit 44, the linear guide drive circuit 45, the valve selection circuit 46 and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A - 47L therein.
  • the pulse counting circuit 42 counts the number of the pulse signals inputted from the encoder 16.
  • the pulse counting circuit 42 is connected to the control circuit 43 and outputs data, indicating which number of the pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16, toward the control circuit 43.
  • the generated pulse signals are divided by a high-frequency encoder 16 and inputted to the pulse counting circuit 42.
  • the control circuit 43 is connected to the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 and the linear guide drive circuit 45.
  • the control device 40 controls the action of the delivery rolls 13.
  • a pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16 (that is, according to a transfer distance of the electric wire 5)
  • the control circuit 43 judges whether or not the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 rotate the delivery rolls 13 to transfer the electric wire 5, so that the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 to transfer intermittently the electric wire 5 according to a predetermined pattern. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the control circuit 43 outputs a delivery start signal A and a delivery stop signal B to the delivery rolls drive circuit 44.
  • the delivery start signal A makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 rotate the delivery rolls 13 so as to transfer the electric wire 5.
  • the delivery start signal A is outputted in a predetermined timing (for example, a time point when a predetermined time passes after the delivery stop signal B is outputted).
  • the delivery stop signal B makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 stop the rotation of the delivery rolls 13 to stop the electric wire 5.
  • the delivery stop signal B is outputted when the electric wire 5 of a predetermined length is judged delivered and the pulse signal Bl is inputted from the encoder 16.
  • the control circuit 43 also controls the action of the linear guide 26.
  • a pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16 (that is, according to a transfer distance of the electric wire 5)
  • the control circuit 43 judges whether or not the control circuit 43 makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b so as to make the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the control circuit 43 outputs an approach start signal C, an approach stop signal D 5 a leaving start signal E and a leaving stop signal F to the linear guide drive circuit 45.
  • the approach start signal C makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction so as to make the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5.
  • the approach start signal C is outputted when a pulse signal Cl of a predetermined order is inputted.
  • the order of the pulse signal Cl is earlier than that of the pulse signal B 1 among the pulse signals to be outputted when the electric wire 5 is transferred by a predetermined length thereof.
  • the approach start signal C is outputted prior to the delivery stop signal B and outputted before a time point t3 when the electric wire 5 starts to be stopped.
  • the approach stop signal D makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 stop the slider 26b to move downward along the vertical direction.
  • the approach stop signal D is outputted after a time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped judged by the encoder 16 and so on. That is, the approach stop signal D is outputted after the delivery stop signal B and after the electric wire 5 is stopped.
  • the leaving start signal E makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b of the linear guide 26 upward along the vertical direction so as to part the roller member 27 away from the electric wire 5.
  • the leaving start signal E is outputted simultaneously with the delivery start signal A.
  • the leaving start signal E may be outputted after the delivery start signal A.
  • the leaving stop signal F makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 stop the slider 26b to move upward along the vertical direction.
  • the leaving stop signal F is outputted after a predetermined time passes after the leaving start signal E (or the delivery start signal A) is outputted. for example, by a timer.
  • said predetermined time is before the time point t2 when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred with a specific speed. However, instead, said predetermined time may be after the time point t2.
  • the control circuit 43 Before and after a time point when the electric wire 5 is stopped, the control circuit 43 outputs the approach start signal C 5 the delivery stop signal B and the approach stop signal D in said sequence. Then, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point before the time point t3 when the electric wire 5 starts to be stopped to a time point after the time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped.
  • the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • "to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter” means "to a time point after a time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped”.
  • the control circuit 43 Before and after a time point when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred, the control circuit 43 outputs the delivery start signal A, the leaving start signal E and the leaving stop signal F in said sequence.
  • the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 at a time point when the electric wire 5 is stopped. Then, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point before the time point tl when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred to a time point after the time point when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred.
  • the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 transfer the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • "to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter” means “to a time point after the time point tl when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred”.
  • the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 is connected to the delivery rolls 13 through an interface (not shown in the figure).
  • the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 outputs the delivery start signal A or the delivery stop signal B toward the delivery rolls 13 so as to rotate or stop the delivery rolls 13.
  • the linear guide drive circuit 45 is connected to the drive part 29 through an interface (not shown in the figure).
  • the linear guide drive circuit 45 When the approach start signal C or the approach stop signal D is inputted from the control circuit 43, the linear guide drive circuit 45 outputs the approach start signal C or the approach stop signal D toward the drive part 29 so as to make the slider 26b move to approach the electric wire 5 or to make the slider 26b stop.
  • the linear guide drive circuit 45 When the leaving start signal E or the leaving stop signal F is inputted from the control circuit 43, the linear guide drive circuit 45 outputs the leaving start signal E or the leaving stop signal F toward the drive part 29 so as to make the slider 26b move to leave from the electric wire 5 or to make the slider 26b stop.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A - 47L control the spouting units 32A - 32L.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 is connected to the pulse counting circuit 42 and to the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 outputs signals for opening the valves 34 A - 34L to the valve drive circuits 47 A
  • valve selection circuit 46 outputs signals for opening the valves 34 A
  • the valve selection circuit 46 memorizes which valve(s) of the valves 34A - 34L should be opened and which valve(s) of the valves 34A — 34L should be kept closed for every pulse signal inputted from the encoder 16 and controls the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L according to a pattern thus memorized.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 can be omitted.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 in advance memorizes a pattern of coloring the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
  • the valve selection circuit 46 can make the spouting units 32A — 32L spout the coloring agent of a predetermined amount each time (i.e. per spouting) toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 according to the memorized pattern according to a transfer length of the electric wire 5 inputted from the encoder 16.
  • the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L correspond to the respective spouting units 32A — 32L.
  • the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L are connected to the respective valves 34A — 34L of the corresponding spouting units 32A - 32L through interfaces (not shown in the figure).
  • the valve drive circuits 47 A - 47L output the signals to the respective valves 34A - 34L.
  • the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L output the signals for opening the respective valves 34A - 34L to the valves 34A - 34L, the valves 34A - 34L open.
  • the valve drive circuits 47 A — 47L output the signals to the respective valves 34A - 34L so that the valve drive circuits 47 A - 47L control opening and closing of the respective valves 34A - 34L.
  • the guide roll 12 is attached to the frame 11.
  • the pair of the cutting blades 17a is kept away from each other and the electric wire 5 wound up around the guide roll 12 is allowed to pass through the correcting unit 14, the slack-absorbing unit 20, the coloring unit 30 and the duct 15 in turn and is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 13.
  • the nozzles 33A - 33L of the respective spouting units 32A - 32L are attached to respective predetermined positions and the coloring agent supply sources 35A - 35L are connected to the respective nozzles 33 A - 33L.
  • the pressurized gas supply source 36 is connected to the coloring agent supply sources 35A — 35L and gas existing in the duct 15 is sucked by the sucking means.
  • the pair of the delivery rolls 13 is driven to rotate so as to pull the electric wire 5 from the guide roll 12 and to transfer the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the first biasing force Ql is imparted to the electric wire 5 by the correcting unit 14 so as to stretch the electric wire 5.
  • the roller member 27 is biased toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2 by the air cylinder 25.
  • valve drive circuits 47A - 47L open the corresponding valves 34A - 34L for a predetermined time period for a predetermined number of times.
  • some of the spouting units 32 A — 32L spout (i.e. eject) a predetermined amount of the coloring agent each time toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being transferred.
  • a mark 6 shown in Fig. 7 is formed on the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5.
  • the solvent or liquid dispersion is evaporated from the coloring agent adhered on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, so that the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is dyed with a dye or coated with a pigment.
  • the solvent or liquid dispersion evaporated from the coloring agent adhered on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is sucked by the sucking means from the inside of the duct 15.
  • the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is colored.
  • the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being transferred is colored.
  • the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being stopped may be colored. As shown in Fig.
  • the control circuit 43 of the control device 40 outputs an approach start signal C so as to transfer the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction, that is, to transfer the roller member 27 downward along the vertical direction to press the electric wire 5, then outputs an delivery stop signal B so as to stop the delivery rolls 13, that is, to stop the electric wire 5 and finally outputs an approach stop signal D so as to stop the downward movement of the slider 26b, that is, the downward movement of the roller member 27.
  • the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is stopped to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped, thereby absorbing a slack of the electric wire 5.
  • the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 extends so as to always biases the roller member 27 with the second biasing force Q2 toward the electric wire 5, thereby imparting a predetermined tension to the electric wire 5.
  • a slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the stop of the electric wire 5 is absorbed.
  • the pair of the cutting blades 17a approaches each other and puts the electric wire 5 therebetween and then, cuts the electric wire 5.
  • the slider 26b is positioned downward and the expansion rod 25b extends, so that the roller member 27 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 and imparts a predetermined tension to the electric wire 5.
  • the control circuit 43 When the electric wire 5 once stopped is transferred again, first, the control circuit 43 outputs a delivery start signal A to start the rotation of the delivery rolls 13 and outputs a leaving start signal E to move the slider 26b, that is, to move the roller member 27 upward along the vertical direction, thereby parting the slider 26b, that is, parting the roller member 27 away from the electric wire 5 (even at this time, the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5).
  • a slack of the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is transferred to a time point just after the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred is absorbed.
  • control circuit 43 outputs a leaving stop signal F to stop the upward movement of the slider 26b, that is, to stop the upward movement of the roller member 27 so as to return the slider 26b to an initial position thereof, thereby releasing the pressing of the roller member 27 to the electric wire 5.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 includes: the pair of the delivery rolls 13 transferring the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5; the control circuit 43 making the pair of the delivery rolls 13 intermittently transfer the electric wire 5 according to a predetermined pattern; the encoder 16 detecting a transfer length of the electric wire 5; and the pressing part 24 pressing the electric wire 5 along a direction crossing the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 detected by the encoder 16, the control circuit 43 makes the pressing part 24 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the pair of the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
  • the pressing part 24 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point before a slack of the electric wire 5 starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped, therefore the slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the stop of the electric wire 5 can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the control circuit 43 makes the pressing part 24 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 transfer again the electric wire 5 after the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon start of the transferring of the electric wire 5, the pressing part 24 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point before a slack of the electric wire 5 starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire 5 is transferred, therefore the slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the start of the transferring of the electric wire 5 can be securely prevented from occurring.
  • the pressing part 24 includes the rotatable roller member 27, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire 5 and which presses the electric wire 5 in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43, that is, the roller member 27 rotates when the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5, therefore a friction between the electric wire 5 and the roller member 27 is relaxed and therefore, ablation of a part contacting the electric wire 5 can be reduced.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the brake part which stops rotation of the roller member 27, therefore rotation of the roller member 27 due to own inertia of the roller member 27 or inertia of the electric wire 5 can be removed and the roller member 27 under such a stop condition can press the electric wire 5 upon stop of the electric wire 5 and upon start of the transferring of the electric wire 5, thereby the electric wire 5 can be securely pressed.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes an air cylinder 25 always biasing the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5, therefore a certain tension can be always applied to the electric wire 5 so that a slack of the electric wire 5 can be further securely prevented from occurring and also a slack of the electric wire 5 during transferring of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the coloring means 30 coloring an outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, therefore an outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5 having no slack can be colored, so that the electric wire 5 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern and discrimination of the electric wires 5 can be securely carried out.
  • the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the cutting mechanism 17 cutting (i.e. machining) the electric wire 5, therefore a slack of the electric wire 5 does not take place when the electric wire 5 is cut (i.e. machined), so that the cutting of the electric wire 5 can be securely carried out.
  • the air cylinder 25 to always bias the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 is provided.
  • a slack of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring without such an air cylinder 25.
  • the brake part to stop the rotation of the roller member 27 is provided.
  • a slack of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring without such a brake part.
  • the air cylinder 25 or the brake part is preferably provided.

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  • Manufacturing Of Electric Cables (AREA)
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Abstract

An electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus and method are provided, by which an electric wire slack can be securely absorbed. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus includes a delivery roll, encoder, pressing part, and control device having a control circuit. The delivery roll transfers the electric wire along a longitudinal direction thereof. The encoder detects a transfer length of the electric wire. The pressing part presses the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire. The control circuit makes the delivery roll intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern. According to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the encoder, the control circuit makes the pressing part press the electric wire from a time point just before the control circuit makes the delivery roll stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.

Description

DESCRIPTION
ELECTRIC WIRE SLACK-AB S ORBING APPRATUS AND ELECTRIC WIRE SLACK-ABSORBING METHOD
[TECHNICAL FIELD]
The present invention relates to an electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus and electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire which is transferred intermittently along one direction.
[BACKGROUND ART]
Various electronic instruments are mounted on a motor vehicle as a mobile unit. Therefore, the motor vehicle is provided with a wiring harness for transmitting electric power from a power source and control signals from a computer to the electronic instruments. The wiring harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.
The electric wire includes an electrically conductive core wire and a coating made of electrically insulating synthetic resin, which coats the core wire. The electric wire is a so-called coated electric wire. A connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing that receives the terminal fitting therein. The terminal fitting, consisting of electrically conductive sheet metal or the like, is attached to an end of the electric wire and electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is made of electrically insulating synthetic resin and formed in a box-shape. When the connector housing is connected to the electronic instruments, each electric wire is electrically connected to a corresponding electronic instrument through a terminal fitting, thereby the wiring harness transmits the desired electric power and signals to the electronic instruments. The electric wire of the wiring harness must be distinguished in terms of a size of the core wire, material of the coating (concerning with alteration in the materials depending on heat-resisting property), and a purpose of use. The purpose of use means, for example, a purpose of use for a control signal for an air bag or antilock brake system (ABS) and a purpose of use for a system in a motor vehicle, in which the electric wires are used, such as a power transmission system. Therefore, outer surfaces of the electric wires used in the wiring harness are colored with desired colors in order to distinguish the purpose of use as described above. When the wiring harness is assembled, first, an outer surface of a long electric wire wound up around a roller is colored with a desired color and the electric wire is cut into a predetermined length and then, a terminal fitting is attached to an end of the electric wire after removing the coating near the end. An electric wire is connected to another electric wire according to a need. Afterward, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wiring harness is assembled.
When the outer surface of the long electric wire is colored and cut into a predetermined length, an electric wire cutting device is used (for example, see Patent Publication 1). The electric wire cutting device includes at least a frame as a device body (i.e. device body frame), a guide roll, a delivery roll, and a cutting mechanism. A coloring device is attached to the electric wire cutting device.
The guide roll is supported rotatably at one end part of the device body frame and winds up the long electric wire before being cut therearound. A pair of the delivery roll is supported rotatably at an opposite end part of the device body frame. The pair of the delivery roll puts the electric wire therebetween and pulls and transfers the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire. The cutting mechanism is arranged at a downstream side of the delivery roll in a transferring direction of the electric wire. The coloring device is arranged between the guide roll and the delivery roll.
When the pair of the delivery rolls rotates intermittently, the electric wire cutting device intermittently transfers the electric wire by a predetermined length. An outer surface of the electric wire is colored by the coloring device while the electric wire is transferred. When the electric wire is stopped, the electric wire is cut by the cutting mechanism.
Thus, if the electric wire is intermittently transferred, when the electric wire is stopped or when the stopped electric wire is transferred again, a slack of the electric wire takes place due to inertia of the electric wire. In order to absorb such a slack of the electric wire, an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus is attached to the electric wire cutting device. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus is arranged between the guide roll and the coloring device. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus includes a pair of guide rollers-supporting frame, a pair of guide rollers, a transfer roller-supporting frame, a transfer roller, and an air cylinder.
The pair of guide rollers-supporting frame is fixed to the device body frame and supports the respective guide rollers rotatably. The pair of the guide rollers is arranged below the electric wire. The transfer roller-supporting frame is fixed to the device body frame and supports the transfer roller rotatably. The transfer roller is arranged above the electric wire and arranged between the pair of the guide rollers along the transferring direction of the electric wire. The air cylinder includes an air cylinder body and an expansion rod expandable from the air cylinder body. The air cylinder body is fixed to the transfer roller-supporting frame and arranged above the electric wire. The expansion rod expands and contracts downward (i.e. in a direction in which the expansion rod approaches the electric wire) from the air cylinder body. The transfer roller is attached to the expansion rod.
When the pair of the delivery rolls is stopped, in particular, a slack takes place for the electric wire existing between the pair of the guide rollers due to inertia of the electric wire. Then, the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus makes the expansion rod of the air cylinder expand and contract so as to displace the transfer roller downward, so that the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus urges the electric wire along a direction crossing at right angles the transferring direction of the electric wire so as to absorb the slack of the electric wire.
[Patent Publication 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-134371
[DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION] [PROBLEMS THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE]
However, in the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus described above, since the expansion rod of the air cylinder expands and contracts after the delivery rolls are stopped so that the transfer roller is displaced downward, therefore a slack of the electric wire once takes place, so that the electric wire behaves wildly. When an outer surface of such an electric wire having a slack and behaving wildly is colored, a resulted coloring pattern becomes in disorder, that is, the resulted coloring pattern becomes different from a predetermined pattern, causing a problem that discrimination of the electric wires becomes difficult.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus and electric wire slack-absorbing method, by which a slack of an electric wire can be securely absorbed.
[MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
As for the former electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus described above, according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter. The pressing means includes a rotatable roller member, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire and which presses the electric wire in accordance with a command from the control means.
The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a brake part which stops rotation of the roller member.
The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a biasing means always biasing the roller member toward the electric wire. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus further includes a coloring means coloring an outer surface of the electric wire. In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is also to provide an electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction including the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is again transferred after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
[EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION]
According to the present invention, since the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon stop of the electric wire, the pressing means presses the electric wire from a time point before a slack of the electric wire starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire is stopped, therefore the slack of the electric wire before and after the stop of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring. According to the present invention, since the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is transferred again after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon start of the transferring of the electric wire, the pressing means presses the electric wire from a time point before a slack of the electric wire starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire is transferred, therefore the slack of the electric wire before and after the start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
According to the present invention, since the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter and since the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is transferred again after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore the slack of the electric wire upon both of the stop of the electric wire and start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
According to the present invention, since the pressing means includes a rotatable roller member, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire and which presses the electric wire in accordance with a command from the control means, that is, the roller member rotates when the roller member presses the electric wire, therefore a friction between the electric wire and the roller member is relaxed and therefore, ablation of a part contacting the electric wire can be reduced. According to the present invention, since the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a brake part which stops rotation of the roller member, therefore rotation of the roller member due to own inertia of the roller member or inertia of the electric wire can be removed and the roller member under such a stop condition can press the electric wire upon stop of the electric wire and upon start of the transferring of the electric wire, thereby the electric wire can be securely pressed.
According to the present invention, since the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a biasing means always biasing the roller member toward the electric wire, therefore a certain tension can be always applied to the electric wire so that a slack of the electric wire can be further securely prevented from occurring and also a slack of the electric wire during transferring of the electric wire can be prevented from occurring.
According to the present invention, since the electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus further includes a coloring means coloring an outer surface of the electric wire, therefore an outer surface of the electric wire having no slack can be colored, so that the electric wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern and discrimination of the electric wires can be securely carried out.
According to the present invention, since according to a transfer length of the electric wire, the electric wire is pressed along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore a slack of the electric wire upon stop of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
According to the present invention, since according to a transfer length of the electric wire, the electric wire is pressed along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is again transferred after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, therefore a slack of the electric wire upon start of the transferring of the electric wire can be securely prevented from occurring.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] [FIG. 1] A view illustrating a construction of an electric wire slack- absorbing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[FIG. 2] An enlarged view illustrating a slack-absorbing unit shown in Fig. 1;
[FIG. 3] A diagram illustrating a construction of a spouting unit of a coloring unit shown in Fig. 1 ;
[FIG. 4] A diagram illustrating a construction of a control device shown in Fig. 1;
[FIG. 5] A timing chart illustrating action of a delivery roll and slider controlled by a control circuit shown in Fig. 4; [FIG. 6] A flow chart illustrating action of a delivery roll and slider controlled by a control circuit shown in Fig. 4; and
[FIG. 7] A plan view (partly cross sectional view) illustrating a state when an electric wire shown in Fig. 1 is colored.
[ABBREVIATION NUMERALS]
1 : electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus
5: electric wire
13: delivery roll (transfer means)
16: encoder (detecting means) 17: cutting mechanism (machining means)
24: pressing part (pressing means)
25: air cylinder (biasing means)
27: roller member
30: coloring unit (coloring means) 43 : control circuit (control means) [BEST MODE FOR CARRING OUT THE INVENTION]
In the following, an electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus (hereinafter, slack-absorbing apparatus) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to 5 Figs. 1 - 7. A slack-absorbing apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus which absorbs a slack of an electric wire 5 when the electric wire 5 is intermittently transferred in a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5, for example, on a occasion that an outer surface of the long electric wire 5 is colored io and cut into a predetermined length.
As shown in Fig. 7, the electric wire 5 includes an electrically conductive core wire 51 and an electrically insulating coating 52. The core wire 51 is formed by twisting a plurality of element wires 51a together. Each element wire 51a is made of metal. The core wire 51 may
15 be formed with a single element wire. The coating 52 is made of synthetic resin, for example, polyvinyl chloride. The coating 52 coats the core wire 51. That is, an outer surface of the coating 52 is an outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
The coating 52 has a single color N (shown with white base color in
20. Fig. 7). A desired coloring agent may be mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52 so that the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 has a single color N or, alternatively, a color of the coating 52 itself may be a single color N without mixing a coloring agent into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52. In the latter case, the outer
25 surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is called non-colored, that is, the coating 52 is called non-colored. Thus, the "non-colored" means that a color of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is a color of the synthetic resin itself constituting the coating 52 without mixing a coloring agent into the synthetic resin constituting the coating 52.
When the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is colored, for example, a mark 6 shown in Fig. 7 is formed on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. A color of the mark 6 is color A (indicated by parallel diagonal lines in Fig. 7). The color A is different from the single color N. A shape and an arrangement (i.e. a position on the electric wire 5) of the mark 6 are determined according to a predetermined pattern. The electric wire 5 is cut by a cutting mechanism 17 (explained later) into a predetermined length, then a plurality of the electric wires 5 are bundled up and a connector is attached to an end of each electric wire 5, so that a wiring harness is constructed. Such connectors are coupled with mating connectors of various electronic instruments in a motor vehicle, so that the wiring harness, that is, the electric wires 5 transmit various signals and electric power to the various electronic instruments.
The electric wires 5 can be distinguished from each other by changing the color A of the mark 6 to various different colors. The color of the mark 6 becomes a sign for distinguishing a kind of wire or system. That is, a color of the mark 6 of the electric wire 5 is used to distinguish purposes of use of electric wires 5 of the wiring harness.
As shown in Fig. 1, the slack-absorbing apparatus 1 includes a frame 11 as an apparatus body, a guide roll 12, a delivery roll 13 as the transfer means, a correcting unit 14 as a tension-imparting means, a slack-absorbing unit 20, a coloring unit 30 as the coloring means, a duct 15, an encoder 16 as the detecting means, a cutting mechanism 17 as the machining means, and a control device 40.
The frame 11 is placed on a floor or the like of a plant. The frame 11 extends in a horizontal direction. The guide roll 12 is rotatably attached to one end part of the frame 11. The guide roll 12 winds up the long electric wire 5 therearound, on an outer surface of which no mark is formed. The guide roll 12 delivers the electric wire 5 to the correcting unit 14, slack-absorbing unit 20, coloring unit 30, duct 15, encoder 16, and cutting mechanism 17 in turn.
A pair of the delivery rolls 13 is provided at an opposite end part of the frame 11. The pair of the delivery rolls 13 is rotatably supported by the frame 11 and lined up along a vertical direction. The delivery rolls 13 are rotated by a drive source such as a motor (not shown in the figure) in inverse directions to each other with the same revolution number. The delivery rolls 13 put the electric wire 5 therebetween and pull the electric wire 5 from the guide roll 12 along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5.
The delivery rolls 13 transfers the electric wire 5 along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5 so as to transfer the electric wire 5 and a spouting unit (explained later) relatively to each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5. The delivery rolls 13 is linked to the control device 40 and repeats its rotation and stop in accordance with a command from the control device 40, so that the delivery rolls 13 intermittently transfers the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5. The electric wire 5 is transferred from the guide roll 12 to the delivery rolls 13 along a direction indicated by an arrow P shown in Fig. 1. The direction indicated by an arrow P is the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
The correcting unit 14 is provided at the delivery rolls 13 -side of the guide roll 12, that is, provided between the guide roll 12 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the correcting unit 14 is provided at a downstream side of the guide roll 12 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. That is, the correcting unit 14 is provided at an upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. The correcting unit 14 includes a plate-shaped unit body 14a, a plurality of first rollers 14b, and a plurality of second rollers 14c. The unit body 14a is fixed to the frame 11.
The first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c are rotatably supported by the unit body 14a. The plurality of the first rollers 14b are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and arranged above the electric wire 5. The plurality of the second rollers 14c are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and arranged below the electric wire 5. The first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c are arranged in a zigzag shape.
The correcting unit 14 puts the electric wire 5 delivered from the guide roll 12 by the delivery rolls 13 between the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c. The correcting unit 14 makes the electric wire 5 in a straight shape. The correcting unit 14 imparts (i.e. gives) a friction force to the electric wire 5 by putting the electric wire 5 between the first rollers 14b and the second rollers 14c. That is, the correcting unit 14 imparts the friction force having the first biasing force Ql working in a direction inverse to the pulling direction (i.e. the transferring direction of the electric wire 5) in which the delivery rolls 13 pulls the electric wire 5. The first biasing force Ql is weaker than the pulling force that the delivery rolls 13 pulls the electric wire 5. Therefore, the correcting unit 14 imparts a tension along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5 to the electric wire 5 so as to stretch the electric wire 5.
The slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 which is intermittently transferred along the direction P. The slack- absorbing unit 20 is provided at the delivery rolls 13 -side of the correcting unit 14. The slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided between the correcting unit 14 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided at the downstream side of the correcting unit 14 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. The slack-absorbing unit 20 is provided at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. As shown in Fig. 2, the slack-absorbing unit 20 includes a pair of guide roller- supporting frames 21, a pair of guide rollers 22, a pressing p art- supporting frame 23, and a pressing part 24 as the pressing means.
The guide roller-supporting frames 21 are fixed to the frame 11. Each guide roller-supporting frame 21 rises upward from the frame 11. The pair of guide roller- supporting frames 21 is lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 having a distance therebetween.
Each guide roller 22 is rotatably supported by the corresponding guide roller-supporting frame 21. The guide roller 22 is arranged below the electric wire 5 and an outer peripheral surface of each guide roller 22 comes in contact with the electric wire 5, so that the guide roller 22 guides the electric wire 5 preventing the electric wire 5 from coming out from the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. That is, the guide rollers 22 guide the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
The pressing part- supporting frame 23 is fixed to the frame 11. The pressing part- supporting frame 23 rises upward from the frame 11. The pressing part- supporting frame 23 is provided in the vicinity of the pair of guide roller-supporting frames 21.
The pressing part 24 includes a linear guide 26, a drive part 29, a roller member 27, and a brake part (not shown in the figure). The linear guide 26 is attached to the pressing part- supporting frame 23. The linear guide 26 includes a rail 26a and a slider 26b. The rail 26a is fixed on an outer surface of the pressing part-supporting frame 23. The rail 26a is formed in a straight shape and provided along the vertical direction. The slider 26b is movably supported by the rail 26a along a longitudinal direction of the rail 26a. The slider 26b attaches an air cylinder 25 as the biasing means.
The air cylinder 25 includes a cylinder body 25a and an expansion rod 25b expandable from the cylinder body 25a. The cylinder body 25a is fixed to the slider 26b and arranged above the electric wire 5. The expansion rod 25b extends downward from the cylinder body 25a along the vertical direction. That is, the expansion rod 25b extends from the cylinder body 25a in a direction in which the expansion rod 25b approaches the electric wire 5.
A roller member 27 is attached to the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25. When pressurized gas is supplied into the cylinder body 25a, the air cylinder 25 biases the expansion rod 25b, that is, biases the roller member 27 downward along the vertical direction with the second biasing force Q2. Thus, the air cylinder 25 always biases the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2. The second biasing force Q2 is weaker than the first biasing force Ql . The drive part 29 includes a motor 29a as a drive source, a screw shaft 29b, and a nut 29c. The motor 29a is fixed to the pressing part- supporting frame 23. The screw shaft 29b is arranged along the vertical direction. One end part of the screw shaft 29b is linked to an output shaft of the motor 29a, while an opposite end part of the screw shaft 29b is supported by a bearing 29d fixed to the pressing part-supporting frame 23. Thus, the screw shaft 29b is supported by the pressing part- supporting frame 23 rotatably around an axis of the shaft. The nut 29c screws with the screw shaft 29b and is fixed to the slider 26b.
When the motor 29a of the drive part 29 acts, the output shaft of the motor 29a rotates to rotate the screw shaft 29b, the nut 29c moves along the vertical direction, and the slider 26b moves along a longitudinal direction of the rail 26a, that is, along the vertical direction. When the slider 26b moves along the vertical direction, the air cylinder 25 fixed to the slider 26b moves along the vertical direction, so that the roller member 27 attached to the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 moves along the vertical direction. Thus, the drive part 29 transfers the roller member 27 along the vertical direction.
The roller member 27 is rotatably supported by the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 and supported by the air cylinder 25 and the linear guide 26 movable along the vertical direction. The roller member 27 is arranged above the electric wire 5 and arranged at a center between the pair of the guide rollers 22. The roller member 27 is supported movable along the vertical direction, so that the roller member 27 is supported movable along a direction crossing at right angles (or crossing) the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. When the drive part 29 transfers the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43, the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5, and an outer peripheral surface of the roller member 27 is provided rotatable coming in contact with the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. The brake part stops the rotation of the roller member 27 and is, for example, a known powder brake or friction disc brake. The brake part acts in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43 upon stop or transfer- start of the electric wire 5 to stop the rotation of the roller member 27, making the roller member 27 securely press the electric wire 5. A mechanism of the brake part may be mechanical or electromagnetic provided that the brake part stops the rotation of the roller member 27.
When a pair of cutting blades 17a (explained later) of the cutting mechanism 17 approaches each other and the electric wire 5 is once stopped to be cut, the electric wire 5 advances along the direction P due to its inertia and the electric wire 5 tends to have a slack particularly between the pair of the guide rollers 22. In the pressing part 24 of the slack-absorbing unit 20, the slider 26b moves downward along the vertical direction from an initial position just before the electric wire 5 is stopped, so that the roller member 27 also moves downward along the vertical direction (shown with an alternate long and two short dashes line in Fig. 2), so that the roller member 27 starts to press the electric wire 5 along the vertical direction. Further, the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5 along the vertical direction even after the electric wire 5 is stopped so as to absorb a slack of the electric wire 5. The vertical direction is a direction crossing at right angles (crossing) the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5.
When the electric wire 5 is stopped, the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 extends so as to bias the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2, thereby imparting specific tension to the electric wire 5. Thus, the slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 and imparts the specific tension to the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is stopped to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped.
The electric wire 5 tends to have a slack due to its inertia even when the electric wire 5 once stopped is again transferred. The pressing part 24 of the slack-absorbing unit 20 absorbs a slack of the stopped electric wire 5 as described above and the air cylinder 25 imparts (i.e. gives) specific tension to the electric wire 5. In the pressing part 24, the slider 26b starts to move upward along the vertical direction simultaneously when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred and even at that time the roller member 27 is pressing the electric wire 5 along the vertical direction. Furthermore, the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 biases the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2 while the expansion rod 25b is contracting, so as to impart specific tension to the electric wire 5. When the electric wire 5 is transferred and a specific period of time passes, the slider 26b returns to an initial position thereof, so that the pressing to the electric wire 5 by the roller member 27 is released.
The coloring unit 30 includes a unit body 31 and a plurality of spouting units 32. The unit body 31 is fixed to the frame 11 and supports the plurality of the spouting units 32. As shown in Fig. 1, the plurality of the spouting units 32 are lined up along the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. Twelve spouting units 32 are provided in an example shown in Fig. 1. The spouting units 32 are provided at the delivery rolls 13-side of the slack- absorbing unit 20. That is, the spouting units 32 are provided between the slack-absorbing unit 20 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the spouting units 32 are provided at the downstream side of the slack- absorbing unit 20 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and provided at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. The plurality of the spouting units 32 spout respective coloring agents having colors different from each other toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. Thereby, the electric wires 5 having various coloring patterns can be produced. However, the plurality of the spouting units 32 may not spout coloring agents having colors different from each other. Since the plurality of the spouting units 32 have the same structure, in the following, a spouting unit 32 (hereinafter, a first spouting unit 32A) will be explained as a representative one.
As shown in Fig. 3, the first spouting unit 32A includes a first nozzle 33 A, a first valve 34 A, and a first coloring agent supply source 35A. The first nozzle 33A faces the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. The first nozzle 33 A is provided with a hole to let the coloring agent pass therethrough. The hole extends straight toward the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. The coloring agent is supplied into the hole from the first coloring agent supply source 35 A. The first coloring agent supply source 35 A receives a coloring agent having a color A. An opening of the hole faces the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 and lets the coloring agent pass thereinside.
The first valve 34A is provided between the first nozzle 33 A and the first coloring agent supply source 35 A and connected to the first nozzle 33 A and the first coloring agent supply source 35 A. The first coloring agent supply source 35A is connected to a pressurized gas supply source 36. The pressurized gas supply source 36 supplies pressurized gas into the first coloring agent supply source 35 A. The pressurized gas supply source 36 is also connected to coloring agent supply sources 35B - 35L of other spouting units 32 (hereinafter, second to twelfth spouting units 32B - 32L) and supplies pressurized gas into the coloring agent supply sources 35B - 35L.
When the first valve 34A is opened, the coloring agent existing within the hole of the first nozzle 33 A is spouted toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 passing through the opening of the hole by the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source 36. When the first valve 34A is closed, the spouting of the coloring agent existing within the first nozzle 33 A is stopped.
The first valve 34 A is opened for a predetermined time period by a signal from a first valve drive circuit 47A (explained later) of the control device 40, so that the first spouting unit 32A spouts a predetermined amount of the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. Thus, the first spouting unit 32A ejects a predetermined amount of the coloring agent each time toward the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. Here, the "eject" means that the liquid coloring agent in a form of a liquid drop (or liquid drops) is emitted vigorously from the first nozzle 33 A toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
Similarly to the first spouting unit 32A as described above, each of the second to twelfth spouting units 32B - 32L spouts a predetermined amount of the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 by a signal from each of the second to twelfth valve drive circuits 47B - 47L (explained later). Thus, each of the first to twelfth spouting units 32A - 32L spouts the coloring agent toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 so as to color the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5.
The coloring agent described above is a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in a solvent. The coloring material is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances and synthetic substances). Sometimes, a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye. As an example, the coloring agent is a coloring liquid or coating material. The coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. The coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion. When the coloring liquid adheres to the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, the dye permeates into the coating 52. When the coating material adheres to the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, the pigment adheres to the outer surface 5a without permeating into the coating 52. Preferably, the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating 52 in order to securely permeate the dye into the coating 52 or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. That is, the spouting unit 32 dyes a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a dye or, alternatively, coat a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a pigment. In this specification, "to color the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 3" means to dye a part of the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5 with a dye or to coat a part of the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 with a pigment.
As shown in Fig. 1, the duct 15 is provided at the delivery rolls 13- side of the spouting unit 32. That is, the duct 15 is provided between the spouting unit 32 and the delivery rolls 13. That is, the duct 15 is provided at the downstream side of the spouting unit 32 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5 and at the upstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. The duct 15 is formed in a tube-shape and lets the electric wire 5 pass therethrough. The duct 15 is connected to a suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump. The suction means sucks gas existing in the duct 15 so as to prevent the solvent and the liquid dispersion contained in the coloring agent from flowing out to the outside.
The encoder 16 includes a pair of rotators 16a. The pair of the rotators 16a is provided at the downstream side of the delivery rolls 13 in the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5. The rotator 16a is rotatable around its axis. An outer peripheral surface of the rotator 16a comes in contact with the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 put between the pair of the delivery rolls 13. That is, the pair of the rotators 16a puts the electric wire 5 therebetween. When the electric wire 5 is transferred along the direction P5 the rotators 16a are rotated. The revolution number of the rotator 16a is proportional to a transfer length of the electric wire 5 along the direction P.
As shown in Fig. 4, the encoder 16 is connected to a pulse counting circuit 42 (explained later) of the control device 40. When the rotator 16a rotates a predetermined angle each time, the encoder 16 outputs a pulse signal toward the control device 40. That is, the encoder 16 detects a transfer length of the electric wire 5 along the direction P and outputs data according to the detected transfer length toward the pulse counting circuit 42. In the preferred embodiment, the electric wire 5 is cut into a predetermined length and the pulse signal, which is outputted when the transfer length of the electric wire 5 reaches the predetermined length, is denoted by Bl here. Normally, an encoder outputs a pulse signal according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 by friction between the electric wire 5 and the encoder-attaching roll (i.e. rotator). However, in a case in which the transfer length of the electric wire 5 does not necessarily coincide with the number of the pulses depending on a condition of the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5, data of the transfer length of the electric wire 5 may be obtained at a different place to subject said data to feedback and computation.
As shown in Fig. 1, the cutting mechanism 17 is provided at the downstream side of the pair of the rotators 16a of the encoder 16 in the direction P. The cutting mechanism 17 includes a pair of cutting blades 17a. The pair of the cutting blades 17a is lined up along the vertical direction. The cutting blades 17a approach and leave each other along the vertical direction. When the cutting blades 17a approach each other, the cutting blades 17a put the electric wire 5 delivered by the delivery rolls 13 therebetween and cut the electric wire 5. When the cutting blades 17a leave each other, the cutting blades 17a leave the electric wire 5.
As shown in Fig. 4, the control device 40 includes a box-shaped device body 41, the pulse counting circuit 42, the control circuit 43 as the control means, a delivery rolls drive circuit 44, a linear guide drive circuit 45, a valve selection circuit 46, and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L (only a part thereof being shown in Fig. 4). The device body 41 holds the pulse counting circuit 42, the control circuit 43, the delivery rolls drive circuit 44, the linear guide drive circuit 45, the valve selection circuit 46 and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A - 47L therein. The pulse counting circuit 42 counts the number of the pulse signals inputted from the encoder 16. The pulse counting circuit 42 is connected to the control circuit 43 and outputs data, indicating which number of the pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16, toward the control circuit 43. In the pulse counting circuit 42, in order to improve pulse resolution, the generated pulse signals are divided by a high-frequency encoder 16 and inputted to the pulse counting circuit 42.
The control circuit 43 is connected to the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 and the linear guide drive circuit 45. The control device 40 controls the action of the delivery rolls 13. When a pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16 (that is, according to a transfer distance of the electric wire 5), the control circuit 43 judges whether or not the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 rotate the delivery rolls 13 to transfer the electric wire 5, so that the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 to transfer intermittently the electric wire 5 according to a predetermined pattern. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the control circuit 43 outputs a delivery start signal A and a delivery stop signal B to the delivery rolls drive circuit 44.
The delivery start signal A makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 rotate the delivery rolls 13 so as to transfer the electric wire 5. The delivery start signal A is outputted in a predetermined timing (for example, a time point when a predetermined time passes after the delivery stop signal B is outputted). The delivery stop signal B makes the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 stop the rotation of the delivery rolls 13 to stop the electric wire 5. The delivery stop signal B is outputted when the electric wire 5 of a predetermined length is judged delivered and the pulse signal Bl is inputted from the encoder 16.
The control circuit 43 also controls the action of the linear guide 26. When a pulse signal is inputted from the encoder 16 (that is, according to a transfer distance of the electric wire 5), the control circuit 43 judges whether or not the control circuit 43 makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b so as to make the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the control circuit 43 outputs an approach start signal C, an approach stop signal D5 a leaving start signal E and a leaving stop signal F to the linear guide drive circuit 45.
The approach start signal C makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction so as to make the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5. The approach start signal C is outputted when a pulse signal Cl of a predetermined order is inputted. The order of the pulse signal Cl is earlier than that of the pulse signal B 1 among the pulse signals to be outputted when the electric wire 5 is transferred by a predetermined length thereof. Thereby, the approach start signal C is outputted prior to the delivery stop signal B and outputted before a time point t3 when the electric wire 5 starts to be stopped.
The approach stop signal D makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 stop the slider 26b to move downward along the vertical direction. The approach stop signal D is outputted after a time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped judged by the encoder 16 and so on. That is, the approach stop signal D is outputted after the delivery stop signal B and after the electric wire 5 is stopped.
The leaving start signal E makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 move the slider 26b of the linear guide 26 upward along the vertical direction so as to part the roller member 27 away from the electric wire 5. The leaving start signal E is outputted simultaneously with the delivery start signal A. The leaving start signal E may be outputted after the delivery start signal A. The leaving stop signal F makes the linear guide drive circuit 45 stop the slider 26b to move upward along the vertical direction. The leaving stop signal F is outputted after a predetermined time passes after the leaving start signal E (or the delivery start signal A) is outputted. for example, by a timer. In the preferred embodiment, said predetermined time is before the time point t2 when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred with a specific speed. However, instead, said predetermined time may be after the time point t2.
Before and after a time point when the electric wire 5 is stopped, the control circuit 43 outputs the approach start signal C5 the delivery stop signal B and the approach stop signal D in said sequence. Then, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point before the time point t3 when the electric wire 5 starts to be stopped to a time point after the time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped. Thus, by outputting the delivery stop signal B according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 detected by the encoder 16, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter. Here, "to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter" means "to a time point after a time point t4 when the electric wire 5 is stopped".
Before and after a time point when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred, the control circuit 43 outputs the delivery start signal A, the leaving start signal E and the leaving stop signal F in said sequence. The control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 at a time point when the electric wire 5 is stopped. Then, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point before the time point tl when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred to a time point after the time point when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred. Thus, by outputting the delivery start signal A according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 detected by the encoder 16, the control circuit 43 makes the roller member 27 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 transfer the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter. Here, "to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter" means "to a time point after the time point tl when the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred".
As shown in Fig. 4, the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 is connected to the delivery rolls 13 through an interface (not shown in the figure). When the delivery start signal A or the delivery stop signal B is inputted from the control circuit 43, the delivery rolls drive circuit 44 outputs the delivery start signal A or the delivery stop signal B toward the delivery rolls 13 so as to rotate or stop the delivery rolls 13.
The linear guide drive circuit 45 is connected to the drive part 29 through an interface (not shown in the figure). When the approach start signal C or the approach stop signal D is inputted from the control circuit 43, the linear guide drive circuit 45 outputs the approach start signal C or the approach stop signal D toward the drive part 29 so as to make the slider 26b move to approach the electric wire 5 or to make the slider 26b stop. When the leaving start signal E or the leaving stop signal F is inputted from the control circuit 43, the linear guide drive circuit 45 outputs the leaving start signal E or the leaving stop signal F toward the drive part 29 so as to make the slider 26b move to leave from the electric wire 5 or to make the slider 26b stop.
The valve selection circuit 46 and the first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A - 47L control the spouting units 32A - 32L. The valve selection circuit 46 is connected to the pulse counting circuit 42 and to the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L. The valve selection circuit 46 outputs signals for opening the valves 34 A - 34L to the valve drive circuits 47 A
- 47L when a pulse signal of a predetermined order is inputted. That is, the valve selection circuit 46 outputs signals for opening the valves 34 A
- 34L to the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L according to a pattern of the mark 6 to be formed on the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5.
That is, the valve selection circuit 46 memorizes which valve(s) of the valves 34A - 34L should be opened and which valve(s) of the valves 34A — 34L should be kept closed for every pulse signal inputted from the encoder 16 and controls the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L according to a pattern thus memorized. However, in a case in which the pulse counting circuit 42 and the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L are directly linked to each other, the valve selection circuit 46 can be omitted.
Thus, the valve selection circuit 46 in advance memorizes a pattern of coloring the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5. The valve selection circuit 46 can make the spouting units 32A — 32L spout the coloring agent of a predetermined amount each time (i.e. per spouting) toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 according to the memorized pattern according to a transfer length of the electric wire 5 inputted from the encoder 16. The first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L correspond to the respective spouting units 32A — 32L. The first to twelfth valve drive circuits 47A — 47L are connected to the respective valves 34A — 34L of the corresponding spouting units 32A - 32L through interfaces (not shown in the figure). When signals for opening the respective valves 34 A - 34L is inputted from the valve selection circuit 46, the valve drive circuits 47 A - 47L output the signals to the respective valves 34A - 34L. When the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L output the signals for opening the respective valves 34A - 34L to the valves 34A - 34L, the valves 34A - 34L open. Thus, the valve drive circuits 47 A — 47L output the signals to the respective valves 34A - 34L so that the valve drive circuits 47 A - 47L control opening and closing of the respective valves 34A - 34L.
When the outer surface 5a of the long electric wire 5 is colored and the electric wire 5 is cut into a predetermined length and a slack of the electric wire 5 being intermittently transferred in the longitudinal direction thereof is absorbed, first, the guide roll 12 is attached to the frame 11. The pair of the cutting blades 17a is kept away from each other and the electric wire 5 wound up around the guide roll 12 is allowed to pass through the correcting unit 14, the slack-absorbing unit 20, the coloring unit 30 and the duct 15 in turn and is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 13. Then, the nozzles 33A - 33L of the respective spouting units 32A - 32L are attached to respective predetermined positions and the coloring agent supply sources 35A - 35L are connected to the respective nozzles 33 A - 33L. Further, the pressurized gas supply source 36 is connected to the coloring agent supply sources 35A — 35L and gas existing in the duct 15 is sucked by the sucking means. Then, the pair of the delivery rolls 13 is driven to rotate so as to pull the electric wire 5 from the guide roll 12 and to transfer the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the first biasing force Ql is imparted to the electric wire 5 by the correcting unit 14 so as to stretch the electric wire 5. Then, the roller member 27 is biased toward the electric wire 5 with the second biasing force Q2 by the air cylinder 25.
Then, when a pulse signal of a predetermined order is inputted from the encoder 16 to the pulse counting circuit 42, according to a predetermined pattern, some of the valve drive circuits 47A - 47L open the corresponding valves 34A - 34L for a predetermined time period for a predetermined number of times. Then, some of the spouting units 32 A — 32L spout (i.e. eject) a predetermined amount of the coloring agent each time toward the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being transferred. For example, when the valve drive circuit 47A opens the valve 34A once for a predetermined time period, a mark 6 shown in Fig. 7 is formed on the outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5. Then, the solvent or liquid dispersion is evaporated from the coloring agent adhered on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, so that the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is dyed with a dye or coated with a pigment. The solvent or liquid dispersion evaporated from the coloring agent adhered on the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is sucked by the sucking means from the inside of the duct 15. Thus, the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 is colored. In the preferred embodiment described above, the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being transferred is colored. However, instead, the outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5 being stopped may be colored. As shown in Fig. 6, when a pulse signal Cl is outputted from the encoder 16 just before a transfer length of the electric wire 5 reaches a predetermined length, the control circuit 43 of the control device 40 outputs an approach start signal C so as to transfer the slider 26b downward along the vertical direction, that is, to transfer the roller member 27 downward along the vertical direction to press the electric wire 5, then outputs an delivery stop signal B so as to stop the delivery rolls 13, that is, to stop the electric wire 5 and finally outputs an approach stop signal D so as to stop the downward movement of the slider 26b, that is, the downward movement of the roller member 27. The roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is stopped to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped, thereby absorbing a slack of the electric wire 5.
Further, when the electric wire 5 is stopped, the expansion rod 25b of the air cylinder 25 extends so as to always biases the roller member 27 with the second biasing force Q2 toward the electric wire 5, thereby imparting a predetermined tension to the electric wire 5. Thus, a slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the stop of the electric wire 5 is absorbed. Thereafter, the pair of the cutting blades 17a approaches each other and puts the electric wire 5 therebetween and then, cuts the electric wire 5. When the electric wire 5 is stopped, the slider 26b is positioned downward and the expansion rod 25b extends, so that the roller member 27 absorbs a slack of the electric wire 5 and imparts a predetermined tension to the electric wire 5. When the electric wire 5 once stopped is transferred again, first, the control circuit 43 outputs a delivery start signal A to start the rotation of the delivery rolls 13 and outputs a leaving start signal E to move the slider 26b, that is, to move the roller member 27 upward along the vertical direction, thereby parting the slider 26b, that is, parting the roller member 27 away from the electric wire 5 (even at this time, the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5). Thus, a slack of the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the electric wire 5 is transferred to a time point just after the electric wire 5 starts to be transferred is absorbed. Thereafter, the control circuit 43 outputs a leaving stop signal F to stop the upward movement of the slider 26b, that is, to stop the upward movement of the roller member 27 so as to return the slider 26b to an initial position thereof, thereby releasing the pressing of the roller member 27 to the electric wire 5.
According to the preferred embodiment described above, the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 includes: the pair of the delivery rolls 13 transferring the electric wire 5 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 5; the control circuit 43 making the pair of the delivery rolls 13 intermittently transfer the electric wire 5 according to a predetermined pattern; the encoder 16 detecting a transfer length of the electric wire 5; and the pressing part 24 pressing the electric wire 5 along a direction crossing the transferring direction P of the electric wire 5, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire 5 detected by the encoder 16, the control circuit 43 makes the pressing part 24 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the pair of the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter. Accordingly, the pressing part 24 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point before a slack of the electric wire 5 starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire 5 is stopped, therefore the slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the stop of the electric wire 5 can be securely prevented from occurring.
Since according to a transfer length of the electric wire 5 detected by the encoder 16, the control circuit 43 makes the pressing part 24 press the electric wire 5 from a time point just before the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 transfer again the electric wire 5 after the control circuit 43 makes the delivery rolls 13 stop the electric wire 5 to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter, that is, upon start of the transferring of the electric wire 5, the pressing part 24 presses the electric wire 5 from a time point before a slack of the electric wire 5 starts to take place to a time point after the electric wire 5 is transferred, therefore the slack of the electric wire 5 before and after a time point of the start of the transferring of the electric wire 5 can be securely prevented from occurring. Since the pressing part 24 includes the rotatable roller member 27, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire 5 and which presses the electric wire 5 in accordance with a command from the control circuit 43, that is, the roller member 27 rotates when the roller member 27 presses the electric wire 5, therefore a friction between the electric wire 5 and the roller member 27 is relaxed and therefore, ablation of a part contacting the electric wire 5 can be reduced.
Since the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the brake part which stops rotation of the roller member 27, therefore rotation of the roller member 27 due to own inertia of the roller member 27 or inertia of the electric wire 5 can be removed and the roller member 27 under such a stop condition can press the electric wire 5 upon stop of the electric wire 5 and upon start of the transferring of the electric wire 5, thereby the electric wire 5 can be securely pressed. Since the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes an air cylinder 25 always biasing the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5, therefore a certain tension can be always applied to the electric wire 5 so that a slack of the electric wire 5 can be further securely prevented from occurring and also a slack of the electric wire 5 during transferring of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring. Since the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the coloring means 30 coloring an outer surface 5a of the electric wire 5, therefore an outer surface 5 a of the electric wire 5 having no slack can be colored, so that the electric wire 5 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern and discrimination of the electric wires 5 can be securely carried out.
Since the electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus 1 further includes the cutting mechanism 17 cutting (i.e. machining) the electric wire 5, therefore a slack of the electric wire 5 does not take place when the electric wire 5 is cut (i.e. machined), so that the cutting of the electric wire 5 can be securely carried out.
In the preferred embodiment described above, the air cylinder 25 to always bias the roller member 27 toward the electric wire 5 is provided. A slack of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring without such an air cylinder 25. In the preferred embodiment described above, the brake part to stop the rotation of the roller member 27 is provided. A slack of the electric wire 5 can be prevented from occurring without such a brake part. However, in order to securely prevent a slack of the electric wire 5 from occurring, the air cylinder 25 or the brake part is preferably provided. The aforementioned preferred embodiments are described to aid in understanding the present invention and variations may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction comprising: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
2. An electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction comprising: a transfer means transferring the electric wire along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; a control means making the transfer means intermittently transfer the electric wire according to a predetermined pattern; a detecting means detecting a transfer length of the electric wire; and a pressing means pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
3. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein according to the transfer length of the electric wire detected by the detecting means, the control means makes the pressing means press the electric wire from a time point just before the control means makes the transfer means transfer again the electric wire after the control means makes the transfer means stop the electric wire to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
4. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 — 3, wherein the pressing means includes a rotatable roller member, an outer peripheral surface of which comes in contact with the electric wire and which presses the electric wire in accordance with a command from the control means.
5. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a brake part which stops rotation of the roller member.
6. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 further comprising a biasing means always biasing the roller member toward the electric wire.
7. The electric wire slack-absorbing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 6 further comprising a coloring means coloring an outer surface of the electric wire.
8. An electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction comprising the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
9. An electric wire slack-absorbing method for absorbing a slack of an electric wire being transferred intermittently along one direction comprising the step of according to a transfer length of the electric wire, pressing the electric wire along a direction crossing a transferring direction of the electric wire from a time point just before the electric wire is again transferred after the electric wire is stopped to a time point when a predetermined time passes thereafter.
EP09710539.9A 2008-02-15 2009-01-14 Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method Withdrawn EP2243143A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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JP2008034470A JP5202982B2 (en) 2008-02-15 2008-02-15 Electric wire slack absorbing device and electric wire slack absorbing method
PCT/JP2009/050792 WO2009101844A1 (en) 2008-02-15 2009-01-14 Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method

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JP5202982B2 (en) 2013-06-05
WO2009101844A1 (en) 2009-08-20
MX2010008974A (en) 2010-11-12
JP2009193849A (en) 2009-08-27
CN101978436A (en) 2011-02-16
CN101978436B (en) 2015-01-14

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