EP2871726A1 - Device and method for assembling the ends of cables and/or for fitting a plug connector housing with a cable end - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (A) and a method (V) for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal (13), and / or for fitting a connector housing (11) to the at least one cable end (12) with single wire seal (13). The device (A) according to the invention comprises means (M, 33, 34) for providing the at least one single wire seal (13) of the at least one cable end (12) with a lubricant (35).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device and a method for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal, and / or for populating a connector housing with the at least one cable end with single core seal.

State of the art

From the EP 1 251 605 A1 a device and a method for the assembly of connector housings with pre-assembled cable ends of a cable is previously known. The device disclosed therein comprises a confectioning installation which has a stripping station, two grommet stations and two crimping stations, and a placement system which inserts the ready-made cable ends into a plug housing. The stripping station exposes a conductor of the cable end. The spout station then pushes a single wire seal over the cable end. In the crimping station, a contact part is attached to the cable end, which has an Isocrimp at its cable end, which is bent around the single wire seal around and thus clamps the single core seal and the cable end.

In such conventional assembly devices, there is often the problem that the single core seal projects after the assembly of the cable ends at least partially out of the connector housing. This can be done, for example, by the fact that the single core seal is pulled out during the assembly, ie stretched, or completely torn out of the Isocrimp of the contact part.

Description of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a possibility for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single wire seal, and / or for equipping a plug housing with the at least one cable end with single wire seal, in which the single wire seal after the assembly is properly arranged in the connector housing.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the subject matters of the independent patent claims. The dependent claims indicate embodiments of the invention.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a device for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal, and / or for populating a connector housing with the at least one cable end with single wire seal, the device comprising means for providing the at least one single core seal of at least has a cable end with a lubricant.

The lubricant reduces the friction between the single wire seal and the plug housing during the assembly process, so that the single wire seal after the plug housing is properly arranged with the cable end and does not protrude partially from the connector housing. The lubricant also enables a higher loading speed.

As lubricant, for example, an oil, in particular a silicone oil can be used. The silicone oil AK1000 from Wacker has proven particularly suitable. The single wire seals are usually already saturated with a silicone oil when they are delivered. However, they are dried because otherwise the silicone oil would result in sticking of the single wire seals together in the spout station so that the spout station could no longer properly handle the single wire seals. Since the means for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant but especially when using silicone oil no additional, previously unused lubricant the single core seal, the corresponding silicone oil can be used completely without hesitation.

In one embodiment, the device of the invention includes a spout station for receiving dried single core seals and providing the cable ends with the dried single core seals. The means for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant are then preferably arranged after the spout station. In this way, the Einzeladerabdichtungen be provided only with the lubricant when they are already on the cable end. This prevents a wet single-wire seal from being processed in the spout station. In other words, according to the present invention, the term of a single wire seal of a cable end can be understood in particular so that the single core seal is already on the cable end.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a transfer device adapted to receive a cable end having a single wire seal from a first movable gripper unit, gripping the cable end with the single wire seal by means of a gripping element of the transfer device and delivering it to a second movable gripper unit. Preferably, the means for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant then interact with the transfer device such that the single wire seal is provided with the lubricant during gripping by the gripping element.

Since the cable end with the single wire seal in the transfer device lingers anyway a certain period of time, at this point the single wire seal can be provided with the lubricant, without causing additional loss of time during assembly of the cable ends or during the assembly process.

The gripping member may comprise gripping jaws made of an absorbent material for receiving and dispensing the lubricant to the single wire seal. As absorbent material is especially a felt into consideration. The absorbent material can absorb lubricant in its continuous operation over its entire extent and deliver it evenly to the single-wire seal at a pressure which is automatically created when gripping the cable end with the single core seal.

The jaws can each have a contoured to the shape of a single wire seal contour element. Such a contour element may in particular be a notch. Due to the contour element, a larger extent of the single wire seal can be wetted with the lubricant become. In addition, the contour element allows an exact fixation of the single wire seal.

In one embodiment, the means for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant comprises a metering device, which is connected to a reservoir for providing the lubricant. The metering device may in particular be a needle valve. The metering device is adapted to dispense the lubricant metered. By way of example, the metering device can be arranged above the transfer device such that a lubricant dose delivered by the metering device drips onto the single wire seal and / or the gripping jaws. In this case the metering device has e.g. a distance between 1 mm and 50 mm to the transfer device. Preferably, the distance is between 5 mm and 20 mm. This distance is large enough to preclude collisions between the metering device and the transfer device and small enough to permit targeted dropping onto the single core seal and / or the jaws. With the help of the metering device, the lubricant can be precisely metered.

The opening and closing of the metering device can be controlled in different ways. It would be conceivable, for example, the use of a piezoelectric element or an electric motor. Preferably, however, the control of the metering device takes place pneumatically. Therefore, the metering device in a preferred embodiment, a first and second compressed air connection, wherein the metering device opens and thus delivers lubricant when at the first compressed air connection, a higher pressure than at the second compressed air connection, and the metering device closes when the second compressed air connection a higher Pressure applied as at the first compressed air connection. The opening and closing can therefore be controlled completely pneumatically be, with the speed of opening and closing can be adjusted by the difference in compressed air. In this way, the lubricant dose delivered by the metering device and its delivery time can be controlled in a particularly targeted manner.

In an alternative embodiment, the metering device has a first compressed air connection and a return spring. The metering device then opens and thus emits lubricant when at the first compressed air port, a pressure is applied, which exerts a force which exceeds a restoring force of the return spring. When a pressure is applied to the first compressed air connection, which exerts a force which falls below the restoring force of the return spring, the return spring closes the metering device. In this way, the metering device can be pneumatically controlled without a second compressed air connection would be necessary.

Preferably, the device is adapted to control the metering device such that it emits the lubricant during gripping of the cable end with the single wire seal by the gripping element. In this way, the lubricant can drip both on the gripper jaws and on the single wire seal.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first compressed air connection is or are connected to a compressed air connection of the transfer device for closing the gripping element and / or the second compressed air connection to a compressed air connection of the transfer device for opening the gripping element. In this way, an automatic synchronization of the lubricant delivery with the gripping operation of the transfer device, without requiring a separate compressed air supply of the metering device and / or a dedicated control device for the metering device would. This embodiment can thus be implemented particularly easily and inexpensively, wherein a particularly good synchronization with the gripping operation of the transfer device is achieved. The embodiment can thus ensure that lubricant delivery occurs precisely when the single wire seal is in the transfer device.

The metering device may have an adjusting device for adjusting the lubricant dispensed by the metering device in an open state per unit of time. The metering device can be designed, for example, as a needle valve and the adjusting device as an adjusting screw. In this case, the adjustment screw preferably limits a stroke of a needle of the needle valve upon opening of the needle valve. In this way, the lubricant dose to be dispensed can be adjusted particularly accurately and easily.

In one embodiment, the adjustment device is set such that the metering device emits 10 ml to 100 ml of lubricant per 10,000 individual wire seals. In this way, sufficient lubrication can be achieved with an economical use of lubricant.

In addition, the invention comprises a method for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal, and / or for populating a connector housing with the at least one cable end with single core seal. The method comprises the steps of providing a cable end with a single wire seal and providing the single wire seal of the cable end with a lubricant. After providing the single core seal with the lubricant, the connector housing can then be equipped with the cable end be that the single wire seal is properly located in the connector housing.

As already stated above, an oil, in particular a silicone oil, can be used as a lubricant.

In one embodiment, the step of providing a cable end having a single wire seal comprises the following steps: First, a cable end and a single wire seal are provided. The single wire seal is dried and the cable end provided with the dried single core seal. By drying it can be achieved that the single wire seal does not stick in the spout station with other single wire seals. The single wire seal will not be lubricated until it is already on the cable end.

Unless otherwise stated, the embodiments made with respect to the device can be applied analogously to the process. This means, in particular, that embodiments of the method according to the invention include the corresponding steps in order to carry out what the elements of the device are set up for. In order not to unnecessarily prolong the text of the present patent application, a repetition of the device features in the form of process features is dispensed with. Nevertheless, the analogous method features should be considered as disclosed to the skilled person.

Short description of the figures

Figur 1

eine Konfektionieranlage in Kombination mit einer Bestückungsanlage nach dem Stand der Technik;

Figur 2

den Sitz einer Einzeladerabdichtung in einem Steckergehäuse, wie er durch die in Figur 1 gezeigte Anlage häufig erzeugt wird;

Figur 3

eine Übergabeeinrichtung der Anlage nach Figur 1;

Figur 4

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer schematischen Darstellung;

Figur 5A

eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Greifelements der Übergabeeinrichtung in einem geöffneten Zustand;

Figur 5B

die Ausführungsform des Greifelements aus Figur 5A in einem geschlossenen Zustand;

Figur 6

den Sitz einer Einzeladerabdichtung, wie er mit Hilfe einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung erreicht werden kann und

Figur 7

eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Further details and advantages of embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a packaging plant in combination with a loading system according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

the seat of a single wire seal in a connector housing, as indicated by the in FIG. 1 shown plant is often produced;

FIG. 3

a transfer device of the plant after FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4

an embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic representation;

FIG. 5A

an embodiment of a gripping element according to the invention of the transfer device in an open state;

FIG. 5B

the embodiment of the gripping element FIG. 5A in a closed state;

FIG. 6

the seat of a single wire seal, as can be achieved by means of a device according to the invention and

FIG. 7

an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

In the following description, the same and like elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals unless otherwise indicated.

The FIG. 1 shows a confectioning 1 in combination with a placement system 2, as this example, from the EP 1 251 605 A1 are previously known. At the beginning of the assembly line 1 various cables 3 are kept in reserve, which can be inserted in loop form in a first movable gripper unit 4. This is movable along a transfer guide 5. Not shown is a drive which moves the first gripper unit 4 along the transfer guide 5. The first movable gripper unit 4 carries the gripped cable end to the stripping station 6, which removes the cable sheath at the cable ends. After the stripping process, the first movable gripper unit 4 moves to a transfer device 7 to which she hands over the cable end. Subsequently, the first movable gripper unit 4 moves back to its starting position. A second movable gripper unit 8 moves along the transfer guide 5 to the transfer device 7 and takes over there the cable end. With the cable end, the second movable gripper unit advances to the two spout stations 9a, 9b and then to the two crimping stations 10a, 10b. Thereafter, the second movable gripper unit 8 moves with the ready-made cable end in the in FIG. 1 shown end position and passes the cable loop to a further transfer station, not shown, from which it is picked up by the assembly system 2 to equip the connector housing 11 with the cable ends. The second movable gripper unit 8 is in FIG. 1 Although it is present only once to illustrate the two end positions of the second movable gripper unit 8.

In a conventional assembly process, it can often be found in the FIG. 2 shown situation. The cable end 12 carries a single wire seal 13, which is located in a hole 14 of a plug housing 15. Again FIG. 2 it can be seen, the single wire seal 13 was not properly arranged in the connector housing 15, but rather protrudes from the connector housing 15.

The already in FIG. 1 shown transfer device 7 is in FIG. 3 again shown in more detail. The second movable gripper unit 8 has two gripper elements 16 which grip two cable ends of a cable loop 17. This cable loop 17 is transferred to the gripping elements 18 of the transfer device 7.

The FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a device according to the invention. The device A comprises a transfer device 19 and an embodiment of Means according to the invention M for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant. In addition, she has more in FIG. 4 not shown, which are necessary to form a device for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal, and / or for populating a connector housing with the at least one cable end with single wire seal. Such elements are for example in FIG. 1 wherein the transfer device 19 is preferably arranged between the spout stations 9a, 9b and the crimping stations 10a, 10b.

The transfer device 19 has a gripping element 20 which has two gripping arms 20a, 20b. The two gripping arms 20a, 20b are each rotatably mounted on a bearing point 21a, 21b and have two gripping jaws 22a, 22b made of felt, each having a notch 23a, 23b. With the help of these gripping jaws 22a, 22b, a single wire seal 13 is to be gripped. The necessary gripping energy is applied by two actuators 24a, 24b. These each comprise a piston 25a, 25b which extends in a cylinder 26a, 26b and drives a piston rod 27a, 27b. The piston rods 27a, 27b are connected to the gripping arms 20a, 20b via corresponding bearing points 28a, 28b.

The actuating elements 24a, 24b each have compressed-air connections 29a, 29b for opening the gripping arms 20a, 20b and compressed-air connections 30a, 30b for closing the gripping arms 20a, 20b. The compressed-air connections 30a, 30b are connected to a compressed-air connection 31 of the transfer device 19 for closing the gripping element. Accordingly, the compressed air connections 29a, 29b are connected to a compressed air connection 32 of the transfer device 19 for opening the gripping element.

About the transfer device 19, a needle valve 33 is arranged, which is connected to a reservoir 34 for providing the lubricant 35. The needle valve 33 includes a needle 36 which rests on a valve seat 37. If a higher pressure is applied to the first compressed air connection 38 than to the second compressed air connection 39, the needle 36 moves upwards out of the valve seat 37 and lubricant 35 can flow to the lubricant outlet 41 via the lubricant inlet 40. The stroke of the needle 36 when opening the needle valve 33 is adjustable via an adjusting screw 42, which provides a stop 44 for a piston 43 to which the needle 36 is connected.

The first compressed air connection 38 of the needle valve 33 is connected to the compressed air connection 31 of the transfer device for closing the gripping element 20 of the transfer device 19. The second compressed air connection 39 of the needle valve 33 is accordingly connected to the compressed air connection 32 of the transfer device 19 for opening the gripping element. When the needle valve 33 is opened, lubricant 35 flows to the lubricant outlet 41 and forms there a drop 45, which falls on the jaws 22a, 22b and / or the single wire seal 13. By the described interconnection of the first and second compressed air connection 38, 39 of the needle valve 33 with the compressed air connections 31, 32 of the transfer device 19, a synchronization of the gripping operation of the transfer device 19 with the lubricant delivery through the needle valve 33 is achieved. In this way, the drop 45 then drips onto the gripping jaws 22a, 22b and / or the single wire seal 13 when the gripping arms 20a, 20b are closed.

The FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another embodiment of a gripping element 46 according to the invention. The gripping element 46 has two gripping jaws 47a, 47b made of felt, each having a notch 48a, 48b. While the FIG. 5A the gripping element 46 in an opened state is in FIG. 5B the same gripping element 46 is shown in a closed state.

With the aid of a device according to the invention, the in FIG. 6 shown state can be achieved. This time, the single wire seal 13, with which the cable end 12 is provided, completely in the hole 14 of the plug housing 15th

In FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a method according to the invention for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single core seal, and for populating a connector housing with such a cable end with single core seal shown. In step S1 of the illustrated method V, first a cable end is provided, which is stripped off at one end in step S2. Step S3 provides a single wire seal, which is dried in step S4. The cable end is equipped with the dried single wire seal in step S5. In step S6, the single wire seal is then provided with a lubricant, in particular silicone oil. Then, in step S7, a contact part is crimped at the end of the cable in such a way that the single wire seal is also clamped at the end of the cable. The cable end thus assembled is then used in step S8 for fitting a plug housing.

The explanations made with reference to the figures are purely illustrative and not restrictive. Many changes can be made to the embodiments shown be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

compounding plant

2

assembly plant

3

electric wire

4

first movable gripper unit

5

transfer guide

6

stripping station

7

Transfer device

8th

second movable gripper unit

9a, 9b

Tüllenstation

10a, 10b

crimping

11

plug housing

12

cable end

13

Single wire sealing

14

hole

15

plug housing

16

gripping element

17

cable loop

18

gripping element

19

Transfer device

20

gripping element

20a, 20b

gripper arms

21a, 21b

bearing points

22a, 22b

jaws

23a, 23b

score

24a, 24b

actuator

25a, 25b

piston

26a, 26b

cylinder

27a, 27b

piston rod

28a, 28b

bearing point

29a, 29b

Compressed air connection

30a, 30b

Compressed air connection

31

Compressed air connection of the transfer device for closing the gripper element

32

Compressed air connection of the transfer device for opening the gripping element

33

needle valve

34

reservoir

35

lubricant

36

needle

37

valve seat

38

first compressed air connection

39

second compressed air connection

40

lubricant input

41

lubricant output

42

adjustment

43

piston

44

attack

45

drops

46

Embodiment of a gripping element according to the invention

47a, 47b

jaws

48a, 48b

score

A

Embodiment of a device according to the invention

M

Means for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant

S1

Provision of a cable end

S2

Stripping one end of the cable end

S3

Providing a single wire seal

S4

Drying the single wire seal

S5

Provide the cable end with the dried single wire seal

S6

Provide the single wire seal of the cable end with a lubricant

S7

Crimping a contact part at the cable end

S8

Equipping a connector housing with the cable end

V

Embodiment of a method according to the invention

Claims (15)

Device (A) for assembling cable ends (12) of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single wire seal (13), and / or for fitting a plug housing (11) to the at least one cable end (12) with single wire seal (13) .
marked by
Means (M, 33, 34) for providing the at least one single wire seal (13) of the at least one cable end (12) with a lubricant (35). Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the device has a transfer device (19) which is adapted to receive a cable end with a single wire seal (13) from a first movable gripper unit (4), the cable end with the single wire seal by means of a gripping element (20 , 46) of the transfer device (19) and to deliver to a second movable gripper unit (8), wherein the means (M, 33, 34) for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant such with the transfer device (19 ) cooperate, that the single wire seal (13) during gripping by the gripping member (20, 46) is provided with the lubricant (35). Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the gripping element gripping jaws (22a, 22b) of an absorbent material, in particular of felt, for receiving and discharging the lubricant (35) to the Einzeladerabdichtungen (13). Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the gripping jaws (22a, 22b) in each case to the shape of a Single wire seal adapted contour element (23a, 23b), in particular a notch having. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (M, 33, 34) for providing the at least one single wire seal of the at least one cable end with a lubricant, a metering device (33), in particular a needle valve, which with a reservoir (34) for Providing the lubricant (35) connected and adapted to dispense the lubricant dosed, wherein the metering device is preferably arranged above the transfer device (19) such that a dispensed by the metering lubricant dose (45) on the single wire seal (13) and / or the gripping jaws (22a, 22b) drips. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the metering device (33) is pneumatically controlled. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the metering device has a first and second compressed air connection (38, 39), wherein the metering device opens and thus emits lubricant when the first compressed air connection (38) is at a higher pressure than at the second compressed air connection (39). , and closes the metering device when the second compressed air port (39) is applied a higher pressure than the first compressed air port (38). Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the metering device comprises a first compressed air connection and a return spring, wherein the metering device opens and thus emits lubricant, when the first compressed air connection bears a pressure which exerts a force which is a restoring force of the Return spring exceeds, and the return spring closes the metering device when at the first compressed air connection, a pressure is applied, which exerts a force which falls below the restoring force of the return spring. Device according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the device is adapted to the dosing device (33) to control such that the lubricant (35) during gripping of the cable end (12) with the single wire seal (13) by the gripping element (20 , 46). Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first compressed air connection (38) connected to a compressed air connection (31) of the transfer device for closing the gripping element and / or the second compressed air connection (39) with a compressed air connection (32) of the transfer device for opening the gripping element are. Device according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the metering device (33) has an adjusting device (42) for adjusting the delivered by the metering device in an open state per unit time lubricant (35). Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the metering device as a needle valve (33) and the adjusting device as an adjusting screw (42) are configured, wherein the adjusting screw limits a stroke of a needle (36) of the needle valve upon opening of the needle valve. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the adjusting means (42) is set such that the metering device dispenses 10 ml to 100 ml of lubricant per 10000 single core seals. Method (V) for assembling cable ends of at least one electrical cable, wherein at least one cable end receives a single wire seal, and / or for populating a plug housing with the at least one cable end with single wire seal, with the step Providing a cable end with a single wire seal (S1-S5), characterized by the step - Providing the single wire seal of the cable end with a lubricant (S6), especially a silicone oil. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing a cable end having a single wire seal (S1-S5) comprises the steps of Providing a cable end (S1), Providing a single wire seal (S3), - Drying of the single wire seal (S4) and - Provide the cable end with the dried single wire seal (S5).

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