EP3410547A1 - Method and device for processing a cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of processing a cable (102), the method comprising a step of winding and a step of depositing. In the winding step, a loop (110) of the cable (102) is pulled over a guide body (106) arranged on a loop storage surface (104). The loop (110) is pulled up to a predetermined length using a driven follower (108). In the depositing step, the loop (110) is deposited by the driver (108) on the loop storage surface (104). The loop (110) is placed over the guide body (106).

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a cable.

To make a wiring harness, cables are cut to length from a cable supply. To save space with long cables, the cable can be formed into a cable loop.

A variant is in US5153839A shown. The cables are pulled vertically from this device in a loop and then brought via a carousel to the individual processing stations. Such a machine is very space-saving in the horizontal. At cable lengths of six meters and more, the construction is very complex.

Another approach to processing very long cables in a relatively short machine is the use of cable cassettes in which the individual cables are wound ( US5125154A . US5153839A ). The length of the processed cable can be significantly greater compared to the size of other machine concepts. The device off EP0182592A2 on the other hand uses containers to bring long cables through a processing machine. The cable is in loops in the container.

However, all the above solutions are difficult or impossible to use for the assembly of connector housing with a large number of cables.

An apparatus for the machining of a partial cable harness with long cables, which is suitable to handle connector housing with a large number of cables is, for example EP2421102A1 known. From a supply of cable, a cable is fed to the machine. With the cable a loop is formed, which is extended by pulling horizontally. Thereafter, the two cable ends are transported to the processing stations and finally introduced into the corresponding connector housing. The individual cable loops remain in a cable tray until the partial wiring harness is removed.

But if long cables are only processed on one side and a plug with a large number of contacts fitted, the loose ends of the cable get caught. This happens because the adjacent cable loops are pulled along with the loose cable ends first. The loose ends of the cables will move against the desired direction, resulting in loops and catching of the cables. A removal of the sub-harness from the machine is considerably more difficult and can lead to major production disruptions.

For the manual processing of cables there exists a solution how to prevent catching. Out US3360135A Hubs are known around which the cables are laid. One end of the cable is kept clamped for later removal. The hubs can not catch the cables because the direction of movement of the cables is restricted.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which prevents the entanglement of open cable loops and thereby offers a substantial facilitation in the removal of the partial cable harnesses.

• Aufziehen einer Schlaufe des Kabels über einen auf einer Schlaufenablagefläche angeordneten Führungskörper, wobei die Schlaufe unter Verwendung eines angetriebenen Mitnehmers bis zu einer vorbestimmten Länge aufgezogen wird; und
• Ablegen der Schlaufe von dem Mitnehmer auf die Schlaufenablagefläche, wobei die Schlaufe über den Führungskörper abgelegt wird.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a method for processing a cable and with a device for processing a cable having the features according to the independent claims. The method has the following steps:

• Threading a loop of the cable over a guide body disposed on a loop tray surface, the loop being wound up to a predetermined length using a driven follower; and
• Laying the loop of the driver on the loop storage surface, wherein the loop is placed over the guide body.

• eine Schlaufenablagefläche, auf der zumindest ein Führungskörper angeordnet ist; und
• einen angetriebenen Mitnehmer, der dazu ausgebildet ist, eine Schlaufe des Kabels aufzuziehen und über den Führungskörper abzulegen.

Furthermore, the device for processing a cable is presented, the device having the following features:

• a loop storage surface on which at least one guide body is arranged; and
• a driven dog which is adapted to wind a loop of the cable and store over the guide body.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered, inter alia, and without limiting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

For example, the cable can be fed to the machine from a supply of cable. The process can then proceed as follows: The supplied cable is looped and pulled to the required length. For this purpose, the driver of the loop pull-out module is brought into the inner region of the loop and pulls from there the loop to the desired length. Then the loop is released from the loop pull-out module and falls over at least one guide body on the loop storage area. Also, a cable end is released, so that the now open loop is pulled only at one end by the processing machine. The guide through the guide body prevents that areas of the cable move against the intended direction. By controlling the direction of movement, small, twisted loops will loosen and a possible twist of the cable will naturally spin slowly. The held cable end passes through the individual processing stations, with the rest of the cable is tightened. Finally, the held cable end is brought with its contact at the Steckerbestückungsstation in the intended connector housing. The thus processed cables of the sub-harness are kept in a known manner of struts on a cable tray until removal.

So a plug can be equipped with a large number of contacts, without the cable can catch. A removal of the partial wiring harness from the machine is thereby greatly facilitated and production disturbances can be prevented.

In a first preferred embodiment, the loop storage surface is a substantially horizontally oriented working surface for depositing at least one loop of the cable. To wind the loop is the driver in a Start loop is moved into or the initial loop is placed around the driver. The driver is moved with a vertical distance above the loop storage surface. The driver has a plurality of protrusions, which are designed to reduce the contact area between the cable and the driver.

The rounding of the elevations may be smaller than a minimum permissible bending radius of the cable. The number and distribution of the elevations, however, is chosen so that the minimum permissible bending radius of the cable is not exceeded, which prevents permanent deformation of the cable.

The minimum permissible bending radius of the cable is the smallest radius into which the cable can be bent without damage. By reducing the contact area, the cable can slide around the driver with less friction. Due to an appropriately selected surface, this is supported positively. The driver also has an inlet geometry for the cable. The inlet geometry can be designed, for example, as an inlet area and outlet area, so that the cable does not rub against a sharp edge.

The driver is moved above the guide body by a drive. To deposit the loop over the guide body, the driver is moved out of the loop upwards.

The guide body is substantially cylindrical, with a radius greater than the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable. The contour of the guide body closes flush with the Schlaufenablagefläche, whereby the cable can not be pinched. The guide body has a taper in the form of a point or a ridge at its upper end. The tip or the ridge are preferably rounded. By the taper, the guide body can penetrate into a relatively narrow loop. When you drop the cable falls by gravity from the driver down over the top of the guide body on the loop storage area. The tip of the guide body is aligned with the center axis of the loop. The tip of the guide body is also arranged laterally offset from the central axis of the guide body. The guide body is inclined to it cut. An oblique cut results in a kind of elongated tip with a high robustness. An upper surface of the guide body is arranged at a non-right angle, for example between 10 ° and 85 °, preferably between 30 ° and 70 °, to the vertical.

One side of the loop thus slips laterally over a slope of the guide body while the other side of the loop falls substantially vertically down onto the loop storage surface. The guide body is magnetically mounted on the loop storage surface. Thus, the guide body at different positions along the loop storage surface can be reversibly changed changeable. This makes it easy to set different lengths for the loop.

By other guide body different areas of loop lengths can be covered simultaneously. For this purpose, the guide body in the longitudinal direction of the loop storage surface are arranged one behind the other and spaced from each other.

One half of the cable loop is withdrawn from the loop storage area by the further transport of the held cable end to the processing stations around the guide body. This prevents entrainment of the adjacent cable ends in an undesired direction. At the same time a possible twist of the cable can be solved.

A second preferred embodiment provides that the loop storage surface is contoured. In this case, a slope or inclination of the loop storage surface can be so flat or low that the cable remains due to its weight. This reduces the risk that the adjacent cables will pull each other.

A further preferred embodiment has a driver with at least one rotatable roller, which minimizes the friction between cable and driver. When using a single roller, the radius of the roller is greater than the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable. By using a plurality of rollers or pulleys, the friction between the cable and the driver can be further minimized and the tendency of trailing can be reduced. This protects the cable as much as possible. The inlet geometry is for example bevelled and / or rounded off. The inlet geometry can also be designed, for example, funnel-shaped. Due to the inlet geometry, the cable can run around the driver during mounting without damage. To remove the loop, the driver is moved out of the loop. For example, the driver can be moved back while the loop remains open. Then the loop falls over the guide body.

It should be understood that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features of the method and the device can be suitably combined, adapted or replaced in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Darstellung eines Führungskörpers einer Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Darstellung eines Mitnehmers und eines Führungskörpers einer Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine Darstellung eines Mitnehmers für eine Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine Darstellung eines Mitnehmers in Rollenform für eine Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Darstellung eines Mitnehmers mit mehreren Rollen für eine Vorrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Kabels gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which neither the drawings nor the description are to be construed as limiting the invention.

• Fig. 1 shows an illustration of an apparatus for processing a cable according to an embodiment;
• Fig. 2 shows a representation of a guide body of a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment;
• Fig. 3 shows a representation of a driver and a guide body of a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment;
• Fig. 4 shows an illustration of a driver for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment;
• Fig. 5 shows a representation of a driver in roll form for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment; and
• Fig. 6 shows an illustration of a driver with multiple roles for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment.

The figures are only schematic and not true to scale. Like reference numerals designate like or equivalent features throughout the several figures

Fig. 1 shows a representation of an apparatus 100 for processing a cable 102 according to an embodiment. The device 100 is here a part of a harness processing machine. The device 100 has a loop storage surface 104 and a plurality of guide bodies 106 arranged thereon. The guide bodies 106 project upwards beyond the loop storage surface 104. The guide bodies 106 have a circular cross-sectional area. Over the loop storage surface 104, a motor-driven driver 108 is arranged. The driver 108 is mounted linearly movable in a pull-out direction. The driver 108 is designed to take off a loop 110 of the cable 102 to a desired length and to deposit on the loop storage surface 104 via at least one of the guide bodies 106.

To pull out the driver 108 is moved by its drive device, not shown here to a cable output device 112. There, the driver 108 is moved into an initial loop or the initial loop wrapped around the driver 108. Subsequently, the driver 108 is moved by the drive means in the extension direction and thereby pulls the loop 110 on.

The loop 110 is then long enough when both ends of the cable 102 together give a desired cable length. If the loop 110 is long enough, that is, the driver 108 has been moved to a position predetermined by the desired cable length, the driver 108 places the loop 110 on the loop support surface 104 via at least one of the guide bodies 106. For this purpose, the driver 108 is pulled out of the loop 110 by the drive device. It is also possible to move the driver 108 by the drive means in a direction opposite to the elevator direction, so that the cable 102 drops from the driver 108 onto the loop storage surface 104.

When the loop 110 has the desired length, the end of the loop 110 connected to the cable supply is severed at the cable dispenser 112. This end is free.

The cable 102 is withdrawn around the guide body 106 for further processing in the harness processing machine. When peeled, the loose end of the cable 102 relaxes. The remaining twist is stripped off the cable 102 by the guide body 106.

FIG. 2 shows a representation of a guide body 106 with a cylindrical base body. The guide body essentially corresponds to one of the guide bodies in FIG Fig. 1 , To form a tip of the guide body 106 is cut above obliquely. By the oblique gate, the guide body 106 on its upper side on a one-sided inclined, continuous surface 200 over which the cable slips laterally when it is placed over the guide bodies 106. The tip is laterally offset from the lateral surface of the cylinder.

Fig. 3 shows a representation of a driver 108 and a guide body 106 of a device for processing a cable 102 according to an embodiment. The guide body 106 and the driver substantially correspond to the representations in the FIGS. 1 and 2 , In addition, the cam 108 has a friction-reducing surface design. For this purpose, the driver 108 a plurality of transversely to the cable 102 aligned elevations 300, for example in the form of transverse to a curvature of the driver 108 aligned ribs on which the cable 102 is applied and which reduce the contact surface to the loop surface. Between the elevations 300, the cable 102 does not touch the driver 108 and thus can cause no friction. The configuration of the elevations 300 and their surface properties depend on the properties of the cable 102 to be processed.

The distribution and number of elevations 300 is chosen so that the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable 102 is not exceeded, below which the cable 102 plastically deformed. Furthermore, the contour of the elevations 300 is selected so that displacements of the cable insulation material are reduced to a minimum. Further the driver 108 has an inlet area per side to minimize damage to the cable 102 by its own vibrations when pulling the loop 110.

The tip of the guide body 106 is aligned with the central axis 114 of the loop 110. Thus, one side of the loop 110 slides over the inclined surface of the guide body 106 to the side and both sides of the loop 110 come to rest on different sides of the guide body 106.

Fig. 4 shows an illustration of a driver 108 for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment. The driver 108 substantially corresponds to the driver in Fig. 3 , The driver 108 has a substantially semi-cylindrical base body 400. On the curved part of its lateral surface eight elevations 300 are arranged. The elevations are aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base body 400.

Fig. 5 shows a representation of a driver 108 in roll form for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment. The driver 108 may, for example, as the driver in Fig. 1 be used. The driver 108 here has a pulley 502 rotatably mounted about a rotation axis 500. The pulley 502 has a circumferential groove for laterally guiding the cable. The driver 108 also has an inlet geometry 504. The inlet geometry 504 adjoins the pulley 502 on both sides and is rotatable about the rotation axis 500 with the pulley 502. The inlet geometry 504 is executed on both sides as an over the pulley 502 protruding, oblique collar. The inlet geometry 504 prevents the cable from running off the sheave 502, even if the cable is not perpendicular to the axis of rotation 500.

In other words, here forms a single pulley 108 for cables with very soft and adhesive insulation material.

Fig. 6 shows a representation of a driver 108 with multiple rollers 600 for a device for processing a cable according to an embodiment. The driver 108 substantially corresponds to the driver in Fig. 4 , In contrast, the driver 108 has four rotatably mounted rollers 600 instead of the elevations here on. The rollers 600 are mounted in recesses of a bottom plate 602 and a cover plate 604. The rollers 600 are cylindrical and are chosen in their distribution and number so that the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable 1020 is not exceeded. The bottom disk 602 and the cover disk 604 are substantially semicircular and project beyond the semicircular rollers 600. At least the bottom disk 602 has an inlet geometry 504. The inlet geometry 504 is designed here as a semicircular circumferential chamfer.

In other words, the driver 108 has a group of rollers 600, which have a small rotational inertia, resulting in a low tracking behavior of the rollers 600 results. The forces acting on the cable are reduced so much, which is important for sensitive cables with very small cross section and thin insulation.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising", "comprising", etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

Claims (13)

A method of processing a cable (102), the method comprising the steps of: Threading a loop (110) of the cable (102) over a guide body (106) disposed on a loop storage surface (104), the loop (110) being wound to a predetermined length using a driven follower (108); and Depositing the loop (110) from the driver (108) onto the loop storage surface (104), wherein the loop (110) is deposited over the guide body (106). The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of winding a first end of the cable (102) is fixed and the loop (110) is pulled around the driver (108) around. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the winding step the loop (110) is pulled over at least one further guide body (106) arranged on the loop storage surface (104). A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a step of peeling, pulling at a first end of the loop (110) and pulling the cable (102) around the guide body (106) from the loop storage surface (104). Apparatus (100) for processing a cable (102), the apparatus (100) having the following features: a loop storage surface (104) on which at least one guide body (106) is arranged; and a powered driver (108) adapted to pop a loop (110) of the cable (102) and place it over the guide body (106). The device (100) of claim 5, wherein the guide body (106) is tapered at its upper end. Device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the guide body (106) is cut obliquely. Apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein a tip of the guide body (106) is aligned with a central axis (114) of the loop (110). Apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims 5 to 8, wherein the guide body (106) is magnetically mounted on the loop support surface (104). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 9, wherein the driver (108) has an inlet geometry (504) for the cable (102). The apparatus (100) of any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the driver (108) includes a plurality of protrusions (300) configured to reduce a contact area between the cable (102) and the driver (108) , wherein distribution and number of elevations (300) is selected so that the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable 102 is not exceeded Device (100) according to one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the driver (108) has a rotatable roller (600), wherein a radius of the roller (600) is greater than the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable (102). Device (100) according to one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the driver (108) comprises a plurality of rotatable rollers (600), wherein distribution and number of rollers (600) is selected such that the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable (102). not fallen below

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