EP3605752B1 - Cable changing device and method for locking a cable rake adjustable in height relative to a cable feeding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cable changing device and a method for locking the height of a cable rake that is height-adjustable relative to a cable feed device.

Cable changing devices are, for example, from the EP 1 213 800 B1 Such cable changing devices enable the production of partial cable harnesses with different cables. They keep several different cables (e.g. different cross-section, color of insulation, insulation material, etc.) in stock in a cable rake so that the cable required in each case can be automatically fed to the processing stations of a cable processing machine using a cable feeding device. The remaining cables in the cable changing device are usually secured by clamps. In order to feed a specific cable to the processing stations of the cable processing machine, the cable changing device moves to the appropriate height position (position in the Z direction) of the cable rake. The cable straightening unit and the cable drive of the cable feeding device are brought to the cable. The clamps of the desired cable are opened with motor-driven pins or compressed air cylinders so that the corresponding cable can be fed to the cable processing machine using the cable feeding device. Production of the individual cable for the partial cable harness can then begin.

The disadvantage of this is that the corresponding height position is not optimally approached or set under unfavorable circumstances, i.e. there is a difference between the desired or set height position of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device and the actual height position of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device. This difference can lead to problems when handling or treating the cable in the cable feed device and/or to problems when handling or treating the cable in the cable processing machine.

There may be a need, among other things, for a cable changing device or method in which or by means of which a height-adjustable cable rake can be arranged in a technically simple and precise manner at different predetermined heights relative to the cable feed device.

Such a need can be met by a cable changing device according to independent claim 1 or a method for locking a cable rake that is height-adjustable relative to a cable feed device in height according to independent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a cable changing device is proposed comprising a cable rake for holding a plurality of cables at different heights, and a cable feed device for feeding one of the cables of the cable rake to a cable processing machine, wherein the cable rake is designed to be adjustable in height relative to the cable feed device such that, depending on the height of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device, the cable feed device can feed different cables of the cable rake to the cable processing machine, characterized in that the cable rake has height alignment elements and the cable feed device has height determination elements complementary to the height alignment elements, wherein the height alignment elements and the height determination elements are designed such that the cable rake is locked at one of a plurality of predetermined heights relative to the cable feed device when the height determination elements are connected to a part of the height alignment elements.

An advantage of this is that the height-adjustable cable rake can typically be precisely positioned and locked at different heights relative to the cable feed device. Thus, the height of the cable to be fed to the cable processing machine can usually be set very precisely relative to the cable feed device. Consequently, after locking the cable rake by means of the height determination elements and the Height alignment elements the difference or difference between the desired or set height position of the cable rake or the cable that is held or guided by the cable rake relative to the cable feed device and the actual height position of the cable rake or the cable that is held or guided by the cable rake relative to the cable feed device is usually very small or very slight to no longer present. This means that there are usually little to no handling difficulties when handling or treating the cable by the cable feed device and/or when feeding the cable to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feed device, since the height of the cable relative to the cable feed device is precisely set or known. Another advantage is that the desired height typically only has to be approached or set with such accuracy that the height alignment elements lock into place with the height determination elements of the desired height and not with the height determination elements of a different height.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for locking a cable rake, which is height-adjustable relative to a cable feed device, at the cable feed device, wherein the cable rake is designed to hold several cables at different heights, wherein the cable feed device is designed to feed one of the cables of the cable rake to a cable processing machine, wherein the cable rake is designed to be adjustable in height relative to the cable feed device such that, depending on the height of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device, the cable feed device can feed different cables of the cable rake to the cable processing machine, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - setting a height of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device; and - connecting height determination elements of the feed device to height alignment elements of the cable rake for locking the cable rake relative to the cable feed device at a predetermined height.

An advantage of this method is that the height-adjustable cable rake is usually precisely positioned at a predetermined height relative to the cable feed device arranged and locked. Thus, the height of the cable to be fed to the cable processing machine is usually set very precisely relative to the cable feeding device. Consequently, after locking the cable rake by means of the height determination elements and the height alignment elements, the difference between the desired or set height position of the cable rake or the cable held or guided by the cable rake relative to the cable feeding device and the actual height position of the cable rake or the cable held or guided by the cable rake relative to the cable feeding device is typically very small or very slight to no longer present. Thus, there are usually little to no handling difficulties when handling the cable by the cable feeding device and/or when feeding the cable to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feeding device, since the height of the cable relative to the cable feeding device is precisely set or known. Another advantage is that the desired height usually only has to be approached or set with such accuracy that the height alignment elements lock into place with the height determination elements of the desired height and not with the height determination elements of a different height.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention may be considered to be based, among other things and without limiting the invention, on ideas and findings described below.

According to the invention, the height alignment elements of the cable rake have a plurality of depressions arranged at different heights and the height determination elements of the cable feed device comprise two projections, in particular the height determination elements of the cable feed device consist of two projections. The advantage of this is that a particularly secure connection can typically be established between the cable rake and the cable feed device. In addition, the height alignment elements generally do not hinder the height adjustment of the cable rake, since the height alignment elements do not protrude from the cable rake. Thus, the Height adjustment of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device can generally be carried out particularly easily and reliably from a technical perspective.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, the cable feed device further comprises a labeling device for labeling the cable fed from the cable feed device to the cable processing machine. The advantage of this is that the cable can usually be labeled in a technically simple manner and particularly reliably or precisely due to the precisely known or precisely set height position of the cable relative to the cable feed device. In addition, cables with a particularly small cross-section (e.g. less than 2 mm) can usually be labeled in such a way that the label is legible to humans without any aids. In addition, it can generally be ensured that the label on the cable runs precisely along its longitudinal axis, so that reading the cable label is particularly easy for humans and/or a machine.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, the cable rake has a reversibly compressible compensating connection element, in particular an elastomer body, wherein the compensating connection element is designed and arranged such that the compensating connection element can compensate for height differences between the cable rake and the cable feed device when the cable rake is locked to the cable feed device. As a result, height differences when the cable rake is locked to the cable feed device can generally be compensated for in a technically simple manner. Thus, when the cable rake is locked to the cable feed device, no mechanical stresses typically arise in the cable rake and/or in the cable feed device. As a result of this compensation of smaller differences in height between the actual height position after locking and the height position of the cable rake set before locking relative to the cable feed device, the cable rake is typically always in the set height position after locking, without mechanical stresses occurring in the height determination elements or in the height alignment elements. According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, the height alignment elements and the height determination elements are arranged on only one side of the cable rake. This generally prevents overdetermination of the height position of the cable rake in relation to the cable feed device in the locked height position, so that the occurrence of mechanical stresses is prevented in a technically simple manner.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, the height determination elements of the cable feed device are arranged at two positions spaced apart from one another, wherein a height adjustment device for changing the height of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device is arranged between the two positions spaced apart from one another when the height determination elements are not connected to the height alignment elements. This usually makes it particularly easy to align the cable held by the cable rake in a direction that corresponds to the feed direction of the cable feed device. This generally reliably prevents the cable rake from tipping over relative to the cable feed device.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, each recess of the height alignment elements is limited in height by two cylindrical pins, the cable rake being locked in height on the cable feed device when the height determination element is received between two cylindrical pins. This typically allows the cable rake to be locked in a predetermined height position on the cable feed device in a technically simple and particularly precise manner. In addition, the height determination elements can usually slide over the outer surface of the cylindrical pins into the height alignment elements, whereby small differences in height between the set height position of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device and the desired height position of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device are compensated or minimized. The height position of the cable rake relative to the cable feed device can typically change while the height determination elements slide over the outer surface of the cylindrical pins into the height alignment elements.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, one of the height determination elements is part of a cable straightening station of the cable feed device for aligning the cable and one of the height determination elements is part of a cable drive for conveying the cable, wherein when the cable straightening station is closed and/or when the cable drive of the cable rake on the cable feed device is closed, the height determination elements are connected to part of the height alignment elements so that the cable rake is locked in height on the cable feed device. The advantage of this is that the cable rake generally does not have to have any active elements for locking the cable rake in height, but the locking in a height position can be carried out by the cable feed device. As a result, when the cable straightening station or the cable drive is closed for feeding the cable to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feed device, the height determination elements are generally connected to the height alignment elements of the desired height almost automatically and the cable rake is thus aligned and locked at the desired height.

According to one embodiment of the cable changing device, front height alignment elements of the height alignment elements and rear height alignment elements of the height alignment elements are arranged between front cable clamps for clamping a part of the cable and rear cable clamps for clamping a part of the cable. The advantage of this is that the respective cable can usually be clamped and released particularly reliably by the cable rake.

According to one embodiment of the method, a locking in height between the height determination elements and the height alignment elements is carried out by closing straightening roller jaws of a cable straightening station of the cable feed device and by closing a cable drive of the cable feed device. The advantage of this is that the cable rake does not have to have any active elements for locking the cable rake in height, but the locking in a height position is carried out by the cable feed device. This When closing the cable straightening station or the cable drive for feeding the cable to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feeding device, the height determination elements are generally connected quasi automatically to the height alignment elements of the desired height and thus the cable rake is aligned and locked at the desired height.

According to one embodiment of the method, the cable is labeled using a labeling device of the cable feed device before the cable is fed to the cable processing machine. One advantage of this is that the cable is usually labeled particularly precisely, since the height of the cable rake and thus of the cable is precisely set relative to the cable feed device. The label can thus typically be applied to the cable in a way that is particularly legible for humans and/or a machine, e.g. using a laser.

The term "different cables" can in particular mean that the cables are not identical to each other, but the cables can be identical in construction.

It is pointed out that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of the cable changing device or the method for locking the height of a cable rake that is height-adjustable relative to a cable feed device. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features can be combined, adapted or exchanged in a suitable manner in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 zeigt

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Kabelwechselvorrichtung;

Fig. 2 zeigt

eine Seitenansicht der Kabelwechselvorrichtung aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 zeigt

eine Aufsicht auf die Kabelwechselvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 bzw. Fig. 2;

Fig. 4a zeigt

eine Detailansicht der vorderen Positionskonturen der Kabelwechselvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 bzw. Fig. 2 bzw. Fig. 3;

Fig. 4b zeigt

eine Detailansicht der hinteren Positionskonturen der Kabelwechselvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 bzw. Fig. 2 bzw. Fig. 3; und

Fig. 5 zeigt

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ausgleichsverbindungselements der Kabelwechselvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 bzw. Fig. 2 bzw. Fig. 3.

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

Fig. 1 shows

a perspective view of an embodiment of the cable changing device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows

a side view of the cable changing device Fig.1 ;

Fig. 3 shows

a view of the cable changing device Fig.1 or. Fig.2 ;

Fig. 4a shows

a detailed view of the front position contours of the cable changing device Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 ;

Fig. 4b shows

a detailed view of the rear position contours of the cable changing device Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 ; and

Fig. 5 shows

a perspective view of the compensating connecting element of the cable changing device from Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 .

The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. The same reference symbols in the various figures indicate the same or equivalent features.

Fig.1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the cable changing device 60 according to the invention. Fig.2 shows a side view of the cable changing device 60 from Fig.1 . Fig.3 shows a top view of the cable changing device 60 from Fig.1 or. Fig.2 .

The cable changing device 60 comprises a cable rake 2 and a cable feed device 50. The cable changing device 60 enables the production of partial cable harnesses with different cables 3, 3'. The cable changing device 60 keeps several different cables (e.g. different cross-section, color of insulation, insulation material, etc.) in stock in the cable rake 2, so that the cable 3, 3' required in each case can be automatically fed to the processing stations of a cable processing machine (e.g. a crimping machine) (not shown) by means of the cable feed device 50. It is also possible for two or more cables 3, 3' to be constructed identically to one another.

The remaining cables 3, 3' in the cable changing device 60 or in the cable rake 2 are each secured, for example, by cable clamps 6, 7 in the cable rake 2. In order to feed a specific cable 3, 3' of the cable rake 2 to the processing stations of the cable processing machine, the cable changing device 60 moves the corresponding height position (position in Z direction 40; in Fig.1 or. Fig.2 running from bottom to top) of the cable rake 2 so that the cable feeding device 50 can feed the desired cable 3, 3' from the cable rake 2 to the cable processing machine.

The cable straightening unit and the cable drive 17 of the cable feed device 50 are brought to the cable 3, 3'. The cable clamps 6, 7 of the desired cable 3, 3' are opened with motor-driven pins or compressed air cylinders so that the cable 3, 3' can be fed to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feed device 50. The production of the individual cable for the partial cable harness can then start.

The Z-direction 40 runs in Fig.1 or. Fig.2 from bottom to top and in Fig.3 from the drawing plane. The selected cable 3, 3' is Fig.1 or. Fig. 2 or. Fig. 3 from the cable feed device 50 from right to left and fed to a cable processing machine located to the left of the Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 shown cable changing device 60 (and is accordingly not shown in the drawings).

The cable changing device 60 comprises a two-part base plate 29 for fastening the cable changing device 60 to a machine frame or to the cable processing machine.

The cable rake 2 is designed to be height-adjustable, i.e. it can be moved along the Z direction 40 by means of a height adjustment device 22 and can be arranged at several height positions. To change the height position, the cable rake 2 is moved up or down between the two-part base plate 29 by means of a height adjustment motor 26. The height of the cable rake 2 is always the height relative to the cable feed device 50. The cable rake 2 is guided in the Z direction 40 along two guide rails 11, 11' that run parallel to one another and perpendicular to one another.

In order to change the cable 3, 3', which is fed to the cable processing machine by means of the cable changing device 60, a cable drive 17 for driving or conveying the cable 3, 3' of the cable feeding device 50 and a cable straightening station 12 is opened for aligning the cable 3, 3' of the cable feed device 50 so that the cable 3, 3' is released in each case. To do this, the two parts of the belt drive 18 of the cable drive 17 are moved apart and the two parts of the straightening roller jaws 13 of the cable straightening station 12 are moved apart. At the same time or shortly before or after this, the front cable clamp 6 and the rear cable clamp 7 of the cable 3, 3' are locked so that they hold or clamp the cable 3, 3' in place.

Now the cable rake 2 can be moved up or down between the two parts of the base plate 29 or its height can be changed relative to the cable feed device 50. The cable rake 2 is moved to a height position such that the cable 3, 3' that is to be fed to the cable processing machine is at the height of the cable straightening station 12 and the height of the cable drive 17.

When the cable 3, 3' is at the desired height, i.e. the cable rake 2 has the desired height position relative to the cable feed device 50, the cable drive 17 and the cable straightening station 12 close.

The cable rake 2 has height alignment elements 70-74 and the cable feed device 50 has height determination elements 16, 21. The height alignment elements 70-74 of the cable rake 2 are arranged along the Z direction 40. The cable rake 2 has front position contours 8 comprising height alignment elements 70-74, which are arranged closer to the side of the cable changing device 60 to which the cable 3, 3' is moved, and rear position contours 9 comprising height alignment elements 70-74, which are arranged closer to the side of the cable changing device 60 from which the cable 3, 3' is moved away. The adjectives "front" and "rear" are thus to be understood in relation to the cable feed direction, the cable conveying direction in Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 runs from right to left.

The height alignment elements 70-74 are a plurality of recesses 80-84 arranged along the Z direction 40 in two rows, namely at the position of the front position contours 8 at the position of the rear position contours 9. In Exactly one height determination element 16, 21 can be inserted into the respective recess 80-84.

The front position contours 8 have a plurality of recesses 80-84 as height alignment elements 70-74 in the cable rake 2 along the Z direction 40. At each height of a cable 3, 3' there is a recess 80-84 corresponding to the cable 3, 3'. By locking the height determination element 16, 21 in the corresponding recess 80-84, the corresponding cable 3, 3' is positioned so that it is unclamped by the cable feed device 50 (by activating the cable release devices 27, 28 assigned to the cable 3, 3', whereby the cable clamps 6, 7 for this cable 3, 3' are released) and can be moved by the cable feed device 50 or pass through the cable alignment station 12 and can be grasped by the cable drive 17 and moved or conveyed in the direction of the cable processing machine. The cable 3, 3' is positioned by height adjustment of the cable rake 2 and the subsequent locking in such a way that the corresponding cable 3, 3' is or can be unclamped/released from the cable feed device 50, i.e. the cable clamps 6, 7 for this cable 3, 3' are or can be released via the cable release devices 27, 28.

Each cable 3, 3' of the cable rake 2 is thus assigned two height alignment elements 70-74: one height alignment element 70-74 at the position of the front position contours 8 and one height alignment element 70-74 at the position of the rear position contours 9.

The rear position contours 9 have a plurality of recesses 80-84 as height alignment elements 70-74 in the cable rake 2 along the Z direction 40. The recesses 80-84 of the rear position contours 9 are at the same height as the recesses 80-84 of the front position contour 8, so that the cable 3, 3' is aligned horizontally or parallel to the surface of the base plate 29 when the cable rake 2 is locked to the cable feed device 50 by means of the height determination elements 16, 21 and the height alignment elements 70-74. When the cable rake 2 is locked to the cable feed device 50, the two height determination elements 16, 21 are aligned with two height alignment elements 70-74 in each case. To release the locking mechanism, the connections are dissolved or separated.

When the cable rake 2 is locked to the cable feed device 50, a cable 3, 3' of the cable rake 2 can be fed to the cable processing machine by means of the cable feed device 50. For this purpose, the front cable clamps 6 and the rear cable clamps 7 are opened by the corresponding cable release devices 27, 28 (e.g. compressed air cylinders).

The cable feed device 50 has a labeling device 1 or a labeling head which labels the outer surface or a part of the outer surface of the cable 3, 3', e.g. by means of a laser.

The labeling device 1 labels the cable 3, 3' in a labeling area 5, wherein the labeling area 5 is located behind the front position contours 8 and behind the front cable clamps 6 when viewed in the cable feed direction. This means that in Fig.1 or in Fig.2 the labeling area 5 is arranged to the left of the front cable terminals 6, with the cable feed direction running from right to left.

On the side of the front cable clamps 6 facing away from the rear cable clamps 7, the cable rake 2 comprises a cable guide 4 for each cable 3, 3'. The labeling area 5 corresponds to the area over which the respective cable guide 4 extends in the cable feed direction.

Since the height position or the height of the cable 3, 3' is particularly precise by means of the locking of the cable rake 2 on the cable feed device 50, the labeling device 1 can describe the outer surface of the cable 3, 3', which is fed to the cable processing device by means of the cable feed device 50, particularly precisely and in a way that is easy for humans to read. In particular, the labeling device 1 can describe the cable 3, 3' in such a way that the label runs along the longitudinal axis of the cable 3, 3' (the longitudinal axis of the cable 3, 3' runs along the largest extension or dimension of the cable 3, 3' or along the cable feed direction). This makes it easier for both humans and machines to read the label.

In particular, cables 3, 3' with a very small diameter, e.g. less than approximately 2 mm, can also be labeled by means of the labeling device 1 in such a way that the label is easily readable by humans or without technical aids.

Fig. 4a shows a detailed view of the front position contours 8 of the cable changing device 60 from Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 . Fig. 4b shows a detailed view of the rear position contours 9 of the cable changing device 60 from Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 .

In Fig. 4a a front height alignment element 70 is completely visible and another front height alignment element 71, which is in Fig.4 below the fully visible front height adjustment element 70, only partially. In Fig. 4b one rear height alignment element 73 is fully visible and two further rear height alignment elements 72, 74 are only partially visible, wherein one of the two partially visible rear height alignment elements 72, 74 is located above the fully visible rear height alignment element 73 and one of the two partially visible rear height alignment elements 72, 74 is located below the fully visible rear height alignment element 73.

The height alignment elements 70-74 of the cable rake 2 of the front position contours 8 and the rear position contours 9 each comprise a plurality of cylindrical pins 10, 10', which are aligned horizontally or parallel to the cable feed direction. The cylindrical pins 10, 10` are arranged equidistantly to one another along the Z direction 40, so that the height alignment elements 70-74 are equidistant to one another along the Z direction 40 of the front position contours 8 and that the height alignment elements 70-74 are equidistant to one another along the Z direction 40 of the rear position contours 9.

The smallest distance between two cylindrical pins 10, 10` corresponds to the diameter of a height determination element 16, 21 of the cable feed device 50. As in Fig. 4a or. Fig. 4b shown contact the Outer surface of the respective height determination element 16, 21 a lower end of an upper cylindrical pin 10 and an upper end of a lower cylindrical pin 10` of the cable rake 2 or the front position contours 8 as well as the rear position contours 9. Thus, the height position of the cable rake 2 relative to the cable feed device 50 is precisely determined when the cable rake 2 is locked to the cable feed device 50 by means of the height alignment elements 70-74 of the front position contours 8 and the height alignment elements 70-74 of the rear position contours 9.

For locking, a first height determination element 16, 21 of the cable feed device 50 is inserted into a recess 80-84 between two cylinder pins 10, 10` of the front position contours 8, ie into a height alignment element 70-74, and a second height determination element 16, 21 of the cable feed device 50 is inserted into a recess 80-84 between two cylinder pins 10, 10` of the rear position contours 9, ie into a height alignment element 70-74 (in Fig. 4a or 4b into the plane of the drawing). The movement of the height determination elements 16, 21 can be carried out, for example, by closing the cable drive 17 and the cable straightening station 12 if one of the height determination elements 16 is part of the cable drive 17 (eg the belt drive 18) and the other height determination element 21 of the height determination elements 16, 21 is part of the cable straightening station 12 (eg the straightening roller jaws 13).

The cable rake 2 is also locked laterally relative to the cable feed device 50, although there may be a slight amount of play. In any case, the height determination elements 16, 21 cannot slip out sideways from the height alignment elements 70-74 (in Fig. 4a or. Fig. 4b to the right or left).

In Fig. 4a or. Fig. 4b Two recesses 80-84 of the front position contours 8 and three recesses 80-84 of the rear position contours 9 are shown or partially shown. The recesses 80-84 of the front position contours 8 are circular in cross section. The recesses 80-84 of the rear position contours 9 are elliptical in cross section.

In Fig.1 or. Fig.2 it is shown that the cable straightening station 12 has a rear positioning pin holder 15 with a first height determination element 16 and the cable drive 17 has a front positioning pin holder 20 with a second height determination element 21. Overall, the cable feed device 50 has exactly two height determination elements 16, 21, both of which are located on the same side of the cable rake 2.

The cylindrical pins 10, 10` each have, at least in their middle, a cylindrical shape, wherein the height of the cylindrical shape runs from right to left or vice versa.

When inserting the height determination element 16, 21 into the height alignment element 70-74, i.e. into the recess 80-84, the respective height determination element 16, 21 can slide over the jacket surface of the respective cylinder pin 10, 10' until the respective height determination element 16, 21 has slid or slipped into the recess or recess 80-84 between two cylinder pins 10, 10', which fits precisely in the Z direction 40. While sliding or sliding over the jacket surface of the respective cylinder pin 10, 10', the height of the cable rake 2 can change slightly relative to the cable feed device 50.

The height determination elements 16, 21 are each designed to be complementary to the height alignment elements 70-74 in such a way that the respective diameter of the height alignment elements 70-74 in the Z direction corresponds to the respective diameter of the height determination elements 16, 21 in the Z direction or that they are the same size.

When the two height determination elements 16, 21 are each in a recess 80-84 or recess between two cylindrical pins 10, 10', i.e. in a height alignment element 70-74, the cable rake 2 is precisely locked or aligned at a predetermined height relative to the cable feed device 50.

The height determination elements 16, 21 each have a cylindrical shape, ie the cross section along a plane containing the Z direction 40 is circular, as this in Fig. 4a or. Fig. 4b It is also conceivable that the height determination elements 16, 21 have a shape that tapers towards their free end.

To release the locking mechanism, the two height determination elements 16, 21 are removed from the respective recess 80-84 or recess between two cylindrical pins 10, 10' or from the height alignment element 70-74 (in Fig. 4a or. Fig. 4b out of the plane of the drawing), e.g. by opening the cable drive 17 or the belt drive 18 and the cable straightening station 12 or the roller jaws. The locking is thus released by releasing the connection between the height determination elements 16, 21 and the height alignment elements 70-74.

Now the height position of the cable rake 2 can be changed relative to the cable feed device 50 so that another cable 3, 3' is at a height such that it is fed from the cable feed device 50 to the cable processing machine and, if necessary, labeled using the labeling device 1. For this purpose, the height of the cable rake 2 is moved such that the height alignment elements 70-74 of the cable rake 2 corresponding to the desired cable 3, 3' are essentially at the same height as the height determination elements 16, 21 so that when locking, the height alignment elements 70-74 for the desired cable 3, 3' are inserted into the height determination elements 16, 21. This means that there is only a small difference between the relative height initially set by means of the height adjustment device 22 and the actual height after locking between the cable rake 2 and the cable feed device 50, which decreases to practically zero as a result of the height determination elements 16, 21 sliding or sliding over the surface of the cylindrical pins 10, 10'. After locking, the cable 3, 3' is located precisely at a predetermined height relative to the cable feed device 50, at which the cable 3, 3' can be grasped by the cable drive 17 and the cable straightening station 12.

The outer surface of the cylindrical pins 10, 10' is hardened. The cylindrical pins 10, 10' can be pressed into the cable rake 2. In particular, the cylindrical pins 10, 10' can be pressed so deeply into the cable rake 2 that the The jacket surface of the respective cylindrical pin 10, 10' is flush with the remaining surface of the cable rake 2. The cylindrical pins 10, 10` can be made of a metal and/or a metal alloy, e.g. steel.

The height determination elements 16, 21 are each a pin-shaped projection. The position in the Z direction 40 or the height position of the height determination elements 16, 21 can each be finely adjusted manually, i.e. their height position relative to the cable feed device 50 can be changed slightly (e.g. less than approx. 10 mm) manually.

The height determination elements 16, 21 of the cable feed device 50 are located only on one side of the cable rake 2. In Fig.1 or. Fig.2 The height determination elements 16, 21 are thus both located on the front side of the cable rake 2. This avoids overdetermination of the height position of the cable rake 2 and consequently the occurrence of mechanical stresses is prevented.

The cable drive 17 and the cable straightening station 12 each comprise a symmetry compensation 19 in order to align the elements of the cable drive 17 (in particular the belt drive 18) or the elements of the cable straightening station 12 (in particular the straightening roller jaws 13) symmetrically with respect to the cable.

The cable straightening station 12 also comprises a distance regulation in order to adapt the distance between the straightening roller jaws 13 to the diameter of the cable 3, 3', which is conveyed or moved by means of the cable feed device 50.

On the side of the labeling device 1 facing away from the cable drive 17, the cable feed device 50 has a cable cutting device 30 with a knife 31 for cutting or severing the cable 3, 3' that is fed to the cable processing machine.

Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the compensating connecting element 23 of the cable changing device 60 from Fig.1 or. Fig.2 or. Fig.3 .

The cable changing device 60 or the cable rake 2 also has a compensating connection element 23. The compensating connection element 23 is part of the height adjustment device 22 of the cable rake 2. The slight differences between the height of the cable rake 2 relative to the cable feed device 50 set by means of the height adjustment device 22 and the height of the cable rake 2 relative to the cable feed device 50 when the height determination elements 16, 21 have been introduced into the height alignment elements 70-74 (ie when the height adjustment element 22 is in the Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b shown state has occurred) is compensated by the compensating connecting element 23 so that no mechanical stresses occur outside the compensating connecting element 23.

The compensating connecting element 23 has a spindle nut 24 and an elastomer body 25 as a compensating element on one of its undersides. The elastomer body 25 can consist of a rubber and/or a foam, for example.

The elastomer body 25 can be compressed reversibly. This means that the elastomer body 25 returns to its original shape after compression once the applied force has been removed.

By compressing the elastomer body 25, the height difference between the set height position by means of the height adjustment device 22 (before locking) and the actual height position in the locked state is compensated by compressing the elastomer body 25, if necessary, by the forces that occur. In this way, bending and/or material fatigue of the cable rake 2 and the other parts of the cable changing device 60 are essentially excluded.

The elastomer body 25 can in particular be cylindrical, wherein the elastomer body 25 has its greatest extent in the cable feed direction.

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 plurality.

List of reference symbols

1

Labeling device

2

Cable rake

3, 3'

Cable

4

Cable guides

5

Labeling area

6

front cable clamps

7

rear cable clamps

8th

front position contours

9

rear position contours

10, 10'

Cylinder pin

11, 11'

Guide rail in Z direction

12

Cable straightening station

13

Straightening roller jaws

15

rear positioning pin holder with positioning pin

16

rear height determination element

17

Cable drive

18

two-part belt drive

19

Symmetry compensation

20

front positioning pin holder with positioning pin

21

front height determination element

22

Height adjustment device

23

Compensating connecting element

24

Spindle nut

25

Elastomer body

26

Motor of the height adjustment device

27

front cable release device

28

rear cable release device

29

two-part base plate

30

Cable separator

31

Knife

40

Z-direction

50

Cable feed device

60

Cable changing device

70, 71

front height adjustment element

72-74

rear height adjustment element

80-84

deepening

Claims (11)

1. Cable changing device (60) comprising

   a cable guide (2) for holding a plurality of cables (3, 3') at different heights, and

   a cable feed device (50) for feeding one of the cables (3, 3') of the cable guide (2) to a cable processing machine,

   the cable guide (2) being adjustable in its height relative to the cable feed device (50) such that, depending on the height of the cable guide (2) relative to the cable feed device (50), the cable feed device (50) can feed different cables (3, 3') of the cable guide (2) to the cable processing machine,

   characterized in that

   the cable guide (2) has height alignment elements (70-74) and the cable feed device (50) has height determination elements (16, 21) which are complementary to the height alignment elements (70-74), the height alignment elements (70-74) and the height determination elements (16, 21) being designed such that the cable guide (2) is locked at one of a plurality of predetermined heights relative to the cable feed device (50) when the height determination elements (16, 21) are connected to some of the height alignment elements (70-74), the height alignment elements (70-74) of the cable guide (2) having a plurality of recesses (80-84) arranged at different heights, and the height determination elements (16, 21) of the cable feed device (50) comprising two projections, in particular consisting of two projections.
2. Cable changing device (60) according to claim 1, further comprising the cable feed device (50) further comprises a labeling device (1) for labeling the cable (3, 3') fed by the cable feed device (50) to the cable processing machine.
3. Cable changing device (60) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the cable guide (2) has a reversibly compressible compensation connection element (23), in particular an elastomer member (25), wherein the compensation connection element (23) is designed and arranged such that the compensation connection element (23) can compensate for height differences between the cable guide (2) and the cable feed device (50) when the cable guide (2) is locked to the cable feed device (50).
4. Cable changing device (60) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height alignment elements (70-74) and the height determination elements (16, 21) are arranged only on one side of the cable guide (2).
5. Cable changing device (60) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height determination elements (16, 21) of the cable feed device (50) are arranged at two mutually spaced positions, wherein a height adjustment device (22) is arranged between the two mutually spaced positions for changing the height of the cable guide (2) relative to the cable feed device (50) when the height determination elements (16, 21) are not connected to the height alignment elements (70-74).
6. Cable changing device (60) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each recess (80-84) in the height alignment elements (70-74) is delimited in height by two cylindrical pins (10, 10'), wherein the cable guide (2) is locked in height to the cable feed device (50) when the height determination element (16, 21) is received between two cylindrical pins (10, 10').
7. Cable changing device (60) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the height determination elements (16, 21) is part of a cable aligning station (12) of the cable feed device (50) for aligning the cable (3, 3') and one of the height determination elements (16, 21) is part of a cable drive (17) for conveying the cable (3, 3'), wherein, when the cable aligning station (12) is closed and/or when the cable drive (17) of the cable guide (2) is closed on the cable feed device (50), the height determination elements (16, 21) are connected to some of the height alignment elements (70-74) so that the cable guide (2) is locked in height to the cable feed device (50).
8. Cable changing device (60) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein front height alignment elements (70-74) of the height alignment elements (70-74) and rear height alignment elements (70-74) of the height alignment elements (70-74) are arranged between front cable clamps (6) for clamping a portion of the cable (3, 3') and rear cable clamps (7) for clamping a portion of the cable (3, 3').
9. Method for locking in height a cable guide (2) which is adjustable in its height relative to a cable feed device (50) to the cable feed device (50), wherein

   the cable guide (2) is designed to hold a plurality of cables (3, 3') at different heights, wherein the cable feed device (50) is designed to feed one of the cables (3, 3') of the cable guide (2) to a cable processing machine,

   wherein the cable guide (2) is adjustable in its height relative to the cable feed device (50) such that, depending on the height of the cable guide (2) relative to the cable feed device (50), the cable feed device (50) can feed different cables (3, 3') of the cable guide (2) to the cable processing machine, wherein the height alignment elements (70-74) of the cable guide (2) have a plurality of recesses (80-84) arranged at different heights, and the height determination elements (16, 21) of the cable feed device (50) comprise two projections, in particular consist of two projections,

   wherein the method comprises the following steps:

   - setting a height of the cable guide (2) relative to the cable feed device (50); and

   - connecting height determination elements (16, 21) of the feed device to height alignment elements (70-74) of the cable guide (2) to lock the cable guide (2) relative to the cable feed device (50) at a predetermined height.
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein
    the height determination elements (16, 21) and the height alignment elements (70-74) are locked in height by closing aligning roller jaws (13) of a cable aligning station (12) of the cable feed device (50) and by closing a cable drive (17) of the cable feed device (50).
11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein
    the cable (3, 3') is labeled by means of a labeling device (1) of the cable feed device (50) before the cable (3, 3') is fed to the cable processing machine.

Images