EP3669429B1 - Crimping machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a crimping machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a crimping machine is for example from the patent DE 44 40 835 C1 known to the applicant and is used, for example, to crimp wire end sleeves with a stripped cable end. In the known solution, these wire end sleeves are rolled up as a belt on a drum magazine and conveyed from this via a transport unit to a crimping head. Alternatively, the wire end sleeves or contact elements can also be received individually in a storage unit and then conveyed to the crimping head in a defined position via a suitable feed device. Such a feed device is for example in the DE 198 31 588 A1 described.

In the known solutions, the ferrule to be crimped is placed on the stripped cable end by means of a holding unit and then pressed over the crimping head. The cable end can be stripped either externally or using a stripping head integrated in the crimping machine.

The structure of a transport unit for conveying the wire end sleeves arranged on a belt or other electrical components is described, for example, in the applicant's publication G 93 08 266.5. A similar transport unit is also in the DE 197 14 964 C1 disclosed.

In series production, it is necessary to press different cable cross-sections and electrical components / contact elements together and then to install them in a subsequent assembly step, for example when assembling a control cabinet. There are basically two options for this: In one variant, the crimping machine is used to crimp different cable cross-sections and / or

Contact elements (wire end sleeves) are converted or several crimping machines are provided for processing the different cable cross-sections / contact elements. The first-mentioned solution requires long set-up times and a considerable amount of personnel. In the last-mentioned solution, this disadvantage is overcome with a large number of crimping machines - the investment costs, however, are considerable.

In the pamphlet DE 10 2004 057 818 B3 a machine (designed as a stripper, crimper) is disclosed, with which different cable cross-sections and ferrules can be processed. A drum magazine and an associated crimping device are provided for each type of ferrule, to which a common drive is assigned, which can optionally be brought into operative engagement with one of the crimping devices. Such a solution requires a high outlay in terms of device technology, since a large number of crimping devices must be provided and controlled.

In the one going back to the applicant DE 10 2015 119 217 A1 a crimping machine is shown with which the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated. This crimping machine has a storage arrangement with a plurality of drum magazines to which a common transport unit and a common crimping head are assigned, so that the outlay in terms of device technology is significantly reduced compared to the solution described above.

The also going back to the applicant DE 10 2015 102 060 A1 shows a crimping machine in which different ferrules are kept in a storage arrangement with several drum magazines. A transport unit is assigned to each of these drum magazines, via which the respectively preselected ferrule is transported into a transfer position. The ferrule that has been cut off there is then guided to a common crimping head by means of a shuttle.

This crimping machine is characterized by high productivity. A certain disadvantage is seen, however, in the fact that the required shuttle has a comparatively complex structure and accordingly takes up space and it is not possible to strip the insulation.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a machine suitable for stripping (stripping) and crimping, by means of which a flexible production is made possible with a comparatively simple structure.

This object is achieved by a crimping machine with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The crimping machine according to the invention is used to press contact elements with an end section of a conductor, for example a cable end. The crimping machine has a storage arrangement comprising a plurality of magazines, each magazine being assigned a transport unit for transporting the contact element, for example a wire end sleeve, to a cutting device. The crimping machine also has a centering device for positioning the conductor end section with reference to a crimping head, via which the contact element is crimped to the end section of the conductor (cable end). According to the invention, a guide device is arranged between the crimping head and the cutting device, via which the separated contact element is guided towards the crimping head. This guide device has a large number of entrances, each of which is assigned to a transport unit or a contact element cross-section. These inputs open into an output on the crimping head via channels along which the contact element to be crimped is guided. There the contact element is taken over and inserted into the crimping head.

In the solution according to the invention, the contact element to be crimped is thus made without the interposition of a complex shuttle or the like led directly into the effective area of the crimping head. This guidance is implemented with a minimum of outlay in terms of device technology by the described guidance device, which essentially manages without moving components and conveys the contact element by the action of gravity, possibly supported by the application of compressed air or the like.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide device is designed like a funnel, the entrances being designed on the one hand to lie next to one another. From these, the channels then extend in a converging manner to the opposite common outlet.

As already mentioned above, these channels in the crimping machine are preferably oriented in the direction of gravity, i.e. in the vertical, so that the transport of the contact elements within the guide device is at least supported by gravity.

In one embodiment, the transport can be accelerated if a suitable acceleration device is provided, via which the movement of the contact element in the guide device is supported. Such an acceleration device can, for example, have a compressed air channel via which a compressed air jet is directed onto the contact element. Accordingly, each channel can then be assigned a compressed air channel or all channels can be assigned a common compressed air channel.

The operational safety can be further improved if a sensor is arranged in the area of the exit of the guide device, which sensor detects the approach of a contact element. The crimping head and the associated functional elements are then controlled by means of a control unit via the sensor signal that is then generated.

In a particularly compact solution, a stripper is also integrated into the crimping machine.

The crimping machine can be provided with a control panel / display via which the cable cross-section / contact element type can be selected. Depending on this input, the transport unit and the cutting device, the stripping unit and the crimping head and other functional elements are then controlled via the aforementioned control unit.

The crimping machine is preferably operated pneumatically. In principle, however, an electric motor actuation can also be implemented.

The actual structure of the transport unit, the stripping unit and the crimping head is based on the prior art going back to the applicant, in particular the DE 44 40 835 C1 and the DE 10 2015 102 060 A1 and the prior art cited therein, so that in the following a detailed description of these units known per se is dispensed with and, in this regard, reference is made to the disclosure of the cited publications, which are to be included in the disclosure of the present application.

• Figur 1 eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Crimpmaschine;
• Figur 2 eine Rückansicht der Crimpmaschine aus Figur 1;
• Figur 3 eine Vorderansicht der Crimpmaschine mit teilweise geöffnetem Gehäuse und lediglich einer Teildarstellung der funktionalen Einheiten;
• Figur 4 eine Einzeldarstellung einer Transporteinrichtung und einer Schneideinrichtung der Crimpmaschine gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 3;
• Figur 5 eine Ansicht der Einheit gemäß Figur 4 von oben her gesehen;
• Figur 6 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der Transporteinrichtung mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Führungseinrichtung;
• Figur 7 die Führungseinrichtung aus Figur 6 von unten her gesehen und
• Figur 8 eine Darstellung der Crimpmaschine bei geöffnetem Gehäuse.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

• Figure 1 a three-dimensional view of a crimping machine according to the invention;
• Figure 2 a rear view of the crimping machine Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 a front view of the crimping machine with a partially opened housing and only a partial representation of the functional units;
• Figure 4 an individual representation of a transport device and a cutting device of the crimping machine according to FIGS Figures 1 to 3 ;
• Figure 5 a view of the unit according to Figure 4 seen from above;
• Figure 6 a three-dimensional representation of the transport device with a guide device according to the invention;
• Figure 7 the guide device Figure 6 seen from below and
• Figure 8 a representation of the crimping machine with the housing open.

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a crimping machine 1, with which five different wire end sleeves or other contact elements and corresponding cable cross-sections can be processed. The wire end sleeves 2 are each provided as a strap. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these belts are wound onto five drum magazines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e, which are rotatably mounted on a housing 8 of the crimping machine 1 via a magazine holder 6. The belt straps with the wire end sleeves 2 are then each unwound from the drum magazine 4 via a transport unit, these transport units being combined to form a transport module 10 which is placed on the housing 8.

At the in Figure 1 A display 12 is arranged on the visible housing front, which is designed, for example, as a touch display in order to be able to make appropriate inputs for selecting the cable cross-section or the like.

A centering and guiding device 14 is provided approximately in the middle of the illustrated front side, which bulges inwardly in an approximately funnel-shaped manner and via which the cable ends 16 to be processed can be fed. As stated above, five different cable cross-sections can be processed with the illustrated crimping machine 1. Of course, the crimping machine 1 can also be designed for processing more or fewer cable cross-sections and a corresponding number of ferrules.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the crimping machine 1 according to Figure 1 . The five drum magazines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e can be seen in this illustration, the belt straps not being shown. These then run from the aforementioned drum magazines 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e into the transport module 10, which is placed on the housing 8. The crimping machine 1 described is operated by compressed air. A corresponding compressed air supply 18 is at the in Figure 2 arranged rear side shown. On this rear side of the housing 8, a power connection 20 with an on / off switch and further sockets / connections for signal transmission or power supply are then provided.

Figure 3 shows the crimping machine according to FIGS Figures 1 and 2 with the housing 8 partially open, in this illustration only a guide device 22 is shown inside the housing, via which a wire end sleeve to be processed to a crimping head (not shown) and a stripping unit and the associated functional elements, for example a sleeve holding pliers and a conductor holding pliers for simplicity sake are not shown, is performed. The basic structure of these elements is - as explained at the beginning - known from the prior art mentioned.

Figure 4 shows an individual representation of the transport module 19, which in the representations according to FIG Figures 1 to 3 is provided with an enclosure - this is in accordance with the illustration Figure 4 omitted. A cutting device 24 is assigned to the transport module 10, via which a wire end sleeve 2 to be processed can be severed from the respective belt strap. As explained, the transport module 10 has five transport units 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, the basic structure of which is known per se. In this regard, for example, refer to the applicant's basic patent DE 44 40 835 C1 (there Figures 10a, 10b) referenced. Such a transport unit 26 accordingly has a pneumatically actuated transport pawl 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d and 28e which is pretensioned into a basic position, which engages with a transport projection in the area between two wire end sleeves 2 adjacent to the belt and, when activated accordingly, this in the transport direction (see Arrow T) shifts, the stroke depending on the diameter corresponds to a wire end ferrule. During this transport, the respective belt strap is guided in a guide groove, the geometry of which is adapted to that of the belt strap. The transport pawl 28 engages the respective plastic sleeves of the end sleeves. In the representation according to Figure 4 the opening areas of the above-mentioned guides 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d and 30e are shown, with the plastic collars of the end sleeves in the in Figure 4 overhead, pawl-side area of the guides 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d and 30e and correspondingly the actual metal sleeves of the end sleeves are guided in the narrowed area. According to the cable cross-sections to be processed, the clear width of the mentioned guides 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d and 30e is also designed differently. In the representation according to Figure 4 the size of the ferrules to be processed decreases from right to left.

The transport units 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d and 26e can be controlled individually, so that only the associated transport unit 26 is actuated in accordance with the preselected cable cross-section.

Due to a stroke of the transport unit 26 in the in Figure 4 The end sleeve 2, which has been displaced in the mouth region shown, is then severed from the belt strap by means of the cutting device 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting device 24 is designed with five sleeve cutting knives 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, which are attached to a common cutting bar 34 which can be actuated by means of a pneumatic cylinder 35. This pneumatic cylinder 35 extends in order to cut off the end sleeve 2, so that the cutting bar 34 with the sleeve cutting knives 32 is shown in FIG Figure 4 moves upwards and cuts off the ferrule at the front. In doing so, all five sleeve cutting knives 32 are actuated at the same time - but since only one wire end sleeve is in the effective range, the four other sleeve cutting knives perform an idle stroke, so to speak, without cutting intervention.

In the representation according to Figure 4 are with the reference numerals 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and 36e also pneumatic cylinders for actuating the transport unit 26, more precisely said the transport pawls 28 shown. The pneumatic cylinders 36 are designed as double-acting cylinders that are controlled via an associated pneumatic valve.

Figure 5 shows a view from above of the transport module 10, with one in Figure 4 indicated cover 38 is not shown. In this view, one can see five guide plates 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d and 40e of the transport units 26 with the associated transport pawls 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d and 28e and the associated bearing and with tension springs 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e the transport pawls 28a, 28b. 28c, 28d and 28e are biased into their engaged position. Also visible in this illustration are pivotally mounted pawls 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d and 44e, which come into operative engagement with the respective belt strap during transport in order to hold or guide it in the predetermined transport position.

In Figure 5 The cutting device 24 with the pneumatic cylinder 35 as well as the cutting bar 34 and the sleeve cutting knives 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e can be seen at the bottom. The wire-end sleeve 2 separated by actuation of this cutting device 34 then falls in the direction of gravity down into the already in Figure 3 The illustrated guide device 22. This guide device 22 is oriented in the direction of gravity, so that the severed ferrule 2 is conveyed with the aid of gravity.

The guide device 22 is shown in FIG Figure 6 an approximately funnel-shaped structure that tapers away from the transport module 10. The in Figure 4 guides 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d and 30e each in an inlet 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d and 46e, the cross section of which is selected so that the ferrules 2 can enter the guide device 22 with minimal friction. These inlets 46 then each open into a channel 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d and 48e, which converge towards the bottom and converge together in an outlet 50. The central channel 48c extends in the direction of gravity directly from the associated inlet 46c to the outlet 50. The two adjacent ones Channels 48b and 48d run into this channel 48c in the middle area. The two outer channels 48a and 48e open into the central channel 48c in the area of the inlet 50. In other words, the channels 48 branch out in a meandering manner towards the inputs 46 as seen from the output 50, the geometry being optimized with regard to the minimum friction during transport / dropping of the wire end sleeves 2.

To support this transport movement, a compressed air duct 52a, 52b, 52d, 52c opens into the curved, external ducts 48a, 48b, 48d, 48e, via which a compressed air blast can be introduced when a corresponding compressed air valve is activated to support the transport movement is of course done in such a way that the ferrules are accelerated in the direction of transport. This is not necessary in the case of the central channel 48c, since this has no deflection. In the end area of the funnel-shaped guide device 22 there is an in Figure 6 indicated light barrier 55, which monitors the failure of the end sleeve 2 and emits a corresponding control signal to the control unit.

Figure 7 shows the guide device 22 with the aforementioned inputs 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d and 46e, the common output 50 and the associated channels 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d and 48e in a different view, one in FIG Figure 6 Cover plate 54 shown as transparent is not shown. One recognizes in the representation according to Figure 7 clearly shows the confluence areas of the external channels 48a, 48b, 48d and 48e in the central channel 48c oriented in the direction of gravity and the confluence areas of the compressed air channels 52a, 52b, 52d, 52e in the respectively assigned channels.

Figure 8 shows a partial representation of the crimping machine 1 with the housing 8 open, so that some of the functional elements described are visible. The transport module 10 with the integrated cutting device 34 can be seen at the top. The funnel-shaped, oriented in the direction of gravity, connects to this transport module 10 Guide device 22, which is covered with the cover plate 54 in this illustration.

The outlet 50 of the guide device 22 opens into a guide plate 56, which is also in Figure 3 is indicated. Along this guide plate 56, supported by the blast of compressed air, the severed, separated end sleeve 2 is guided to a sleeve holding pliers 58, which in turn is mounted on a swivel plate. These sleeve holding pliers 58 take over the isolated wire end sleeve 2.

In parallel with the separation and transport of the wire end sleeve 2 in the direction of the input 46, the insulation of the cable end is cut via an insulation unit 60 guided on an adjustable tool slide 62.

After a failed wire end sleeve 2 has been reported via the light barrier 55, the mentioned tool slide 62 is moved backwards. With this movement, the insulation is stripped from the end of the cable. A swivel plate pivotably mounted on the tool slide 62 brings the sleeve holding pliers 58 and thus the severed ferrule 2 into a position in which the cable end and the ferrule 2 are arranged coaxially to one another. In a subsequent step, the tool slide 62 moves forward so that the wire end sleeve is pushed onto the stripped cable end held by wire holding pliers. In a subsequent work step, the wire end sleeve is crimped with the cable end via a crimping head and the conductor holding pliers are opened so that the wire end sleeve and the cable end crimped with it can be removed.

If a different cross section is to be processed, a corresponding input is made on the touch display 12. The same work cycle described above then runs, with a different transport unit 26 being controlled via the corresponding pneumatic valve and the associated pneumatic cylinder as a function of the input.

In the illustrated embodiment, the crimping machine 1 is designed for processing wire end sleeves for line cross-sections with 0.5 mm ² , 0.75 mm ² , 1.0 mm ² , 1.5 mm ² and 2.5 mm ² ; Of course, the machine can also be designed to process other cross-sections.

Disclosed is a crimping machine with a conveying device via which a severed ferrule is guided from a transport unit to a crimping head.

List of reference symbols:

1

Crimping machine

2

End sleeve

4th

Drum magazine

6th

Magazine catch

8th

casing

10

Transport module

12th

Display

14th

Centering / feeding device

16

Cable end

18th

Compressed air supply

20th

Power connection

22nd

Guide device

24

Cutting device

26th

Transport unit

28

Transport latch

30th

guide

32

Sleeve cutter

34

Cutter bar

35

Pneumatic cylinder

36

cylinder

38

cover

40

Guide plate

42

Tension spring

44

pawl

46

entry

48

channel

50

exit

52

Compressed air duct

54

Cover plate

55

Photoelectric barrier

56

Guide plate

58

Case holding pliers

60

Stripping unit

62

Tool slide

Claims (8)

1. A crimping machine for crimping contact elements, preferably wire ferrules (2), comprising an end section of a conductor such as a cable end (16), comprising a storage arrangement having plural magazines, wherein a transport unit (26) for transporting the contact elements to a cutting device (24) is assigned to each magazine, and comprising a centering device (14) for positioning the conductor with respect to a crimping head for crimping the contact element to the conductor, characterized by a guiding device (22) in the area between the cutting device (24) and the crimping head, wherein one input (46) of the guiding device (22) is assigned to each transport unit (26) and all inputs (46) that open, via channels (48), into a joint output (50) on the crimping head side via which output the separated contact element is conveyed to the crimping head.
2. The crimping machine according to claim 1, wherein the guiding device (22) is funnel-shaped with inputs (46) located next to each other on the one side from which channels (48) arranged to be convergent lead to the output (50).
3. The crimping machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channels (48) extend substantially in the direction of gravity.
4. The crimping machine according to claim 2 or 3, comprising an accelerating device via which the movement of the contact element within the guiding device (22) is backed.
5. The crimping machine according to claim 4, wherein the accelerating device includes compressed air channels (52) via which a compressed air jet is directed to the contact element to be conveyed inside the channels (48).
6. The crimping machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor for detecting an approach of a contact element to the output (50).
7. The crimping machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a stripping unit (60) for the conductor, conductor holding pliers, sleeve holding pliers (58), a tool carriage (62) and/or a swivel plate which is supported on the tool carriage (62) and via which the sleeve holding pliers (58) are movable from a transfer position at the guiding device (22) to a crimping position.
8. The crimping machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control panel for selecting a contact element type and a control unit for controlling the functional elements, especially the transport units (26) and the cutting device (24) and other functional elements in response to the entry.

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