GB1468878A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1468878 Making cable forms L M ERICSSON PTY Ltd 26 April 1974 [26 April 1973] 18513/74 Heading B3A [Also in Division H2] A machine for making cable forms, e.g. for use in relay sets, comprises a plurality of holding clutches 32 for holding the ends of the wires of the cable form, the clutches being located so as to simulate the positions of terminals to which the wires will be connected, wire feed means movable relative to the clutches for introducing one end of a wire into a clutch and routing the wire along a predetermined path to a further clutch, cutting and stripping blades 80, 81, 82, for cutting the wire and stripping its insulation from adjacent its cut ends, returning means 42 for introducing the other end of a wire into the further clutch 32, and control means for controlling operation of the machine. A preprogrammed punched tape 39 in a numerical controller 37 initiates movement of a holding table 21 and a transverse slide 29 to a programmed x-y co-ordinate, Fig. 1, and rotates an indexing head 22 to bring a required wire into alignment with a clutch 32. The wire is located in a pencil 45 and a clutch 46 lowers the wire through the pencil into the gap of the cutting blades 81. The blades are actuated to cut the wire end and the blades 80 cut through the insulation and strip it from the wire end as the clutch 46 is returned to its original position. The blades are opened and the clutch 46 and pencil 45 are lowered together through the blades to adjacent the clutch 32, which is opened by a pin moving the clutch upwardly to cam open its jaws 59. The pin 19 is withdrawn allowing the clutch 32 to grip the wire end, the clutch 46 is released from the wire and it is withdrawn together with the pencil 45. Simultaneously a clearing bar 61 is moved over a top of the clutch to bend the wire into a channel 62, Fig. 7, of the table 21. The pencil is then moved along the x and y axes to another clutch 32. The wire end is lowered gripped by discs 66 and the blades 80, 81, 82 are actuated to cut the wire and strip insulation from the ends on either side of the cut, Fig. 12. Actuation of a cylinder 43 moves the returning mechanism 42 downwardly whereby a cam 69 and a fixed pin 70 pivot a sector 68 to rotate the discs 66 through 180 degrees by meshing gears, thereby correctly orienting the wire end for insertion into the further clutch 32. Further downward movement inserts the wire end into the clutch, which has been opened by actuation of the pin 19. The clutch is then closed, the discs 66 release the wire, the mechanism 42 is retracted and the clearing bar 61 reset. The operation is repeated, without the initial cutting and stripping of the wire, until all the wires have been positioned, The table 21 is removed from the machine and a further cable is formed while the completed cable form is strapped together and removed from the table. The machine includes a checking circuit, which stops it operating if the cable is incorrectly formed or should the wire break.