GB2295107A

GB2295107A - In-line cutting and stripping machine and a method for its operation

Info

Publication number: GB2295107A
Application number: GB9514191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Romani Angel Lopez; Verge Ramon Vidal
Original assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Current assignee: Lear Automotive EEDS Spain SL
Priority date: 1994-11-21
Filing date: 1995-07-12
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-12
Also published as: GB9514191D0; FR2727259A1; ES2113801A1; SE9504156D0; GB2295107B; DE19513609A1; ES2113801B1; SE9504156L

Description

2295107 IN-LINE CUTTING AND STRIPPING MACHINE AND A METHOD FOR ITS

OPERATION This invention relates to an in-line cutting and stripping machine and a method for its operation. The new construction, conformation and design features of the machine which fulfil the task for which it has specifically been designed, safely and with maximum efficiency.

The invention lies within the field of machines especially designed to cut electrical cables to predetermined lengths and to strip the ends thereof, all in parallel with other equipment for mechanising the cables in order to form larger assemblies such as cable looms with the corresponding terminals located at the ends thereof.

T n this field of technology, by stripping is meant the operation of freeing the ends of the cables from their insulation.

This application relates to a machine constructed from a horizontal bench in part of which members for drawing and guiding the cable are located, together with other members which measure the length of the cable passing through the guide means, also incorporating pneumatic grippers whose purpose is to secure the cable firmly between two points between which knife blocks located above and below the cable and in vertical alignment act, the movement of which is subject to a vertical pneumatic piston and whose function is to cut and strip one end of the cable after the operation of measuring the length of cable.

As auxiliary members to those described above, there are members which are used to impart pressure to the rollers whose - 2 function is to draw the cable, and a pneumatic piston which acts on the cable through the grippers whose purpose is to draw the cable backwards when the stripping knives are located above the insulation on the cable, thus stripping it at a specific position.

The suitability of the machine claimed is based on its being an auxiliary to other equipment previously described which makes it possible to have cut and stripped cables ready at specific points and times without interrupting the general production process, so that they can be incorporated in the main equipment with the previously described purpose of providing sets or subsets of cables with their corresponding terminals.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine assembly according to the invention for in-line cutting and stripping of wires; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine assembly.

The machine shown in the drawings is constructed from a horizontal bench 11 on which all its members are mounted by suitable means.

A shaft 58, surrounded over part of its length by a spring 12, which is imprisoned between the support 57 for the shaft 58 and the feet 29 of the base 25, is mounted on supports 57 and 21 on the immediate upper part of bench 11.

A pneumatic or hydraulic piston 13 is located on the left hand part of bench 11 in order to push the feet 29 against the pressure of spring 12, which is expanded when at rest, and the - 3 cylindrical shaft thereof 14 pushes support 21 and feet 29 against the pressure of spring 12, compressing it.

The wire which is to be cut and stripped in line is introduced from the right hand side of the machine 10, and passes through the wire guide members 51 located to the right and left of rollers 45 in alignment with dotted line 60, these 51 being secured to bench 11 of the machine 10 by means of vertical supports 52 and bolts 53, the cable following dotted line 60, being drawn along by drive rollers 46 and guide rollers 45, preventing loops from forming in the cable with the help of antireturn roller 61. The pressure of springs 49 is adaptable by screwing down nuts 50.

The pressure of rollers 45 on roller 46 and encoder 54 for the line 60 is ensured by means of rocker rods 55 which rotate about shafts 56, thereby ensuring that through the action of shanks 48 which are pressurised by spring 49 and mounted 48 on supports 47 the pressure of the said springs 49 is transmitted to rollers 45 thus vigorously imprisoning the cable following line 60 between rollers 45 and 46 and 45 and 54, with roller 61 acting as an anti-return member.

Upper 23 and lower 24 knife blocks are located in the central part of machine 10. The lower knife block 24 is integral with base 25, while 23 is integral with plate 31 which is driven by means of pneumatic piston 30 cutting and stripping the cable following line 60 when this is duly secured by pneumatic grippers 16.

Pneumatic grippers 16 are located perpendicular to line 60 and are mounted in a gripper assembly 22. The gripper assembly - 4 22 is in turn formed by gripper 16 proper which is duly secured to support 15 by means of a threaded rod 18, washer 17 and nut 19, imparting movement to assembly 22, and more specifically gripper 16 by means of pneumatic pistons 20, which make it possible to immobilise the cable being processed at a given time.

For better alignment of the cable which is to be cut and stripped between grippers 16 a positioner 34 is provided and equipped with a horizontal drilled hole 35 of variable diameter which is adjusted in height by means of support 32 provided with a groove 33 whereby it is positioned 34 immobilising 32 by means of thread 36.

The limitation on the travel of upper knife block 23, so that the cable is not cut through before it is stripped, is provided by the knives themselves. This telescopic guide assembly 37 consists of a stop 38 mounted on the end of a rod 39 and when the position of 38 is adjusted with respect to 39 by means of thread 40, 38 is pressed downwards by the action of spring 41, the pressure of 41 being regulated by threads 42, there being a support 43 which immobilises assembly 37 against plate 31.

Another of the members contributing to alignment of the cable for better cutting and stripping, and located in the central part of machine 10, is rocker 26 which can rotate about shaft 27 mounted in a support 28 and integral with base 25.

The method of operation of the machine is as follows: the cable which is to be cut and stripped is introduced via the right hand side of machine 10 along dotted line 60 through guide members 51, being driven by drive roller 46, with encoder 54 being used as the member measuring the cable which is to be cut and stripped; the cable follows line 60 until it is positioned between the two grippers 16 which with the help of pneumatic pistons 20 immobilise the cable at a given time and position so that upper knife block 23 can subsequently move downwards under the action of pneumatic piston 30 while at the same time a left to right movement of gripper 16 which is integral with support 15 begins, obliging the cable lying along line 60 to experience a backwards movement which serves to strip the said cable as the cable insulation is trapped and cut by the cutting knife, the continued stripping thereof being performed by the knives, with the deactivation of pistons 20 which open grippers 16, and the cable continues on its way once cut and stripped at the desired speed.

The backwards movement of the said cable for cutting and stripping along line 60 is brought about through the action of pneumatic piston 13 equipped with shaft 14 which presses feet 20 against the action of spring 12 arranged around shaft 58, the spring 12 returning everything to the initial position after cutting and stripping of the corresponding cable.

It will be understood from the drawings and the explanation provided for them that the invention provides a simple and effective form of construction which can easily be implemented and without any doubt constitutes a new industrial result.

Claims

1. An in-line cutting and stripping machine for electrical conducting cables equipped with a conducting member covered by a corresponding insulating sheath, which incorporates cable drawing means, cable measuring means, cable securing and tensioning means, cable cutting and peeling means, cable alignment means and cable non-return means positioned above a level bench.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cable drawing means comprise a drive roller in combination with a pressure roller which forms a snip with the drive roller through which the cable to be cut and peeled is drawn, the roller being resiliently pressured towards the drive member.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2 in which the pressure roller is mounted on one end of a parted link and is pushed downwardly by a spring whose force is adjustable.

4. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means measuring the cable comprise an encoder wheel which rotates tangentially to another snip, the encoder measuring specific lengths of cable in accordance with the degree of its rotation.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the aligning and guiding means for the cable comprise wire guide sleeves mounted on a support fixed to the bench of machine.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the non-return means for the cable comprise a roller.

7. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means securing and tensioning the cable comprise pneumatic grippers forming part of a gripper assembly, the grippers being secured to a support and imparting movement to the gripper through the action of a pneumatic piston or cylinder.

8. A machine in which the cable cutting and stripping members comprise a lower knife block secured to the base and an upper knife block secured to a plate which provides downwards movement through the action of the pneumatic piston.

9. A machine as claimed in Claim 8 in which the member limiting the travel of the upper knife block comprises a guide assembly which is equipped with a stop secured to the end of a shank which is adjusted by means of a thread and in which the shank is pushed by the action of the spring, the shank securing the entire assembly to the base.

10. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cable alignment members comprise a rocker rotating about a shaft with a shaft support secured to the base and a height - adjustable member or positioner sleeve which can be moved downwards by means of a support equipped with a groove which permits vertical movement of and its securing to by means of a thread.

11. An in-line cutting and stripping machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.