IE850516L

IE850516L - Forwarding apparatus for an automatic cable fabricating¹machine

Info

Publication number: IE850516L
Application number: IE51685A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Dri Ing Bernhard Jurgenhake
Priority date: 1984-05-04
Filing date: 1985-03-01
Publication date: 1985-11-04
Also published as: FI77631C; PT80001B; ES8701123A1; DK14095A; DK55985D0; NO161307C; DK170485B1; PT80001A; FI850579L; FI850579A0; AT387475B; NO850423L; ES542575A0; NO161307B; ATA31985A; FI77631B; IE57611B1; DK55985A

Abstract

In a propulsion arrangement in an automatic cable fitter, consisting of a primary transport arrangement which transports the cable (1) in its longitudinal direction and a following secondary transport arrangement (24), which contains two continuous straps (22, 23), and which transports the cable at right angles along its length, there is an extended channel (14) at the other end of the transport arrangement, where the incoming cable (1) from the primary transport arrangement projects, and where the side opposite the secondary transport arrangement (24) engages with a feed spar (18), whereby the cable can be extended between the straps (22, 23) in the other secondary transport arrangement via a vent in the channel which opens on the propulsion of the feed spar (18). This ensures that only the feed spar, which does not need to be bulky, has to be intermittently moved on the transfer of the cable to the secondary transport arrangement, whereby the production rate can be vastly improved.<IMAGE> [DK170485B1]

Description

or conveyor system This invention relates to a forwarding apparatus/for an automatic cable fabricating machine, which unrolls the cable from a reel and transports it in the axial direction to an cutting station, consisting of at least one pair of rollers or belts as a feed unit, intermittently driven and determining the cable length to be forwarded, between which the cable is clamped, and at least one further pair of rollers arranged before it and forming a pre-transport un it.

In the attempts being made to rationalize the finishing of electrified devices, more and more attention is being paid to tackling the electrical wiring by means of prefabricated cable sets, the individual cables of which are ready provided at their ends with coupling elements such as plug contacts. In the fabrication of individual cables the latter are cut to length, double insulated and provided at both ends with electrical coupling elements. In this way several cables of lengths which are often different can be electrically united by one plug contact. This fabrication is carried out mechanically by means of so-called automatic fabricating machines. In them the cable, supplied in reels, is unrolled, forwarded to the cutting station in the longitudinal direction and brought to the respective working stations transversely of its longitudinal direction, for the attachment of the coupling elements.

In the known automatic fabricating machines, the forwarding device for the cutting station consists of a feed unit and a pre-transport unit. The feed unit is formed either from one pair of rollers or several pairs arranged in sequence 05 and driven in rhythmical steps, the two rollers of each respective pair clamping the cable between them and transporting it further by means of the frictional forces which arise between the cable and the two rollers. To reduce the slippage between the cable which is to be 10 further transported, and the feed rollers, and to reduce the masses which have to be moved in this feed drive, in order thereby to achieve a faster feed drive, it has already been suggested that the pair of drive rollers should be replaced by a pair of belts which clamp the cable 15 between them.

The increase in feed rate is bounded by narrow limits, however, on account of the relatively high inertia of the known pre-transport unit which precedes it. This pre-transport unit is necessary on account of the relatively 20 high tensile forces which are developed on the one hand through the unrolling of the cables from the reel, and on the other hand by the upstream orienting station which is for orienting the cable straight. The known pre-transport unit consists of a further pair of rollers which tension 25 the cable between them. Since the pressure forces may not be of unlimited magnitude, since otherwise the cable would be deformed in its diameter, there arises a large slip factor between the cable and the rollers of the forwarding drive. In order to keep this slip within tolerable limits, 30 this forwarding drive, which, like the feed unit, works intermittently, can only be driven with small accelerations. For this reason the known feed units are sluggish and do not permit any shortening of the working strokes in the cutting station.

The control of the known pre-transport units takes place by sensing the hanging loop of the cable between the pre-transport unit and the feed unit. This sensing takes place either mechanically or electro-optically. In both 05 embodiments this sensing unit forms a source of uncertainty with regard to the function of the entire automatic cable fabricating machine. a transport device for conveyor system in The invention relates further to_/a forwarding device or/an automatic cable fabricating machine, consisting of a first conveyor, which transports the cable in the direction of its longitudinal axis to a cutting station after it has been unrolled from a reel, and of a second, successive conveyor which is made up of two endless belts, which transport the cable further, perpendicularly to the cable axis, clamping the cable between them, whereby the two belts are executed in a soft elastic manner at least on those sides which are turned towards each other.

An automatic cable fabricating machine of the kind described is illustrated and described in DE-OS 32 43 906. 20 In it, the second of the two conveyors which stand mutually perpendicular in the conveying direction consists of two endless belts disposed one above the other, the two adjacent sections of whith grasp the cut-off cable end and further transport the cable at right angles to its 25 longitudinal axis. In order to introduce the cable end between the two belt sections, the latter are lifted away from each other in their front region by displacement of the terminal guide rollers, the cable is pushed in and then the two cable sections are reapproximated. This 30 construction of the second conveyor has the disadvantage that large masses must be moved in order to introduce the cable end. For that reason the stroke period is relatively long. Furthermore such a construction of the conveyor does not make it possible to apply the ends of two or more 35 cables to one plug connection.

It is an object of the invention to create a pre-transporting unit which works without special control elements, which transmits a high tensile force to the cable, without exerting a high specific pressure on the cable sheathing and, in spite of the intermittent cable 5 transport, works without component elements which are driven and have to be driven intermittently, i.e. works practically free from acceleration forces.

A further object of the invention is to create a forwarding device in which the second conveyor, which transports the cable sections at right angles to their longitudinal axis, remains completely independent of the cable feed operation.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a 15 conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine, consisting of a first conveyor, which conveys cable unwound from a reel in the direction of its longitudinal axis to a cable cutting station, and of a second, following conveyor, which moves the cable on, perpendicular to the cable axis, and which has clamping locators into which the cable is 20 fed, wherein, following on from the first conveyor, there extends a channel which guides the cable in its longitudinal axis at least as far as the second conveyor, and into which channel a slide engages from the side remote from the second conveyor, said slide pushing the cable into the a clamping locator of the second conveyor through an opposing 25 slot which opens as the slide is advanced.

Preferably, the slot opens the guiding channel along its entire length to the side of the second conveyor and is closed by sprung metal sheets which meet in the manner of lips and the abutting edges of which lift 30 resiliently away from one another as the cable is pushed out of the guiding channel. Alternatively, the guiding channel may be formed by a continuous groove of a strip, into which the slide engages from the side remote from the second conveyor and which, on the side nearest the second conveyor, is masked by two sprung metal sheets, which meet at 35 groove level in the manner of lips. i In a favoured embodiment, the second conveyor is formed by two parallel continuous belts, neighbouring sections of which squeeze the cable, and the two belts are highly flexible at least on the sides that face one another. Suitably, the slide pushes the cable in the direction of 5 transport of the second conveyor between neighbouring end sections of the continuous belts forming the second conveyor.

The invention also provides a conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine, consisting of a first conveyor, which conveys •» cable unwound from a reel in the direction of its longitudinal axis to a cable cutting station, and of a second conveyor which runs at right angles thereto and consists of a continuous belt, said second conveyor receiving and clamping the cable and conveying it onwards perpendicular to the cable axis, and having clamping locators into which the cable is 15 fed, wherein parallel to the second conveyor is disposed a constructionally similar third conveyor. The two continuous belt conveyors are suitably both belt drives. At least one belt drive of the third conveyor is preferably adjustable in position in and counter to the direction of transport of the first conveyor. A second belt 20 drive of the second conveyor, viewed from the first conveyor, may also be adjustable in position. In this arrangement of the invention, the slide may be divided between the second and third conveyors and each part may have an individually controllable drive.

In a further aspect, the invention also provides a transport device for a conveyor system as hereinbefore recited, wherein the second conveyor, arranged downstream of the cable-cutting station, is formed by two endless belts, which transport the cable further, clamped between them, perpendicular to the cable axis; a pusher pushes the cable 30 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis into the intake of the two endless belts; and a guide sleeve, which surrounds the cable and follows the direction of movement of the pusher when the cable is * inserted between the two endless belts, is arranged between the first conveyor and the cable-cutting station.

The guide sleeve is suitably swivelled about an axis in accordance with the direction of movement of the pusher, and the swivel axis may be located near the inlet opening of the guide sleeve. Preferably, the guide sleeve is coupled non-positively to the pusher, while a movable 5 blade of the cable-cutting station is firmly connected to the pusher. A side of the pusher pointing towards the cable-cutting station may be constructed as the blade of the cable-cutting station.

Non-positive coupling between the guide sleeve and the pusher is 10 suitably released with the start of the cutting process, the guide sleeve coming to bear on a stop. The swivel1able guide sleeve may be pulled or pressed by spring force in the direction of cutting against a stop connected to the pusher and lifted therefrom at the start of the cutting process. Lifting of the guide sleeve from the stop connected 15 to the pusher may be effected when the guide sleeve strikes against a fixed stop and the pusher continues.

The guide sleeve may be connected positively to a part of the cable-cutting station, and the latter connected, in turn, 20 non-positively to the pusher. A part which is fastened to a swivellable end of the guide sleeve and swivels the guide sleeve is suitably connected via a spring to the pusher or to the movable blade and is pressed by the spring against a stationary stop during the cutting process. An annular blade which forms a stationary blade 25 during the cutting process may be inserted into the part swivelling the guide sleeve.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, rollers which form the pre-transport unit may be disposed, in the radial direction, spaced 30 apart in a row, one behind and/or above the other, and driven in opposite directions with equal and constant peripheral speed, and the cable which leads to the intermittently working feed unit may be led between the rollers by embracing a part of their periphery. As soon as the feed unit exerts tension on the cable end located between said 35 feed unit and the pre-transporting unit, the cable applies itself to the peripheral surfaces of the two rollers and is transported by them in the direction of the feed unit.

Advantageously the feed velocity of the feed unit is adjusted to very slightly smaller than the peripheral velocity of the rollers of the 5 pre-transporting unit. In this way it is ensured that no excessive tensile forces appear in the cable section between the feed unit and the pre-transporting unit even in the event of a small slip between the rollers of the pre-transporting unit and the cable.

It is also advantageous to give at least one of the rollers 10 of the pre-transporting unit a peripheral groove for guiding the cable, and to execute the rollers with a minimum diameter of about 100 mm. The reason for the rollers not having any smaller diameter is so as not again to deform the cable which has previously been straightened. 15 Furthermore the roller diameter should be matched to the desired peripheral velocity for a given rotary speed of the drive.

Also in accordance with the may invention, a channel/be adjoined to the first conveyor, extending at least as far as the second conveyor, and guiding the cable in its long axis, into which a push member intrudes from the side directed away from the second conveyor, said push member pushing the cable between the belts of the second conveyor through an oppositely disposed 25 slit which opens when the push member advances. In a conveyor designed in this way only the push member, which has a relatively small mass, needs to be moved, while the conveying- belts with their guide rollers and supporting plates remain uninfluenced by the forwarding of the wire 30 ends.

An ./advantage of the spring plates is that the opening and closing of the guide channel takes place without any preferred ^ special control elements. Theysoft elastic desisn of the belts permits the cables "to be deeply inserted between the two belts, so that the grasping and transporting of the cable can be ensured without an.y slipping.

When the guide channel is formed by a continuous groove in a moulding, the the use of J moulding offers the advantage that the spring plates can be firmly mounted and the push member 10 at the same time acquires a guide bed.

In the automatic fabricating machine described in DE-OS 32 43 906. the second conveyor consists onljr of a single pair of belts. If a lengthier cable section is to ** be provided with contact connections at both ends, the cable section must be transported in the cable longitudinal »' direction after the application of one contact connection. o For this purpose, again, rt is necessary that the two belt sections which grasp "the cable section be lifted apart, and that the cable section be "transported in its long axial 20 direction by a further convening device. This is a working 05 procedure which demands much time and thus lengthens the stroke interval. To remove this disadvantage, the present invention proposes that the second conveyor shall consist of two belt drives lying one behind the other in the conveying direction of the first conveyor, these two belt drives ^ at such a spacing apart, that the cut-to-length cable section is grasped at each of its ends for further transport. Processing stations, eg for application of the cable contacts, are arranged laterally of the two belt the drives. According to J further constructionof the invention /lnatv ,hMst one belt drive of the second conveyor is adjustable, as to its position, in the conveying direction of the first conveyor and the reverse direction, cable sections of various lengths can be grasped at 15 both ends for further transport.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the in which invention/the push member is divided between the two belt drives of the first conveyor, and each of the resulting parts has a separately controllable drives it is thereby 20 possible to equip one end of several cable sections with a common connection contact, although the individual cable sections may still be of various lengths.

In order to be able to position the cable correctly between the two adjacent sections of the endless belt, having 25 regard to its longitudinal extension, it is important that the cable is only cut to length when it has already been grasped by the two endless belts. This implies, however, that the cable section to be cut to length is swivelled away from the axis of the fed cable. To avoid deforming 30 the cable during this swivelling motion, and to restore to the prescribed position the beginning of the cable which is to be inserted into a guidance channel into which the push member intrudes, there is provided, as recited hereinabove, a guide sleeve. the in which In / advantageous embodiment of the invention/the guide sleeve is swivelled to correspond with the direction of movement of the push member, it is appropriate to locate the swivel axis near the entrance opening of the guide sleeve. This makes it possible to mould the pivot axis immediately onto the guide sleeve. However it is also possible to arrange the swivel axis further in front of the sleeve, seen from the direction of insertion of the cable.

But in the latter case a lever arrangement would have to be provided, which is awkward. the in which In /further advantageous embodiment of the invention/the guide sleeve is operatively coupled to the push member, and this operative coupling between guide sleeve and push member is cancelled at the start of the cutting programme, the guide sleeve bears against a fixed abutment, while the push member travels forward further. This has the effect that the guide sleeve is swivelled only until the cable in the length-cutting device comes to rest at the fixed knife, and until the movable knife can carry out the cutting procedure without further swivelling of the guide tube.

In order accurately to coordinate the movement steps of the push member and the movable knife of the length cutting device, it is desirable to fix the movable knife of the length cutting device securely to the push member. In fact it can be useful directly to execute as a knife of the length-cutting device that side of the push member which faces the length-cutting device.

The operative connection between the swivelling guide sleeve and the push member is preferably effected in that the swivelling guide sleeve is biased in the cutting direction by spring tension or spring pressure against an abutment connected with the push member, and is lifted away from said abutment at the beginning of the cutting procedure. This lifting of the guide sleeve away from the abutment connected with the push member takes place in such a way that the guide sleeve comes to rest against a fixed abutment and the push member continues to move.

In another embodiment the guide sleeve is made in one piece with a moving part of the length-cutting device and said moving part in turn is operatively connected to the push member. Thus the part which is fixed to the swivelling end of the guide sleeve and swivels the latter is connected with the push member or the moving knife by way of a spring, and is pressed by the spring against a fixed abutment during the cutting procedure. It is preferred that an annular knife is built into the part which swivels the guide sleeve, which annular knife constitutes the knife which remains immobile during the cutting procedure.

The drawing illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention, viz. . or conveyor system fig 1 is a plan view of the forwarding apparatus/, fig 2 is a longitudinal sect ion through the first belt drive of the second conveyor, along the line A-A, fig 3 is a longitudinal section through the first conveyor, along the line B-B, fig 4 is a side view of a pre-transporting unit, fig 5 is a schematic representation of the two conveyors or station with the length-cutting device/disposed between them, or sleeve and with the guide tube/, during the pre-transport of the cable in the axial direction, and fig 6 shows the same thing during the cutting procedure, fig 7 represents a section through the first conveyor along the line B-B, and fig 8 a section through the second conveyor along the line A-A, while figs 9 and 10 show two different embodiments of the swivelling arrangement for the guide tube.

The cable 1 is unrolled from a drum (not shown) and transported by the first conveyor 2 in the direction X. 05 This first conveyor consists of a belt pair 3, 4, of which sections 5, 6 clamp the cable 1 between them. The belt drive is driven by the rollers 7, 8. The rollers 9, 10 are the terminal idlers, while the rollers 11. 12 merely increase the pressure of the belt sections 5, 6 on the cable to be further transported. The cable 1 is urged into the channel 14 by the conveyor 2, said channel being formed or strip by a longitudinal groove in the moulding/15 and by the or si ide spring plates 16 and 17. A push member/18 formed from a thicker sheet metal strip intrudes into the longitudinal 15 groove of the moulding 15 from the side turned away from the second conveyor. This push member 18 pushes the cable 1 between the adjacent sections 20. 21 of the belts 22 and 23 which make up the second conveyor (24) during a transitory elastic lift of the edge regions 19 of the 20 spring plates 16, 17. The belts 22 and 23 are of elastic material or at the least they have a soft elastic surface, so that the cables 1 can be so far pushed between the adjacent belt sections 20, 21 that the cable sections 1 are securely grasped by the conveyor 24. Before the cable 1 is 25 pressed into the second conveyor 24 by the push member 18, it is cut to the right length by the length cutting device 13.

The moulding 15 of the cable forwarding system is tapered like a roof towards the second conveyor 24. A respective 30 spring plate 16, 17 lies on each of the inclined surfaces, and is secured to the end 25 remote from the second conveyor. At the end 19 the pair of spring plates 16, 17 lie against one another like lips. These free ends 19 of the spring plates 16, 17, biased into mutual contact, open 35 up under the pressure of the push member 18 and allow the cable 1 to emerge from the channel 14. The acute-angled arrangement of the two spring plates 16, 17 permits the farthest possible penetration of the cable ends between the two belt sections 20 and 21.

The second conveyor consists of the belt drives 24 and 26. 05 which are arranged one after another in the conveying ( direction of the conveyor 2. The belt drive 26 is constructed identically to the belt drive 24. The belt ^ drive 26, however, is adjustable in the directions Y and Z together with the working stations 27 for attaching contact 10 elements. By means of the disposition of a second belt drive 26 the cable section 1. cut to the right length by the length-cutting station 13, can be worked at both ends by the attachment stations 27 and 28.

The feed system for the second conveyor, the latter consisting of the two belt drives 24 and 26. consists of or slides two discrete push members/18 and 29, the drive of which is separately controllable. In this way it is possible simultaneously to work both ends even of very long cable sections 1. In so doing, the cable 1 is pushed by the 20 conveyor 2 so far forward, that its free end lies at the level of the working station 27. By means of the push member 29, the cable end is pushed between the two neighbouring sections of the belt drive 25 and forwarded on to the working station 27. Then the conveyor 2 is 25 activated once again. This gives rise to a hanging loop of the cable between the two belt drives 24 and 26 . Then the cable strand 1 is separated from the length cutting station 13, and the second end of the cut-off cable is pressed between the belt sections 20, 21 of the belt drive 24 by » the push member 18. This cable end is further conveyed as far as the working station 28 by the belt drive 24.

By means of the divided push member it is possible to equip several cable sections at one end with one and the same connection contact. For this purpose the cable 1 is 35 advanced by the conveyor 2 with its free end as far as the level of the working station 27. The cable 1 is cut to length by the station 13 and pushed by the push members 18 and 29 between the belt drives 24 and 26. The belt drive 24 is actuated and the cut-off cable end is forwarded to the attachment station 28. Thereupon the cable 1 with its free end is pushed by the first conveyor 2 to the level of the working station 27 and pushed by the push member 29 between the belt drive 26. Here the ends of the two cable sections lie beside one another and can be equipped in common with one plug connector. Should both cable sections be equally long, the push member 18 is also actuated at the same time. If the second cable section, however, should be longer, then the conveyor 2 is first actuated, so that the second cable section acquires a hanging loop. The cable section which has been cut to length by the station 13 is now pushed by the push member 18 between the belt drive 24 and transported by the latter to the working station 28.

Fig 4 illustrates an embodiment of the pre-transport device. The cable la is pulled from a reel (not shown) in the direction X, and guided through an orienting station 2a which consists of several rollers. Since the unrolling of the cable la from the reel and its forwarding through the orienting station 2a is associated with high tensile forces, a special pre-transport unit consisting of the rollers 3a and 4a is installed for this purpose. The axes 5a and 6a of the rollers 3a and 4a are mutually offset, radially of the rollers, in such manner that they lie not only one beside the other but also one above the other. The rollers 3a and 4a are arranged on the axes 5a and 6a in such manner that they are flush with each other. There is however also the possibility of arranging the rollers one directly below the other. This would involve merely the reduction of the embracing angle oc to 180° and thus the tensile force transmitted by the rollers to the cable would be very slightly reduced.

The cable la leads on from the pre-transport unit 3a, 4a to the feed unit, which in the illustrated example consists of the two rollers 7a. 8a. This feed unit 7a, 8a takes care of the further transport of the cable la and simultaneously 05 of the maintenance of the exact feed length of the cable.

The length cutting station, which consists of the knives f 9a, 10a, is installed behind the feed unit 7a. 8a.

* During the further transport of the cable la by the fowarding unit 7a, 8a, a tensile force is exerted on the 10 section of the cable la between the feed unit and the pre-transport unit 4a. 5a. As a result the cable la is applied to the peripheral surface of the rollers 4a, 3a, whereby a frictional engagement between cable la and rollers 3a. 4a arises. Through this frictional engagement 15 the cable la is pulled off the cable reel and through the orienting station 2a. A very high frictional engagement arises from the winding of the cable la around the rollers: it amounts to several times the tensile force involved in the feed unit 7a, 8a or a similarly arranged pre-transport 20 facility.

The cable lb is unrolled from a drum (not shown) and transported by the first conveyor 2b in the direction X.

This first conveyor consists of a pair of belts 3b, 4b, sections 5b, 6b of which clamp the cable lb between them. 25 The belt drive is driven by the rollers 7b, 8b. The rollers 9b, 10b constitute the terminal idlers, while the rollers lib, 12b merely increase the compression force of r the belt sections 5b, 6b on the cable to be further transported. The cable lb is pushed into the channel 14b * by the first conveyor 2b; said channel being formed by a longitudinal groove in the moulding 15b and by the spring plates 16b. 17b. A push member 18b, made from a thicker sheet metal strip, intrudes into the longitudinal groove of the moulding 15b from the side which is directed away from 35 the second conveyor 13b. This push member 18b pushes the cable lb between the mutually abutting sections 20b. 21b of the belts 22b, 23b which make up the second conveyor 13b, during a transient elastic withdrawal of the edge regions 19b of the spring plates 16b, 17b. The belts 22b, 23b are of elastic material, or at least they have a soft elastic 05 surface, so that the cable lb can be pushed so far between the mutually adjacent belt sections 20b, 21b that the cable lb is securely held by the conveyor 13b. After the cable lb has been pressed by the push member 18b into the second conveyor 24, it is cut to the desired length by the 10 length-cutting device 24b. 25b. or sleeve As can be seen from fig 5, a guide tube/28b, through which the cable lb goes, is arranged between the first conveyor 2b and the length-cutting device 24b, 25b. This guide tube 28b is mounted for swivelling about the axis 27b and. when 15 the push member 18b is advancing inwardly into the mouth of the belt sections 20b, 21b, as shown in fig 6. it is swivelled so that the cable lb comes into abutment with the fixed knife 24b of the length-cutting device. When the push member 18b withdraws, the guide tube 28b is also 20 swivelled backward into the initial position, as shown in fig 5. The guide tube has the function of preventing the section la of the cable from being deformed out of the cable axis Z and being guided back into the axis Z after being cut to length, so that the free end of this section 25 lb can be threaded confidently into the channel 14b.

In the embodiment of the swivelling device shown in fig 10, A the guide sleeve 28b, which can swivel about the axis 27b, is pressed by the tension spring 29b against a movable 0r bla a abutment 30b, which is rigidly coupled to the movable knife/ 25b and the push member 18b. As the push member 18b travels into the mouth of the two sections 20b. 21b of the endless belts 22b. 23b. the movable abutment 30b is displaced in the direction V. The tension spring 29b also takes care of a sure engagement of the guide sleeve 28b on 35 the abutment 30b, for such a time as the guide sleeve 28b takes to come to rest against the non-moving abutment 31b.

In this position of the guide sleeve the cable lb is positioned at the fixed knife 24b of the length-cutting device. In a further forward push of the movable knife 15b the cable lb is cut to length. During this length-cutting procedure the movable abutment 30b rises away from the guide sleeve 28b. During the cutting procedure, during which the cable lb lies upon the fixed knife 24b, the guide sleeve 28b is not swivelled. When the push member 18b withdraws, the guide sleeve 28b is drawn backward against the force of the tension spring 29b into the starting position illustrated.

In the swivelling device of the guide sleeve 28b illustrated in fig 9, the front swivelling end 31b of the guide sleeve 28b engages with a recess 32b of a latch-shaped part 26b which is coupled with the push member 18b. The coupling of this part 26b to the push member 18b is an operative connection, whereby a compression spring 33b presses a flange 34b, rigidly coupled to the push member 18b, against the edge 35b of a recess 36b. When the push member 18b advances into the mouth of the conveyor 13b. the latch-shaped part 26b is pushed above the spring 33b in the direction V such a distance that it comes to rest against the fixed abutment 37b. This flange-shaped part 26b is designed as an annular knife at 38b. In this annular knife the cable lb is cut off by the moving knife 25b.

Claims

- 19 -CLAIMS

1. A conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine, consisting of a first conveyor, which conveys cable unwound from a reel 5 in the direction of its longitudinal axis to a cable cutting station, and of a second, following conveyor, which moves the cable on, perpendicular to the cable axis, and which has clamping locators into which the cable is fed, wherein, following on from the first conveyor, there extends a channel which guides the cable in its longitudinal axis 10 at least as far as the second conveyor, and into which channel a slide engages from the side remote from the second conveyor, said slide pushing the cable into the a clamping locator of the second conveyor through an opposing slot which opens as the slide is advanced. 15

2. A conveyor system according to Claim 1, wherein the slot opens the guiding channel along its entire length to the side of the second conveyor and is closed by sprung metal sheets which meet in the manner of lips and the abutting edges of which lift resiliently away from one another as the cable is pushed out of the guiding channel. 20

3. A conveyor system according to Claim 1, wherein the guiding channel is formed by a continuous groove of a strip, into which the slide engages from the side remote from the second conveyor and which, on the side nearest the second conveyor, is masked by two sprung metal 25 sheets, which meet at groove level in the manner of lips.

4. A conveyor system according to Claim 1, wherein the second conveyor is formed by two parallel continuous belts, neighbouring sections of which squeeze the cable, and the two belts are highly 30 flexible at least on the sides that face one another.

5. A conveyor system according to Claim 4, wherein the slide pushes the cable in the direction of transport of the second conveyor between neighbouring end sections of the continuous belts forming the 35 second conveyor. - 20 -

6. A conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine, consisting of a first conveyor, which conveys cable unwound from a reel in the direction of its longitudinal axis to a cable cutting station, and of a second conveyor which runs at right angles thereto and 5 consists of a continuous belt, said second conveyor receiving and clamping the cable and conveying it onwards perpendicular to the cable axis, and having clamping locators into which the cable is fed, wherein r parallel to the second conveyor is disposed a constructionally similar third conveyor. *;10;

7. A conveyor system according to Claim 6, wherein the two continuous belt conveyors are belt drives.;

8. A conveyor system according to Claim 7, wherein at least one 15 belt drive of the third conveyor is adjustable in position in and counter to the direction of transport of the first conveyor.;

9. A conveyor system according to Claim 8, wherein a second belt drive of the second conveyor, viewed from the first conveyor, is;20 adjustable in position.;

10. A conveyor system according to Claim 1 and Claim 9, wherein the slide is divided between the second and third conveyors and each part has an individually controllable drive.;25;

11. A transport device for a conveyor system according to Claim 1 wherein the second conveyor, arranged downstream of the cable-cutting station, is formed by two endless belts, which transport the cable further, clamped between them, perpendicular to the cable axis; a;30 pusher pushes the cable perpendicular to its longitudinal axis into the r intake of the two endless belts; and a guide sleeve, which surrounds the cable and follows the direction of movement of the pusher when the * cable is inserted between the two endless belts, is arranged between the first conveyor and the cable-cutting station. 35 - 21 -

12. A transport device according to Claim 11, wherein the guide sleeve is swivelled about an axis in accordance with the direction of movement of the pusher. 5

13. A transport device according to Claim 12, wherein the swivel axis is located near the inlet opening of the guide sleeve.

14. A transport device according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the guide sleeve is coupled non-positively to the pusher. 10

15. A transport device according to any of Claims 11 to 14, wherein a movable blade of the cable-cutting station is firmly connected to the pusher. 15

16. A transport device according to Claim 15, wherein a side of the pusher pointing towards the cable-cutting station is constructed as the blade of the cable-cutting station.

17. A transport device according to Claim 14, or Claim 15 or Claim 20 16 when dependent on Claim 14, wherein the non-positive coupling between the guide sleeve and the pusher is released with the start of the cutting process, and the guide sleeve comes to bear on a stop.

18. A transport device according to Claim 12, or any of Claims 13 25 to 17 when dependent on Claim 12, wherein the swivellable guide sleeve is pulled or pressed by spring force in the direction of cutting against a stop connected to the pusher and is lifted therefrom at the start of the cutting process. 30

19. A transport device according to Claim 18, wherein the lifting of the guide sleeve from the stop connected to the pusher is effected when the guide sleeve strikes against a fixed stop and the pusher continues. 35

20. A transport device according to any of Claims 11 to 19, wherein - 22 - the guide sleeve is connected positively to a part of the cable-cutting station, and the latter is connected, in turn, non-positively to the pusher. 5

21. A transport device according to any of Claims 15 to 20 when dependent on Claim 12, wherein a part which is fastened to a swivellable end of the guide sleeve and swivels the guide sleeve is connected via a spring to the pusher or to the movable blade and is pressed by the spring against a stationary stop during the cutting 10 process.

22. A transport device according to Claim 21, wherein an annular blade which forms a stationary blade during the cutting process is inserted into the part swivelling the guide sleeve. 15

23. A conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 20

24. A transport device for a conveyor system for an automatic cable preparation machine, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

25. An automatic cable preparation machine comprising a conveyor 25 system substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

26. An automatic cable preparation machine comprising a transport device for a conveyor system, substantially as described herein with 30 reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1st day of March, 1985. BY:- TOMKINS & CO., Applicant's Agents, (Signed) 35 1123R Dartmouth Road, DUBLIN 6.