JP7217123B2 - Wire clamping device and wire processing device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wire clamping device for holding wires and a wire processing device having the same.

Conventionally, in wire processing equipment that performs processes such as cutting wires, stripping off coating materials, and crimping terminals, the function of guiding the movement of wires along the longitudinal direction and the function of Wire clamping devices are used that have a gripping function.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an electric wire clamping device that includes a clamping portion that clamps an electric wire and a nozzle. The nozzle extends longitudinally of the wire and guides movement along the length of the wire. The clamp part grips the wire by pinching it from both sides. By the way, when the electric wire is gripped, the center position of the electric wire may shift in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the electric wire is sandwiched. For example, when the wire is gripped from above and below, the center position of the wire may shift left and right. However, if the inner diameter of the nozzle and the outer diameter of the wire match, such misalignment is suppressed by the nozzle. The nozzle has the function of positioning (centering) the wire on a predetermined centerline.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a wire clamping device is known in which a plurality of pairs of clamp claws 101 and 102 for clamping the wire 110 from both sides are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the wire 110 . In this wire clamping device, a plurality of pairs of clamp claws 101 and 102 form a passage (passage extending left and right in FIG. 15) for guiding movement of the wire 110 in the longitudinal direction. Here, the direction in which the wire 110 is sandwiched is slightly different between the clamp claws 101 and 102 . Therefore, according to this electric wire clamping device, when the electric wire 110 is gripped, the central position of the electric wire 110 is prevented from shifting in one particular direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-210460

By the way, there are various specifications of wires to be processed by the wire processing device, and the wire processing device has to process a plurality of types of wires having different outer diameters. Accordingly, the wire clamping device must be able to guide and grip multiple types of wires with different outer diameters.

In the conventional wire clamping device having the clamping portion and the nozzle, if the outer diameter of the wire and the inner diameter of the nozzle are not equal, the center position of the wire deviates from the center position of the nozzle. If the inner diameter of the nozzle does not match the outer diameter of the wire, the nozzle will not be able to center the wire. Therefore, in the wire clamping device, it is necessary to replace the nozzle each time the outer diameter of the wire changes. However, the work of exchanging the nozzle takes time and effort.

According to the above-described conventional wire clamp device having a plurality of pairs of clamp claws 101 and 102 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the wire 110, the distance between both clamp claws 101 and 102 can be adjusted according to the outer diameter of the wire 110. . Even if the outer diameter of the electric wire 110 changes, the electric wire 110 can be centered by adjusting the distance between the two clamp claws 101 and 102 . Therefore, it is not necessary to replace parts such as nozzles. However, in this wire clamping device, a step 103 is formed between the clamp claws 101 and 102 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire 110, as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a problem that the movement of the electric wire 110 cannot be smoothly guided when feeding the electric wire 110 in the longitudinal direction. In particular, when exchanging the electric wire 110, it is necessary to pass the tip of the electric wire 110 through the inside of the electric wire clamping device. There is

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and its object is to eliminate the need for replacement work of parts accompanying changes in the specifications of the electric wire, and to enable the electric wire to be well centered when gripping the electric wire, An object of the present invention is to provide a wire clamp device capable of smoothly guiding movement of a wire and a wire processing device having the same.

A wire clamping device according to the present invention is a wire clamping device that grips a wire and guides the wire along a predetermined center line when releasing the grip of the wire, wherein the center line and three or more clamp members extending in parallel directions and having wire contact surfaces arranged around the center line and arranged in a circumferential direction about the center line; and an actuator for driving the clamp member so that the wire contact surface approaches and separates from the center line. .

According to the above electric wire clamping device, the wire contact surfaces of the three or more clamp members arranged in the circumferential direction about the predetermined center line define the passage for guiding the electric wire along the center line. Here, the wire contact surface, which is the wall surface of the passage, extends in a direction parallel to the center line. Therefore, the movement of the electric wire can be smoothly guided. Further, according to the wire clamping device, the wire can be gripped by driving the clamp member so that the wire contact surface approaches the center line. Here, the wire contact surface can move toward and away from the center line, and the distance between the wire contact surface and the center line can be adjusted according to the outer diameter of the wire. Therefore, it is possible to hold a plurality of types of electric wires having different outer diameters without exchanging parts. Therefore, there is no need to replace parts in accordance with changes in wire specifications. Further, according to the wire clamping device, since three or more clamping members are provided, unlike the case where two clamping members are provided, it is possible to prevent the central position of the wire from shifting in a specific direction when the wire is gripped. be done. Also, since the wire is gripped so that its center is positioned on the center line, the wire can be well centered.

According to the invention, the wire contact surface extends straight in a direction parallel to the centerline.

According to the present invention, the movement of the electric wire along the center line can be guided more smoothly.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the length of the wire contact surface in the direction parallel to the center line is at least ten times the distance between the wire contact surface and the center line when the wire is guided. be.

According to the above aspect, since the length of the wire contact surface in the direction parallel to the center line is long, it is possible to more reliably prevent the wire from deviating from the center line and bending when the wire is gripped. . Therefore, the wire can be centered better. Also, the wires can be better guided along the centerline. In addition, since the area of the wire contact surface is relatively large, when the pressure of the wire contact surface pressing the wire is constant, the gripping force can be increased and the wire can be sufficiently gripped. Conversely, when the gripping force is constant, the pressure exerted by the wire contact surface on the wire is reduced, so local deformation of the wire can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to maintain good quality of the electric wire.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the clamp members are in contact with each other without gaps in the circumferential direction.

If a gap is formed between the clamp members arranged in the circumferential direction, the wire may be caught in the gap if the wire is thin. However, according to the above aspect, since the clamp members are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction without a gap, even a thin electric wire is not likely to be caught in the gap between the clamp members. Therefore, the electric wire can be held and guided satisfactorily.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting mechanism that connects the clamp members so that the wire contact surfaces of the clamp members move toward and away from the centerline at the same time.

According to the above aspect, the wire contact surfaces of the clamp members arranged in the circumferential direction move toward and away from the center line at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily hold and release the electric wire.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the tip side portion of the clamp member has a smaller dimension in the direction perpendicular to the center line than the root side portion.

According to the above aspect, since the tip side portion of the clamp member is compact, it is easy to secure a space for installing other members in the vicinity of the tip side portion of the wire clamping device. It is possible to reduce restrictions on the installation space of members installed in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the wire clamping device, such as the cutter blade, strip blade, and terminal crimping machine of the wire processing device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of a wire processing device or the like on which the wire clamping device is mounted.

According to the present invention, there is provided a support member that supports the clamp member, and a turning actuator that turns the support member around a turning center line that is closer to the root side portion than the distal end side portion of the clamp member. ing. The distal portion of the clamping member is lighter than the proximal portion.

According to the present invention, since the distal portion of the clamp member is light, less energy is required to pivot the support member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the turning actuator or save energy.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, four clamp members are provided.

According to the above aspect, it is possible to satisfactorily center the electric wire and smoothly guide the movement of the electric wire while keeping the number of parts relatively small.

A wire processing apparatus according to the present invention is a wire processing apparatus including the wire clamping device, and the wire includes a core wire and a coating material that covers the core wire. The wire processing device includes a cutter blade for cutting the wire, a stripping blade for stripping off the covering material from the wire, and a crimping machine for crimping a terminal to an end of the wire. The wire clamping device grips the wire when the cutter blade cuts the wire, when the stripping blade strips off the covering material, and when the crimping machine crimps the terminal. It is configured.

According to the wire processing apparatus, the wire clamping device can be used for cutting the wire, stripping off the covering material, and crimping the terminal. In addition, since it is not necessary to replace parts of the wire clamping device when changing the wire to be processed to a wire having a different outer diameter, the wire processing device can be quickly and easily set up.

According to the present invention, there is no need to replace parts due to changes in the specifications of the electric wire, the electric wire can be satisfactorily centered when the electric wire is gripped, and the movement of the electric wire can be smoothly guided. A clamping device and a wire processing device having the same can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a top view which represents typically the structure of the wire processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view of an electric wire. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wire clamping device, stripping mechanism, and cutter mechanism; FIG. 4 is a side view of the wire clamping device, stripping mechanism, and cutter mechanism; It is a perspective view of a wire clamp device. It is a top view of an electric wire clamp device. It is a front view of an electric wire clamp device. It is a perspective view of a clamp body. It is a perspective view of a clamp body. It is a side view of a clamp body. It is a rear view of a clamp body. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip of the clamp body when guiding the electric wire; FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the wire clamping device; FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip of the clamp body when holding the electric wire; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional wire clamping device; 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wire clamping device; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of a wire processing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the right side and the left side of FIG. 1 are defined as the front side and the rear side, respectively. The upper side and the lower side of FIG. 1 are defined as the left side and the right side, respectively. However, each direction in the following description is merely a direction determined for convenience of description, and does not limit the present invention in any way.

The wire processing apparatus 1 includes a wire drawing machine 25, a feeding device 20 for feeding the wire 5, wire clamping devices 30F and 30R, stripping mechanisms 12F and 12R, a cutter mechanism 11, crimping machines 13F and 13R, and a tray. 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric wire 5 is a covered electric wire, and includes a core wire 5a made of a conductor and a covering material 5b made of an insulator covering the circumference of the core wire 5a.

The wire drawing machine 25 is a device that removes the curl of the electric wire 5 and straightens the electric wire 5 . The wire drawing machine 25 has a plurality of rollers arranged in a zigzag pattern.

The feeding device 20 may be any device capable of feeding the electric wire 5, and its specific configuration is not limited at all. In this embodiment, the feeding device 20 includes a pair of left and right driving rollers 21a driven by a motor (not shown), a driven roller 21b, and a conveying belt 22 wound around the driving roller 21a and the driven roller 21b. there is As the drive roller 21a causes the transport belt 22 to run, the electric wire 5 sandwiched between the left and right transport belts 22 is fed forward.

The wire clamping devices 30F and 30R are devices for gripping the wire 5. As shown in FIG. In particular, the wire clamping device 30F is a device that guides the wire 5 along a predetermined center line CL and grips the wire 5 . In the present embodiment, the wire clamping device 30F releases the wire 5 from its grip and guides the movement of the wire 5 along the center line CL when the feeding device 20 feeds the wire 5 . The wire clamping devices 30F and 30R grip the wire 5 after the wire 5 has moved along the center line CL. Also, the wire clamping devices 30F and 30R are configured to be movable back and forth. In other words, the wire clamping devices 30F, 30R are configured to move toward and away from the stripping mechanisms 12F, 12R along the center line CL. The wire clamping devices 30F and 30R move away from the strip mechanisms 12F and 12R, respectively, when stripping off the covering material 5b from the ends of the wires 5. As shown in FIG. Furthermore, the wire clamping devices 30F and 30R are configured to be rotatable around the vertical line 30c. The wire clamping devices 30F, 30R turn toward the crimping machines 13F, 13R when crimping the terminal 7 onto the end of the wire 5. As shown in FIG.

The cutter mechanism 11 is a mechanism for cutting the electric wire 5 . As shown in FIG. 3, the cutter mechanism 11 has a pair of upper and lower first cutter blades 11A and second cutter blades 11B. The first cutter blade 11A is fixed to the first block 14A. The second cutter blade 11B is fixed to the second block 14B. The first block 14A and the second block 14B are slidably engaged with the guide 15. As shown in FIG. Also, the first block 14A and the second block 14B are connected to a motor 16 and driven up and down by the motor 16 . The motor 16 causes the first block 14A and the second block 14B to approach and separate from each other, thereby causing the first cutter blade 11A and the second cutter blade 11B to approach and separate from each other.

The stripping mechanisms 12F and 12R are mechanisms for stripping off the covering material 5b of the electric wire 5. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the stripping mechanism 12F is arranged behind the cutter mechanism 11, and strips off the covering material 5b of the front end portion of the rear electric wire 5 gripped by the electric wire clamping device 30F. On the other hand, the stripping mechanism 12R is arranged in front of the cutter mechanism 11, and strips off the covering material 5b of the rear end portion of the front electric wire 5 gripped by the electric wire clamping device 30R. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the stripping mechanisms 12F, 12R has a first stripping blade 12A and a second stripping blade 12B arranged on both upper and lower sides of the wire 5. As shown in FIG. Here, the first strip blade 12A is arranged above the wire 5 and the second strip blade 12B is arranged below the wire 5. As shown in FIG. The first strip blade 12A and the second strip blade 12B face each other with the electric wire 5 interposed therebetween. The first strip blade 12A is fixed to the first block 14A and the second strip blade 12B is fixed to the second block 14B. The first strip blade 12A and the second strip blade 12B are configured to move up and down by the driving force of the motor 16 to approach and separate from each other.

The crimping machines 13</b>F and 13</b>R are devices for crimping the terminal 7 onto the end of the electric wire 5 . As described above, the wire clamping devices 30F and 30R are configured to be rotatable around the vertical line 30c. The crimping machine 13F is configured to crimp the terminal 7 onto the front end of the wire 5 held by the wire clamping device 30F. The crimping machine 13R is configured to crimp the terminal 7 onto the rear end of the wire 5 held by the wire clamping device 30R.

The tray 8 is a box for collecting electric wires 6 having electric wires 5 and terminals 7 crimped to both ends of the electric wires 5 (hereinafter referred to as electric wires with terminals) 6 . As will be described later, the wire processing apparatus 1 continuously repeats the cutting of the wire 5, the stripping of the covering material 5b, and the crimping of the terminal 7, thereby continuously manufacturing the wire 6 with terminals. The tray 8 accommodates a plurality of terminal-equipped electric wires 6 continuously manufactured in this way.

The above is the overall configuration of the wire processing apparatus 1 . Next, details of the wire clamp device 30F will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wire clamping device 30F. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the wire clamping device 30F. FIG. 7 is a front view of the wire clamp device 30F. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the wire clamping device 30F includes a clamp body 40, a holding member 50 that holds the clamp body 40, an air cylinder 60, and a link mechanism . The arrows in FIGS. 5 and 6 represent the feed direction of the electric wire 5 . In addition, in this embodiment, the electric wire 5 is fed forward. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side in the feed direction of the electric wire 5 are respectively referred to as the base side and the tip end side of the electric wire clamping device 30F. In this embodiment, the front side and the rear side of the wire clamping device 30F correspond to the tip side and the root side, respectively.

First, the clamp body 40 will be explained. The clamp body 40 is a member that defines a passage for guiding the movement of the electric wire 5 and holds the electric wire 5 . 8 and 9 are perspective views of the clamp body 40. FIG. 10 is a side view of the clamp body 40, and FIG. 11 is a rear view of the clamp body 40. FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the clamp body 40 has a first clamp member 40A, a second clamp member 40B, a third clamp member 40C and a fourth clamp member 40D. That is, the clamp body 40 has four clamp members 40A-40D. As shown in FIG. 8, these clamp members 40A to 40D are arranged around the center line CL and arranged in the circumferential direction around the center line CL.

The clamping members 40A-40D may have different shapes or sizes, but are identical in this embodiment. The clamp members 40A to 40D each include an extending portion 41, a supported portion 42, and a connecting portion 43. As shown in FIG. Here, the extending portion 41, the supported portion 42, and the connecting portion 43 are integrally formed. The extending portion 41, the supported portion 42, and the connecting portion 43 are integrated. However, it is not particularly limited.

The extending portion 41 extends in a direction parallel to the centerline CL. In this specification, "extending in a direction parallel to the center line CL" means that the dimension in the direction parallel to the center line CL is larger than the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the center line CL. Further, "extending in a direction parallel to the center line CL" is not limited to extending straight in a direction parallel to the center line CL. For example, it may extend spirally around the center line CL. However, in this embodiment, the extending portions 41 of the clamp members 40A to 40D extend straight in the direction parallel to the center line CL.

The extensions 41 of the clamp members 40A-40D are assembled to surround the centerline CL. FIG. 12 shows the tip portion of the extending portion 41 . As shown in FIG. 12, the extending portion 41 has a wire contact surface 41a facing the center line CL. The wire contact surface 41a extends in a direction parallel to the centerline CL and is arranged around the centerline CL. The four wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D have portions located on the same plane perpendicular to the center line CL. That is, the four wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D are configured to contact the same portion of the wire 5 in the direction along the center line CL. In this embodiment, the wire contact surface 41a extends straight in the direction parallel to the center line CL, and is continuous without steps in the direction parallel to the center line CL. Although there may be a gap between the wire contact surfaces 41a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, no gap is formed in this embodiment. The wire contact surfaces 41a are in contact with each other without a gap in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the clamp members 40A to 40D are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction without gaps. The wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D define passages 40a for guiding the movement of the wires 5 along the longitudinal direction.

The wire contact surface 41a is elongated in a direction parallel to the center line CL. In this embodiment, the length 41L (see FIG. 10) of the wire contact surface 41a in the direction parallel to the center line CL is the distance between the wire contact surface 41a and the center line CL when the wire clamp device 30F guides the wire 5. It is ten times or more the distance 41r (see FIG. 12). However, the length 41L is not particularly limited. The length 41L may be 20 times or more, or 30 times or more, the length 41r. From the viewpoint of suppressing sliding resistance when guiding the electric wire 5, the length 41L is preferably 100 times or less the length 41r. However, it is not limited.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the supported portion 42 is provided at a position farther from the center line CL than the extending portion 41. As shown in FIGS. The supported portion 42 is formed with a support hole 42a extending in a direction parallel to the center line CL. A support pin 51 passes through the support hole 42a. The supported portion 42 is supported by a support pin 51 . As shown in FIG. 10, the supported portion 42 is provided on the root side (right side in FIG. 10) of the intermediate position 41m of the extension portion 41 . In each of the clamp members 40A to 40D, the supported portion 42 is arranged closer to the base than the intermediate position.

The connecting portion 43 may be provided on the extending portion 41, but is provided on the root side portion of the supported portion 42 here. In each clamp member 40A to 40D, the connecting portion 43 is arranged on the root side. The connecting portion 43 is formed with a connecting hole 43a through which a connecting pin 77 (see FIG. 13), which will be described later, is inserted. The connecting hole 43a extends in a direction parallel to the centerline CL.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the dimension 41p in the direction perpendicular to the center line CL at the tip side portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D corresponds to the dimension 41q in the direction perpendicular to the center line CL at the root side portion. less than The tip side portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D are configured more compactly than the root side portions. Further, the weight of the tip side portions (portions on the tip side of the intermediate position 41m) of the clamp members 40A to 40D is smaller than the weight of the root side portions (portions on the root side of the intermediate position 41m). The tip side portions of the clamp members 40A-40D are lighter than the root side portions. The above is the configuration of the clamp body 40 .

Next, the configuration of the holding member 50 will be described. The holding member 50 is a member that holds the clamp members 40A to 40D so that the wire contact surface 41a can approach and separate from the center line CL. In this embodiment, the holding member 50 holds each of the clamp members 40A to 40D rotatably about the center line of the support pin 51. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the holding member 50 has four support pins 51 and a holder 52 that holds the support pins 51. The holder 52 is a front ring that holds the front ends of the support pins 51. 52a, a rear ring 52b that holds the rear end of the support pin 51, and four rods 52c that connect the front ring 52a and the rear ring 52b. In this embodiment, the rear ring 52b and the rod-shaped body 52c are integrated, and the front ring 52a and the rod-shaped body 52c are fixed by bolts 53. As shown in FIG.

The clamp members 40A-40D are assembled to the holding member 50. As shown in FIG. The extending portions 41 of the clamp members 40A-40D extend forward beyond the front ring 52a. The supported portions 42 of the clamp members 40A-40D are arranged between the front ring 52a and the rear ring 52b. The connecting portion 43 of the clamp members 40A to 40D is arranged between the front ring 52a and the rear ring 52b and between two rod-shaped bodies 52c arranged in the circumferential direction. The connecting portion 43 protrudes radially outward from the holder 52 .

The air cylinder 60 is an actuator that drives the clamp members 40A-40D. As shown in FIG. 5 , the air cylinder 60 is a single-rod type air cylinder, and has a cylinder body 65 , a rod 61 extending from the cylinder body 65 , and a support portion 62 supporting the cylinder body 65 . The rod 61 is configured to extend and contract with respect to the cylinder body 65 . The extension of the rod 61 means that the rod 61 moves toward the outside of the cylinder body 65 , and the contraction of the rod 61 means that the rod 61 moves toward the inside of the cylinder body 65 .

The link mechanism 70 is a connecting mechanism that connects the clamp members 40A to 40D so that the wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D approach and separate from the center line CL at the same time. That is, the link mechanism 70 is a mechanism that interlockably connects the clamp members 40A to 40D. Further, the link mechanism 70 is a mechanism that connects the air cylinder 60 and the clamp members 40A to 40D. The link mechanism 70 has a connecting plate 71 , an arm 72 connecting the connecting plate 71 and the rod 61 , a connecting tube 73 , and an arm 74 connecting the connecting tube 73 and the support portion 62 . The arm 72 and the rod 61 are rotatably connected, and the arm 74 and the support portion 62 are rotatably connected. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the link mechanism 70 has a link member 75 that connects the connection plate 71 and the connection portions 43 of the clamp members 40A to 40D. The link member 75 is rotatably connected to the connecting plate 71 by a connecting pin 76, and is rotatably connected to the connecting portion 43 of each of the clamp members 40A to 40D by a connecting pin 77. As shown in FIG. Although not shown, a hole is formed in the central portion of the connecting plate 71, and the electric wire 5 is fed from the rear side to the front side through this hole.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wire clamping device 30F includes a support base 85 as a support member for supporting the clamp body 40, the holding member 50, the air cylinder 60, and the link mechanism . The support base 85 can move the clamp body 40, the holding member 50, the air cylinder 60, and the link mechanism 70 back and forth (see arrow A1 in FIG. 3), and is also configured to be rotatable around the vertical line 30c. (see arrow A2 in FIG. 3). Although the structure of the support base 85 is not limited at all, for example, the support base 85 includes a base 85A that can turn around the vertical line 30c and a slide base 85B supported by the base 85A and movable back and forth with respect to the base 85A. may have The wire clamping device 30F further includes an actuator 86 for rotating the base 85A and an actuator 87 for moving the slide base 85B back and forth. The vertical line 30c is the turning center line located closer to the root side than the tip side of the clamp members 40A to 40D. Actuator 86 is a turning actuator that turns holding member 50 about its turning centerline 30c. The types of the actuators 86 and 87 are not limited at all, and air cylinders, motors, etc. can be preferably used, for example.

As shown in FIG. 6, a nozzle 80 is provided on the rear side of the wire clamping device 30F (illustration of the nozzle 80 is omitted in FIG. 1). However, the nozzle 80 is not necessarily required and may be omitted.

The above is the configuration of the wire clamp device 30F. Next, the operation of the wire clamping device 30F will be described.

The air cylinder 60 is switched between a first state (see FIG. 5) in which the rod 61 expands and a second state in which the rod 61 contracts. By switching the state of the air cylinder 60, the electric wire clamping device 30F can be switched between a state in which the electric wire 5 is gripped and a state in which the grip is released.

When the air cylinder 60 is switched to the first state, the driving force of the air cylinder 60 is transmitted to the clamp members 40A to 40D via the link mechanism 70, and the clamp members 40A to 40D move toward the support pins as indicated by the arrows in FIG. It rotates around the center line of 51 . Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D move closer to the center line CL. As a result, all the wire contact surfaces 41a come into contact with the wire 5, and the wire 5 is gripped by these wire contact surfaces 41a.

On the other hand, when the air cylinder 60 is switched to the second state, the clamp members 40A-40D rotate about the center line of the support pin 51 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D are separated from the center line CL. As a result, the grip of the wire 5 by the wire contact surface 41a is released.

Thus, in the wire clamp device 30F, when the air cylinder 60 is switched to the first state, the clamp members 40A to 40D grip the wire 5, and when the air cylinder 60 is switched to the second state, the clamp members 40A to 40D The electric wire 5 is released from its grip. As shown in FIG. 12, a passage 40a for guiding movement of the wire 5 is defined by the wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D when the wire 5 is released from the grip.

Next, the operation of the wire processing device 1 will be described. That is, a method for manufacturing the terminal-equipped electric wire 6 by the electric wire processing apparatus 1 will be described. The operation of the wire processing device 1 is controlled by a control device 9 (see FIG. 1).

First, the control device 9 sends out the wire 5 forward by driving the feeding device 20 . At this time, the wire clamping devices 30F and 30R are set in a state in which the gripping of the wire 5 is released. As described above, the wire contact surfaces 41a of the clamp members 40A to 40D of the wire clamp device 30F extend straight in the direction parallel to the center line CL. The wire contact surface 41a is continuous without a step in the direction parallel to the center line CL. Moreover, no gap is formed between the wire contact surfaces 41a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction (FIG. 12). Therefore, the electric wire 5 is smoothly guided by the electric wire clamping device 30F without being caught inside the electric wire clamping device 30F.

The feeding device 20 stops after feeding the electric wire 5 forward by a predetermined length. After the feeding device 20 stops, the wire clamping devices 30F and 30R grip the wire 5. As shown in FIG. The operation of holding the electric wire 5 by the electric wire clamping device 30F is as described above.

Next, the control device 9 controls the motor 16 (see FIG. 3) to bring the first cutter blade 11A and the second cutter blade 11B closer to each other to cut the electric wire 5 .

Next, the control device 9 controls the motor 16 to bring the first strip blade 12A and the second strip blade 12B of the strip mechanisms 12F and 12R closer to each other to cut the coating material 5b of the electric wire 5. As shown in FIG. Then, the actuator 87 (see FIG. 3) is driven to move the wire clamping device 30F away from the stripping mechanism 12F and move the wire clamping device 30R away from the stripping mechanism 12R. As a result, the covering material 5b at the front end of the wire 5 held by the wire clamping device 30F is stripped off by the stripping blades 12A and 12B of the stripping mechanism 12F, exposing the core wire 5a at the front end of the wire 5. FIG. The covering material 5b at the rear end of the wire 5 held by the wire clamping device 30R is stripped off by the stripping blades 12A and 12B of the stripping mechanism 12R, exposing the core wire 5a at the rear end of the wire 5.

After that, the control device 9 drives the actuator 86 to rotate the wire clamping device 30F. The wire clamping device 30F turns to the left while gripping the rear wire 5, and guides the front end of the rear wire 5 to the crimping machine 13F. Also, the control device 9 rotates the wire clamping device 30R. The electric wire clamping device 30R turns to the right while gripping the electric wire 5 on the front side, and guides the rear end portion of the electric wire 5 on the front side to the crimping machine 13R. Then, the terminal 7 is crimped to the end of each electric wire 5 by crimping machines 13F and 13R.

After that, the wire clamping device 30F returns to the initial position (position shown in FIG. 1) facing the stripping mechanism 12F while gripping the wire 5 on the rear side, and releases the grip of the wire 5. FIG. The operation of releasing the grip of the wire 5 by the wire clamp device 30F is as described above. After releasing the grip of the front wire 5, the wire clamping device 30R returns to the initial position (the position shown in FIG. 1) facing the stripping mechanism 12R. It should be noted that the terminal-equipped electric wire 6 drops and is collected in the tray 8 when the gripping by the electric wire clamping device 30R is released.

After that, the above operation is repeated. Thereby, a plurality of electric wires 6 with terminals are continuously manufactured one after another.

Next, effects brought about by the wire processing device 1 and the wire clamping device 30F according to this embodiment will be described.

According to the wire clamping device 30F, as shown in FIG. 12, the wire 5 is clamped along the center line CL by the wire contact surfaces 41a of the four clamp members 40A to 40D arranged in the circumferential direction around the center line CL. A guiding passage 40a is defined. A wire contact surface 41a, which is a wall surface of the passage 40a, extends in a direction parallel to the center line CL. Therefore, according to the wire clamp device 30F, the wire 5 can be smoothly guided along the center line CL.

Further, according to the wire clamp device 30F, the wire 5 can be gripped by driving the clamp members 40A to 40D so that the wire contact surface 41a approaches the center line CL. Here, each wire contact surface 41a can approach and separate from the center line CL at the same time, and the distance between the wire contact surface 41a and the center line CL can be adjusted according to the outer diameter of the wire 5. FIG. Therefore, according to the wire clamping device 30F, it is possible to grip a plurality of types of wires 5 having different outer diameters without exchanging parts. Therefore, there is no need to replace parts when the specifications of the electric wire 5 are changed.

By the way, when the number of clamp members is two, the clamp members sandwich the wire 5 from two directions perpendicular to the center line CL. When the wire 5 is sandwiched from both sides in this manner, the center position of the wire 5 may shift in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wire 5 is sandwiched. However, according to the wire clamping device 30F according to the present embodiment, the four clamping members 40A to 40D are provided. The position is prevented from deviating in a specific direction. Also, the electric wire 5 is gripped so that its center is positioned on the center line CL. Therefore, according to the wire clamp device 30F, the wire 5 can be satisfactorily centered. Moreover, since the electric wire 5 is gripped from four directions, the electric wire 5 is less likely to be deformed than when it is gripped from two directions.

Therefore, according to the wire clamping device 30F according to the present embodiment, there is no need to replace parts in accordance with changes in the specifications of the wire 5, and the wire 5 can be satisfactorily centered when the wire 5 is gripped. The movement of the electric wire 5 can be smoothly guided.

The number of clamp members constituting the clamp body 40 is not particularly limited as long as it is three or more. According to the wire clamping device 30F according to the present embodiment, it is possible to satisfactorily center and guide the wire 5 while reducing the number of parts.

The wire contact surface 41a does not necessarily extend straight in the direction parallel to the center line CL, but in this embodiment it extends straight in the direction parallel to the center line CL. Therefore, the movement of the electric wire 5 along the center line CL can be guided more smoothly.

According to this embodiment, the length 41L (see FIG. 10) of the wire contact surface 41a in the direction parallel to the center line CL is the same as the wire contact surface 41a and the center line CL when the wire clamp device 30F guides the wire 5. 10 times or more of the distance 41r (see FIG. 12). In this embodiment, the wire 5 is guided along the center line CL when the air cylinder 60 is switched to the second state and the grip of the wire 5 is released. The distance 41r is the distance between the wire contact surface 41a and the center line CL when the wire 5 is released from the grip.

According to this embodiment, since the length 41L of the wire contact surface 41a in the direction parallel to the center line CL is long, when the wire 5 is held, the wire 5 is less likely to deviate from the center line CL and bend. can be reliably prevented. Therefore, the electric wire 5 can be satisfactorily centered, and the electric wire 5 can be satisfactorily guided along the center line CL. In addition, since the length 41L of the wire contact surface 41a in the direction parallel to the center line CL is long, the area of the wire contact surface 41a is relatively large. Therefore, when the pressure (gripping force per unit area) with which the wire contact surface 41a presses the wire 5 is constant, the gripping force can be increased, and the wire 5 can be sufficiently gripped. Conversely, when the gripping force is constant, the pressure that the wire 5 receives from the wire contact surface 41a is reduced, so local deformation of the wire 5 can be prevented. Therefore, the quality of the electric wire 5 can be maintained satisfactorily.

By the way, if a gap is formed between the clamp members 40A to 40D arranged in the circumferential direction, the wire 5 may be caught in the gap if the wire 5 is thin. However, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the clamping members 40A to 40D are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction without gaps. There is no risk of being caught in the gaps between the members 40A to 40D. Therefore, according to the wire clamping device 30F according to the present embodiment, even when a thin wire 5 is used, the wire 5 can be held and guided satisfactorily.

According to this embodiment, the clamp members 40A to 40D are connected by the link mechanism 70 so that the wire contact surface 41a approaches and separates from the center line CL at the same time. That is, the clamp members 40A-40D are connected so as to interlock. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily hold and release the electric wire 5 .

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the dimension 41p in the direction perpendicular to the center line CL at the tip side portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D corresponds to the dimension 41q in the direction perpendicular to the center line CL at the root side portion. less than As described above, since the distal end portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D are compact, it is easy to secure a space for installing other members in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the wire clamping device 30F. It is possible to reduce restrictions on the installation space of members installed near the distal end portion of the wire clamping device 30F, such as the cutter mechanism 11, the stripping mechanism 12F, and the crimping machine 13F (see FIG. 1). Therefore, according to this embodiment, the electric wire processing apparatus 1 can be miniaturized.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the wire clamping device 30F includes a support base 85 that supports the clamp members 40A to 40D and the like, and the base portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D that are closer to the root side than the distal end portions. and an actuator 86 for pivoting the support base 85 around the pivot center line 30c at the position. Further, the tip side portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D are lighter than the base side portions. According to this embodiment, since the distal end portions of the clamp members 40A to 40D are light, less energy is required to rotate the support base 85. FIG. Therefore, the actuator 86 can be downsized or energy-saving.

According to the wire processing device 1 according to the present embodiment, when changing the wire 5 to be processed to a wire 5 having a different outer diameter, it is not necessary to replace the parts of the wire clamping device 30F. Setting can be done quickly and easily.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example. Various other embodiments are possible. Examples of other embodiments will be briefly described below.

In the above embodiment, the actuator that drives the clamping members 40A to 40D of the wire clamping device 30F is the air cylinder 60, but the actuator is not particularly limited. The actuators may be, for example, servomotors or other actuators.

In the above-described embodiment, the link mechanism 70 is the connecting mechanism that connects the clamp members 40A to 40D so that the wire contact surface 41a moves toward and away from the center line CL at the same time. However, the connecting mechanism is not limited to the link mechanism 70 . For example, the coupling mechanism may be a mechanism with gears or transmission belts. The connecting mechanism may be a mechanism combining two or more of links, gears, and transmission belts. For example, the connecting mechanism may include four gears that are formed at the root side portions of the supported portions 42 of the clamp members 40A to 40D and engage with each other.

In the above embodiment, the wire clamping device 30F is configured to turn around the vertical line 30c, but is not particularly limited. The wire clamping device 30F may be configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the centerline CL. For example, the wire clamping device 30F may be configured to move left and right.

In the above embodiment, the clamp members 40A to 40D are formed smaller on the tip side than on the root side, but this is not a particular limitation. Also, the clamp members 40A to 40D are lighter on the tip side than on the root side, but this is not a particular limitation.

As mentioned above, the number of clamp members is not limited to four. The number of clamp members may be three, five, six, or seven or more.

The application target of the wire clamping device 30F is not limited to the wire processing device. The wire clamping device 30F can be applied to any device that needs to guide the movement of the wire 5 along the centerline CL and grip the wire 5 .

1 wire processing device 5 wire 5a core wire 5b coating material 11A, 11B cutter blade 12A, 12B strip blade 13F crimping machine 30F wire clamp device 41a wire contact surface 40A to 40D clamp member 50 holding member 60 air cylinder (actuator)
70 link mechanism (coupling mechanism)
85 support base (support member)
86 actuator (swivel actuator)
CL center line

Claims (7)

A wire clamping device that grips a wire and guides the wire along a predetermined center line when releasing the grip of the wire,
three or more clamping members each extending in a direction parallel to the center line and having a wire contact surface arranged around the center line and arranged in a circumferential direction about the center line;
a holding member that holds the clamp member so that the wire contact surface can approach and separate from the center line;
an actuator for driving the clamping member such that the wire contact surface moves toward and away from the center line ;
a support member that supports the clamp member;
a turning actuator that turns the support member around a turning center line that is closer to the root side portion than the tip side portion of the clamp member ;
The wire contact surface extends straight in a direction parallel to the center line,
An electric wire clamping device , wherein the tip side portion of the clamp member is lighter than the root side portion . 2. The wire clamp according to claim 1, wherein the length of said wire contact surface in a direction parallel to said center line is ten times or more the distance between said wire contact surface and said center line when guiding said wire. Device. 3. The wire clamping device according to claim 1, wherein said clamping members are in contact with each other in the circumferential direction without gaps. The wire clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a connecting mechanism that connects the clamp members so that the wire contact surfaces of the clamp members move toward and away from the center line at the same time. Device. The wire clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the tip side portion of the clamp member has a smaller dimension in the direction perpendicular to the center line than the root side portion. The wire clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein four clamping members are provided. A wire processing device comprising the wire clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The electric wire includes a core wire and a coating material covering the core wire,
a cutter blade for cutting the electric wire;
a stripping blade for stripping the coating material from the electric wire;
A crimping machine that crimps a terminal to the end of the electric wire,
The wire clamping device grips the wire when the cutter blade cuts the wire, when the stripping blade strips off the covering material, and when the crimping machine crimps the terminal. A wire processing device, comprising:

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