JPH06338224A - Polygonal cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a polygonal cable difficult to induce a breakage accident or the like without deterioration of operation of a device by integrally bundling a plurality of insulated electric wires in a polygonal shape in cross section, and fusing the wires to each other by hot air. CONSTITUTION:A polygonal cable is formed of plural insulated electric wires, which are bundled integrally. The insulated electric wires are arranged in a polygonal shape is cross section and are fused to each other by hot air. In the polygonal cable, insulated electric wires 5a, 5b, 5c or a hollow hose 6 are arranged in an integrally polygonal shape, or polygonally arranged wires are formed in a curled state for integral use, thus preventing deterioration of operation of a device and avoiding a trouble such as a breakage accident. In the case where the cable is used as a curl cord which is formed into a curl shape, the cable can sufficiently follow three dimensional movement because of excellent wiring workability due to flexibility of the cable and its own expansion and contraction even if the cable is used in a device movable in the three dimensions, and further, breakage is difficult to occur in the case of application of abnormal tension or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable used for external wiring or the like, and more particularly to a cable used for wiring equipment having a structure involving movement of a device such as a robot. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of wiring in a device having a structure involving movement such as a conventional robot device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a device 3 is mounted on the ends of the bending arms 1 and 2, and in this device 3, a cable for control signals or power supply is provided along the arms 1 and 2 as wiring 4 on the arm side. Connected and driven. Depending on the device, a hose for controlling compressed air or hydraulic pressure may be bundled together in the wiring 4 and used. These wirings 4 are generally arranged so as to be partially fixed along the arms 1 and 2 with a margin, and even if the arms or the like are bent, the movements corresponding to the bending are performed.

[0003]

In the method of using the cable as described above, the operation of the device may be limited because the wiring 4 is difficult to handle. For example, when the device moves two-dimensionally, it can be handled by flattening the cables and gathering the wiring, but when the device performs three-dimensional operation, it can be flattened. It will not be possible to cope with this cable, and on the contrary, it will limit the movement of the device. As a result, disconnection may occur depending on the operation direction of the device. Also,
It takes time and effort to bind the wires together, resulting in high assembly costs. Although a method of twisting the wires instead of bundling them has been adopted, the method of twisting is difficult because the hose is crushed especially when a hollow hose is used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, does not impair the operation of the apparatus, and has a novel polygonal shape in which a disconnection accident or the like is unlikely to occur. The purpose is to provide a cable.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A gist of the present invention is to arrange a plurality of insulated electric wires in a polygonal shape, and heat-bond them to each other by hot air to integrate them, or a cable which is integrated. Is formed into a curl shape, which enables good electrical or controllable connection without impairing the operation of the device, and makes it difficult to cause a disconnection accident or the like.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a polygonal cable of one embodiment. That is, in this example, one of the three twisted insulated electric wires 5 and two insulated electric wires 5a and 5b made of a large number of twisted wires are arranged so as to have a triangular cross section, Each insulated wire 5, 5a. The polygonal cable 10 is formed by integrally bonding 5b to each other by hot air fusion.
Is formed.

FIG. 2 shows a polygonal cable 2 of another embodiment.
In the cross-sectional view showing the configuration of No. 0, in this case, one of the insulated wires 5c composed of a large number of twisted wires and two hollow hoses 6 and 6 are arranged in a triangular cross-sectional shape. The insulated electric wire 5c and the hollow hoses 6 and 6 are fused together by hot air and integrally molded to form a polygonal cable 20.

Therefore, these polygonal cables 10,
Each of the wires 20 is formed by integrally bundling electric wires or hollow hoses, so that not only two-dimensional movements of the apparatus but also three-dimensional movements can be integrated.

Next, in FIG. 3, the polygonal cable 20 shown in FIG. 2 is used, and in order to make the cable more flexible, it is formed into a curl shape by a usual curl cord manufacturing method to form a curl shape. The polygonal cable 30 is formed. Therefore, the cable 30 is a flexible cable that well follows the three-dimensional movement of the device. At this time, the hollow hoses 6 and 6 are arranged outside the insulated electric wire 5c. This is because the insulated wire 5c can be protected by the elasticity of the hollow hose and the disconnection accident due to external damage can be prevented.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged part of the polygonal cable 30. That is, assuming that the reference length of the hollow hoses 6, 6 located outside the polygonal cable 30 is l ₁ , the length of the insulated wire 5c located inside the reference length of l ₁ is l ₂ , and l ₁ By fusing so as to satisfy the condition of> l _2, the polygonal curled cable 30 shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Here, the bending radius of the polygonal curl cable 30 can be freely changed by changing the ratio of the reference length l ₁ and the length l ₂ . This bending radius can be changed according to the movement of the device used, but considering the strength of the cable and peeling of the fused portion, this ratio is in the range of 0.6 ≦ l ₂ / l ₁ <1. desirable.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example of arranging the insulated electric wire or the hollow hose in a triangular shape has been described, but the arranging shape is not limited to the triangular shape, and may be a quadrangle, a pentagon ...・ Of course, it can be placed in the same place.

[0011]

As described above, the polygonal cable of the present invention is formed by integrally arranging an insulated wire or a hollow hose in a polygonal shape or by curling the polygonal shape and integrating them. By using it, it is possible to avoid troubles such as disconnection accidents without impairing the operation of the device. Especially when used as a curl cord molded into a curl, the flexibility of the cable,
From the good handling by expanding and contracting the cable itself,
Even if it is used in a device having a three-dimensional movement, the movement can be sufficiently followed, and even if abnormal tension is applied, it is difficult to break the wire.

Further, the structure integrated by hot air fusion makes it possible to integrally wire the hollow hose and the insulated electric wire, which have been conventionally used separately, to a device for three-dimensional operation. Further, the labor required for bundling can be significantly reduced, and the device can be manufactured at a lower cost. When molding into a curl shape using a hollow hose, if the hollow hose is placed on the outside and the insulated wire is placed on the inside, the elasticity of the hollow hose can protect the insulated wire, making it a stronger cable against accidents such as disconnection due to external damage. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a polygonal cable according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a polygonal cable according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a polygonal cable according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view when forming a curl of the polygonal cable shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of wiring in a conventional robot or the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Arms 3 Robot device 4 Wiring 5, 5a, 5b, 5c Insulated electric wire 6 Hollow hose 10, 20, 30 Polygonal cable

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cable in which a plurality of insulated wires are bundled and integrated, wherein the insulated wires are arranged in a polygonal cross section, and the insulated wires are fused by hot air to form each other. A polygonal cable characterized in that 2. The polygonal shape according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of insulated electric wires are replaced with hollow hoses, and the insulated electric wires and the hollow hoses are formed by hot air fusion bonding. cable. 3. A polygonal cable, wherein the polygonal cable according to claim 1 or 2 is further formed into a curl shape. 4. The polygonal cable according to claim 3, wherein each insulated electric wire and the hollow hose are changed in length and fused to form a curl.