JPS6110950B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Electrical leads used in many types of electrical equipment each consist of a predetermined length of flexible insulated conductor with an electrical terminal fixed to at least one end of the conductor. ing. In the production of such electrical leads, a flexible electrically insulated conductor is fed into a first machine (hereinafter referred to as a measuring and cutting machine);
This machine measures a predetermined length of insulated conductor and cuts the insulated conductor to the predetermined length. Another machine, or machines, is employed to secure an electrical terminal to the stripped end of each of the predetermined lengths of insulated conductor. This is to form electrical leads. and, in some instances, to provide a preformed housing of electrically insulating material to the electrical terminal of each electrical lead.

To facilitate high production rates of these electrical leads, in practice these machines are arranged side by side, their operating cycles are synchronized, and the insulated conductors cut to each predetermined length are
A device is adopted that automatically sends the measuring and cutting machine to other machines or to each of the following machines in sequence. Such automatic feeders will hereafter be referred to as "electrical lead feeders" for convenience. Electrical lead feeding devices proposed and used to date have been complex, expensive, and
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical lead delivery device which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.

[Description of prior art]

The prior art is described in detail in, for example, US Pat. No. 3,968,548, issued July 13, 1976. Lead feeding mechanisms of the type described in this US patent are those widely used in the UK electrical lead termination industry.

As is apparent from the specification of the above-referenced U.S. patent, conventional lead feeding mechanisms include a conveyor arm, e.g. The lower end is pivotably swingable between a second position near the device for clamping to the bare end of the lower end.

The conveyor arm is oscillated between the two positions by a rotationally driven cam, the cam being operatively connected to a lead measurement cutting and stripping mechanism, and the conveyor arm being rotationally driven. The cam is
Each measuring cycle of the measuring mechanism described above makes one revolution. A conveyor arm is adapted to grip the electrical lead at an upper location away from the cam mating portion and to feed the electrical lead from the measurement cutting and stripping mechanism to the terminal crimping device.

The present inventor has discovered that the efficiency of the lead feeding mechanism of the conventional device is largely dependent on the rotational drive of the cam. This is because each rotation of the cam reciprocates the conveyor arm from the measuring cut and strip mechanism to the terminal crimping device.

Additionally, the inventors have discovered that it is practically impossible to operate conventional electrical lead measurement cut and strip mechanisms and terminal crimping devices at more efficient speeds. This is because the maximum speed of these two machines is when the cam is driven in rotation. This is because it is limited by the maximum speed, ie, the maximum speed at which electrical leads can be sent from one machine to another.

Furthermore, the inventor has discovered that it is practically impossible to process more than a few hundred terminated electrical leads per hour with this conventional equipment.

In addition, this conventional mechanism is complicated in structure and structure, has a large number of assembly parts, and is difficult to assemble.

[Object of the present invention]

The present invention improves the electrical lead feeder to simplify construction and ease of manufacture, and additionally allows for the production of terminal-tipped electrical leads, e.g., 3000 pieces per hour, without operator supervision. The purpose is to enable processing.

[Summary of the invention]

By the present invention we provide a machine for measuring and cutting, as well as for use in other machines, or other machines, for carrying out operations on predetermined lengths of insulated conductors. The electrical lead feeder comprises a flexible conveyor having a plurality of laterally extending resilient parts spaced apart from each other along its length, and having any adjacent pair of these parts. During this, a predetermined length of insulated conductor is elastically gripped, and this conveyor is forced to move along its length from the measuring and cutting machine to another machine or group of machines. and a device coupled to the measuring and cutting machine is adapted for inserting insulated conductors cut to predetermined lengths between adjacent pairs of said laterally extending elastic parts of the flexible conveyor. and thus the insulated conductor lengths are gripped between them and provided with means for causing the flexible conveyor to move intermittently over a limited distance along their length, as well as An insulated conductor of a predetermined length is installed downstream of another machine or the last machine in the group of other machines mentioned above.
Means is provided for evacuation from between one adjacent pair of laterally extending resilient parts of the flexible conveyor.

The measuring and cutting machine may further strip the insulation from each predetermined length of insulated conductor at its end or each end, or the last machine in the group may strip the insulation from each predetermined length of insulated conductor. It may be a machine for a specific purpose.

Another machine, or a second machine of a group of other machines (hereinafter referred to as a terminal machine), is employed to cut electrical terminals into strips of insulated conductors cut to predetermined lengths. Secure at the ends to form electrical leads. Under certain conditions, the last of the other machines is a machine for applying a preformed housing of electrically insulating material to the terminald end of an electrical lead; , a machine for insertion into a preformed housing of electrically insulating material.

Preferably, the flexible conveyor is a coil spring of elastic material arranged in an endless loop, the coils of the spring forming a number of laterally extending elastic parts. This is for grasping an insulated conductor of a predetermined length. The coil spring is
Due to their high flexibility in all radial directions, the use of coil springs as flexible conveyors has great advantages, and the positioning of the machine or each machine relative to the measuring and cutting machine is decisive. Instead, when moving between the measuring and cutting machine and the last machine, the coil spring can move in more than one linear direction or one curved direction and does not have to be forced to move in a single plane. Another advantage of using coil springs as a flexible conveyor is that any control station can
By suitably deflecting the portion of the coil spring carrying a predetermined length of insulated conductor, the end of the conductor can be introduced into the bore of the cylindrical terminal or A shaped end can be introduced into the bore of the insulating housing.

If the measuring and cutting machine includes a cutting head which approaches or separates the length of the insulated conductor fed through the machine, it is possible to cut to a predetermined length. A device for inserting insulated conductors between adjacent coils of a coil spring, in other words between adjacent laterally extending elastic parts of a flexible conveyor, is provided by means of a cutting head. is conveyed directly or indirectly, and in a certain form, the cutting head completes its movement in the direction of the length of the insulated conductor being fed to the measuring and cutting machine, and in a predetermined manner. By cutting a length of insulated conductor, the device inserts or causes the cut ends to be inserted between the adjacent coils, ie between the laterally extending elastic parts. In this very simple form,
The conductor insertion device is a bifurcated finger that straddles a coil spring or flexible conveyor and inserts an insulated conductor cut to a predetermined length into a pair of adjacent coils.
That is, it is extruded between elastic parts that extend in the transverse direction.

The measuring and cutting machine further strips the insulation at the end or each end of the cut length of the insulated conductor, and such stripping operation causes the cut length of the insulated conductor to be cut into a cutting head along its length. The conductor insertion device is preferably operatively coupled to the cutting head and configured such that the cutting head performs the cutting operation and the device The cut length of the insulated conductor is first briefly grasped to allow approximately longitudinal movement between the cut length of the insulated conductor and the gripping device during the stripping operation; Grasp the length tightly, the device performs the operation of inserting the cut length of the insulated conductor between a pair of adjacent coils, i.e. the laterally extending elastic parts, and the insulated conductor length is After being inserted between adjacent coils, ie elastic parts, the device releases this grip on the insulated conductor. In this case, the device is operatively coupled to the movable cutting head by mechanical means; however, it is preferred that the device be under the control of the movable cutting head.
Fluid is to be manipulated.

Any suitable means may be employed to cause the coil spring to travel a limited distance along its length after insertion of each successive cut length of insulated conductor, but It is desired that the coil spring move in the same direction as the cutting head when performing a cutting operation. Preferably, the spring loaded pawl is carried directly or indirectly by the cutting head. That is, when the cutting head is moved in a direction to perform a cutting operation, the pawl engages the coil of the coil spring and moves the coil spring a limited distance along its length. However, until another adjacent pair of coil springs lies below the length of insulated conductor that is fed to the measuring and cutting machine. When the cutting head moves in the opposite direction after cutting a predetermined length of the insulated conductor, the claw passes over the coil of the coil spring.

The means for discharging each electrical lead from between adjacent coils of the coil spring may take any convenient form, but preferably it consists of a pulley wheel around which the coil spring is While being forced to move,
This wheel has a flange or groups of flanges of a certain depth, and a coil spring with electrical leads gripped between spaced apart adjacent coils of the coil spring moves partially around a pulley wheel, and the flange or each flange Push each electrical lead out of the coil spring in turn.

For each operation of another machine or group of machines, a coil spring or flexible conveyor adjusts the cut length of the insulated conductor.
conveyed for terminalization or other operations, this operation may be controlled by a microswitch, which is operated by a coil spring, i.e. a flexible conveyor, or by a length of insulated conductor carried by the coil spring. is activated.
However, in the latter case, the coil spring or flexible conveyor is actuated when it is stationary and the conductor is located at the terminal of the machine or other operating station. Preferably, the operating cycles of the measuring and cutting machine, as well as other machines or machines, are synchronized for measuring, cutting the ends or ends of the insulated conductor lengths, and stripping them. , inserting a cut length of insulated conductor between adjacent coils of the coil spring, i.e. between adjacent laterally extending elastic parts of the flexible conveyor;
The operations of terminating the ends of the insulated conductor lengths and applying a preformed housing of insulating material to the terminating ends of the insulated conductor lengths are performed under a single integrated control. and are carried out simultaneously.

What is desired is to strip the insulation from each moving part of an insulated conductor cut to a predetermined length and to terminal each end, as will be described hereinafter. Two electrical lead feeders may be employed. One is associated with the leading end of the insulated conductor cut to a predetermined length of the measuring and cutting machine, and the other is associated with the trailing end of said cut length of the insulated conductor of this machine. combined with Coil springs or flexible conveyors are arranged and moved side by side, but spaced apart from each other, such that the end portions of each cut length of insulated conductor are connected by adjacent coils of two coil springs, i.e. flexible conveyors. It is gripped by a horizontally extending elastic part adjacent to the conveyor. In this case, the movement of the coil spring of the feeder of each electrical lead, i.e. the flexible conveyor, and the operation of other machines or groups of machines are
Synchronized so that the termination of the ends of each cut length of insulated conductor, as well as other operations, are performed simultaneously. Preferably, two coil springs, i.e. flexible conveyors, are arranged and extend approximately parallel to each other.
These are arranged and their downstream end directions are collected. Thus, there is no real risk. That is, there is no risk that the two spring coils, ie the insulated conductors gripped by the flexible conveyor, will be subjected to a certain tension. This tension can be applied laterally to a coil spring or flexible conveyor, to a terminal or other control station.
It will not be positioned correctly. In this latter case, one coil spring preferably has a left-hand position and the other coil spring has a right-hand position, and these are arranged so that the coils of each coil spring are substantially parallel. Lying down, in this direction the insulated conductor length is fed to a measuring and cutting machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example and by a description of a preferred form of an electric lead feeding device, as well as a description of a variant feeding device, in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings.

〔Example〕

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical lead processing device converts a measuring cutting and peeling machine 21, a terminal forming machine 31, and a preformed housing (not shown) made of an electrical insulating material into electrical lead terminals. a machine 41 for insulating the edges, and
Electrical leads cut to a predetermined length are successively sent from the measuring cutting and peeling machine 21 to the terminal forming machine 31, and from the terminal forming machine 31 to the insulating machine 41. A desirable form of electrical lead feeding device 1 is provided for this purpose.

The measuring cutting and peeling machine 21 includes a shaft 22 of approximately rectangular cross section, along which a block 23 reciprocates carrying a clamping jaw 24, which moves to the cutting and peeling position. At 25, in this position the two opposing heads 26 have three opposing pairs of cutters 27. During each cycle of operation of the device, the jaw 24 of block 23 receives the electricity slowly being sent to the device. The leading end of the insulated conductor C is clamped and the insulated conductor C is pulled out through this device. However, this is until a predetermined length of insulated conductor C extends between the block 23 and the cutting and stripping position 25. Three cutters 27 then cut the insulated conductor C at each of three longitudinally spaced locations. The central pair of cutters 27 cut the insulated conductor C to form electrical leads, the leading ends of which are held in the clamping jaws 24. Each of the other pairs of cutters 27 cuts the electrical insulation, but not the conductor itself. A short length of cut insulation on each side of the central cut is stripped away from the conductor by appropriate movement of block 23.

Clamping jaw 24 then returns to release the electrical lead and grasp another leading end of insulated conductor C at cutting and stripping location 25. The movement of the reciprocating block 23 as well as the clamping jaw 24 and the cutting and stripping mechanism is controlled by the motor driven shaft 22 in a manner not critical to the invention. If a predetermined length of electrical lead is required and cannot be obtained with one stroke of block 23, block 23 and jaw 24
is made to move back and forth several times. however,
The action of the blades of the cutter 27 is disabled during the reciprocation of the block 23 until the required length is obtained, and when these blades are activated the required length is obtained.

The terminalizing machine 31 has a main shaft 32,
A pair of crimp blades (not shown) are carried on this shaft 32, and these blades
On the downstroke, the electrical terminals coming into this machine 31 are crimped to the stripped ends of the electrical leads located at the terminalization location 33. The crimped terminal is released from the crimp blade during the first part of the upward stroke.

The insulating machine 41 has a reciprocating finger 42 which is linked end-to-end to a preceding preformed housing of a chain of preformed housings (not shown). is intermittently extruded onto the terminalized end of the electrical lead located at the location of insulation 43 .

The electrical lead feeding device 1 comprises a coil spring 2 in the form of an endless loop, which loop around spaced apart pulley wheels 3, 4.
It is arranged to move in the direction of its length. The pulley wheel 3 is located on the side of the measuring cutting and stripping machine 21 remote from the terminal forming machine 31, and the pulley wheel 4 is located on the side of the insulating machine 41 remote from the terminal forming machine 31.

Since the axes of the pulley wheels 3 and 4 are inclined, the portion of the coil spring 2 that returns from the pulley wheel 4 to the pulley wheel 3 is not directly below the portion of the coil spring 2 that moves from the pulley wheel 3 to the pulley wheel 4. .

Operationally coupled to one of the heads 26 is an insertion device 5 for inserting an electrical lead cut to a predetermined length between adjacent coils of the coil spring 2, as well as a terminalization machine. and a spring-loaded pawl 6 (not shown) for moving the coil spring 2 by a certain limited distance in the direction of 31.

Associated with the termination machine 31 is a microswitch 34 which, when actuated by an electrical lead positioned at the termination position 33 and cut to a predetermined length, causes the termination to occur. perform the operations of the machine 31; Also associated with the insulating machine 41 is a microswitch 44 which is placed in the insulating position 43 and activated by an electrical lead cut to a predetermined length. , performs a reciprocating action of finger 42 to provide a preformed housing to the terminalized end of the electrical lead.

The rim of the pulley wheel 4 is joined by a pair of flanges 7 of a certain depth, and when a portion of the coil spring 2 carrying the electrical lead passes around the pulley wheel 4, which is the ejector, the flanges 7 , push out electrical leads from between adjacent coils of the coil spring 2.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the insertion device 5 for inserting the electrical lead 50 cut to a predetermined length between adjacent coils of the coil spring 2 has a bifurcated structure. The gripper 51 is provided with an elastic gripper 51, which is arranged on a piston 52 operated by compressed air and actuated by a cylinder 53 located below an insulated conductor C which is passed between the heads 26. . Each finger of the two-pronged resilient gripper 51 is grooved to accept a cut length of electrical lead. The slot 54 for receiving the electrical lead is filled, so that the electrical lead gripped by the gripper 51 lies approximately parallel to the coil of the underlying coil spring 2. This is because electrical leads are inserted between these adjacent coils.

As a variant, the coil spring 2 may be forced to move in a certain direction, so that between the coils of the coil spring 2 an electrical lead cut to length may be inserted. Note that these coils lie approximately parallel to the direction in which the insulated conductor C is fed by the machine 21.

The reciprocating movement of the piston 52 is controlled by the switching valve 28.
, which in one position delivers pressurized air to the rear of the cylinder 53 and in the other two positions to the front of the cylinder. The switching valve 28 is actuated or not actuated by one of the heads 26 with the cutter 27.

In operation of the electrical lead processing device, when the head 26 moves inward and the cutter 27 cuts a predetermined length of the insulated conductor C, the switching valve 28 is not actuated and air flows into the cylinder 53.
is sent to the rear of the piston 52 to move the piston 52 to the forward position. Piston 52 in this position
is shown in FIG. The gripper 51 holds the electrical lead 50 cut to a predetermined length.
I'm holding onto it. Stripping the insulation from the cut end of electrical lead 50 is then accomplished. The smooth grip of gripper 51 allows electrical lead 50 to slide longitudinally relative to gripper 51 . The heads 26 then move apart from each other and the switching valve 28
is switched to direct air to the front of cylinder 53 and cause piston 52 to retract into its retracted position. When the piston 52 is retracted, the gripper 51 is brought downwardly against the coil spring 2 which passes between the fingers of the two prongs.
The side outer surface of the gripper 51 has a camming surface 55 that engages the interface of the aperture 56 so that the gripper 51 tightly grips the electrical lead 50. This electrical lead appears to be inserted between adjacent coils of the coil spring 2. When the gripper 51 emerges from the aperture 56, the grip on the electrical lead 50 is released and another length of the insulated conductor C is then measured by the measuring cutting and stripping machine 21. After that, head 2
6 moves, and the cutter 27 cuts the insulated conductor C. The spring-loaded pawl 6 then grips the coil spring 2 and causes it to move a limited distance in the direction of the termination machine 31, while the switching valve 28 Without being switched, air is directed to the rear of cylinder 53, driving piston 52 upwards and causing gripper 51 to grip the next cut length of insulated conductor C. This sequence of operations is repeated for each length of insulated conductor C that is measured and cut.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative device 5 for inserting cut lengths of insulated conductor between adjacent coils of a coil spring 2. FIG. Parts are given the same reference numerals where they are similar to parts of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the device shown in FIG. 4, the twin elastic grippers are carried by a member 61 connected to two levers 63 of a toggle mechanism 62;
The other lever 64 of this mechanism is fixed to the head 26 of the machine 21. This arrangement thus causes the beds 26 to move towards each other and the cutters 27 to
When cutting a length of insulated conductor C, toggle mechanism 62 raises the gripper so that the gripper lightly grips the cut length of insulated conductor.
After stripping the insulated conductor cut end, the head 26 is released and the toggle mechanism 62 moves the gripper downwardly through the aperture 56. Cam surface 55
operates as described above.

The modified electrical lead feeding device shown in FIG. 5 employs an electrical processing device, includes a measuring and cutting mechanism 121, two peeling machines 122 combined with this mechanism, and two terminal forming machines 13.
1 and two insulating machines 141.

One stripping machine 122, one terminaling machine 131 and one insulating machine 141
is combined with the leading edge of a measured and cut length of insulated conductor C, and one stripping machine, one terminating machine, and one insulating machine are combined with a measured and cut length of insulated conductor C. Combined with the trailing end of the cut length. Each set of stripping, termination and insulation machines has an associated feed device 101.

Each feeding device 101 includes a coil spring 102 arranged in a closed loop, and
When forced, it moves intermittently around a pair of spaced apart pulleys (not shown) by spring-loaded pawls (not shown), similar to that described in connection with FIG. . Measuring and cutting machine 1
Operationally coupled to the cutting head 126 of 21 are two bifurcated fingers 105;
These fingers, each included in each feeder, are used to force one end of a cut length of insulated conductor between adjacent coils of the combined coil spring 102. However, this is the case when the cutting head is moved to perform the cutting of the insulated conductor C fed through the machine 121. In each stripping machine 122, the end of a cut length of insulated conductor carried by a coil spring is actuated by a microswitch 125 when it is positioned on the stripping table 123. Extrusion device 1
24 is used to push the coil spring away from the stripping machine. The cut insulator is thus peeled off from the end of the insulated conductor C. Terminal and insulation machines 131, 141
operates as described in connection with FIG. The operation of the machine as well as the coil spring movement of both feeders is synchronized so that the ends of each predetermined cut length of insulated conductor are simultaneously terminalized and , insulated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a preformed electrical lead delivery system. 2 and 3 are front and plan views, respectively, of the apparatus shown in FIG. A device for inserting lengths. FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative apparatus for inserting predetermined cut lengths of insulated conductor between adjacent coils of a coil spring. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the electrical lead feeding device. C: (electrically insulated) conductor, 1: Electric lead feeding device, 2: Coil spring (flexible conveyor), 4: Pulley wheel (exhaust device), 5: Insertion device, 21: Measuring cut and peeling machine ,3
1: Terminal machine, 41: Insulating machine.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A feeding device for electrical leads for use in measuring and cutting machines and other machines performing operations on predetermined lengths of insulated conductors is provided with a flexible conveyor, said conveyor from the measuring and cutting machine to said other machine in the direction of its length; means, the flexible conveyor having a predetermined length of insulated conductor between any adjacent pair of a plurality of laterally extending resilient members spaced apart from one another along its length; for inserting an insulated conductor cut to a predetermined length between adjacent pairs of said laterally extending elastic parts of said flexible conveyor; having a device 5 coupled to said machine of , such that the length of said insulated conductor is
caught between these, and downstream of the other machine or the last machine of the plurality of other machines;
A device 4 is provided for discharging a predetermined length of insulated conductor from between adjacent pairs of laterally extending elastic parts of said flexible conveyor, further comprising said flexible conveyor being arranged in an endless loop. It consists of coil springs 2 made of elastic material arranged in
An electrical lead comprising the plurality of laterally extending elastic parts, wherein an insulated conductor of a predetermined length can be elastically gripped between any adjacent pairs of the plurality of laterally extending elastic parts. feeding device.