Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
  • H02G1/12—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for removing insulation or armouring from cables, e.g. from the end thereof
  • H02G1/1202—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for removing insulation or armouring from cables, e.g. from the end thereof by cutting and withdrawing insulation
  • H02G1/1248—Machines
  • H02G1/1265—Machines the cutting element rotating about the wire or cable

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method and a device for stripping cable or wire end pieces, in particular electrical or fiber-optic cables with a coaxial structure.
• Such methods and devices have long been known.
• EP-B-195932 describes a type of stripping device that is widely used worldwide.
• this structure essentially comprises clamping jaws, centering jaws, knife jaws and a stop for the manually guided cable end piece, which - particularly in several stages - is to be cut and stripped.
• the stop assumes the function of a length adjustment for the cable end piece and the function of recognizing that the preset length has been passed through with the cable end piece and that its end thus rests against the stop at a certain distance from the clamping jaws.
• the stop is therefore connected to a stop sensor.
• the stop sensor was dispensed with and instead a process step was offered in which the knives or centering jaws were closed in a predetermined axial position before the cable end piece was inserted, and the cable end piece could thus be struck against the closed knife or centering jaws . Since the knife or centering jaws were moved to the corresponding longitudinal position beforehand, comparable to the stop according to the EP-B, the knives and centering jaws took over the full length setting function for the cable end piece.
• the first described method is difficult to use with relatively soft cable end pieces.
• the second method described tries to overcome this disadvantage, but it is particularly difficult to use with soft and thin cables.
• soft insulation on cables can be shifted axially relative to the conductor, so that the measurement can be faulty.
• the additional method step of length measurement in the second method delays the stripping process in comparison to the method described first.
• the invention is therefore based on the object of creating a new method and an improved device in which thin and relatively soft cable end pieces can be determined in terms of length without additional loss of time.
• the time required for measuring the length is practically reduced to zero, since the measurement takes place at the same time as the cable is inserted.
• the consistency of the cable does not play a major role here, because with a suitable design of the measuring device, a soft or curved cable can also be measured with sufficient accuracy.
• the length measurement in the sense of the invention relates to measurement processes with a continuously acting - in particular non-contact - measuring device, but also includes incremental or digital or step-shaped measurement methods. In the simplified extreme case, the measuring method can even measure through the eyes of the operating personnel, e.g. along a built-in scale or along a scale printed on the cables.
• the device according to the invention is used for stripping conventional cables, which, however, can optionally also be pretreated.
• markings compatible with length measurement on the surface of a cable or to print other information which supports a measurement process, in particular a light-optical one.
• a clamping device in the sense of the invention is a device that holds the inserted cable in a certain axial position. If necessary, it can itself also be displaceable relative to the frame of the stripping device.
• Clamping devices are not limited to clamping jaws alone. You could also rotatable idlers or the like. exhibit.
• Tension rollers are largely not limited to single rollers; it could also have several roles or roles with conveyor belts or the like. apply.
• the stripping depends on a relative movement of the knife device to the clamping means.
• the present invention encompasses all possibilities for producing such a relative movement, but expressly not an endless feed of an endless cable in an endless cable processing machine with drive rollers or drive belts, such as e.g. the structure "Powerstrip 9500" of the applicant.
• claim 1 goes further in that it also provides protection for stripping devices in which not only - or instead of - the length of the inserted cable, other dimensions are detected virtually without contact.
• this can be, for example, thickness or type information, which is either coded on the cable are applied and practically only read, or which are actually measured by means of a measuring device.
• measuring devices are known in industry that could be used for this, for example. Parallel light projectors with optical scanning, video cameras with computerized image evaluation, etc.
• Fig.l a structure according to the mentioned WO98 / 08283, but with rigid guide rods; 2 shows a variant of this with detachable guide rods; 3 shows a structure with two rollers acting as a tensioning device;
• 4 shows a variant of this with a measuring wheel
• 5 shows a variant with rigid jaws and a diode array for optical length scanning
• FIG. 6 shows a variant with length measurement via image processing
• 7 shows a structure with optical waveguides integrated in clamping jaws for optical surface scanning and signal transmission to optical length measuring sensors
• 7a-7d schematic measurement diagrams on a device according to Fig.7;
• FIG. 8 shows a variant of a measuring device which dispenses with light-optical sensors
• FIG. 9 shows the basic diagram of the new stripping process with length measurement
• the present invention expressly refers to structures according to WO98 / 08283 with its priority date of August 21, 1996.
• the structures specified there, in particular the structures according to FIGS. 1 and 2, are considered to be disclosed in the context of the present application.
• the details given there with respect to the arrangement of an optical sensor for optically detecting a length measurement could be combined with the present invention in accordance with the structure in FIG.
• the axial displaceability of the light-optical sensor provided in the specified WO patent application is of course not a condition for the present invention, but it can be provided if necessary. Mixed operation or carrying out different types of measurement in succession is also conceivable within the scope of the invention.
• the present invention is in no way restricted to rotating stripping knives, but can be used with any type of stripping device in which cable end pieces are pushed behind or under or through open clamping jaws, in order to then clamped - if necessary pushed further - and to be processed.
• This also results in the essential difference to conventional continuous stripping devices, in which cables are unwound from an endless cable drum and continuously fed to a processing point by means of conveyor rollers or conveyor belts.
• the measuring techniques used there for length measurement are based on completely different requirements due to the completely different type of cable feed and were obviously never intended until the day of the present invention. can also be used in this category of stripping machines.
• Fig.1 rigidly connected to the frame 1 of the stripping device.
• the sensors 14a, 15a which are known per se and can be implemented by various optical measures, are thus in a fixed relationship to a tensioning device 12a and the frame 1.
• a cable end 13 pushed through the tensioning device 12a is replaced by the optical sensors, which are equipped with a corresponding electronic Control 27 are coupled to a corresponding evaluation circuit, measured in length.
• rollers 12b acting as a tensioning device, which can be placed radially on the cable end piece 13. These rollers 12b are connected to an encoder 35a, which converts their rotary movement into a length specification via the cable end piece 13 pushed through them.
• This length measuring process is triggered, for example, by a light-optical reflex sensor, which is symbolically represented by 15b and 14a.
• a light-optical reflex sensor which is symbolically represented by 15b and 14a.
• the rigid distance ⁇ L3 between the roll axis of rotation and the measuring line of the reflex sensor is known in the control system, which is not shown in detail.
• the rollers 12b which initially only take on a tensioning and measuring function, can also be connected to a rotary drive 36, which pushes the cable end piece into the stripping device in a controlled manner and, if necessary, also pulls it out again, so that the actual insertion process is no longer controlled by hand but by motor he follows.
• the advantage of this invention is a higher insertion precision and possibly also a higher insertion speed than with manual insertion.
• rollers can also directly participate in the stripping process by pulling the cable back against closed knives, so that the stripping process and the retraction process of the cable are combined.
• This is in itself an inventive idea, for which independent protection is also sought.
• Such a stripping machine still differs significantly from stripping devices with continuous cable feed and from integrated cable processing automatons.
• This new concept also includes axially displaceable clamping jaws, the cable length of which is measured directly via the feed path.
• these could also be external manipulators with their own drives.
• FIG. 4 A variant of this is shown in FIG. 4, in which clamping jaws 12d are used instead of rotating tensioning rollers 12b, which are longitudinally displaceable on a push rod 42 controlled by a push drive 43.
• clamping jaws 12d are used instead of rotating tensioning rollers 12b, which are longitudinally displaceable on a push rod 42 controlled by a push drive 43.
• the cable end piece 13 is already clamped by the clamping jaws 12d before the actual measuring process. This is done in an area away from the length measuring device and the cutting device.
• the displacement drive 43 then moves the cable end piece 13 in a controlled manner in the insertion direction. Since this pushing in corresponds to the manual insertion process of a cable, this does not result in any loss of time.
• the displacement drive is encoded, the start signal for the length measurement by passing through the end of the cable end piece 13 e.g. a light barrier (14a, 15a) is triggered.
• measuring wheel 12c has no tensioning or transport function, but only serves to measure length.
• the measuring wheel is spring-loaded in the radial cable direction by a pressure spring 44.
• the measuring wheel 12c, or the like with an encoder. 35b is coupled, a ramp or sliding surface 45 is juxtaposed.
• a roller 12d could also be provided, which is preferably also spring-loaded in the cable radial direction by means of spring 44b.
• One advantage of such a structure is that depending on the cable shape. Even more curved cables can be measured well.
• Another exemplary idea serves to dispense with light optics: If a box is inserted in the last-mentioned embodiment, this is first triggered by the
• a device with preferably axially rigid jaws 12a.
• a diode array 14c e.g. CCD
• the control 27 can be selected such that the clamping jaws 12a close after a programmed length has been reached. Incidentally, this process is generally also advantageous for the other devices. If necessary, since this closing process can lead to inaccuracies, readjustment can also be carried out as soon as the length measuring device, in the case of FIG. 5 the diode array 14c, detects that the programmed length has been exceeded or fallen short of. The adjustment can be reflected in the cutting knives by appropriate consideration or can be carried out for direct displacement of the cable with the aid of an axial displacement possibility of the clamping jaws 12a.
• the length measurement is carried out by image processing by means of - per se known - image processing device 37, which is coupled to the controller 27.
• image processing software it is possible to determine the length even with cables with any curvature.
• This structure also offers the advantage of having a direct picture of the position of the cable and the position of the tools in the area of the cable - for observation purposes or for documentation - in machine-processable form.
• Illumination 15c is also shown symbolically, which may also operate in the IR range.
• the present variant also includes structures with a stereo camera for three-dimensional room detection.
• FIG. 7 symbolically indicates a clamping jaw arrangement 12e and f, into which optical waveguides 38 are integrated, which on the one hand serve for possible illumination (38a and 39a), but on the other hand also serve to record length information.
• a possible length detection method is explained by way of example together with FIGS. 7a-7d. It is a method which has comparative surface analyzers 35c, d for length measurement - which may measure on length information printed for measurement purposes or on the natural surface condition of the cable:
• Surface analyzers 35c and 35d view the cable surface at two axially consecutive locations through the optical waveguides 38b.
• the ends of the optical waveguides 38b on the cable side lie at a certain distance ⁇ Ll or ⁇ L2 from one another. If a cable 13 is now inserted, the sharp change in the observation field leads to a steep signal rise at signal receivers 39 ad, which are attached to the sensor-side fiber optic ends.
• Such an exemplary signal curve is indicated in FIGS. 7a-7d.
• the rapid signal increase on Sensor 39a according to FIG. 7b selected which after a rapid signal increase at sensor 39b according to FIG. Fig.7a takes place.
• the inserted length can be calculated from the fact of the signal repetition by adding a corresponding number of partial lengths ⁇ Ll. Since this distance can be chosen to be very small due to the thin design of optical waveguides, this method allows an exact length measurement.
• the accuracy of this measurement method can be improved by arranging a second pair of sensors 39c and d - in particular axially and around the circumference of the cable 13 - and the length value between the results of both sensor pairs 39a, b and 39c, d by means of a correction calculation is determined more precisely.
• a light source 15c is also indicated symbolically, which is in particular attached such that it particularly emphasizes the surface structures on the cable 13 (e.g. shadow effect, special light color, etc.).
• a further independent inventive concept lies in the labeling of a cable with machine control information before stripping, for example before, during or after cutting to length, the stripping machine or the cutting machine being equipped with a sensor or with a reading device with which this control information is read and introduced into the machine control system, so that the user no longer has to program the stripping or cutting machine separately; to a certain extent, the programming is carried out automatically.
• Any code such as barcode, numeric code, barcode, etc., can be used as a label.
• FIG. 9 shows a schematic sequence with self-explanatory method steps, the juxtaposition of method steps signifying their simultaneity. Simultaneity in the sense of the invention is only preferred, or the individual method steps can also overlap.
• 1a Fixed frame Running carriage Guide rods Stripping head preferably rotatable Head shaft Wedge surface for knife lever Wedge surface for centering jaw lever Knife lever Centering jaw lever 0 Stripping knife, cutting device 1 centering jaw 2 clamping jaws, clamping device; 12b, d roll 12e measuring wheel 3 cable end piece 4 optical sensor; 14a light barrier; 14c diode array; 14d image recording unit 5 optical sensor; 15a light barrier; 15b light button; 15c lighting 6 pressure spring for centering jaws 7 drive motor for control with encoder, stepper motor, potentiometer-controlled or the like. 8 Threaded spindle for knife centering jaw control 9 Motor for head rotation 0 Motor for axial feed with encoder, stepper motor, potentiometer-controlled or the like. 1 threaded spindle for feed chute 2 drive belt 3 centering or rotating axis 4 arrow 5 light beam 6 input unit 7 electronic control 5 length measuring device; 5a encoder on rollers (drive) 5b measuring wheel cd surface analyzers drive for roll
• Image processing apparatus image evaluation unit optical fiber, fiber optic cable; Signal receiver Manipulator arm Coupling Push rod Push drive Push spring Ramp or sliding surface

Landscapes

• Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
• Removal Of Insulation Or Armoring From Wires Or Cables (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=4196943

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (16)

Citations (4)

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• 1998
  • 1998-04-07 DE DE59805616T patent/DE59805616D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-07 WO PCT/IB1998/000505 patent/WO1998047209A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1998-04-07 EP EP98909705A patent/EP0976186B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-07 JP JP54365898A patent/JP2001519998A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1998-04-07 US US09/403,194 patent/US6286393B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (4)

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