Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
  • H01B13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
  • H01B13/02—Stranding-up

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for fabricating a twisted pair cable configured of twisted paired wires to make a twisted pair cable that is excel in signal protection against electrical noise, for example.
• PTL1 describes a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus in which connectors connected to ends of paired electric wires are fixed to corresponding receiving jigs, the paired electric wires are inserted respectively into electric wire insertion grooves in a central driven gear, and the driven gear is rotated by a drive gear to twist together the paired electric wires.
• PTL2 describes, as a conventional example, a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus in which terminals at one ends of paired electric wires are fixed to a stationary member, while terminals at the other ends are fixed to a rotary-member, and the l paired electric wires are twisted together by rotating the rotary-member.
• a configuration is described in which paired electric wires are fed out towards the other end side while one end portions of the paired electric wires are twisted within cylindrical portions, and a rotor at an intermediate portion is rotated in the same direction as the direction of the twisting at the one end portions so as to twist together the paired electric wires.
• PTL 3 describes a twisted pair cable fabrication -apparatus in which one of electric wire clamps is driven to rotate by a drive unit, while the other electric wire clamp is fixed in place, an installation station for installing electric wires in the electric wire clamps is placed at an upstream end to move forwards intermittently the electric wire clamp at the one end and the electric wire clamp at the other end in a direction which intersects the direction in which they face each other, and a removal station for removing the resulting twisted pair cable from the electric wire clamps is placed at a downstream side.
• a worker 71 takes out two electric wires 72 from an electric wires resting table 80 and sets respectively one ends (ends A) 72a of the paired electric wires 72 in corresponding clamps 73. Then, the worker moves to the other end sides 72b of the electric wires and sets respectively the other ends (ends B) 72b of the paired electric wires 72 in the other corresponding clamps 74. The worker 71 switches on a switch 75 and moves an intermediate rotor 76 to the one end 72a sides of the electric wires.
• the worker 71 moves to the one end 72a sides of the electric wires and moves the rotor 76 the other end 72b sides of the electric wires along a rail 78 while rotating the rotor 76 by a motor 77. At the same time, the worker 71 rotates the other ends 72b of the electric wires in the same direction as the direction in which the rotor 76 rotates by a motor 79 so as to twist the paired electric wires 72. Then, the worker 71 winds a tape around one end 72a of the resulting twisted pair cable and releases the clamps 73.
• the worker 71 moves to the other end 72b sides of the electric wires, winds a tape around the other end 72b of the twisted pair cable and releases the other clams 74. Then, the worker 71 discharges the completed twisted pair cable (the product) in a direction indicated by an arrow to a completed products resting table 81 .
• the several steps are necessary of 1 ) setting paired electric wires, 2) twisting the paired electric wires, and 3) winding a tape and discharging the completed twisted pair cable.
• no operation can be performed at the equipment 82 while the worker 71 sets the paired electric wires 72, producing waiting time for operation at the equipment 82.
• the worker 71 cannot set other paired electric wires while the equipment 82 operates, producing waiting time for action at the worker 71 .
• the tape is wound so as to prevent the untwisting of the twisted electric wires 72.
• the installation of the electric wires into the clamps, the twisting of the electric wires and the removal of the completed twisted pair cable are deployed in a planar fashion, and this leads to fears that the width of the fabrication apparatus (a dimension in the electric wire feeding direction) has to be enlarged.
• the invention has been made in view of the situations, and an object thereof is to provide an apparatus and method for fabricating a twisted pair cable which can execute the setting of electric wires, twisting of the electric wires and winding of a tape around the resulting twisted pair cable and discharging the same without involving any waiting time and moreover with less space.
• a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus comprising a first intermittent rotary-member having clamps fixing one ends of paired electric wires on each of three circumferential surfaces, a second intermittent rotary-member having clamps fixing the other ends of the paired electric wires and a motor rotating the clamps in a circumferential direction on each of three circumferential surfaces, and a driving unit intermittently rotating the first and second intermittent rotary-members by one thirds a full rotation at a time, wherein the three surfaces comprise a paired electric wires setting-plane, a paired electric wires twisting-plane and a twisted pair cable tape-widing-and-twisting-plane.
• both the ends of the paired electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second intermittent rotary-members at the electric wires setting-planes. Then, both the intermittent rotary-members are rotated by one third the full rotation in a circumferential direction, whereby the circumferential surfaces where the electric wires are set move to the paired electric wires twisting-planes. Then, the paired electric wires are twisted together by the rotation of the motor. At the same time, other paired electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes.
• both the intermittent rotary-members are rotated further by one third the full rotation in the circumferential direction, and the circumferential surfaces where the paired electric wires are twisted into a twisted pair cable move to the twisted pair cable tape-widing-and-twisting-planes, and the circumferential surfaces where the tape is wound around the ends of the twisted pair cable and the twisted pair cable so treated is discharged move to the electric wire setting-planes.
• the tape is wound around the ends of the twisted pair cable and the twisted pair cable so treated is then discharged from the circumferential surface at the twisted pair cable tape-widing-and-twisting-planes, at the same time, the paired electric wires newly set are twisted together on the circumferential surface at the paired electric wires twisting-planes, and at the same time, other paired electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes.
• the setting of paired electric wires, twisting of the paired electric wires and winding of the tape around the ends of the twisted pair cable and discharging of the twisted pair cable so treated are executed simultaneously on the three planes.
• the discharging of the twisted pair cable (the falling of the twisted pair cable by its own weight) is executed by automatically opening both the clamps.
• an automatic discharging machine may be set.
• the three planes may also be referred to as three stations or three steps.
• a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus as set forth in the first aspect, wherein an ascendable rotor is disposed which moves between the circumferential surfaces of the first and second intermittent rotary-members at the paired-electric-wires-twisting-plane towards the first intermittent rotary-member towards the second intermittent rotary-member while twisting the paired electric wires, the rotor having a cutout opening portion into which the electric wires are inserted and a twisting portion, and wherein the motor rotates in the same direction and at the same rotation speed as the rotor.
• the rotor ascends between the circumferential surfaces of the apparatus which are at the paired electric wires twisting-plane, and the paired electric wires are inserted into the cutout portion of the rotor. Then, the rotor rotates in that state, and the motor rotates similarly, whereby the paired electric wires are twisted neatly at equal pitches. After the twisting is completed , the rotor descends and the resulting twisted pair cable is removed to the outside along the twisting portion from the cutout opening portion. Thus, the first and second intermittent rotary-members are allowed to rotate further by one third the full rotation (the twisted pair cable is transferred to the twisted pair cable tape-widing-and-twisting-plane).
• a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus as set forth in the first or second aspect, wherein the drive means includes an air cylinder which rotates the first and second intermittent rotary-members via a link and torque brakes which are connected to axes of the first and second intermittent rotary-members, respectively.
• the intermittent rotary-members become rotatable in such a state that the brakes applied by the torque brakes are not released , and the air cylinder is compressed or extended in that state, whereby the intermittent rotary-members rotate in the circumferential direction by one third the full rotation, and the torque brakes lock the intermittent rotary-members in that state.
• a rotation control mechanism is placed in each torque brake, the intermittent rotary-member can rotate without releasing the brake. It is effective to employ a damper to absorb the inertial force of the intermittent rotary-member (an impact produced when the intermittent rotary-member stops).
• a twisted pair cable fabrication method employing the twisted pair cable fabrication apparatus set forth in the first or second aspect, comprising the steps of setting both the ends of the paired electric wires on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second intermittent rotary-members at the electric wires setting-planes, rotating both the intermittent rotary-members by one third the full rotation in the circumferential direction so that the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes move to the paired electric wires twisting-planes, twisting the paired electric wires at the paired electric wires twisting-planes by rotation of the motor set forth in the first aspect or by rotation of the rotor set forth in the second aspect, at the same time, setting other electric wires on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes, rotating further the first and second intermittent rotary-members one third the full rotation in the circumferential direction so that the circumferential surfaces at the paired electric wires twisting-planes move to
• both the ends of the paired electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second intermittent rotary-members at the electric wires setting-planes, that is, both the ends of the paired electric wires are fixedly held by the clamps. Then, both the intermittent rotary-members are rotated by one third the full rotation in the circumferential direction so that the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes move to the paired electric wires twisting-planes.
• the paired electric wires are twisted at the paired electric wires twisting-planes by rotation of the motor set forth in the first aspect or by rotation of the rotor set forth in the second aspect and rotation of the clamps on the second intermittent rotary-member in the same direction .
• other electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes.
• the first and second intermittent rotary-members are rotated further one third the full rotation in the circumferential direction so that the circumferential surfaces at the paired electric wires twisting-planes moves to the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes and the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes moves to the electric wires setting-planes.
• the tape is wound around ends of the twisted pair cable and the twisted pair cable so treated is discharged at the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes, at the same time, the paired electric wires newly set are twisted at the paired electric wires twisting-planes, and at the same time, other electric wires are set on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes.
• the setting of paired electric wires, twisting of the paired electric wires and winding of the tape around the ends of the twisted pair cable and discharging of the twisted pair cable so treated are executed simultaneously on the three planes.
• the setting paired electric wires, twisting of the paired electric wires and winding of the tape around the ends of the twisted pair cable and discharging of the twisted pair cable so treated are executed simultaneously on the three circumferential planes, and therefore, the productivity of twisted pair cables can be increased by eliminating the waiting time for action and operation at the worker and the apparatus (the equipment).
• the apparatus can be made small in size in the width direction and hence the space therefor can be saved by rotating the three circumferential surfaces by one third the full rotation at a time to the electric wires setting-planes, the paired electric wires twisting-planes and the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes sequentially.
• the apparatus can be disposed compact in a narrow and long space in the plant.
• the paired electric wires can be twisted neatly at equal pitches, and the twisted pair cable is released at the raised position of the rotor, so that the intermittent rotary-members can smoothly be moved to the following working planes.
• each intermittent rotary-member can be indexed accurately to the working planes by the air cylinder and the torque brake, thereby making it possible to increase the paired electric wires twisting performance and the tape winding performance.
• the setting of paired electric wires, twisting of the paired electric wires and winding of the tape around the ends of the twisted pair cable and discharging of the twisted pair cable so treated are executed simultaneously on the three circumferential planes, and therefore, the productivity of twisted pair cables can be increased by eliminating the waiting time for action and operation at the worker and the apparatus (the equipment).
• the apparatus can be made small in size in the width direction and hence the space therefor can be saved by rotating the three circumferential surfaces by one third the full rotation at a time to the electric wires setting-planes, the paired electric wires twisting-planes and the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes sequentially.
• the apparatus can be disposed compact in a narrow and long space in the plant.
• Fig . 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the same twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus in an enlarged fashion.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one mode of a rotor unit suitable for the twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus.
• Fig. 4(a) is a schematic plan view showing a state in which paired electric wires are twisted by a rotor
• Fig. 4(b) is a plan view showing a completed twisted pair cable.
• Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the function of the twisted wire fabrication-apparatus and a mode of a twisted pair cable fabrication method.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a form of a conventional twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus.
• Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a twisted pair cable fabrication apparatus according to the invention.
• this twisted pair cable fabrication-apparatus 1 includes a first intermittent rotary-member 4 which has clamps 3 for fixing one ends (ends A) of paired electric wires 2 (Fig. 2) on each of three circumferential surfaces 7 to 9 and a second intermittent rotary-member 13 which has a pair of clamps 5 for fixing the other ends (ends B) of the paired electric 2 wires and a motor 6 for rotating the paired electric wires 2 together with the clamps 5 on each of three circumferential surfaces 10 to 12.
• near-side circumferential surfaces 7, 10 of the intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 constitute electric wires setting-planes
• lower circumferential surfaces 8, 11 of the same members constitute paired electric wires twisting-planes
• far-side circumferential surfaces 9, 12 thereof constitute twisted pair cable tape-winding-and-disposing-planes.
• the intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 rotate simultaneously by one third a full rotation at a time in a circumferential direction or in a counterclockwise (leftward) direction as is indicated by an arrow A, whereby the circumferential surfaces 7, 10 where the paired electric wires are set at the electric wire setting-planes move to the pared electric wires twisting-plane 8, 11 , the circumferential surfaces 8, 11 where the paired electric wires are twisted at the paired electric wires twisting-planes move to the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes 9, 11 , and the circumferential surfaces 9, 12 where a tape is wound around ends of the twisted pair cable and the twisted pair cable so treated is discharged move to the electric wire setting-planes 7, 10.
• the first intermittent rotary-member 4 includes front and rear vertical plate portions 14, 15 in which three apex portions of regular triangles are cut to form short side end faces 14a, 15a and three long side end faces 14b, 15b which lie between the three short side end faces are formed into attaching surfaces, base plates 16 which are fixed to the front and rear long side end faces 14b, 15b and clamps 3 which are disposed on a front surface (an outer surface) side of each base plate 16.
• Each base plate 16 constitutes part of three side portions of a regular triangle, and an intersecting internal angle formed between extended planes of the base plates 16 is 60°. Front-to-rear lengths and width dimensions of the base plates 16 are the same.
• the base plate 16 on the lower side lies horizontally, and the left and right base plates 16 (at the electric wire setting-plane and the discharging plane) on the upper side are inclined at an internal angle of 60°.
• the clamps 3 are disposed so as to be separated horizontally or vertically to fix separately one ends 2a of two or paired electric wires 2.
• a lever 3a is moved forwards to open a groove 3c in a block 3b by a wedge member which is integral with the lever 3a so that the electric wire 2 is inserted into the groove 3c, and thereafter, the wedge member is withdrawn together with the lever 3a so that the groove 3c is closed by virtue of the force of a coil spring 3d , whereby the electric wire 2 is pressed (held) in place.
• the groove 3c is opened (Fig . 2 shows a state in which the electric wire 2 is being set). Terminals are connected to ends 2a, 2b of the electric wires 2 through crimping connection, and the terminals are accommodated in wide portions of the grooves 3c.
• reference numeral 17 denotes a short air cylinder for releasing the clamp 3
• reference numeral 1 8 denotes a long air cylinder for applying a backward tension (a tensile force) by moving forwards or backwards the clamp 3.
• Movable base plates also denoted by reference numerals 7 to 9) to which the clamps 3 are fixed are brought into slidable engagement with rails 19 extending horizontally in a front-to-rear direction on the base plates 16.
• Rods 18a of the long air cylinders 18 are connected to the movable base plates 7 to 9, and a backward tension is applied to the electric wires 2 with the air cylinders 18 compressed in Fig. 2. Mechanisms of these cylinders will be proposed separately.
• Clamps 3 are not limited to those described in this embodiment, and any clamps can be used as required which can grip and fix in place end portions 2a of electric wires 2.
• a construction can also be adopted in which end portions 2a of two electric wires 2 are clamped together so as to apply the backward tension to the electric wires 2 altogether.
• the clamps 3 can be provided on the fixed base plates 16.
• the base plates 16 constitute the circumferential surface where electric wires are set at the electric wires setting-plane.
• the plate portion 15 on a proximal end side of the first intermittent rotary-member 4 is connected to a central horizontal shaft portion, and the shaft portion continues to a shaft portion of a torque brake (a torque clutch) 21 at an upper end of a vertical strut 20 in Fig. 1.
• a torque brake a torque clutch
• rotatably connected to this shaft portion is an upper end of a rod of an upwardly oriented air cylinder 23 via a link 22, and a lower end of the air cylinder 23 is rotatably supported and fixed to the strut 20.
• a drive means is made up of at least the air cylinder 23 and the torque brake 21. Commercially available parts are employed as the air cylinder 23 and the torque brake 21 .
• the torque brake 21 is released from a state shown in Fig.
• the first intermittent rotary-member 4 can rotate without releasing the brake. This will be true with the second intermittent rotary-member 13, which will be described later.
• This intermittent rotary motion can be implemented by a pneumatic actuator without relying on the torque brake 21 and the air cylinder 23.
• the first intermittent rotary-member 4 can move slidably back and forth on horizontal rails on a base (not shown) of the apparatus depending on the set length of electric wires 2.
• the second intermittent rotary-member 13 includes front and rear plate portions 24, 25 which have three side end faces 24a, 25a which constitute part of three sides of front and rear regular triangles and side end faces 24b, 25b which lie between the side end faces 24a, 25a, three base plates (also denoted by reference numerals 10 to 12) which connect together the three side end faces 24b, 25b of the front and rear plate portions 24, 25, short struts 27 erected on front surfaces (outer surfaces) of the base plates 10 to 12, motors 6 fixed respectively to the struts 27 and a pair of horizontally or vertically disposed clamps 5 which are rotatably fixed to shaft members of the motors 6.
• the second intermittent rotary-member 13 side referred to as front and the first intermittent rotary-member 4 side as rear.
• a pin portion (a switch) 28 is provided on a front surface of the short strut 27 so as to project therefrom, and this pin portion 28 includes a horizontal shaft 28a and a vertical, small-diameter, disc-shaped head portion 28b.
• the shaft 28a penetrates the strut 27 and is connected to the motor 6 so as to move back and forth.
• the head portion 28b When the motor 6 is positioned at a lowest portion or at a paired electric wires twisting-plane, the head portion 28b is brought into engagement with a horizontal groove 31 a in a hook-shaped member 31 at a distal end of a short air cylinder 30 provided on a rear surface of a front long vertical strut 29, whereby the motor 6 is switched on and off through extension and contraction of the air cylinder 30.
• Each of the pair of clamps 5 has a block and a lever 5c disposed at right angles thereto to open and close the block within a cylindrical portion 5b having a horizontal groove 5a, for example.
• B ends 2b of pared electric wires 2 are set in the pair of clamps 5 on a near-side circumferential surface lying at the electric wires setting-plane 10 in Fig. 2.
• Clams 5 are not limited to those described in this embodiment, and any clamps can be used as required which can grip and fix in place end portions of electric wires 2.
• a pitch between the pair of clamps 5 is larger than a pitch between the pair of clamps 3 on the first intermittent rotary-member 4, and hence, the paired electric wires 2 are set to be inclined in a tapered fashion. This configuration is intended to facilitate the insertion of a twisting rod 33 of a rotor 32 (Fig. 3), which will be described later, between the paired electric wires 2.
• a shaft portion is provided at a center of the front plate portion 24, and this shaft portion continues to a shaft portion 34a of a front torque brake 34. Then, a vertical air cylinder 36 is connected thereto via link 35 fixed to the shaft portion 34a. A lower end of the air cylinder 36 is fixed to the strut 29 by a bracket 37 so as to oscillate.
• the second intermittent rotary-member 13 is rotated intermittently counterclockwise by the action of the toque brake 34 and the air cylinder 36.
• the locking of the intermittent rotary-member 13 is executed by the braking operation of the torque brake 34.
• the driving of the front and rear intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 and the driving of the air cylinders 23, 36, 24, 17, 18 are executed via control unit, not shown.
• a driving unit is made up of at least the air cylinder 36 and the torque brake 34.
• a pneumatic intermittent actuator can also be used in place of the torque brake 34. It is preferable that impact is absorbed by a hydraulic damper when the intermittent rotary-member 13 is stopped rotating by the air cylinder 36.
• the electric wires 2 shown in Fig. 2 are set longer in reality, and hence, the intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 are spaced apart largely from each other in the front-to-rear direction.
• the twisting rod (the twisting portion) 33 of the rotor 32 shown in Fig. 3 passes between the paired electric wires 2, and the rotor 32 is rotated in that state.
• the motor 6 shown in Fig. 6 rotates in the same direction and at the same rotation speed as the rotor 32, whereby as shown in Fig. 3, the paired electric wires 2 are twisted between the twisting rod 33 of the rotor 32 and the clamps 3 of the first intermittent rotary-member 4 shown in Fig. 2.
• the rotor 32 of this embodiment is formed into a circularly annular shape and has a cutout opening portion 32a in part of a circumference thereof.
• This cutout opening portion 32a communicates with a wide inside diameter portion (an inner space), and the twisting rod (the twisting portion) 33 is erected at an inside diameter portion situated in a position facing the cutout opening portion 32a.
• a gear portion 38 is provided at an outer circumferential portion of the rotor 32, and an external gear portion of a timing belt 39 meshes with the gear portion 38.
• An internal gear portion of the timing belt 39 is driven by a gearwheel 41 which continues to a motor 40.
• the rotor 32 is caused to ascend and descend together with the belt 39 and the motor 40 by a vertical air cylinder 42, and when the rotor 32 ascends, the paired electric wires 2 enter on left- and right-hand sides of the twisting rod 33.
• the cutout opening portion 32a is positioned at an upper side when the rotor 32 stops.
• a rotor unit 43 is made up of the rotor 32, the motor 40, the timing belt 39 and the air cylinder 43.
• a horizontal base plate 44 on which the air cylinder 42 is erected is brought into slidable engagement with rails (not shown) which are provided on a lower side of the apparatus so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction at slide portions 45 and moves forwards towards the second intermittent rotary-member 1 3 by a drive means (for example, a ball screw or the like), not shown, along the rails as the same time as the rotor 32 rotates.
• a drive means for example, a ball screw or the like
• reference numeral 46 denotes a guide roller
• reference numeral 47 denotes a driven gear
• reference numeral 2' denotes a twisted pair cable portion.
• a gear can be used in place of the timing belt 39.
• the rotor 32 is used in this embodiment, for example, a configuration can be adopted which does not employ the rotor 32.
• the motor 6 of the second intermittent rotary-member 1 3 rotates in the state shown in Fig. 2, so as to twist the paired electric wires 2.
• twisting the electric wires 2 shortens the length thereof, an excessive stretch of the electric wires 2 can be prevented by mitigating the back tension thereon by reducing the pressure in the long cylinders 18 on the first intermittent rotary-member 4.
• a twisted pair cable 2' as shown in Fig. 4(b) is formed.
• reference numerals 3, 5 denote front and rear clamps
• reference numeral 48 denotes a terminal.
• the paired electric wires 2 are twisted only by the rotation of the rotor 32 without moving it back and forth, so that the motors 6 of the second intermittent rotary-member 13 shown in Fig. 2 can be eliminated.
• step 1 in Fig. 5 the worker takes out two or paired electric wires 2.
• step 2 A ends (one ends) 2a of the paired electric wires 2 are grabbed and fixed in place by the clamps 3 on the near-side upper circumferential surface of the first intermittent rotary-member 4 at the electric wires setting-plane 7.
• step 3 the worker moves to the side of B ends (the other ends) 2b of the paired electric wires 2, that is, to the side of the second intermittent rotary-member 13.
• step 4 the B ends (the other ends) 2b of the paired electric wires 2 are grabbed and fixed in place by the clamps 5 on the near-side upper circumferential surface of the second intermittent rotary-member 13 at the electric wires setting-plane 10.
• step 5 the worker pulls down the levers (for example, the links 22, 35) at the upper portions of the intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 so as to rotate the intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 by one third the full rotation. As this occurs, the pressure in the torque brakes 21 , 34 and the air cylinders 23, 36 is released.
• the steps 1 to 5 described above are those that are carried out by the worker.
• step 6 the rotor 32 (Fig. 3) and the motor 40 are caused to ascend by the cylinder 42 so as to be positioned in proximity to the rear of the clamps 5 on the circumferential surface at the paired electric wire twisting-plane 11 of the second intermittent rotary-member 13.
• the twisting rod 33 of the rotor 32 is allowed to be inserted between the paired electric wires 2 in an ensured fashion.
• step 7 the rotatable circumferential surfaces 7 to 9, 10 to 12 of the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 1 3 are automatically locked.
• the locking is executed by controlling the operations of the torque brakes 21 , 34.
• step 8 the rotor 32 moves from the B ends 2b to the A ends 2a of the paired electric wires 2, that is, from the side of the second intermittent rotary-member 1 3 to the side of the first intermittent rotary-member 4 automatically.
• step 9 twisting the paired electric wires is automatically executed by the rotor 32 moving from the A ends 2a to the B ends 2b while rotating.
• step 1 the rotor 32 and the motor 40 are caused to descend by the cylinder 42 and are automatically separated downwards just before the clamps 5 on the circumferential surface of the second intermittent rotary-member 1 3 at the paired electric wires twisting-plane.
• step 11 the locking of the rotatable circumferential surfaces of the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 1 3 are automatically released .
• the brakes applied by the torque brakes 21 , 34 are automatically released (in the case of the rotation control mechanism being installed , the release of the brakes is not necessary).
• step 12 the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 1 3 rotate in this state by one third the full rotation in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the lower circumferential surfaces at the paired electric wires twisting-planes 8 move to the twisted pair cable tape widing-and-twisting-planes 9, 12.
• a tape winding machine (not shown) has, for example, a single-sided pressure sensitive tape, a tape guide, a cutter, and a reciprocating cylinder. A tape which is extended into a U-shape is pressed against the B end of the twisted pair cable 2' to make it adhere thereto and is then cut with the cutter.
• the tape winding machine can move in a reciprocating fashion between an A end and the B end, and the tape is wound around the B end in such a state that the tape winding machine moves to the side of the B end.
• step 14 the tape is automatically wound around the A end of the twisted pair cable 2' and thereafter moves away from the A end.
• the completed twisted pair cable (the product) 2' is discharged downwards to rest on the completed product resting table.
• the discharge of the twisted pair cable 2' is executed by an automatic discharge machine (not shown), for example.
• the automatic discharge machine includes, for example, a pair of front and rear chucks which move towards the twisted pair cable 2' on the circumferential surfaces at the discharging planes 9, 12 by front and rear air cylinders which are oriented obliquely upwards and vertical air cylinders which cause the chucks to ascend and descend .
• the clamps 3, 5 of the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 are released by pressing the levers 3a, 5c by the air cylinders 17.
• Steps 1 to 15 shown in Fig. 5 complete the steps of a first cycle, and as is indicated by an arrow B in Fig. 5, steps of a second cycle are continuously performed.
• steps from step 1 of taking out paired electric wires to step 4 of setting the B ends of the electric wires 2 are performed repeatedly by the worker on the circumferential surfaces at the electric wires setting-planes 7, 10.
• the rotation of the first and second intermittent rotary-members by one third the full rotation in step 5 in the second cycle is automatically performed.
• step D From the second cycle, the steps indicated by arrow D from step 5 of rotating the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 13 by one third the full rotation to step 11 of releasing the locking of the rotatable surfaces are performed.
• the setting of electric wires from step 1 to step 4 is performed at the same time as the twisting of the paired electric wires at the paired electric wires twisting-planes 8, 11 , and at the same time as this, the steps indicated by arrow E from step 12 of rotating the first and second intermittent rotary-members 4, 1 3 by one third the full rotation to step 1 5 of discharging the completed twisted pair cable 2' are performed .
• the electric wires setting step of steps 1 to 4 the paired electric wires twisting step of steps 5 to 11 and the twisted pair cable tape winding and discharging step of steps 12 to 1 5 are performed repeatedly and simultaneously at the working planes 7 to 9 and 10 to 12.
• the worker performs the setting of electric wires repeatedly without involving waiting time
• the equipment performs the twisting of the electric wires and winding the tapes around the ends of the twisted pair cable and discharging the completed twisted pair cable repeatedly without involving waiting time.
• the circumferential surfaces of the apparatus 1 are divided into the plurality of (three) working planes 7 to 9 and 10 to 12 for fabrication of the twisted pair cable 2' which needs to be worked in the plurality of steps, thereby making it possible to progress the respective operations simultaneously, whereby time involved in fabricating the twisted pair cable 2' can be shortened .
• the working planes 7 to 9 and 1 0 to 12 are disposed on the three sides of the triangles so that the circumferential working surfaces of the apparatus 1 can be rotated intermittently to the working planes, thereby making it possible to make compact the width of the apparatus 1 (the horizontal dimension which is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the electric wires) so as to save the space for the apparatus 1 , whereby the installing area of the apparatus 1 in the plant can be reduced.
• the apparatus and method for fabricating a twisted pair cable according to the invention can be made use of to fabricate a twisted pair cable which is applied to noise preventive signal wires of a motor vehicle with good productivity and moreover in a narrow and long space in the plant while reducing the space needed for the apparatus.

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• 2010
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