Patent Application
20100037980
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for separating a length of twisted pair cable into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors. In particular, the invention relates to fully automated apparatus for performing this operation, and to a method of performing this operation utilising such automated apparatus.
A twisted pair cable is a form of electrical wiring, commonly used in telecommunications networks. The twisted pair cable comprises two individual insulated wire conductors, which are wound together primarily to reduce interference, and also to increase the strength of the wire. The twisting of wires in this way is therefore highly desirable. However, whenever a connection is made using twisted pair cable, for example when making so-called ‘jumper’ connections in telecommunications network distribution frames, portions at each end of the twisted pair cable must be unwound to form lengths of parallel, separated insulated wire conductors.
Conventionally, this operation is performed by hand, or using simple hand-operated tools. The process therefore tends to be slow, labour intensive and susceptible to error. A typical telecommunications network distribution frame can comprise many thousands of individual connections, requiring constant maintenance and re-wiring. The introduction of automated wiring systems is therefore highly desirable.
The present invention seeks to provide an automated apparatus and method for separating a length of twisted pair cable into its component pair of insulated wire conductors, presenting a length of separated, parallel insulated wire conductors for subsequent machine manipulation and/or connection. In certain embodiments thereof, the invention further seeks to provide an automated apparatus and method for positioning and clamping the twisted pair cable prior to separation.
The present invention has been developed for use in telecommunications network distribution frames, and will be described herein with particular reference to this application. It should nevertheless be appreciated that the apparatus and method of the present invention may find use in a wide range of other applications where the automated preparation of electrical wiring is desirable.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for separating a length of twisted pair cable into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors, comprising:
a separator adapted for insertion between the individual insulated wire conductors constituting the twisted pair cable; and
cable drive means adapted to displace said length of twisted pair cable relative to the inserted separator in a direction co-incident with the axis of the twisted pair cable, thereby causing plastic deformation of the individual insulated wire conductors so as to form a length of cable comprising a pair of substantially parallel separated individual insulated wire conductors.
Effecting plastic deformation of the individual insulated wire conductors ensures that said conductors remain separated and do not ‘spring’ back into their previously wound state.
The apparatus preferably further comprises separator drive means adapted to move said separator between an inactive position in which the separator is withdrawn from the twisted pair, and an active position in which the separator is inserted between the individual insulated wire conductors constituting the twisted pair cable.
The cable drive means is preferably adapted to effect translational motion of the twisted pair cable. Most preferably the cable drive means is adapted to effect translational motion of the cable in a first direction (hereinafter referred to as forward translational motion) thereby to present said cable to the separator prior to insertion thereof, and then to effect translational motion of the cable in a substantially opposite direction (hereinafter referred to as reverse translational motion) subsequent to insertion of the separator, thereby to separate the individual insulated wire conductors and cause plastic deformation thereof.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the cable drive means is adapted again to effect forward translational motion of the insulated wire conductors following separation thereof. This enables presentation of the separated conductors for cutting, so as to form prepared ends for insertion into an insulated displacement connector in a telecommunications network distribution frame, or other electrical apparatus.
The separator drive means is preferably adapted to hold the separator in its active position whilst the cable drive means effects displacement of the cable relative to the separator, in order to ensure effective separation and plastic deformation of the individual insulated wire conductors.
The apparatus of the present invention is intended to be fully automated, in order to increase the speed of the operations performed, and to reduce labour intensity. It is therefore highly desirable that the apparatus further comprises an automated controller in communication with the cable drive means and the separator drive means, and adapted thereby to generate pre-determined lengths of separated cable on demand. The automated controller may either be provided as an integral component of the present invention, or alternatively may be provided at a remote location.
In a first major embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the separator drive means is adapted to effect translational motion of the separator between its inactive and active positions. The separator drive means may be adapted to operate by any suitable means, for example, electrically, mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically. Most preferably, the separator drive means in the first major embodiment comprises a servo mechanism adapted to drive the separator from its inactive position to its active position.
Similarly, the separator itself may take any form suitable for insertion between the insulated wired conductors of the twisted pair cable. Preferably however, the separator in the first major embodiment comprises an elongate pin, blade or mechanical finger. Most preferably, the separator is arranged for movement in a direction co-incident with its longitudinal axis.
In variations of the first major embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a clamping mechanism adapted to secure the twisted pair cable between first and second clamping surfaces, thereby to facilitate insertion of the separator.
In a first variation of the first major embodiment, the clamping mechanism comprises a fixed body on which the first clamping surface is provided, a moveable platform on which the second clamping surface is provided, and clamping drive means adapted to move the platform between an inactive position in which the first and second clamping surfaces are distal, and an active position in which the first and second clamping surfaces are brought into close proximity, thereby to effect clamping of the twisted pair cable.
The platform preferably comprises an aperture extending through the second clamping surface and adapted to receive the separator therein. In such embodiments, the separator is preferably arranged for movement through said aperture thereby to separate the individual insulated wire conductors.
The second clamping surface may desirably comprise a channel adapted to accommodate the twisted pair cable. Most preferably, the channel is further provided with angled sidewalls, such that the separator acts to urge each respective individual insulated wire conductor against an opposed angled sidewall. The fixed body of the apparatus may desirably also comprise a like channel, adapted to communicate with the channel in the second clamping surface when the platform is in its inactive position.
The separator and platform are preferably configured such that the platform is arranged for movement in a direction co-incident with the longitudinal axis of the separator. This further enables the apparatus to be adapted such that activation of the separator drive means in turn actuates the clamping drive means.
The clamping drive means preferably comprises a pre-tensioned spring mounted on the moveable platform and adapted to apply a force thereto upon compression of said spring. The spring acts to re-set the platform and/or the separator to the inactive position after each operation, and ensures that the channel in the platform is fully aligned with the like channel in the fixed body, when the platform is in its inactive position.
In a second variation of the first major embodiment, the clamping mechanism comprises a pair of opposed arms arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the separator, and adapted to clamp the twisted pair cable from either side, in the axial plane of the cable, the members of said pair of opposed arms constituting, respectively, the first and second clamping surfaces. The opposed arms define a channel therebetween adapted to receive the twisted pair cable. The opposed arms are preferably adapted to move in concert with the motion of the separator, so as both to clamp the wire and to change the profile of the channel according to the status of the cable—i.e. to present a different profile to the cable when it is in its twisted pair configuration and when it is separated into individual insulated wire conductors.
In a second major embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the separator drive means is adapted to effect rotational motion of the separator between its inactive and active positions. To achieve this, the separator drive means preferably comprise a cam mounted on a cam shaft and having a surface adapted to bear against the twisted pair cable as the cam rotates; the separator being provided at a location on said surface.
The separator may take the form of a conventional cam lobe, or may be a simple projection extending from the cam surface. Preferably however, the cam is a cylindrical cam having at least one groove extending at least part way therearound and adapted to receive the twisted pair cable. In such embodiments, the groove constitutes the surface adapted to bear against the twisted pair cable; the separator being formed in the groove and projecting outwardly therefrom.
The apparatus preferably further comprises guide means for aligning the separator with the twisted pair cable. Most preferably, the guide means are mounted on the cam and rotate therewith. In the preferred embodiments comprising a cylindrical cam, the groove preferably defines a pair of opposed side walls constituting the guide means.
The groove in the cylindrical cam preferably has a generally U-shaped profile in order to accommodate the twisted pair cable. Most preferably, the groove divides into a pair of opposed parallel sub-grooves adjacent the separator, each said sub-groove being adapted to receive one member of the pair of insulated wire conductors, and wherein one member of said pair of sub-grooves passes either side of the separator, thereby to facilitate separation of the twisted pair cable.
The separator preferably has a tapered profile adapted to facilitate insertion thereof between the individual insulated wire conductors constituting the twisted pair cable. The tapered profile of the separator may desirably form a blade, pin or finger-shaped structure for insertion between the individual insulating wire conductors of the twisted pair cable.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of separating a length of twisted pair cable into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors, said method comprising:
inserting a separator between the individual insulated wire conductors constituting the twisted pair cable; and
displacing said length of twisted pair cable relative to the inserted separator in a direction co-incident with the axis of the twisted pair cable, thereby causing plastic deformation of the individual insulated wire conductors, so as to form a length of cable comprising a pair of substantially parallel separated individual insulated wire conductors.
The separator is preferably driven between an inactive position in which the separator is withdrawn from the twisted pair, and an active position in which the separator is inserted between the individual insulated wire conductors constituting the twisted pair cable.
The twisted pair cable is preferably driven in a forward translational motion to present said cable to the separator prior to insertion thereof, and is then driven in a reverse translational motion subsequent to insertion of the separator, thereby to separate the individual insulated wire conductors and cause plastic deformation thereof. The separator is preferably held in its active position whilst the cable is displaced relative to the separator, thereby to separate the individual insulated wire conductors and cause plastic deformation thereof.
In a first major embodiment of the method of the present invention, the driving of the separator between its inactive and active positions is effected by translational motion. A variation of the method of the first major embodiment further comprises the step of clamping the twisted pair cable prior to insertion of the separator so as to hold the twisted pair cable in position for separation. In such embodiments, the driving of the separator between its inactive and active positions may preferably also initiate clamping of the twisted pair cable.
In a second major embodiment of the method of the present invention, the driving of the separator between its inactive and active positions is effected by rotational motion. In such embodiments, the rotational motion of the separator may desirably effect both clamping and separation of the twisted pair cable.
The scope of the present invention encompasses a method as hereinbefore described utilising apparatus as hereinbefore described.
In order that the present invention may be fully understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, though only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a shows a perspective view of part of an apparatus according to a second variation of the first major embodiment of the present invention;
b and 8c show an alternative perspective view of the apparatus of
a to 9d form an illustrative sequence showing a plan view of part of an apparatus according to a second major embodiment of the present invention, during operation thereof, but with the twisted pair cable omitted for clarity; and
Referring first to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
The apparatus 20 includes a generally cuboidal body 30 having opposed front and rear surfaces 31, 32, respectively, a lower face 41 and an upper face 51. A channel 33 extends between the front and rear surfaces 31, 32 for receiving a twisted pair cable 10. The channel 33 is generally U or V-shaped and has a ceiling 34, a base 35 and a pair of sidewalls 36 which diverge outwardly from the base 35 towards the ceiling 34 at an angle of approximately 45°. A bore 50 is formed in the lower surface 41 of the body 30, and extends towards the upper surface 51 of the body 30, intersecting the channel 33.
A pair of generally cylindrical parallel rails 40 depends from the lower face 41 of the body 30. A block 42, forming part of the separator drive means 21, and having the pin 15 mounted thereon, is slidably mounted on the rails 40 via a pair of complementary holes 43 formed through the block 42. A servo mechanism (not shown) also constituting part of the separator drive means 21 is arranged to move the block 42 along the rails 40 between an inactive position as shown in
Referring again to
The underside 56 of the platform 52 is supported on a helical coil spring 57 mounted on the block 42 and arranged such that the spring 57 and the pin 15 are co-axial. The spring 57 is pre-tensioned such that when the block 42 is in its inactive position, as shown in
Referring once more to
The sequence of clamping and separating the twisted pair cable 10 into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors will now be described with reference to
As shown in
Continued upward movement of the block 42 along the rails 40, as shown in
At this stage, the pin 15 has distorted the original helical formation of the twisted wire cable 10 to form a loop 17 (not visible in
Referring now to
The opposed arms 81, 82 define a channel 83 therebetween, adapted to receive the twisted pair cable 10 as it is fed through the clamping mechanism 22 by the cable drive means (not shown). The opposed arms 81, 82 are arranged for movement in the plane of the cable 10 about a pair of pivot points 84. As can be seen from
Referring now to
The cylindrical cam 60 has a groove 61 formed in its circumferential face 62, said groove 61 having a changing profile as it extends around the face 62.
a shows the cylindrical cam 60 with the separator 66 in its inactive position, i.e. located substantially on the underside of the cylindrical cam 60, when the cam 60 is seen in plan view from above. As can be seen from
As can also be seen in
As shown in
As shown in
The sequence of separating the twisted pair cable 10 into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors 11,12 using the apparatus of the second major embodiment 2, will now be described with reference to
As shown in
Referring now to
Further rotation of the cylindrical cam 60 in direction a brings the separator 66 fully into its active position, as shown in
At this stage, the rotation of the cylindrical cam 60 is stopped, and the separator 66 is held in its active position. As shown in
Once the desired length of separated conductors 11,12 has been achieved, the cable drive means (not shown) is run in a forward direction b once more, so as to present the separated wire conductors 11,12 for cutting laterally across the loop 17 to form prepared ends for insertion into insulated displacement connectors (not shown) or other electrical apparatus. Rotation a of the cylindrical cam 60 is then re-commenced to return the separator 66 to its inactive position, ready for the next operation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0704300.3 | Mar 2007 | GB | national |
| 0705717.7 | Mar 2007 | GB | national |
| 0720236.9 | Oct 2007 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB08/50079 | 2/8/2008 | WO | 00 | 7/9/2009 |
