This invention relates generally to wire or cable severing, as well as stripping sheathing from severed wire sections; and more particularly, it concerns unusual advantages, method and apparatus to effect severing of a wire or cable into two sections, and stripping of sheathing off ends of both sections, with minimal motions of severing and stripping elements and in minimum time.
There is continual need for equipment capable of severing wire or cable into sections, and also capable of rapidly and efficiently stripping sheathing off ends of those sections. It is desirable that these functions be carried out as a wire or cable travels along generally the same axis, i.e., progresses forwardly, and that multiple wire and cable sections of selected length be produced, each having its opposite ends stripped of sheathing, to expose bare metal core wire at each end. Further, it is desirable that simple, radial and axial stripping adjustments be achieved upon multiple wire sections.
It is a major object of the invention to provide apparatus and method meeting the above need. The word “wire” will be used to include cable within its scope, and vice versa.
Basically, the apparatus of the invention comprises improved blade structures usable in apparatus for processing wire to cut the wire into sections and to expose section wire ends, the wire having an inner core and sheathing about that core, the apparatus including means for displacing the wire axially endwise; in this environment the invention comprises the combination:
a) multiple blade structures, including at least two of the structures that move adjacent one another as the two structure move relatively oppositely toward and away from the axis in directions generally normal to the axis,
b) each of the two structures having first and second cutting edges,
c) the cutting edges configured such that, when the two the structures are moved relatively longitudinally in a primary mode, two of the cutting edges cut through the wire, and when the two structures are moved relatively longitudinally in a second mode, the remaining two of the cutting edges cut into the wire sheathing to enable stripping of the sheathing of the wire.
In this regard, the cutting edges of each blade structure typically may face one another in longitudinally spaced relation and be located at opposite sides of the wire axis, both blade structures being displaced longitudinally, for example to sever the wire and also to strip sheathing from the wire.
It is another object to provide programmable means associated with the apparatus to provide programmable strip depth of the sheathing.
An additional object is to provide said two structures to define first shoulders elongated longitudinally and forming a space between which the other of the two structures extends during relative movement; and also to provide second shoulders also elongated longitudinally and extending in proximity with said first shoulders during said relative movement.
Yet another object is to provide blade structures that employ blade plates having wire cutting edges, the blade plates extending in close, parallel, overlapping relation during their relative movement. Typically, the cutting edges on two of the overlapping plates include V-shaped edge portions that overlap when the blade plates are moved in said secondary mode during their relative movement.
A further object is to provide support means for the blade structures for holding the blade structures attached in fixed positions on the support means, the blade structures having shoulders engageable with the support means. Retainers may be associated with the support means for holding the blade structures attached in fixed positions on the support means, and to allow release of the blade structures from the support means, enabling their selective replacement.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:
a-1f are diagrammatic views showing steps in the method of wire or cable processing;
a is a view showing stripping blade edge penetration into wire sheathing;
a-13d are diagrammatic views showing additional steps in the method of wire or cable processing;
a-18f are perspective views showing steps in the method of wire processing;
a-35c are enlarged views showing actuation of wire slug trap door and pusher elements;
a is an enlarged view showing C-shaped cutting edges cutting sheathing;
b is a section taken on lines 46b—46b of
Referring first to
First cutter means is provided to include, or may be considered to include, multiple blades. See for example the two wire-cutting blades 13a and 13b of a first set, located or carried for movement laterally toward and away from the wire axis 12. A first drive for controllably simultaneously enabling or advancing the blades toward one another, laterally oppositely (see arrows 14a and 14b in
Second and third cutter means are also provided, for sheathing stripping, and each may be considered to include multiple blades located for movement toward and away from the axis 12. See for example the second set of two blades 16a and 16b, and the third set of two blades 17a and 17b.
Blades 16a and 16b are located, or considered to be, controllably simultaneously displaced, as by drive 18, (or by separate or multiple drives) laterally oppositely, toward one another (see arrows 19a and 19b in
Brief reference to
a shows displacement of the wire axially endwise and longitudinally, as by a conveyor means 21a to the first position as shown.
c shows the step of controllably separating the two sections 10a and 10b axially endwise oppositely, as to the positions shown, in which the end portions 10aa and 10bb are spaced from the closed-together blades 13a and 13b. Guides 24 and 25, provided between the blade sets, serve to accurately guide the wire and the sections 10a and 10b during the cutting and severing operation, as is clear from
Wire drives 21a and 21b are controllably operated to engage and separate the two sections 10a and 10b, as indicated in
d shows a sub-step included within the step of stripping sheathing from the forward section rearward portion and from the rearward section forward portion, thereby to expose wire ends at the portions. Note that blades 16a and 16b are simultaneously advanced laterally oppositely, as to blade edge positions described above, as respects
e shows operation of the wire drives to further endwise separate the wire sections 10a and 10b so as to pull or strip two sheathing end portions 11b′ and 11b″ from the wire sections 10a and 10b, thereby to expose the wire core end portions 11a′ and 11a″. The stripped sheathing end portions 11b′ and 11b″, or slugs, are allowed to drop out from between the pairs of guides 24 and 25 which may be split, as shown, to provide slug drop-out openings, and may be movable to facilitate such drop out.
f shows all blades laterally retracted and the wire rearward section 10b fully advanced into position corresponding to
Referring now to
The belts 47 and 48 are driven to advance or retract the wire section 10a, as from a drive motor 52 (see FIG. 4). The output shaft 53 of the motor drives belt 54, as via a pulley 55, and belt 54 drives shafts 56 and 57. Shaft 56 drives another shaft 58, through gearing 59 and 60, to drive shaft 58 and upper conveyor belt 47 clockwise; whereas, lower shaft 57 and lower belt 48 are driven counterclockwise in FIG. 2. This drives the wire forwardly; whereas, when motor 52 is reversed, the wire is driven rearwardly. Additional axles or shafts for the conveyor belts 47 and 48 appear at 58a and 57a.
Means is provided to move the conveyor belt stretches 47′ and 48′ toward one another to clutch the wire, and away from one another to de-clutch the wire. See for example in
The bearing supports at 78 and 79 for shafts 58 and 57 are made loose enough to accommodate such up/down movement of those shafts at the conveyor belt drive locations. Note also couplings at 110 and 111.
Tension springs 90 and 91 are provided (see
The forward conveyor unit 46 embodies conveyor belt drive and up/down movement, the same as described in connection with unit 45 in
Referring to
The blades 13a, 16a and 17a at one side of the wire 10 are interconnected by axially extending carrier rod 80; and the blades 13b, 16b and 17b at the opposite ends of the wire are interconnected by axially extending carrier rod 81, laterally spaced from rod 80. Rods 80 and 81 are relatively movable laterally toward one another to effect wire severing, as by blades 13a and 13b (see FIG. 9 and also
Means to effect the described lateral movement of the blade carrier rods 80 and 81 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-8. As seen, a laterally extending lead screw 90 is rotatable by a drive motor 91, carried by frame part 83. See connecting shaft 93. As screw 90 rotates in one direction about its axis 90a, nuts 94 and 95 on the screw threads travel axially oppositely (see arrows 96 and 97) to move rod 80 to the right and rod 81 to the left, as in
A pair of parallel lead screws 90 may be utilized for these purposes, as seen in
Referring now to
Thereafter, the blades 16a and 16b, and 17a and 17b, penetrate into the sheathing; and wire sections 10a and 10b are displaced axially endwise oppositely (see arrows 200 and 201), to controlled extents h1 and h2, as by the computer-controlled drives 21a and 21b, to relatively displace the insulation slugs to positions shown in
In the above, the cutters can be oriented to move horizontally, or vertically, or in other directions.
In
In this embodiment, the two guides have parts 124a and 125a that are swingable away from the wire axis (see the broken line position 124a′ of guide part 124a in
A reciprocating drive swings the part 124a to position 124a′ and back, under the control of master control 35. That drive, for example, includes a motor 130, and linkage means, including interconnected links 131-134, operatively connected between the motor shaft 135″ and the part 124a. A corresponding motor 130a and links 131a-134a are connected to part 125a to pivot same. Guide parts 124a and 125a have concave arcuate wire guide surfaces, as at 124aa.
Also provided is a pusher and drive therefor for displacing the pusher to bodily push against the side of the severed length of sheathing (slug) for ejecting same in operative conjunction with moving (pivoting) of the part 124a. See for example the reciprocating plunger 135, and its drive, connected to the same drive as used to pivot the part 124a.
In
Referring now to
Blades 216a and 216b, and blades 217a and 217b, do not sever the wire, but closely approach the wire while cutting into sheathing 211, for stripping purposes. See
The blades are shown as thin, flat, steel sheets, formed to have dovetailed tongue ends at 213a1, 216a1, 217a1, and at 213b1, 216b1, and 217b1. Such dovetailed ends are receivable in and gripped by dovetailed groove holders schematically indicated at 229 and 230, assuring ease of replacement of the blades, while also assuring positive gripping of the blades and their proper alignment.
Such holders 229 and 230 may be considered as parts of the drives 218a and 219a, respectively. The blades themselves have V-shaped cutting edges arranged in pairs in opposed relation. Thus, blades 213a and 213b have opposed V-shaped edges at 213a2 and 213b2, which sidewardly slidably overlap completely during wire severing (see
a shows wire 11 axially endwise advancement of the wire to first position.
Note that wire forward section 210a has a rearward end portion 210aa; the wire rearward section 210b has a forward end portion 210bb.
c shows the step of controllably separating the two sections 210a and 210b axially endwise oppositely, as to the positions shown, in which the end portions 210aa and 210bb are spaced from the close-together blades 213a and 213b. Guides provided between the blade sets serve to accurately guide the wire and the sections 210a and 210b during the cutting and severing operation. Such guides are seen for example in 524 and 525 in
Wire drives, schematically indicated at 230 and 231, are controllably operated to axially advance and separate the two wire sections 210a and 210b, as indicated in
d shows a sub-step included within the step of stripping sheathing from the forward section rearward portion and from the rearward section forward portion, thereby to expose wire ends at the portions. Note that blades 216a and 216b are simultaneously advanced laterally oppositely, as blades 217a and 217b are also simultaneously advanced laterally oppositely (and to the same extent if such stripping is to be equal for each wire section).
Note that blades 213a and 213b now extend in laterally overlapping condition, due to operation of blade drives 218 and 219 as one, i.e., equal downward lateral displacement for blades 213a, 216b, and 217b, and equal upward lateral displacement for blades 213b, 216b, and 217b; however, they may be separately driven so as not to extend in such relation, as shown. Blades 213a, 216a, and 217a may be connected together to move downwardly to equal extent; and blades 213b, 216b, and 217b are connected together to move upwardly as one, for extreme simplicity.
e shows operation of the wire drives 230 and 231, to further endwise separate the wire section 210a and 210b, so as to pull or strip two sheathing end portions 210a′, and 210b′ from the wire sections 210a and 210b, thereby to expose the wire core end portions 211a′ and 211b′. The stripped sheathing end portions or slugs 210a′ and 210b′ are rejected, as will be seen, from between the pairs of guides 524 and 525, which may be shaped to provide for slug sideward de-confinement and ejection, as will be described further.
f shows all blades laterally retracted and the wire rearward section 210b fully advanced into position corresponding to
Referring to
Belts 249 and 250 are driven to advance or retract the wire section 210a, as from a drive motor 252 (see FIG. 20). The output shaft 253 of the motor drives belt 254, as via a sprocket 255, and belt 254 drives shaft 256. Sprocket 255 also drives a belt 254a, which drives a shaft 257 via a pulley 257a. Shaft 256 drives another shaft 258, as via angular reversing gearing 259 and 260, in order to drive shaft 258, shaft 258′, and upper conveyor belt 249 counterclockwise; whereas, lower shaft 257, shaft 257′, and lower conveyor belt 250, are driven clockwise, in FIG. 19. The conveyor belts drive the wire endwise in one axial direction; whereas, when the motor 252 is reversed, the wire is driven endwise in the opposite axial direction.
Means is provided to move the conveyor belt stretches 249′ and 250′ relatively toward one another to clutch the wire, and away from one another to de-clutch the wire. See for example in
Plate 418 supports the end of shaft 258′, for up and down movement; and plate 419 supports the end of shaft 257′ for up and down movement. Support of such shaft ends is via the lost-motion connections described above at 418′ and 419′. Screw threaded connection to the nut 275 is oppositely “handed” relative to threaded connection to nut 276, so that, when shaft 268 is rotated in one direction about its axis, the nuts 275 and 276, and plates 418 and 419 (and shafts 257′ and 258′) are yieldably displaced toward one another, whereby conveyor stretches 249′ and 250′ may clamp the wire; and when the shaft 268 is rotated in the opposite direction about its axis, the nuts and plates are yieldably displaced away from one another, and the wire is de-clutched. Nuts 275 and 276 are confined in vertical slots 275′ and 276′ in plates 418 and 419, allowing relative movement between the nuts and plates.
Compression springs 290 and 291 are provided (see
The rearward conveyor unit 245 embodies conveyor belt drive, and up/down movement, the same as described in connection with unit 246 in
In
Means to effect the described lateral movement of the blade holders 280 and 281 is shown in
In
Referring now to
In
Guide part 524a is pivotally connected at 550 to blade holder 280, to swing about horizontal axis 550a extending parallel to the direction of wire advancement. Part 524a may be considered as a trap door, in the sense that when swung to
The guides 524 and 525 also incorporate parts 524b and 525b which act as pushers, to bodily push against the sides of the severed lengths (slugs) of sheathing, for ejecting same laterally, in cooperative conjunction with pivoting movement of parts 524a and 525a, as described. Thus, part 524b is pivotally connected at 553 to blade holder 280, to swing about horizontal axis 553a, extending parallel to the direction of wire advancement.
Part 524b may be considered as a pusher or ejector, in the sense that, as seen in
Part 525b of guide 525 has a construction and operation the same as described for part 524a. Parts 525a and 524b lie between blades 216a and 216b, and blades 213a and 213b; and parts 525a and 525b lie between blades 213a and 213b, and blades 217a and 217b, as is seen from FIG. 34.
The trap door parts 524a and 524b, and pusher parts 524b and 525b, have associated reciprocating drives, to open and close them in timed relation, as described. See for example in
Finally, a sensor is provided to sense arrival of the wire endwise in proximity to the trap door parts and to the pusher elements, as described. See sensor 569 in FIG. 19.
In
Referring now to
As shown, upper and lower supports are provided at 600 and 601 for supporting multiple blade structures. The latter includes at least two of such structures, seen at 602 and 603, that mutually interfit as they are moved (by supports 600 and 601 for example) relatively oppositely toward and away from the axis 604 defined by the wire or cable 605 to be cut, in directions generally normal to that axis. See arrows 606 and 607.
Referring also to
Gripping occurs at dovetail shoulders 610 and 611 on base portion 612 of the structure 603, of a thickness the same as that of ribs 608 and 609, and thicker than reduced thickness of the reduced blade plate 613 of 603, supported and stiffened by 608, 609, and 612. See also edge 614 of blade plate 603 which has portions 614a and 614b extending oppositely from a C-shape, medial or bridging cutting edge 614c that receives one half the wire metallic core 616 (see
The other or second blade structure (602 for example) defines second shoulders 617a and 618a on ribs 617 and 618, such shoulders also being elongated in directions 606 and 607, and being laterally spaced and opposed to align ribs 617 and 618 with ribs 608 and 609, respectively, during relative structure movement. See aligned ribs in
The ribs 617 and 618 are provided on a blade holder 620, which is part of 602 and is downwardly U-shaped, as shown, there being a base 621 integral with 617 and 618. An upper blade plate 622 is riveted at 623 and 624 to the flat section 625 of the holder, section 625 being integral with 617, 618, and 621, i.e., 622 fits between 617a and 618a. Thus, the upper blade plate is stiffened and strengthened by holder 620, to provide support for the downwardly extending legs 622a and 622b of 622 that fit closely between and are guided by rib shoulders 608a and 609a on 603, during closing together of the two blade structures, as seen in FIG. 46.
Upwardly tapering wire guide edges 630 and 631 are provided on the two legs, and they terminate at a C-shaped medial or bridging cutting edge 632 that closes toward corresponding edge 614c to form a circular or oval-shaped opening to receive the uncut wire core during sheathing cutting and stripping. Edge 632 cuts through the remaining one half of the sheathing. See
Note that during closing together of the blade plates, they extend in side-by-side interfitting and overlapping relation, as in
In the modification seen in
Retainers 670 and 671 in
In
Accordingly, the apparatus provides a first set of multiple of the blade structures at one side of the axis, and a second set of multiple of the blade structures at the opposite side of the axis, the retainer means including a first retainer carried by the support means at one side of the axis for rotary advancement to hold the multiple blade structures of the first set in the fixed position, and for rotary retractions to allow release of the blade structures of the first set.
Also, the retainer means includes a second retainer carried by the support means at the opposite side of the axis for rotary advancement to hold the multiple blade structures of the second set in the fixed position and for rotary retention to allow release of the multiple blade structures of the second set. The multiple blade structure of each set includes two or three of the pairs of blade structures, and typically two, as seen in
In
Multiple blade structures are provided, including at least two such structures 507 and 508 that mutually move adjacent one another (as for example slidably interfit at plane 506) and such two structures move relatively oppositely, toward and away from the axis 515 of the wire or cable 580 being processed. Blade structure cutting edges are indicated at 509 and 510 on structure 507, and at 511 and 512 on structure 508.
a shows the blade structures 507 and 508 in “open” position, i.e., with all cutting edges spaced from the wire 580 being processed; FIG. 54(b) shows the blade structures 507 and 508 moved in directions 520 and 521 into wire cutting positions with cutting edges 510 and 511 overlapping at opposite sides of axis 515; and FIG. 54(c) shows the blade structures 507 and 508 moved in directions 522 and 523 into wire stripping positions, with cutting edges 509 and 512 partially penetrating the wire or cable, i.e., to cut into the wire insulation 580a sufficiently to strip the insulation from wire core 580b when the wire is moved endwise, as described, in detail above. Note in this regard that each of the structures extend at opposite sides of the wire axis; that only two such structures 507 and 508 are employed, each defining a single plane; that the two structure planes extend in parallel relation; that the structures remain in sidewardly overlapping relation during their movements, as is clear from
Accordingly, the invention is characterized in that
b) each of the two structures has first and second cutting edges,
c) the cutting edges are configured such that, when the two the structures are moved relatively longitudinally in a primary mode, two of the cutting edges cut through the wire, and when the two structures are moved relatively longitudinally in a second mode, the remaining two of the cutting edges cut into the wire sheathing to enable stripping of the sheathing of the wire. Stripping may be completed by relatively axial movement of the wire or cable, as referred to earlier.
Programming means to operate the drive 291, or multiple drives, and the means to drive the wire endwise, as previously described, is indicated at 530 in FIG. 55.
Blades 507a and 507b have endwise interengagement at lateral locus line 535 seen in
Accordingly, the invention provides:
a) blade pair means including two blade structures each extending at opposite sides of the wire travel path,
b) one or more drive means,
c) and other means operatively connected between the drive means and the blade structures, and responsive to operation of the drive means to cause one blade structure to be displaced in direction A toward the wire travel path as the other blade structure is displaced in direction −A, to process the wire, and subsequently to cause one blade structure to be displaced in direction −A, as the other blade structure is displaced in direction A, to process the wire.
Similarly, the method of processing wire in accordance with the invention includes the steps:
a) providing blade pair means including two blade structures each extending at opposite sides of the wire travel path,
b) providing drive means, and other means operatively connected between the drive means and the blade structure,
c) and operating the one or more drive, means to cause one blade structure to be displaced in direction A toward the path as the other blade structure is displaced in direction −A, to process the wire, and subsequently to cause one blade structure to be displaced in direction −A, as the other blade structure is displaced in direction A, to process the wire.
In
A pusher 604 is shown as having a plunger 604a to push blade edges 508d and 508e, to advance the blades into the holder 281 referred to above, i.e., into space 606 in that holder.
In
Structure 610 and 611 are adjacent one another in operation. Thus, when 610 is moved down and 611 is moved up, edges 610aa and 611bb can sever a wire, if such movement is great enough; or they can penetrate into and strip insulation off a first wire or cable of diameter D1; and when 610 is moved up and 611 is moved down, edges 610bb and 611cc can penetrate into and strip insulation off a second wire or cable of diameter D2; and first and second insulation D1 and D2 can be on the same wire.
Since blades are characterized as “die types” blades, useful for stripping coaxial cables, and the loader described above, enables their quick replacement with blades of other cutting edge sizes. Very long strip lengths are enabled, for full removal of long strips. Soft wire control at 700 allows quick selection and loading of different blades.
This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 09/494,461 filed Jan. 31, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,267, which is a divisional of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 09/320,096 filed May 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,740, which is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 08/845,065 filed Apr. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,511, which is a continuation of prior U.S. Ser. No. 08/353,352 filed Dec.2, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,324, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 08/022,981 filed Feb. 25, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,485, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/857,972 filed Mar. 26, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,683, which is a divisional of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/765,986 filed Sep. 26, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,555 which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/659,557 filed Feb. 22, 1991, abandoned, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/611,057 filed Nov. 9, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,673 and a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 08/148,568 filed Nov. 8, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,763, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 08/022,981 filed Feb.25, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,485, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/857,972 filed Mar.26, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,683, which is a divisional of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/765,986 filed Sep. 26, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,555, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. Ser. No. 07/659,557 filed Feb. 22, 1991 now abandoned, which is a continuation in part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 07/611,057 filed Nov. 9, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,673.
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2525402 | Apr 1982 | FR |
2525403 | Jul 1984 | FR |
2513478 | Feb 1985 | FR |
609834 | Oct 1948 | GB |
51-13869 | May 1976 | JP |
54118584 | Sep 1979 | JP |
1216815 | Mar 1986 | SU |
1293779 | Feb 1987 | SU |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20020059720 A1 | May 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09320096 | May 1999 | US |
Child | 09494461 | US | |
Parent | 07765986 | Sep 1991 | US |
Child | 07857972 | US | |
Parent | 07765986 | Sep 1991 | US |
Child | 07857972 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09494461 | Jan 2000 | US |
Child | 10044657 | US | |
Parent | 08845065 | Apr 1997 | US |
Child | 09320096 | US | |
Parent | 08353352 | Dec 1994 | US |
Child | 08845065 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 08022981 | Feb 1993 | US |
Child | 08353352 | US | |
Parent | 07857972 | Mar 1992 | US |
Child | 08022981 | US | |
Parent | 07659557 | Feb 1991 | US |
Child | 07765986 | US | |
Parent | 07611057 | Nov 1990 | US |
Child | 07659557 | US | |
Parent | 08148568 | Nov 1993 | US |
Child | 07611057 | US | |
Parent | 08022981 | Feb 1993 | US |
Child | 08148568 | US | |
Parent | 07857972 | Mar 1992 | US |
Child | 08022981 | US | |
Parent | 07659557 | Feb 1991 | US |
Child | 07765986 | US | |
Parent | 07611057 | Nov 1990 | US |
Child | 07659557 | US |