Electric wire feeding apparatus

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an electric wire feeding apparatus which feeds out an electric wire along a predetermined path line for working and treating an end of the electric wire.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] As this kind of conventional electric wire feeding apparatus, there is a structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electric wire feeding apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric wire base table 2 is fixed to an upper surface of an apparatus main body 1, and electric wire guide nozzles 3 and 4 are fixed to the electric wire base table 2 along a predetermined path line L with keeping an interval. The electric wire guide nozzles 3 and 4 respectively have holes 3b and 4b guiding an electric wire W to an inner portion in a longitudinal direction thereof so as to feed out the electric wire W along the predetermined path line L with passing through the nozzles 3 and 4. A roll entering notch portion 3a is provided in one electric wire guide nozzle 3, and further a space between two electric wire guide nozzles 3 and 4 is constituted as a roll entering space 4a.

[0005] A pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 and a pair of length measuring/detecting rolls 6 and 6 are respectively arranged in both side positions with holding the electric wire guide nozzles 3 and 4 therebetween on the electric wire base table 2. Each of a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 is fixed to each of rotary shafts 8 via a mounting screw 7 corresponding to attaching and detaching means. One of a pair of rotary shafts 8 and 8 is rotatably supported to the electric wire base table 2, and a rotational position thereof is fixed. Another of a pair of rotary shafts 8 and 8 is fixed to a front end of an arm member 9 shown in FIG. 2, and a base end portion of the arm member 9 is rotatably supported to a swing center shaft 10. Due to a swing motion of the arm member 9, the feeding rolls 5 and 5 move between a pressure contact position at which one feeding roll 5 moves close to another feeding roll 5 so that the electric wire W is pressurized by both of the feeding rolls 5 and 5 and a waiting position at which one feeding roll 5 moves apart from another feeding roll 5 so that the electric wire W is not pressurized by both of the feeding rolls 5 and 5. Further, a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 is rotated by a rotating and driving mechanism 11 shown in FIG. 2 in a synchronous manner.

[0006] A pair of length measuring rolls 6 and 6 are also structured such that one rotational position is fixed and another rotational position is movable. Then, the length measuring rolls 6 and 6 move between a pressure contact position at which one length measuring roll 6 moves close to another length measuring roll 6 so that the electric wire W is pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 6 and 6 and an apart position at which one length measuring roll 6 moves apart from another length measuring roll 6 so that the electric wire W is not pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 6 and 6. Further, a pair of length measuring rolls 6 and 6 are rotated at the pressure contact position with following to the feed-out of the electric wire W, and an encoder (not shown) detects the rotation, whereby a feed-out amount of the electric wire W can be measured.

[0007] In the structure mentioned above, in a state that the electric wire W is inserted within the electric wire guide nozzles 3 and 4 so as to be set at a reference position, a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 and a pair of length measuring rolls 6 and 6 are both positioned at the pressure contact positions, and a pair of rotary shafts 8 and 8 are rotated by a driving operation of the rotating and driving mechanism 11. Then, a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 are synchronously rotated by the rotation of each of the rotary shafts 8, a moving force is applied to the electric wire W in a feed-out direction due to the rotation so as to feed out the electric wire W, and a pair of length measuring rolls 6 and 6 are rotated by the feed-out of the electric wire W. The feed-out amount of the electric wire W is measured by the rotation of a pair of length measuring rolls 6 and 6, and the rotation of a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 is stopped when the feed-out amount reaches a desired value. The electric wire W can be subsequently fed out at a predetermined length in the manner mentioned above.

[0008] In this case, since the roll feeding type electric wire feeding apparatus is structured such that a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 pressurize the electric wire W substantially because of a point contact as mentioned above, the electric wire W is brought into hard contact with the feeding rolls. Therefore, in the case of the electric wire W having a thick coat or the electric wire W being hard to be injured, there is no problem, however, when using the electric wire W having a thin coat or the electric wire W being easily injured, a trouble is generated. In particular, since there have been frequently used the electric wire W being easily injured in recent years, the problem is increased. In order to solve the problem, there has been suggested a belt feeding type electric wire feeding apparatus which feeds the electric wire W by a belt.

[0009] However, conventionally, in order to change the electric wire feeding apparatus from the roll feeding type to the belt feeding type, in addition to a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5, the rotating and driving mechanism 11 rotating and driving a pair of feeding rolls 5 and 5 and the like are all removed from the apparatus main body, and all the parts necessary for belt feeding, in particular, a pulley around which the belt is wound, a rotating and driving mechanism driving the pulley and the like are newly attached in place thereof. Therefore, in order to change the roll feeding type electric wire feeding apparatus to the belt feeding type, a high cost and a great design change are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention has been achieved to solve the problem mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire feeding apparatus which can be easily changed at a low cost and without a great design change from the roll feeding type apparatus to the belt feeding type apparatus.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric wire feeding apparatus provided with a pair of belt feeding units, each having a belt feeding table, a driven pulley rotatably supported to the belt feeding table, a drive pulley having a rotational position restricted by the belt feeding table, and a belt wound between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. Further, the drive pulley of each of the belt feeding units is fixed to a rotary shaft via attaching and detaching means so as to form a rotary body, and a pair of belt feeding units are freely attached to an electric wire base table so that each of the belts can be positioned at a pressure contact position pressurizing the electric wire.

[0012] According to the present invention, in the case of the roll type in which a pair of feeding rolls are fixed to a pair of rotary shafts, a pair of feeding rolls are taken out from each of the rotary shafts by utilizing the attaching and detaching means, each of the movable pulleys of a pair of belt feeding units is fixed to a pair of rotary shafts via the attaching and detaching means, and a pair of belt feeding units are attached to the electric wire base table, whereby the change to the belt feeding type is completed. Therefore, except a pair of removed feeding rolls, all the elements including the rotating and driving mechanism of the rotary shaft can be utilized, and it is sufficient to add only the means for attaching a pair of belt feeding units to the electric wire base table, so that the roll feeding type apparatus can be easily changed to the belt feeding type apparatus at a low cost and without a great design change.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the pair of rotary shafts is movably provided, and the belt feeding unit moves together with the moving rotary shaft so as to change between a pressure contact position at which the electric wire is pressurized between both of the belt sand awaiting position at which the electric wire is not pressurized between both of the belts.

[0014] Further, according to the present invention, in the case that at least one of a pair of rotary shafts is movable, it is possible to change between the pressure contact position at which the electric wire is pressurized between both of the belts and the waiting position at which the electric wire is not pressurized between both of the belts by utilizing the moving mechanism of a pair of rotary shafts. Therefore, in the case that at least one of a pair of rotary shafts is movable, it is possible to change between the pressure contact position at which the electric wire is pressurized between both of the belts and the waiting position at which the electric wire is not pressurized between both of the belts by utilizing the moving mechanism of a pair of rotary shafts, so that it is possible to effectively utilize the moving mechanism of the rotary shaft.

[0015] In a third aspect of the present invention, the belt feeding table is structured such that the belt portion opposing to the electric wire moves parallel in a direction perpendicular to the feed-out direction of the electric wire at a time of movement between the pressure contact position of the belt and the waiting position.

[0016] Therefore, according to the present invention, since the belt portion opposing to the electric wire moves parallel in the direction perpendicular to the feed-out direction of the electric wire, it is possible to secure a wide area in which the belt is in pressure contact with the electric wire, and it is possible to apply a uniform pressurizing force to the area in which the electric wire is pressurized. Therefore, it is possible to feed out the electric wire on the basis of a uniform force all around a wide area, and a damage applied to the electric wire can be reduced.

[0017] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a parallel crank mechanism is constituted by an arm member swinging and moving the rotary shaft between the close contact position and the waiting position, a connecting rod connecting between the belt feeding table and the electric wire base table, a first imaginary link connecting a connection center in the electric wire base table side of the connecting rod and a swing center of the arm member, and a second imaginary link connecting a connection center in the belt feeding table side of the connecting rod and a rotational center of the rotary shaft, and the belt feeding table is moved parallel.

[0018] Further, according to the present invention, in the case that the rotary shaft moves by the rotating and moving operation, it is sufficient to add the connecting rod connecting between the belt feeding table and the electric wire base table in order to move the belt feeding table parallel, so that it is possible to move the belt feeding table parallel in a simple structure.

[0019] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, both of the rotary shafts are movable, and both of the belt feeding units are provided so as to freely move between the pressure contact position at which the electric wire is pressurized between both of the belts and the waiting position at which the electric wire is not pressurized.

[0020] Further, according to the present invention, in the case that both of a pair of rotary shafts are movable, both of the belt feeding units become the movable apparatus. Therefore, the roll feeding type apparatus can be changed to the belt feeding type apparatus of the same both side movable type, and the control systems and the like can be commonly used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional electric wire feeding apparatus;

[0022]
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a conventional electric wire feeding apparatus;

[0023]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an electric wire feeding apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the electric wire feeding apparatus showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a main portion of the electric wire feeding apparatus showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]
FIG. 6 is a plan view of an electric wire guide nozzle showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a parallel movement of a belt feeding unit, showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]
FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining a principle of the parallel movement of the belt feeding unit, showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main portion of an electric wire feeding apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0030]
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the electric wire feeding apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Hereinafter, a description will be given of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 3 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3 is a plan view of an electric wire feeding apparatus, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the apparatus, FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a main portion of the apparatus, FIG. 6 is a plan view of an electric wire guide nozzle employed in the apparatus, FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a parallel movement of a belt feeding unit employed in the apparatus, FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining a principle of the parallel movement of the belt feeding unit.

[0032] The electric wire feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 corresponds to a structure in a state that the roll feeding type structure is changed to the belt feeding type structure. In, detail, an electric wire base table 21 is fixed onto an upper surface of an apparatus main body 20 of the electric wire feeding apparatus, and electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 are fixed to the electric wire base table 21 along a predetermined path line L at a predetermined interval. The electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 respectively have holes 22a and 23a guiding an electric wire W to an inner portion in a longitudinal direction, and is structures such as to be capable of feeding out the electric wire W along the predetermined path line L through inner portions of the nozzles 22 and 23. A roll entering notch portion 22b is provided in one electric wire guide nozzle 22, and a separated space between two electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 is formed as a roll entering space 23b. The electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 are replaced by appropriate ones when the electric wire W is replaced by the other electric wire having a different diameter. For example, the electric wire guide nozzle 22 shown in FIG. 6 is fixed onto the electric wire base table 21 by a mounting screw 24, and the electric wire guide nozzle can be replaced by a desired nozzle by loosening the mounting screw 24.

[0033] A pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 is arranged at both side positions with respect to the electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 on the electric wire base table 21. One rotary shaft 25 is fixed to a fixed position and another rotary shaft 26 is movably arranged. Another rotary shaft 26 is moved by a moving mechanism A, and both of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 are synchronously rotated by a rotating and driving mechanism B. In a state of the roll feeding type, a pair of feeding rolls are fixed to upper surfaces of a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 via respective attaching and detaching means, a pair of feeding rolls are synchronously rotated by the rotating and driving mechanism B, and another feeding roll moves together with the rotary shaft 26 by the moving mechanism A so as to be changed between a pressure contact position at which the electric wire W is pressurized between both of the feeding rolls and a waiting position at which the electric wire W is not pressurized between both of the feeding rolls. The attaching and detaching means 27 is constituted, in this embodiment, by a screw hole 27a open to the upper surfaces of the rotary shafts 25 and 26, and a mounting screw 27b engaged with and inserted to the screw hole 27a. Further, in a state of the belt feeding type, a pair of belt feeding units C are attached onto the electric wire base table 21 in place of a pair of feeding rolls. The belt feeding unit C will be in detail described later.

[0034] The moving mechanism A is constituted by a linear actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid 30 or the like, a link member 31 connected to a drive rod 30a of the electromagnetic solenoid 30, a swing center shaft 32 fixed to another end of the link member 31, an arm member 33 having a base end portion fixed to the swing center shaft 32, and an oblong hole 34 provided in the electric wire base table 21 so that the rotary shaft 26 rotatably supported to a front end side of the arm member 33 can swing. In this case, when the electromagnetic solenoid 30 drives the drive rod 30a in an extending direction, the link member 31 rotates in a direction of an arrow a and the rotary shaft 26 moves in a direction of an arrow b, and when the electromagnetic solenoid 30 drives the drive rod 30a in a retracting direction, the link member 31 rotates in a direction of an arrow c and the rotary shaft 26 moves in a direction of an arrow d. Due to this movement, the belt feeding unit C mentioned below moves so as to be changed between the pressure contact position at which the electric wire W is pressurized between both of the belts 48 and the waiting position at which the electric wire is not pressurized between both of the belts 48. In this case, the structure can be made such that the rotary shaft 26 is moved by directly connecting a structure obtained by combining a gear apparatus with a rotary actuator such as a motor or the like to the swing center shaft 32. In this case, a rotational angle of the rotary actuator can be controlled by a predetermined drive apparatus.

[0035] The rotating and driving mechanism B is constituted by a drive motor 35, a first spur gear 36 fixed to a rotary shaft of the drive motor 35, second and third spur gears 38 and 39 respectively supported in a rotatable manner to a shaft 37 supported to the electric wire base table 21 and the swing center shaft 32 so as to be engaged with each other and one of them being engaged with first spur gear 36, fourth and fifth spur gears respectively engaged with the second and third spur gears 38 and 39 and respectively supported in a rotatable manner to a shaft 40 supported to the electric wire base table 21 and the arm member 33, and sixth and seventh spur gears 43 and 44 respectively engaged with the fourth and fifth spur gears 41 and 42 and respectively fixed to the rotary shafts 25 and 26. In this case, when the drive motor 35 rotates, the rotation is subsequently transmitted to the first spur gear 36, the second spur gear 38, the fourth spur gear 41 and the sixth spur gear 43 in this order, and is transmitted from the first spur gear 36 and the second spur gear 38 to the third spur gear 39, the fifth spur gear 42 and the seventh spur gear 44 in this order, so that a pair of belts 48 and 48 mentioned below are moved in a direction of feeding out the electric wire W.

[0036] Each of the belt feeding units C has a belt feeding table 45, two driven pulleys 46 rotatably supported to the belt feeding table 45, a drive pulley 47 in which a rotational position is restricted by the belt feeding table 45, and a belt 48 wound between the drive pulley 47 and two driven pulleys 46. A hole 49 from which each of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 is protruded upward is provided in the belt feeding table 45, and the drive pulleys 47 is fixed to the upper surface of each of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 protruding upward via the attaching and detaching means 27 so as to form a rotary body. In the present embodiment, there is shown the case that each of the belt feeding units C is provided with two driven pulleys 46, however, the structure can be modified as far as a pressure contact surface 48a of the belt is substantially parallel to the path line L of the electric wire, so that the number of the driven pulley may be set to one or three or more by a diameter and an arrangement of the drive pulley 47 and the driven pulley 46.

[0037] One belt feeding table 45 is fixed to the electric wire base table 21 by fastening screws 50 or the like and is attached to the electric wire base table 21 so that the belt 48 is positioned at a position substantially close to the electric wire W. Another belt feeding table 45 is attached to the electric wire base table 21 via a connecting rod 51 having a connecting position set to a predetermined position. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, they are connected so that a parallel crank mechanism PC is constituted by the arm member 33 swinging and moving the rotary shaft 26 between the close contact position and the waiting position, the connecting rod 51 connecting between the belt feeding table 45 and the electric wire base table 21, a first imaginary link LK1 connecting a connection center O1 of the connecting rod 51 in the electric wire base table 21 side to a swing center O2 of the arm member 33, and a second imaginary link LK2 connecting a connection center O3 of the connecting rod 51 in the belt feeding table 45 side to a rotation center O4 of the rotary shaft 26. That is, the belt feeding table 45 moves by the movement of the rotary shaft 26, however, the belt feeding table 45 moves in a direction that the a portion of the belt 48 opposing to the electric wire W is substantially perpendicular to the feeding direction of the electric wire W at a time of moving between the pressure contact position of the belt 48 and the waiting position thereof.

[0038] Further, a pair of length measuring/detecting rolls 55 and 56 is structured such that any one of them is fixed at a fixed position and another is movable. In this case, the rolls move between a pressure contact position at which another length measuring roll 56 moves close to one length measuring roll 55 and the electric wire W is pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 55 and 56 and a waiting position at which another length measuring roll 56 moves apart from one length measuring roll 55 and the electric wire W is not pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 55 and 56. A pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 are rotated at the pressure contact position with following to the feeding out of the electric wire W, and a feed-out amount of the electric wire W is measured by detecting the rotation by means of an encoder (not shown).

[0039] A description will be given of a procedure of changing a roll type in which a pair of rolls (not shown) are fixed to a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 to a belt feeding type, in the electric wire feeding apparatus mentioned above. At first, a pair of feeding rolls is taken out by taking out the mounting screws 27b from the respective rotary shafts 25 and 26. Next, a pair of belt feeding units C and C are arranged at predetermined positions of the electric wire base table 21, and the respective pulleys 47 are fixed to a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 by mounting the mounting screws 27b. Then, the belt feeding table 45 in the fixed side is attached to the electric wire base table 21 by the mounting screws 50 or the like. The change to the belt feeding type is completed by mounting the connecting rod 51 connecting between the belt feeding table 45 in the movable side and the electric wire base table 21.

[0040] By the structure mentioned above, all the elements including the rotating and driving mechanism B and the moving mechanism A of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 except a pair of removed feeding rolls can be utilized as they are, and it is sufficient to add only the means for attaching a pair of belt feeding units C and C to the electric wire base table 21, so that it is possible to easily change the roll feeding type apparatus to the belt feeding type apparatus at a low cost and with no great design change.

[0041] Next, a description will be given of the electric wire feeding operation in the case of being changed to the belt feeding type. In a state that the electric wire W is inserted into the electric wire guide nozzles 22 and 23 so as to be set at a reference position, a pair of belts 48 and 48 and a pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 are both positioned at a pressure contact position, and a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 are rotated by a driving operation of the rotating and driving mechanism. Then, a pair of belts 48 and 48 synchronously run by the rotation of the respective rotary shafts 25 and 26, a moving force is applied to the electric wire W in a feed-out direction by the running operation so that the electric wire W is fed out, and a pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 are rotated in correspondence to the feed-out of the electric wire W. A feed-out amount of the electric wire W is measured due to the rotation of a pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56, and when the feed-out amount reaches a desired value, the rotation of a pair of belts 48 and 48 is stopped. According to the manner mentioned above, the electric wire W can be subsequently fed out at a predetermined length.

[0042] Since a pair of belts 48 and 48 flexibly pressurize the electric wire W because of a surface contact, a soft contact against the electric wire W can be achieved. Therefore, no disadvantage is generated even when the electric wire W having a thin coat or the electric wire W easily injured is used.

[0043] Further, in the first embodiment, since the portion of the belt 48 opposing to the electric wire W parallel moves in the direction substantially perpendicular to the feed-out direction of the electric wire W due to the parallel cramp mechanism PC, the area in which the belt 48 is in pressure contact with the electric wire W can be always secured widely, so that the surface contact is not deteriorated. Further, since an even pressure contact force can be applied to the area being in pressure contact with the electric wire W, it is possible to feed out the electric wire W on the basis of an even feed-out force all around the wide area, so that a damage applied to the electric wire W is more reduced.

[0044] In the first embodiment, since it is sufficient to add the connecting rod 51 for connecting between the belt feeding table 45 and the electric wire base table 21 in order to construct the parallel cramp mechanism PC, it is possible to parallel move the belt feeding table 45 by a simple structure. Further, in the first embodiment in which only one of a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 can be moved, since only one belt feeding unit C becomes a movable apparatus, the structure is of one side movable type which is the same as that of the roll feeding type apparatus, so that it is possible to commonly use the control system or the like without changing.

[0045]
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main portion of an electric wire feeding apparatus, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the apparatus. In the first embodiment mentioned above, the structure is made such that only one of a pair of belt feeding units C and C moves, however, the structure of the present invention is made such that both of a pair of belt feeding units C and C move. In the following description, the same reference numerals are attached to the same elements as those of the first embodiment, the description will be omitted, and only the different structures will be described.

[0046] That is, plural kinds of electric wire guide nozzles 22 are provided in parallel in a vertical direction (in the drawing, only one nozzle is shown), and the structure is made such that a plurality of electric wire guide nozzles 22 can selectively stop at a position of a predetermined path line L. That is, in the first embodiment, it is necessary to attach and detach the nozzle by means of the mounting screws 24 at a time of replacing the nozzle for the reason of the different diameter of the electric wire W or the like, however, in this second embodiment, it is sufficient to stop the desired nozzle at the position of the path line L by moving a plurality of electric wire guide nozzles 22 in a vertical direction (Z direction).

[0047] Further, a moving mechanism A for moving a pair of belt feeding units C and C is constituted by an electromagnetic solenoid 30, a link member 31 connected to a drive rod 30a of the electromagnetic solenoid 30, a swing center shaft 32 fixed to another end of the link member 30, an arm member 33 having a base end portion fixed to the swing center shaft 32, an oblong hole 34 provided in the electric wire base table 21 so that the rotary shaft 26 rotatably supported to a front end side of the arm member 33 can swing, a swing center shaft 60 arranged in the swing center shaft 32 in parallel at an interval, a pair of gears 61 and 62 fixed to both of the swing center shafts 32 and 60 and engaging with each other, an arm member 63 having a base end portion fixed to the swing center shaft 60, and an oblong hole 64 provided in the electric wire base table 21 so that the rotary shaft 25 rotatably supported to a front end side of the arm member 63 can swing.

[0048] In this case, when the linear actuator 30 drives the drive rod 30a in an extending direction, the link member 31 rotates in a direction of an arrow a shown in FIG. 10 and a pair of arm members 33 and 63 rotate in a direction of an arrow b due to the rotation and the engagement between a pair of gears 61 and 62, whereby a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 move in a direction moving apart from each other. On the contrary, when the linear actuator 30 drives the drive rod 30a in a retracting direction, the link member 31 rotates in a direction of an arrow c and a pair of arm members 33 and 63 rotate in a direction of an arrow d due to the rotation and the engagement between a pair of gears 61 and 62, whereby a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 move in a direction moving close to each other. Due to this movement, a pair of belt feeding units C and C move so as to be changed between the pressure contact position at which the electric wire W is pressurized between both of the belts 48 and the waiting position at which the electric wire W is not pressurized between both of the belts 48.

[0049] The rotating and driving mechanism B is constituted by a drive motor 35, a first spur gear 36 fixed to a rotary shaft of the drive motor 35, second and third spur gears 38 and 39 respectively supported in a rotatable manner to the respective swing center shafts 32 and 60 so as to be engaged with each other and one of them being engaged with first spur gear 36, fourth and fifth spur gears respectively engaged with the second and third spur gears 38 and 39 and respectively supported in a rotatable manner to the respective arm members 33 and 63, and sixth and seventh spur gears 43 and 44 respectively engaged with the fourth and fifth spur gears 41 and 42 and respectively fixed to the rotary shafts 25 and 26. In this case, when the drive motor 35 rotates, the rotation is subsequently transmitted to the first spur gear 36, the second spur gear 38, the fourth spur gear 41 and the sixth spur gear 45 in this order, and is transmitted from the first spur gear 36 and the second spur gear 38 to the third spur gear 39, the fifth spur gear 42 and the seventh spur gear 46 in this order, so that a pair of belts 48 and 48 are moved in a direction of feeding out the electric wire W.

[0050] A pair of belt feeding units C and C have a belt feeding table 45, two driven pulleys 46, a drive pulley 47, and a belt 48 in the same manner as that of the first embodiment mentioned above. A hole 49 from which each of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 is protruded upward is provided in the belt feeding table 45, and the drive pulleys 47 is fixed to the upper surface of each of the rotary shafts 25 and 26 protruding upward via the attaching and detaching means 27 so as to form a rotary body. Further, both of the belt feeding tables 45 are attached to the electric wire base table 21 via a connecting rod 51 having a connecting position at a predetermined position. Each of the connecting rods 51 is connected so as to construct the parallel crank mechanism PC together with the respective arm members 33 and 63. A pair of belt feeding tables 45 and 45 respectively parallel move in a direction that the portion of the belt 48 opposing to the electric wire W is substantially perpendicular to the feed-out direction of the electric wire W at a time when the belt 48 moves between the pressure contact position and the waiting position.

[0051] Further, the electric wire guide nozzle 52 in the downstream side is constituted by a fixed nozzle 52a and a movable nozzle 52b moving in an axial direction while partly overlapping with the fixed nozzle 52a. The movable nozzle 52b is connected to a drive rod (not shown) of a cylinder mechanism 53, and the movable nozzle 52b moves in an axial direction while changing an overlapping amount with the fixed nozzle 52a due to the driving operation of the cylinder mechanism 53. Due to the movement of the movable nozzle 52b, the apparatus is changed between a guide position at which the movable nozzle 52b is substantially brought into contact with the downstream front end of the electric wire guide nozzle 22 in the upstream side so as to guide the electric wire W and a non-guide position at which the movable nozzle 52b moves apart from the downstream front end of the electric wire guide nozzle 22 in the upstream side so as to release a space to which a pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 enter.

[0052] Further, a pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 is structured such that both of them are movable. In this case, the length measuring rolls 55 and 56 move between a pressure contact position at which both of the length measuring rolls 55 and 56 move close to each other and the electric wire W is pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 55 and 56 and a waiting position at which both of the length measuring rolls 56 move apart from each other and the electric wire W is not pressurized by both of the length measuring rolls 55 and 56. A pair of length measuring rolls 55 and 56 are rotated at the pressure contact position with following to the feeding out of the electric wire W, and a feed-out amount of the electric wire W is measured by detecting the rotation by means of an encoder 70.

[0053] In the second embodiment, substantially the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, in the case that the electric wire feeding apparatus is a roll type in which a pair of feeding rolls (not shown) are fixed to a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26, the roll type electric wire feeding apparatus can be changed to abet feeding type electric wire feeding apparatus by attaching a pair of belt feeding units C and C in substantially the same manner as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, all the elements including the rotating and driving mechanism B of rotary shafts 25 and 26 and the moving mechanism A except a pair of feeding rolls can be utilized, and it is sufficient to add only the means for attaching a pair of belt feeding units C and C to the electric wire base table 21, so that it is possible to easily change the roll feeding type apparatus to the belt feeding type apparatus at a low cost and with no great design change.

[0054] Further, in the second embodiment in which both of a pair of rotary shafts 25 and 26 are movable, since the apparatus is structured such that both of the belt feeding units C and C are movable, the same both side movable mechanism as the roll feeding type apparatus can be maintained and the control system and the like is not required to be changed, so that the control system and the like can be commonly used.

[0055] In this case, in the first and second embodiments mentioned above, the attaching and detaching means 27 is constituted by the screw holes 27a open to the upper surfaces of the rotary shafts 25 and 26, and the mounting screws 27b engaged with the screw hole 27a, however, every means can be employs as far as the means can fix the rotating body and removing the fixed rotating body.

Claims

1. An electric wire feeding apparatus having an electric wire base table in which an electric wire is arranged along a predetermined path line, a pair of rotary shafts arranged in both sides of said electric wire of the electric wire base table, and rotating bodies mounted to the respective rotary shafts via attaching and detaching means in a fixable manner, comprising a pair of belt feeding units, each belt feeding unit comprising: a belt feeding table; a driven pulley rotatably supported to the belt feeding table; a drive pulley having a rotational position restricted by said belt feeding table; and a belt wound between the drive pulley and said driven pulley, wherein said drive pulley of each of the belt feeding units is fixed to said rotary shaft via said attaching and detaching means, and said pair of belt feeding units are freely attached to said electric wire base table so that each of said belts is positioned at a pressure contact position pressurizing said electric wire.
2. An electric wire feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of rotary shafts is movably provided, and said belt feeding unit moves together with said moving rotary shaft so as to change between a pressure contact position at which said electric wire is pressurized between both of said belts and a waiting position at which said electric wire is not pressurized between both of said belts.
3. An electric wire feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said belt feeding table is structured such that said belt portion opposing to said electric wire moves parallel in a direction perpendicular to the feed-out direction of said electric wire in the case of moving between the pressure contact position of said belt and the waiting position.
4. An electric wire feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said belt feeding table further comprises: an arm member swinging and moving said rotary shaft between a close contact position and a waiting position; and a connecting rod connecting between said belt feeding table and said electric wire base table, wherein a parallel crank mechanism is constituted by said arm member, said connecting rod, a first imaginary link connecting a connection center in said electric wire base table side of the connecting rod and a swing center of said arm member, and a second imaginary link connecting a connection center in said belt feeding table side of said connecting rod and a rotational center of said rotary shaft, whereby the belt feeding table is moved parallel.
5. An electric wire feeding apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, wherein one of said rotary shafts is movable and another is fixed to a fixed position, and one of said belt feeding units connected to said one rotary shaft is provided so as to freely move between a pressure contact position at which said electric wire is pressurized between both of said belts and a waiting position at which said electric wire is not pressurized.
6. An electric wire feeding apparatus according to claims 2 to 4, wherein both of said rotary shafts are movable, and both of said belt feeding units are provided so as to freely move between a pressure contact position at which said electric wire is pressurized between both of said belts and a waiting position at which said electric wire is not pressurized.
7. A belt feeding unit attached to an electric wire base table of an electric wire feeding apparatus, said electric wire base table being arranged along a predetermined path line, and a pair of rotary shafts being arranged in both sides of said electric wire of the electric wire base table, comprising: a belt feeding table; at least one driven pulley rotatably supported to the belt feeding table; a drive pulley having a rotational position restricted by said belt feeding table; and a belt wound between the drive pulley and said driven pulley, wherein at a time of attaching said belt feeding unit, each of said drive pulleys is fixed to said rotary shaft via said attaching and detaching means, and each of said belts is positioned at a contact position at which said electric wire is pressurized.
8. A belt feeding unit according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said pair of rotary shafts is movably provided, and said belt feeding unit moves together with said moving rotary shaft so as to be changed between a pressure contact position at which said electric wire is pressurized between both of said belts and a waiting position at which said electric wire is not pressurized between both of said belts.
9. A belt feeding unit according to claim 8, wherein said belt feeding table is structured such that a pressure contact surface of said belt opposing to said electric wire is substantially in parallel to the feed-out direction of said electric wire, at an optional position between the pressure contact position and the waiting position of said belt.
10. A belt feeding unit according to claim 7, further comprising: an arm member swinging and moving said rotary shaft between a close contact position and a waiting position; and a connecting rod connecting between said belt feeding table and said electric wire base table, wherein a parallel crank mechanism is constituted by said arm member, said connecting rod, a first imaginary link connecting a connection center in said electric wire base table side of the connecting rod and a swing center of said arm member, and a second imaginary link connecting a connection center in said belt feeding table side of said connecting rod and a rotational center of said rotary shaft, whereby the belt feeding table is moved parallel.

Priority Claims (1)

Number	Date	Country	Kind
P 2000-80229	Mar 2000	JP

Electric wire feeding apparatus

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Priority Claims (1)