Patent Application
20200148500
The present invention concerns a wire handling apparatus and a manufacturing apparatus having such a wire handling apparatus.
In the manufacturing and packaging of wires by means of a manufacturing apparatus a wire is fed from a wire reservoir, for example a wire roll, to a wire handling apparatus which serves to guide the wire and transfer it to wire processing stations. Usually in that case firstly wire is guided out of the wire reservoir and through the wire handling apparatus until the desired length of wire is present, whereupon the wire is cut to length, for example by a cutting device arranged between the wire reservoir and the wire handling apparatus. Then the first end of the wire which is guided and held in the wire handling apparatus is passed by the wire handling apparatus to a processing station in the form of a wire manufacturing device. The wire end is processed in the wire manufacturing device by for example the wire end being stripped of insulation and/or by a wire termination (for example a cable shoe, a flat plug, a crimp contact, a shrink tube, a cable sleeve, a grommet or the like) being applied at the wire end. Subsequently the wire is again moved through the wire handling apparatus (now in the opposite direction) and the second wire end is guided to the same or a further processing station so that the second wire end can also be provided with a wire termination. The correspondingly produced wire is then removed from the wire handling apparatus by a transfer apparatus (for example a robot arm) and transferred to further processing stations that may possibly be provided like for example a marking station or an arrangement station.
In context of the present disclosure the term wire includes individual insulated or bare wires, single-core or multi-core wires or cables with sheathing, wiring harnesses, strands, glass fibre cables or the like.
Known wire handling apparatuses have two wire guide apparatuses or devices, which are arranged at a certain spacing relative to each other so that between the guide portions of the wire guide apparatuses there is a gap which the front wire end has to bridge over when the wire is being passed through the wire guide apparatuses. So that the wire end after that gap can actually also pass into the guide portion of the wire guide apparatus which is the second one or the rear one from the point of view of the wire it is important that the wire is already substantially exactly oriented in a straight line before being introduced into the first guide portion of the wire guide apparatus which is the first one or the front one from the point of view of the wire, and complicated and cumbersome wire orienting apparatuses are necessary for that purpose.
The object of the invention is to avoid the above-described disadvantages and to provide a wire handling apparatus which permits improved wire guidance.
That object is attained by a wire handling apparatus as described below and a manufacturing apparatus having such a wire handling apparatus.
The invention provides that the first wire guide apparatus and the second wire guide apparatus are arranged moveably relative to each other.
In that way, the two guide portions of the two wire guide devices can be disposed in the immediate proximity so that the gap between the two guide portions can be minimized. It is particularly desirable if the two wire guide devices are moved so far relative to each other that the two wire guide devices bear directly against each other and thus the second guide portion directly adjoins the first guide portion, whereby the two guide portions form a continuous guide portion which extends through both wire guide devices. As therefore there is no longer a gap between the guide portions that the wire has to bridge over it is also no longer necessary for the wire to be exactly oriented in a straight line before passing into the wire handling apparatus. Aligning the wire can thus either be effected less precisely and therefore with lower complication and involvement or it can be even entirely eliminated.
According to a preferred embodiment, the first wire guide device and/or the second wire guide device is or are of a substantially tubular configuration, wherein preferably the first guide portion and/or the second guide portion is or are substantially in the form of a cylindrical hollow space. Basically a cross-section of the first guide portion and/or the second guide portion transversely relative to the longitudinal extent can be inter alia round, oval, square or rectangular.
Preferably, the first guide portion has a substantially rectilinear configuration along a longitudinal direction and/or the second guide portion is of a substantially rectilinear configuration along the longitudinal direction.
Preferably, the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device are arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the first wire guide portion and the second wire guide portion can be arranged in mutually aligned relationship in the longitudinal direction.
A preferred variant provides that the first wire guide device is moveable in the longitudinal direction relative to the second wire guide device and/or the second wire guide device is moveable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first wire guide device.
In that case, therefore, one of the two wire guide devices or both wire guide devices can be moved with a translation movement along the longitudinal direction.
Particularly, if the wire guide devices are of a tubular configuration the longitudinal direction represents a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical hollow spaces forming the guide portions and the translation movement can take place axially along the longitudinal axis.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is one in which the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device are moveable into a pass-through position, wherein in the pass-through position the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device are arranged substantially directly in succession in the longitudinal direction. In that case, the mutually facing ends of the wire guide devices and the two guide portions form a continuous guide portion extending through both wire guide devices.
A movement of the wire guide devices into the pass-through position can be effected, for example, by the first wire guide device being stationary and by the second wire guide device being moved in the direction of the first wire guide device. Equally that movement can be effected by the second wire guide device being stationary and the first wire guide device being moved in the direction of the second wire guide device. Naturally, both wire guide devices can move towards each other.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device are moveable into a conveyor position, wherein in the conveyor position the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device are arranged in mutually spaced relationship in the longitudinal direction. In that respect, the wire handling apparatus includes a wire conveyor apparatus, wherein the wire conveyor apparatus is moveable in the conveyor position between the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device.
In that respect, the wire conveyor apparatus can be brought into engagement in the conveyor position of the wire guide devices with a wire extending between the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device whereby the wire can be transported in the forward or rearward direction (in relation to the longitudinal direction). Preferably, the wire conveyor apparatus can be brought into engagement with the wire during the transition of the wire guide devices from the pass-through position to the conveyor position.
Preferably, the wire conveyor apparatus includes two mutually oppositely rotating transport rollers. In that case, the two transport rollers are moveable towards each other transversely relative to the longitudinal direction, for example by a linear drive or a pneumatic cylinder. The wire conveyor apparatus can also include two belt systems in which a respective belt is arranged around at least two rollers and is driven by the rollers, wherein the two belt systems can be brought into engagement with the wire and thus the wire can be clamped between the two belts and advanced by the two belts.
The two transport rollers can clamp the wire between the running surfaces of the transport rollers and thus can move the wire in the longitudinal direction and in opposite relationship thereto upon rotation of the transport rollers in mutually opposite directions.
The wire handling apparatus includes a support device, the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device being arranged on the support device.
In that arrangement, the support device can have a plate-shaped or disc-shaped or panel-shaped configuration.
Preferably, the first wire guide device and/or the second wire guide device is or are arranged moveably with a translation movement, preferably in the longitudinal direction, on the support device.
The first wire guide device and/or the second wire guide device can therefore be mounted moveably in the longitudinal direction on the support device, and a movement of the first wire guide device and/or the second wire guide device can be effected for example by a linear drive. In that respect, one of the two wire guide devices can be arranged stationarily on the support device, and the other of the two wire guide devices can be mounted moveably in the longitudinal direction on the support device. Naturally, both wire guide devices can be mounted moveably in the longitudinal direction on the support device.
The support device is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation. Preferably in that case, the axis of rotation extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction.
The support device can be mounted rotatably about the axis of rotation for example on a support structure or a frame so that the wire end can be fed to a processing unit arranged in the corresponding angular position. In particular in that way, the same processing unit can also be used for both wire ends as, after processing of the front or first wire end, the support device can be pivoted about the axis of rotation through 180° so that the rear or second wire end can be fed to the processing unit.
A particular variant provides that the support device is mounted moveably with a translation movement.
In that way, a wire end can not only be pivoted in the direction of a processing unit but the wire end can also be fed to the processing unit and transferred to the processing unit without the wire having to be moved relative to the wire guide devices.
Preferably, the support device includes a first support plate and the second support plate, the first support plate being moveable relative to the second support plate.
In that case, the first support plate can be arranged moveably with a translation movement on the second support plate. That simplifies the structure of a support device which is also mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation as, by virtue of rotation of the second support plate, the first support plate is also automatically rotated therewith and the first support plate only has to be moved relative to the second support plate to feed the wire end to the processing unit.
Preferably, a guide bar is arranged at the second support plate, the first support plate being arranged displaceably along the guide bar. The movement of the first support plate relative to the second support plate can again be effected for example by means of a linear drive.
Improved wire guidance by the wire handling apparatus can also be achieved if the first wire guide device is adapted to be divisible along the first guide portion into at least two parts and/or the second wire guide device is adapted to be divisible along the second guide portion into at least two parts.
By virtue of a divisible configuration of the wire guide devices along the guide portions, it is also possible for a wire end which is provided with a wire termination and which because of the wire termination is of outside dimensions that are increased in comparison with the wire diameter, to be guided along the correspondingly enlarged guide portions through the wire guide devices. In other words this makes it possible for wires of different thicknesses or wires with fitted wire terminations to be guided through the wire guide devices.
In a preferred variant, the at least two parts are moveable relative to each other.
The wire guide devices can therefore be adapted to be divisible along a respective longitudinal extent into at least two parts which are mounted moveably relative to each other. In that case, the movement can be radial in the relation to a longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis of the wire guide devices or the guide portions thereof.
It is particularly desirable if the at least two parts include a first guide part and a second guide part, wherein the second guide part can be lifted off the first guide part.
That represents a structurally particularly simple variant in which the wire guide devices are divided along their longitudinal extents into respective two halves (lower first guide part and upper second guide part) and for enlargement of the guide portions the respective upper halves are lifted off the lower halves. The lifting movement of the upper guide parts can be effected radially or transversely relative to the longitudinal extents of the wire guide devices.
A manufacturing apparatus can have the proposed wire handling apparatus.
In a preferred variant, the manufacturing apparatus includes at least one processing unit in the form of a wire manufacturing device. A wire end of the wire guided by the wire handling apparatus can be transferred from the wire handling apparatus to the wire manufacturing device in order to provide the wire end, for example, with a wire termination.
The at least one processing unit can for example involve an open, free-standing or incorporated wire manufacturing apparatus having an opening for introduction of a wire end.
Preferably, the wire manufacturing device has an opening for the introduction of a wire end, the opening being of a funnel-shaped configuration. Introduction of the wire end can be facilitated by the funnel-shaped opening as, in the event of the wire end being not exactly centrally transferred, the wire end is guided to the opening along the funnel shape.
The at least one wire handling apparatus can have at least one connecting device for docking the at least one wire handling apparatus to the wire manufacturing device, wherein preferably the at least one connecting device has a conical region corresponding to the funnel-shaped opening. With the provision of a conical region corresponding to the funnel-shaped opening at the connecting device positively locking docking of the connecting device at the funnel-shaped opening can take place and the wire end can be unimpededly introduced through the opening into the wire manufacturing device.
Preferably, a respective connecting device is arranged at the mutually remote ends of the first wire guide device and the second wire guide device. That can ensure central docking of the wire handling apparatus at the wire manufacturing device for both wire ends.
Further details and advantages of the present invention are described by means of the specific description hereinafter. In the drawings:
In the illustrated apparatus 2 wire 5 is passed from a wire reservoir 18 in the form of a wire roll by means of an advance device 19 through the two guide portions 6, 7 of the two wire guide devices 3, 6 and a first wire end 5a is introduced into a processing unit in the form of a wire manufacturing device 14 in order to provide the first wire end 5a with a wire termination 22 (not shown here). There is also a cutting device 20 for cutting the wire 5 to the desired length.
The wire handling apparatus 1 includes a first wire guide device 3 having a first guide portion 4 for a wire 5 to be guided along the first guide portion 4 and a second wire guide device 6 having a second guide portion 7 for a wire 5 to be guided along the second guide portion 7. The first guide portion 4 is of a substantially rectilinear configuration along a longitudinal direction L and the second guide portion 7 is also of a substantially rectilinear configuration along the longitudinal direction L. The two guide portions 6, 7 are substantially in the form of cylindrical hollow spaces. The first wire guide device 3 and the second wire guide device 6 are arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction L, wherein the first guide portion 4 and the second guide portion 7 are oriented in mutually aligned relationship in the longitudinal direction L. In
In the illustrated view the two wire guide devices 3, 6 are in their pass-through position A in which the first wire guide device 3 and the second wire guide device 6 are arranged in substantially directly successive relationship in the longitudinal direction L. The two mutually facing ends of the wire guide devices 3, 6 taper in the direction of the guide portions 6, 7 in order in the transition from the pass-through position A to the conveyor position B to make it easier for the transport rollers 9 of the wire conveyor apparatus 8 to come into engagement with the wire 5.
The first wire guide device 3 in this example is adapted to be divisible along the first guide portion 4 into two parts—a first guide part 3a and a second guide part 3b—and the second wire guide device 6 is also adapted to be divisible into two parts—a first guide part 6a and a second guide part 6b—along the second guide portion 7. The two guide parts 3a, 3b of the first wire guide device 3 are moveable relative to each other, wherein the second guide part 3b can be lifted off the first guide part 3a. Equally the two guide parts 6a, 6b of the second wire guide device 6 are also moveable relative to each other, wherein the second guide part 6b can be lifted off the first guide part 6a. In the illustrated position the two second guide parts 3b, 6b lie on the two first guide parts 3a, 6a whereby the two guide portions 4, 7 extend along the longitudinal direction L within the two wire guide devices 3, 6. In the two respectively mutually adjoining guide parts 3a and 3b, 6a and 6b, there is a respective recess which is of a continuous trough-shaped configuration in the longitudinal direction L so that the two guide portions 6, 7 are substantially in the form of cylindrical hollow spaces.
The wire handling apparatus 1 further includes a support device 10, the first wire guide device 3 and the second wire guide device 6 being arranged on the support device 10. The support device 10 includes a first support plate 11 and a second support plate 12, wherein the first support plate 11 is moveable relative to the second support plate 12 by a guide bar 13 being arranged on the second support plate 12, the first support plate 11 being arranged displaceably along the guide bar 13. In the illustrated embodiment the first wire guide device 3 is arranged stationarily on the first support plate 11 and the second wire guide device 6 is arranged moveably with a translation movement in the longitudinal direction L on the support device 10 by the second wire guide device 6 being arranged displaceably along the guide bar 13.
The support device 10 and the second support plate 12 thereof are mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation R on a support structure or frame (not shown here).
Reference is now made to
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The described operating procedure represents only a possible example of a manufacturing process for a wire 5. It will be appreciated that it is also possible that the wire 5 is transferred from the other side—that is to say beginning with the second wire guide device 6—to the wire handling apparatus 1 or that only one of the two wire ends is processed by a processing unit.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 50574/2017 | Jul 2017 | AT | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/AT2018/060140 | Jul 2018 | US |
| Child | 16739684 | US |
