Continuous cable processing apparatus

Abstract

A continuous cable processing apparatus for producing cable sections with processed ends comprises a cable transport apparatus having at least one transport means for moving and holding the cable in the axial direction and, transversely thereto, a knife station. According to a special variant, two transport means are arranged in the longitudinal cable direction on both sides of the knife station and, after the cable has been cut through, each hold one of the cable end regions produced on cutting, so that said end regions are movable in the longitudinal cable direction. At least one of these end processing stations is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal cable direction, adjacent to the knife station and at least one transport means is movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal cable direction so that a cable end region can be fed to the end processing station.

1 . A continuous cable processing apparatus for processing a cable along a cable transport path from one side to the other side of said apparatus, having drive and processing stations, with at least one moveable guide ( 40 ,  21 ) associated with a processing station ( 3 ) and arranged between said processing station and said other side, wherein said guide ( 40 ,  21 ) is connected to a control that alternatively moves said guide completely from said cable transport path during a cable processing mode.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one guide ( 40 ,  21 ) is arranged on that side of said processing station which faces a cable outlet.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said guide ( 40 ,  21 ) is raisable in a radial plane relative to said cable transport path.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one guide ( 40 ) each, is arranged in front of and behind said processing station ( 3 ).  
     
     
         5 . The cable processing device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least one drive and processing station, having at least one each of first and second movable guides ( 9 ,  40 ) before and after the processing station ( 3 ), the first guide ( 40 ) being arranged after the processing station in the cable feed direction and being connected to the actuation means which removes the guide ( 40 ) on a case by case basis completely out of the cable path or away from the cable axis ( 6 ) during the cable processing operation, and the second pivotable guide ( 9 ) being arranged on the other side of the processing station, which guide ( 9 ) swivels only one side of the guide out of the axis ( 6 ) of the cable while its other side remains in the axis ( 6 ).  
     
     
         6 . The cable processing device comprising at least one drive and processing station along a cable path ( 6 ) and in the feed direction of a cable, having a pivotable guide ( 9 ) on the cable path ( 6 ) before a processing station ( 3 ) and a guide sleeve ( 40 ) on the cable path ( 6 ) after this processing station ( 3 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein this guide sleeve ( 40 ) is connected to a preferably automatic actuation means which makes it possible to remove this guide sleeve ( 40 ) on a case by case basis completely out of the cable path ( 6 ).  
     
     
         7 . The insulation stripping device comprising a pair of tool supports ( 1 ,  2 ) for holding at least two tools ( 3 ) in pairs (in particular knives, e.g. one above and one below) and a guide means for guiding cables before and/or after the tools, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide means has a guide device ( 40 ) removable laterally or upward or downward in order to enable a cable ( 7 ) already lying on the other side of the tools to be pushed back without collision in a direction opposite to the feed direction.  
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least the upper and lower rollers ( 11 ) or continuous belts ( 12 ) of a pair of rollers or of a pair of continuous belts are displaceable laterally relative to one another so that a twisting process can be carried out on a cable ( 7 ) lying in between.  
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an automatic threading device and/or a measuring device for the tensile load on the cable ( 7 ) and/or a dynamic contact pressure means on the feed rollers ( 11 ) or feed belts ( 12 ), in particular as a function of the tensile load on the cable ( 7 ), and/or a cable straightening device and/or a length counter unit and/or a cable sheath ejector (optionally by means of compressed air) and/or a laterally openable cable guide for ejecting slugs are further coordinated with the roller or belt feed.  
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a control and a gripping device are coordinated with the second belt drive ( 12   b ), the former releasing the cable immediately after stripping of insulation from the rear end of the front cable section so that said cable can be removed by the gripping device, or wherein, wherein the pairs ( 11 ,  12 ) of rollers or belts are adjustable relative to one another by stepping motors, preferably via spindles, a control having an automatic RESET and/or a programmable circuit and/or at least one pressure sensor for registering and/or evaluating the measured contact pressure on the cable ( 7 ) being coordinated with the motors.  
     
     
         11 . A continuous cable insulation stripping apparatus, comprising along a first transport path definable by a cable axis, 
 a cable transport apparatus, which comprises at least one first and at least one second transporters (A, B; C;  111 ,  112 ,  113 ) for linear transport and holding of a cable ( 107 ) along said first transport path,    at least one blade station (E, F, G;  115 ) for holding at least one blade to be moved toward said cable axis along a working direction for processing said cable ( 107 ), said blade station (E, F, G;  115 ) being arranged between two of said transporters (A, B; C,  111 ,  112 ,  113 ) and, before and after processing of said cable ( 107 ), said transporters holding at least one of said cable and one each of cable end regions ( 107   a,  b) facing one another and created by said blade station, parallel to said first transport path ( 100 ) and so as to be movable in a cable longitudinal direction, wherein at least one of said blade station (E, F, G,  115 ) and said transporter (A, B;    C.  111 ,  112 ,  113 ) is displaceable approximately at right angles or at right angles to said first transport path ( 100 ) and perpendicular to said working direction of said blade by a drive.    
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein displaceability of one or more transporters (A, B;  112 , C,  113 ) permits parallel displacement of at least one of said cable ( 107 ) and at least one cable end ( 107   a,  b) from said first transport path ( 100 ) to at least a second transport path ( 102 ,  103 ) and wherein a further processing station ( 16 ,  17  ) can be coordinated with said second transport path ( 102 ,  103 ).  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said further processing station comprises at least one transport or processing station ( 16 ,  17 ), selected from the group consisting of an insulation stripping station, a sawing station, a cutting station, a twisting station, a shaping station, a crimping station, a soldering station, a cable processing station and a manipulator arm.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least one transporter (A, B;  4 ; C,  112 ,  113 ), is guided in a linear guide ( 110 ) transversely to said transport path ( 100 ) and can be moved by a drive apparatus ( 111 , 114 ), and wherein said transporter is preferably located one each on both sides of said blade station (E, F, G,  115 ).  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a drive apparatus ( 111 ,  114 ) of each movable transporter ( 112 ,  113 ) and at least one independent transport drive is connected to a common control ( 200 ), and at least one further processing station ( 16 ,  17 ), so that all longitudinal and transverse movements can be performed in a coordinated and time-optimized manner, in synchronization with the processing steps.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said transport drive is located one each on both sides of said blade station (E, F, G,  115 ) and said common control ( 200 ) also controls said blade station (E, F, G,  115 ).  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein two transporters ( 112 ) are connected to one another by a common motor-controlled actuator ( 101 ) so that, transverse adjustment of one transporter ( 112   a ) results in a diametrically opposite lateral adjustment of the other transporter ( 112   b ).  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least one transporter ( 112   b ) is connected to at least one of said blade station ( 115  and tool support by a common, motor-controlled actuator ( 10 [ 41 ) so that transverse adjustment of one transporter ( 112   b ) results in a diametrically opposite transverse adjustment of at least one of said blade station ( 115 ) and said tool support.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second transporter (A, B; C:  112 ,  113 ) have at least one of one pair of rollers (A, B;  111 ) and one pair of continuous belts (C;  112 ).  
     
     
         20 . A continuous cable processing apparatus having rollers or continuous belts for longitudinal transport of a cable along a transport path ( 100 ), wherein said rollers (A, B;  111 ) or continuous belts (C;  112 ) are located opposite one another across said transport path ( 100 ) and are adjustable relative to one another and can be opened and closed in a cable-dependent and feed-controlled manner and can be moved together lateral to said transport path.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a cable is receivable in a gap between opened rollers (A, B;  111 ) or belts (C,  112 ) and is transported onward by means of said rollers ( 111 ) or said belts ( 112 ) that are moved toward one another and held against one another under a contact pressure.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said rollers ( 111 ) or said belts ( 112 ) belonging to two pairs of rollers or belts (A, B;  111 ; C;  112 ) are programmably adjustable relative to one another by at least one of stepping motors, a control, a programmable circuit, and at least one pressure sensor for measuring or evaluating contact pressure on said cable ( 107 ).  
     
     
         23 . A cable apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a control member having a computer which, in an operating state, after input of cable diameter, cable type designation, and desired insulation stripping length, automatically calculates and sets at least one of an initial gap of said rollers or belt drive (A, B;  111 ; C;  112 ) and a contact pressure for stripping of insulation sections, and appropriately controls said drives.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , in which said gap is computer controlled.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , in which said control has an automatic reset.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one drive station each are arranged in front of and behind said processing station.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which said guides are arranged symmetrically with respect to said processing station.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , in which said drive station is arranged symmetrically with respect to said processing station.  
     
     
         29 . A continuous cable processing apparatus having rollers or continuous belts for longitudinal transport of a cable along a transport path ( 100 ), wherein said rollers (A, B;  111 ) or continuous belts (C;  112 ) are located opposite one another across said transport path ( 100 ) and are adjustable relative to one another and can be opened and closed in a cable-dependent and feed-controlled manner and can be moved together lateral to said transport path, further comprising a control member having a computer which, in an operating state, after input of cable diameter, cable type designation, and desired insulation stripping length, automatically calculates and sets at least one of an initial gap of said rollers or belt drive (A, B;  111 ; C;  112 ) and a contact pressure for stripping of insulation sections, and appropriately controls said drives.  
     
     
         30 . A continuous cable processing apparatus having rollers or continuous belts for longitudinal transport of a cable along a transport path ( 100 ), wherein said rollers (A, B;  111 ) or continuous belts (C;  112 ) are located opposite one another across said transport path ( 100 ) and are adjustable relative to one another and can be opened and closed in a cable-dependent and feed-controlled manner and can be moved together lateral to said transport path, wherein said rollers ( 111 ) or said belts ( 112 ) belonging to two pairs of rollers or belts (A, B;  111 ; C;  112 ), are programmably adjustable relative to one another by means of at least one of stepping motors, a control, a programmable circuit, and at least one pressure sensor for measuring or evaluating contact pressure on said cable ( 107 ).