EP1653577B1 - Cable storage device and method of handling cable ends - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for storing cables or cable pieces, at their ends. In particular, the invention relates to such a device for storing in a device in which the cables can be transported as well as easily and practically fed to the further processing process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for handling cables in a memory, in particular with the aforementioned device.

From the US-A-5 127 159 , which is considered to be the closest prior art, is (there well illustrated for example in Figure 2B) a cable memory of adjacent clamping devices known, in which the cable ends are to be clamped. In the clamping devices, however, the cable ends are clamped so that they are exposed to considerable lateral and longitudinal loading. Furthermore, the cables must either - again with a considerable burden on the cable ends - are pulled out or it is a special device necessary to release the cable ends load.

Furthermore, the points from the US-A-5 127 159 known cable store the disadvantage that a plurality of cable ends in the same clamping position can be stored only under again significantly increased load on the cable ends.

The operation of such a cable memory described above is from the US-A-5 606 795 basically known, but without the problems identified above would be solved.

A gripping device for treating the cable ends is also from the EP-A-0 494 570 as well as from the EP-A-0 584 493 known.

Basically known are so-called turret memories, in which the cable ends are typically arranged on a circumference. Such storage units are particularly well suited for automatic, programmed further processing. For manual further processing such revolver arrangements appear less suitable.

It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a device with which cable storage can be easily equipped and which supports a manual further processing in particular. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to propose a method with which the above-mentioned processing should be particularly simple.

The cable storage is to be able to be operated as possible with one of the above-cited, previously known gripping devices.

The invention achieves the object by a device according to claim 1. The measures of the invention have first Once the result that a tool for loading cable storage and operation can be handled very easily.

Furthermore, from the EP-A-0 494 570 as well as from the EP-A-0 584 493 known gripping devices are used in principle.

The solution according to the present invention impresses primarily by the ease of use.

Further advantageous details of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

The aforementioned and the claimed and described in the following embodiments, according to the invention to be used elements are subject to their size, shape, material usage and technical design no special conditions of exception, so that the well-known in the respective field of application selection criteria can apply without restriction.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which - by way of example - a device and an associated process flow to the present invention will be explained.

Fig. 1

einen Kabelspeicher zum Einsatz in der Vorrichtung gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 2

den Kabelspeicher nach Fig. 1 von der Seite;

Fig. 3

zwei aneinander angeordnete Kabelspeicher nach Fig. 1 von der Seite als funktionale Schnittzeichnung;

Fig. 4

eine Vielzahl von Kabelspeicher auf einer Schiene angeordnet mit einer Greifeinrichtung zum Bedienen eines der Speicher;

Fig. 5

den Betrieb einer Greifvorrichtung in Zusammenspiel mit den Kabelspeichern auf mehreren Schienen;

Fig. 6

eine Anlage gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung zum Betrieb der Kabelspeicher nach Fig. 1 mit den wesentlichen Elementen; und

Fig. 7

die Anlage nach Fig. 6 mit der Kabelwanne.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a cable store for use in the device according to the present invention in perspective view;

Fig. 2

the cable memory of Figure 1 from the side.

Fig. 3

two mutually arranged cable storage of Figure 1 from the side as a functional sectional drawing.

Fig. 4

a plurality of cable storage on a rail arranged with a gripping device for operating one of the memory;

Fig. 5

the operation of a gripping device in conjunction with the cable memories on several rails;

Fig. 6

a system according to the present invention for operating the cable storage of Figure 1 with the essential elements. and

Fig. 7

the system of Fig. 6 with the cable tray.

The cable store designated as a whole by 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 has two interconnected side parts 12 and 14, which form a gap for accommodating one or a multiplicity of cables or cable ends 20. Down the gap is limited by a block 30. The block 30 protrudes substantially over the length of the side parts 12 and 14 and thus forms a shoulder on both sides. Furthermore, the slide block 30 is formed vertically resilient, in the embodiment by a spring 52 to which it is mounted.

At the top, the gap for the cables can be closed or opened by a closing element 16. The closure element 16 is mounted about an axis 40 in the left side part 14 and is pressed by a further spring 54 against the inner wall of the right side part 12. By a lever 50, the closure element can be opened and release the cable so. The skilled person will recognize that the position of the axis or the pivot point for the balance of power and thus the load on the Cable or cable end acts, can be essential.

The upper inclined flank of the closure 16 is formed very obliquely, in order to minimize the load to which the cable is subjected during insertion. The lower edge, however, is formed in the present embodiment at an angle of about 45 °, so that - in conjunction with the spring force of the spring 54 - the cable or cables are held firmly in the cable memory.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the cable storage elements described above are juxtaposed. In this case, the right side part of the illustrated left storage element is designed as a left side part of the right storage element. In the case of a multiplicity of interconnected memory elements, therefore, only the right-hand end element is designed as a side part 12.

In Figure 4, the mode of action of the present invention is particularly illustrated. Here, a plurality of memory elements 10 are arranged on a rail 80. In this illustration, the last right side portion 12 and a further element 14 is omitted in order to better show the operation. A gripper 110, which is equipped with a cable 20, in this case pushes down the shoulders of the block 30 and thus releases an enlarged storage space. Then, the gripper 110 releases the cable 20 by opening its gripping members, and the storage space becomes as small as the cable dimension requires, as the block 30 is pushed back. Of course, a cable or cable end can also be manually inserted into the cable storage, for example, by pressing down the shoulder of the slide block and opens the shutter 16 formed as a rocker on the operating element 50.

This relationship is again shown in Figure 5 on a different scale, wherein a plurality of memory elements 10 are each shown, which are formed from the parts 14 and a termination part 12. These memory elements are arranged on a rail 80. The rail 80 has at both ends a handle 90, which basically has two functions. On the one hand, this handle 90 is intended and designed as a completely conventional carrying handle for the rails and thus for the multiplicity of storage elements, on the other hand the rail 80 is pushed out by means of the grippers 110 on the carrying handle.

As shown in FIG. 6, however, the rails 80 populated with the individual cable stores 10 are inserted on a placement system 200 from the left in the rear row 210-manually in the present exemplary embodiment. They are then pushed to the right, as far as there is room for such a rail 80. Now, when the right rail 80 with the loading of cables or cable ends 20 in the series, this rail 80 - brought in the embodiment by lifting, moving forward and lowering again - in the loading position in a front row 220 and the grippers 110th stocked. In the exemplary embodiment, three grippers 110 arranged next to one another are provided so that the grippers 110 can also supply cable ends with a double crimp connection. Of course, other arrangements of grippers (e.g., two or more than three) are possible. In front of the front row 220 - as shown in Figure 7 - a cable tray 250 is provided so that the cable loops can be moved protected.

In this embodiment, it is provided that the cable storage on the rail 80, when they have reached the left position in the front row 220, are further supplied by hand. Of course it is also possible to provide this supply robot technology.

The insertion of the empty and the removal of the loaded notes 80 is provided in the present embodiment approximately at the same horizontal position. This is advantageous both in the case of manual feeding as well as removal. In order to be able to obtain part of this advantage, in the case of a displaced position at least the same side should be provided for feeding and removal.

In this embodiment, the gripper is intended to perform the movement of the rails 80 in the front row 220 of the grippers 110. In this case, the shift is not or hardly in the tact time because the transfer unit the empty rail forward in the front row 220, while the gripper performs the process of ejecting the filled rail 80.

In principle, however, it is also possible that the displacement of the rails 80 in the front or in the rear row 220 or with the grippers 110 can be carried out by one of the grippers 110 on one of the above-described and trained handles 90 attack and move the rail 80 on this handle.

Claims (9)

1. An apparatus for storing cables (20), in particular, cable ends comprising

   - at least one storage track (80), with a number of cable storage elements (10),

   - a supply and transport mechanism for the substantially horizontal supply and a substantially horizontal transport of the storage tracks to the position at which the storing or equipping of the cable storage element with cables (2) or cable ends is provided, and a transport away from this position,

   - mechanism (110) for storing or equipping of cables (20) or cable ends in respectively one cable storage element (10),

   characterized in that

   - said mechanisms (110) for storing or equipping of said cables (20) or cable ends in respectively one cable storage element (10) are so formed that they can lead away the equipped cable storage element (10) after the equipping substantially horizontal of the position of the equipping.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said storage tracks (80) have handles on at least one side, on which said mechanisms (110) for storing or equipping said cables (20) or cable ends by the leading away can engage in order to displace said storage tracks.
3. The apparatus according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized by a first supply groove or channel (210), in which said storage tracks by horizontal displacement can be supplied and a second transport groove or channel, in which said storage track by horizontal displacement can be transported away.
4. The apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by a shifting mechanism which is so formed that it can transfer said storage tracks from one groove or channel (210, 220) in the other groove or channel (220, 210).
5. The apparatus according to one of the above claims, characterized in that said mechanisms (110) for storing or equipping said cables (20) or said cable ends are formed as cable grippers in which said cable grippers are formed as a shifting mechanism.
6. Method for storing cables (20), in particular, cable ends, in particular, with an apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps that

   - storage tracks (80) with a plurality of cable storage elements (10) in a row are supplied,

   - said storage tracks (80) substantially horizontal of a position at which the storing or equipping of said cable storage elements with cables (20) or cable ends is provided, are supplied,

   - said storage elements (10) arranged on one of said storage tracks (80) with mechanisms (110) for the storing or equipping of said cables (20) or said cable ends in respectively one cable storage element (10) are at least partially equipped,

   - said storage tracks (80) are guided away from said apparatus substantially horizontal of a position at which they can be removed/taken away from the apparatus,

   characterized in that

   - said storage tracks (80) with said mechanisms (110) for the storing or the equipping of said cables (20) or said cable ends are guided away.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the mechanisms (110) for the storing or the equipping of said cables (20) or cable ends by the guiding away engage at handles of said storage tracks (80) and thus displace said storage tracks.
8. The method according to one of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said storage tracks are supplied in a first supply groove or channel (210) by horizontal displacement and in a second transport groove or transport channel by horizontal displacement are transported away.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that by means of a transfer mechanism which is so formed that it can transfer said storage tracks from one groove or channel (210, 220) into said other groove or channel (210, 220), said storage tracks from said first groove or channel (210, 220) in said second groove or channel (220, 210) are transported before they are equipped.

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