Vertical twisting system and method

• US 10,441,993 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Galdamez Morales, Jessica Arlene, Mayorga, Jose, Martinez, Arnold, Fuentes, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sullivan, Debra M
• Application Number:
  US14/851,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 15/04 without additional connecting elements or material, e.g. by twisting
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 7/00 Twisting wire; Twisting wire together for connections of limited size B21F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01236 the wires being disposed by machine

Abstract

A system for twisting wire that includes an upper portion having a plurality of upper clamps configured to retain an upper wire end corresponding at least one wire pair. The upper portion may be selectively adjustable between a first vertical position and second vertical position. The system also includes a lower portion, disposed on vertically below the upper portion. The lower portion may include a plurality of lower clamps, each of the plurality of lower clamps may be configured to retain a first lower wire end and a second lower wire end corresponding to the at least one wire pair. The system may further include a controller configured to selectively rotate each of the lower clamps in response to instructions corresponding to a twisting program.

Claims

1. A system for twisting wire, the system comprising

an upper portion that includes a plurality of upper clamps;

each upper clamp of the plurality of upper clamps is configured to retain an upper end corresponding to at least one wire pair, the upper portion is selectively adjustable between a first vertical position and second vertical position;

a lower portion, disposed vertically below the upper portion;

the lower portion including a plurality of lower clamps, each lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps is configured to retain a first lower end and a second lower end corresponding to the at least one wire pair;

a pre-load device configured to receive a plurality of upper ends corresponding to at least one other wire pair; and

a controller configured to selectively rotate each lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps in response to instructions corresponding to a twisting program;

wherein the pre-load device is pivotally connected to the upper portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wire pair includes a first wire segment and a second wire segment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first wire segment includes a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second wire segment includes a second upper end and a second lower end.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a first upper clamp of the plurality of upper clamps retains the first upper end of the first wire segment, and a second upper clamp of the plurality of upper clamps retains the second upper end of the second wire segment, and wherein a first lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps retains the first lower end of the first wire segment and the second lower end of the second wire segment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is adjusted to the first vertical position in response to a first position signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps is loaded with the first lower end and the second lower end in response to the upper portion being adjusted to the first vertical position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the upper portion is adjusted to the second vertical position in response to a second position signal;

and when the upper portion is adjusted to the second vertical position, the controller initiates rotation of each lower clamp of the at least one lower clamp.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-load device includes an ejection bar that extends along a length of the pre-load device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-load device includes a plurality of pre-load clamps;

and the pre-load device is configured to align the plurality of pre-load clamps with the plurality of upper clamps.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pre-load device is configured to automatically transfer at least one other wire pair from the pre-load device to the upper portion in response to the pre-load device being closed onto the plurality of upper clamps.

11. A system for twisting wire, the system comprising

an upper portion that includes a plurality of upper clamps;

the upper clamps are configured to retain an upper end corresponding to at least one wire pair, the upper portion is selectively adjustable between a first vertical position and second vertical position;

a lower portion, disposed vertically below the upper portion;

the lower portion including a plurality of lower clamps, each of the plurality of lower clamps is configured to retain a first lower end and a second lower end corresponding to the at least one wire pair;

a pre-load device disposed adjacent to the upper portion;

the pre-load device is configured to retain upper ends corresponding to at least one other wire pair, the pre-load device is adjustable between an open and a closed position;

the pre-load device includes an ejection portion having a tabbed portion configured to be engaged by the upper portion to release the at least one wire pair; and

a controller configured to selectively rotate each of the lower clamps in response to instructions corresponding to a twisting program.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one wire pair includes a first wire segment and a second wire segment;

a first wire guide is configured to guide the first wire segment; and

a second wire guide is configured to guide the second wire segment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first wire segment includes a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second wire segment includes a second upper end and a second lower end.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a first upper clamp of the plurality of upper clamps retains the first upper end of the first wire segment, and a second upper clamp of the plurality of upper clamps retains the second upper end of the second sire segment, and wherein a first lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps retains the first lower end of the first wire segment and the second lower end of the second wire segment.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the upper portion is adjusted to the first vertical position in response to a first position signal and the upper portion is adjusted to the second vertical position in response to a second position signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps is loaded with the first lower end and the second lower end in response to the upper portion being adjusted to the first vertical position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when the upper portion is adjusted to the second vertical position, the controller initiates rotation of each lower clamp of the plurality of lower clamps.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the pre-load device includes a plurality of pre-load clamps and the pre-load device is configured to be pre-loaded with additional wire segments while the lower clamps rotate.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a vertical wire storage rack that is configured to store a plurality of wire segments prior to the wire segments being loaded into the upper and lower portions.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising a table that includes a plurality of storage areas, wherein the storage areas are configured to receive twisted wire pairs that are unloaded from the upper and lower portions.