Method and device for aligning prefabricated cable ends of a cable harness in correct rotational position

• US 10,723,584 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komax Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Komax Holding AG
• Inventors: Estermann, Beat, Hugener, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao-Thieu L
• Application Number:
  US15/722,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 140149
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 69/06 by splicing grommets made by splicing D07B1/18, auxiliary apparatus for splicing ropes or cables D07B7/169
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 3/04 and are arranged in tandem along the axis of the machine , e.g. tubular or high-speed type stranding machine
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 7/16 Auxiliary apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 7/167 for joining rope components
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 7/169 for interconnecting two cable or rope ends, e.g. by splicing or sewing fixation or holding of the ends prior to or during splicing D07B7/162; joining the rope or cable components individually or joining the rope ends by permanent means such as welding, gluing or crimp sleeve D07B7/167; preparing the splice by opening the ends D07B7/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0036 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0207 Details; Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0257 being a perforated disc
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/1292 Devices for dismantling twisted filaments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for aligning prefabricated cable ends (111, 121) of a cable strand (100), twisted in particular, with at least two cables (110, 120) in the correct rotational position, wherein the entire cable strand (100) is rotated by means of a rotary gripping device (30) on a section (101) which is connected to the cable ends and is rotated by means of a rotary gripping device (30) in particular, and each cable (110) that has already been aligned remains secured in its ideal rotational position in a section (112) of its free cable end (111), in particular untwisted, by means of a respective cable grip (10, 20).

Claims

1. A device for aligning first and second prefabricated cable ends of a twisted cable strand in a correct rotational position, the twisted cable strand comprising a first cable having the first prefabricated cable end and a second cable having the second prefabricated cable end, the first and second cables being twisted together and a twisted section connected to the first and second prefabricated cable ends, the first and second prefabricated cable ends being free and untwisted,

wherein the device comprises:

a rotary gripping device for gripping the twisted section and for rotating the twisted cable strand about a longitudinal axis of the twisted cable strand,

a first cable grip for releasably gripping the first cable when the first cable is aligned via the rotary gripping device in the correct rotational position, on a section of the first prefabricated cable end of the first cable, the first cable grip comprising at least one first pair of gripping jaws adjustable relative to one another, said at least one first pair of gripping jaws being movable into a closed position for securely holding and clamping the first prefabricated cable end of the first cable, said at least one first pair of gripping jaws being movable into an open position for receiving and releasing the first prefabricated cable end of the first cable, and said at least one first pair of gripping jaws being movable into an intermediate position for at least partial radial enclosing and guiding of the first prefabricated cable end of the first cable along a longitudinal axis of the first cable,

a second cable grip for releasably gripping the second cable when the second cable is aligned via the rotary gripping device in the correct rotational position, on a section of the second prefabricated cable end of the second cable, the second cable grip comprising at least one second pair of gripping jaws adjustable relative to one another, said at least one second pair of gripping jaws being movable into a closed position for securely holding and clamping the second prefabricated cable end of the second cable, said at least one second pair of gripping jaws being movable into an open position for receiving and releasing the second prefabricated cable end of the second cable, and said gripping jaws being movable into an intermediate position for at least partial radial enclosing and guiding of the second prefabricated cable end of the second cable along a longitudinal axis of the second cable,

a detection device configured to detect a respective actual rotational position of the first and second prefabricated cable ends, and

a control unit operatively connected to the rotary gripping device, the separate cable grip, and the detection device for regulated alignment of the first and second prefabricated cable ends in their respective correct rotational position with the rotary gripping device,

wherein the rotary gripping device and the first and the second cable grips are arranged one after another in the longitudinal direction, and

wherein the at least one first and second pairs of gripping jaws are configured to additionally hold a cable end of at least one additional cable and at least partially enclose the cable end of the at least one additional cable radially in the closed position and guide it along a longitudinal axis of the at least one additional cable.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first pair of gripping jaws has corresponding gripping troughs or receiving troughs for securing, partial radial encompassing and/or guidance of the first prefabricated cable end and the at least one second pair of gripping jaws has corresponding gripping troughs or receiving troughs for securing, partial radial encompassing and/or guidance of the second prefabricated cable end.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second cable grips are configured to be fed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the twisted cable strand.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises:

a digital camera for detecting and determining the actual rotational position of the first prefabricated cable end and the actual rotational position of the second prefabricated cable end, or

an optical projection sensor.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the detection device further comprises an image analysis device.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the detection device is positioned on a front side or radially at a side in an area of the first and second prefabricated cable ends.

7. An apparatus comprising

plug housings;

and

the device according to claim 1,

wherein the apparatus is configured to insert the first and second prefabricated cable ends of the twisted cable strand into chambers of the plug housings, and

wherein the device according to claim 1 aligns the first and second prefabricated cable ends in the correct rotational position with respect to the plug housings.