CABLE STORAGE DEVICE FOR A CABLE PROCESSING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable storage device (102) for a cable processing machine (100) for processing cables (1002). The cable storage device (102) comprises a coilable cable carrier (106) with a plurality of cable holders (1000) for fixing cables (1002) to the cable carrier (106), a winding spool (104) for unwinding the cable carrier (106), a winding spool (108) for winding the cable carrier (106) when the cable carrier (106) is unwound from the winding spool (104), wherein at least one of the spools (104, 108) is connectable to a spool drive (109) of the cable processing machine (100), and a deflecting device (112) designed to guide the cable carrier (106) through a working area (114) when unwinding from the winding spool (104) and winding onto the winding spool (108).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable storage device for a cable processing machine, a cable processing machine and a method for operating such a cable processing machine.

[0002] Suitable cable storage systems can be used in the automated processing of cables.

[0003] For example, US 5125154 A, US 5178257 A, and US 4638558 A describe storage systems in which individual cables are wound onto storage elements such as individual spools or mounting plates and fixed at their ends. Winding the individual cables onto such storage elements can be relatively time-consuming. Furthermore, a correspondingly large number of such storage elements may be required for industrial applications.

[0004] Furthermore, individual cables can be connected to form cable chains and wound onto a common spool. The cables can have a predetermined breaking point at their ends or be connected to each other by additional connectors. The sequence of the cables is generally fixed by the cable chain and usually cannot be changed without considerable effort.

[0005] Another way to store cables is with cable trays. Here, the cable ends are held by clips mounted close together on a support rail. This allows cable loops to be formed, but these are only suitable for cables up to a certain length.

[0006] The object of the invention is to simplify the storage of cables processed or to be processed by means of a cable processing machine.

[0007] This task is solved by a cable processing machine and a method according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a cable storage device for a cable processing machine. The cable storage device comprises a coilable cable carrier with a plurality of cable holders for fixing cables to the cable carrier, a spool for unwinding the cable carrier, and a winding spool for winding the cable carrier when the cable carrier is unwound from the spool, wherein at least one of the spools can be coupled to a spool drive of the cable processing machine. Furthermore, the cable storage device comprises a deflecting device designed to guide the cable carrier through a working area when unwinding from the spool and winding onto the winding spool.

[0009] Such a cable storage device allows for easy removal and quick storage of cables. For example, multiple cables can be removed or stored together. Furthermore, individual cables can be dispensed separately. Another advantage is the ability to accommodate very long cables up to 10 meters in length, thus achieving a relatively large storage capacity.

[0010] For example, by fast-forwarding or rewinding the cable tray, similar to an audio or video cassette, i.e., by skipping one or more storage positions where cables can be fixed on the cable tray, individual cables can be removed or stored very quickly in any order.

[0011] Another advantage is that the cable storage device can be designed to be very compact despite its large storage capacity.

[0012] The work area can be a section of the cable processing machine where cables can be processed and / or transported. It can also be a section where cables can be placed or removed using a cable gripping device.

[0013] The cable carrier can be stretched from the unwinding spool, via the deflection device, to the winding spool. A free end of the cable carrier can be attached to the winding spool. A rotation axis of the unwinding spool can be aligned parallel to a rotation axis of the winding spool.

[0014] The cable carrier can be bent perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, allowing it to be wound onto or unwound from spools. For example, the cable carrier can be designed as a flexible band or chain with multiple movably coupled links. The cable carrier and cables can be wound together on a narrow spool to form a space-saving cable reel. For loading or unloading the cable storage device, the cable reel can be extended to the required working area. By rewinding or winding the cable carrier using the spool drive, a specific storage location on the cable carrier can be accessed at any time. For this purpose, the cable reel can be mounted and clamped onto a winding device, such as a drive unit of the spool drive.Accordingly, at least one of the two reels, similar to an audio or video cassette, can have a central receptacle for a rotating drive mechanism. A free end of the cable carrier can be fed to the take-up reel. By unwinding the cable carrier from the take-up reel and simultaneously winding it onto the take-up reel, the cable carrier can be moved through the work area.

[0015] To optimize the use of the work area, the cable carrier can be moved across the work area in accordance with the loading or unloading movement of a cable gripping device, which may be part of the cable storage device and / or part of the cable processing machine. The cables on the cable carrier may, for example, be longer than the work area.

[0016] The cable tray can optionally be marked along its entire length with machine-processed position data. This allows for precise cable placement. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the reels can be equipped with an information storage device to transmit information about the stored cables to the cable processing machine. Alternatively, this information can be managed centrally. In the case of centralized management, a unique identification mark, such as a barcode or RFID transponder, can be used instead of an information storage device.

[0017] To optimize the storage capacity of the cable tray, it can have at least two parallel cable runs. The cables are positioned not only one behind the other along the length of the tray, but also side by side. With this configuration, for example, a storage capacity of 60 m of cable length can be achieved with a cable reel diameter of 600 mm and a tray width of 40 mm.

[0018] Cable holders are used to connect the cables to the cable tray. They can be positioned on one or both sides of the tray, for example, on the top and bottom. A cable holder might be a coil spring, a snap fastener, a clip, or something similar.

[0019] A cable can refer to a single cable or a twisted cable.

[0020] The deflection device can include at least two deflection pulleys. For example, the cable carrier can be guided from the unwind spool to a first deflection pulley, from the first deflection pulley to a second deflection pulley, and from the second deflection pulley to the rewind spool. A section of the cable carrier guided between the first and second deflection pulleys can be routed through the working area. The working area can have a defined length, which can be adjusted by the deflection device. For example, the length of the working area can be varied by changing the distance between the first and second deflection pulleys. The axes of rotation of the deflection pulleys can be aligned parallel to each other.

[0021] The cable carrier can be guided in the work area in such a way that a top and / or a bottom of the cable carrier is accessible, for example for a cable gripping device or a processing tool for processing the cables.

[0022] A second aspect of the invention relates to a cable processing machine. The cable processing machine comprises a working area for processing cables, a cable storage device as described above and below, and a spool drive for driving at least one of the spools of the cable storage device.

[0023] Within the work area, finished cables can be fed into the cable tray, and cables awaiting processing can be removed, for example, using a cable gripper on the cable processing machine. It is possible for cables to be simultaneously fed into and removed from the cable tray within the work area. Additionally or alternatively, cables fixed to the cable tray can be processed at one or more processing stations of the cable processing machine within the work area, for example, by being cut to length, stripped, or fitted with connectors. Cable processing can be sequential.

[0024] The coil drive can, for example, comprise an electric motor and at least one drive element rotatable by means of the electric motor, which engages positively and / or non-positively in a correspondingly shaped receptacle in the unwinding coil and / or the winding coil. The coil drive can be part of the cable processing machine and / or part of the cable storage device.

[0025] The cable processing machine may additionally include a control unit for controlling the spool drive and / or the cable gripping device. For example, the control unit may be designed to control the cable gripping device depending on a movement of the cable carrier or vice versa.

[0026] The cable processing machine can optionally be equipped with a detection device for recording a marking on the cable carrier, which codes positions along the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier. The control unit can be configured to control the spool drive depending on the detected marking. For example, the control unit can move the cable carrier forward or backward using the spool drive, taking the detected marking into account, until a specific point on the cable carrier is within the working area.

[0027] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a cable processing machine as described above and below. The method comprises the following steps: detecting a marking on the cable carrier, determining a position in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier based on the marking, and moving the cable carrier by means of the spool drive until the position corresponds to a predetermined position.

[0028] The marking can be detected using a suitable detection device on the cable processing machine, such as an incremental encoder, an absolute encoder, or another suitable sensor. The longitudinal position of the cable carrier can be determined by a control unit of the cable processing machine. For this purpose, the control unit can receive information about the detected marking from the detection device. Alternatively, the position can be determined directly by the detection device. In this case, the control unit can receive the position from the detection device.

[0029] Additionally, the control unit can receive information regarding a predefined position, for example, from a reader to read an information carrier attached to the unwinding spool and / or the winding spool, indicating which cable is fixed or to be fixed at which position along the length of the cable carrier. The information carrier can be, for example, a memory chip, an RFID transponder, or a machine-readable code.

[0030] Features of the cable processing machine, as described above and below, can also be features of the process and vice versa.

[0031] Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention can be considered, among other things and without limiting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the cable carrier includes a machine-processable marking that codes positions in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier.

[0033] The cable tray can be marked along its entire length or only in sections. The marking could be, for example, a scale or code suitable for evaluation with an incremental or absolute encoder. This allows the operator to determine which section of the cable tray is currently within the working area.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the cable holders are arranged to fix the cables to the cable carrier in at least two rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier.

[0035] In other words, the cables can be fixed to the cable holder not only one behind the other, but also side by side or overlapping. This significantly increases the storage capacity of the cable carrier compared to designs with only one row of cables.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the cable holders can be attached to the cable carrier in a way that is at least partially releasable.

[0037] This makes it possible to equip cables with cable holders at specific points before they are fixed to the cable tray.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the cable holders can be arranged to be slidably mounted on the cable carrier, at least partially.

[0039] This allows the cable carrier to be flexibly adapted to different cable lengths or cable types.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the cable storage device further comprises a protective housing with a protective housing opening. The unwinding spool and the winding spool are arranged at least partially within the protective housing. The deflection device can be designed to guide the cable carrier section by section along the protective housing opening and / or through the protective housing opening.

[0041] Additionally, the deflection device can be located at least partially inside the protective housing.

[0042] The protective housing can be a relatively narrow housing with a slot-shaped opening, similar to the housing of an audio or video cassette. The opening can be a single large opening or an arrangement of at least two smaller, separate openings, for example, an outlet and an entry opening for the cable carrier. The take-up and unwind spools can, for example, be rotatably mounted within the protective housing.

[0043] In addition to the protective housing opening, the protective housing may have at least one further opening, for example for inserting or removing the unwinding spool or the winding spool, or for inserting a driver of the spool drive into a corresponding receptacle of the unwinding spool or the winding spool (arranged within the protective housing).

[0044] It is possible that all components of the cable storage device, including the cable tray, are located entirely within the protective housing. However, it is also conceivable that a section of the cable tray is routed out of the protective housing by means of the deflection device, as described in more detail below. In this case, the working area can extend outside the protective housing.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the opening in the protective housing comprises an exit point and an entry point. The deflection device is designed to guide the cable carrier from the unwinding spool out of the protective housing at the exit point, through the working area, and then back into the protective housing at the entry point, leading towards the winding spool.

[0046] In other words, the cable carrier can be routed, at least partially, outside the protective housing using the deflection device. This has the advantage that the length of the working area can be determined independently of the dimensions of the protective housing.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the length of the working area is greater than the length of the protective housing.

[0048] This has the advantage that the cable carrier can also be guided over a relatively long working area, for example for the sequential processing of cables, without the need to extend the protective housing accordingly.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the cable carrier is divided transversely to its longitudinal direction into two outer regions for receiving the respective end sections of the cables and a central region located between the outer regions for receiving the respective middle section of the cables. The cable holders are arranged in the outer regions.

[0050] The cable holders can be designed to fix the cables at their respective ends. For example, the cable holders can each be oriented at a specific angle to the longitudinal direction of the cable tray to ensure that the cables rest in a particular position on the cable holder. This design allows the cables to be fixed on the cable holder in a variety of shapes, depending on their length and type, such as an S-shape, a U-shape, or diagonally, i.e., at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the cable tray.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the cable holders are arranged in a row in the outer areas in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier.

[0052] For example, each of the cable holders of one outer area can be arranged opposite a cable holder of the other outer area.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the cable carrier can have a plurality of additional cable holders in the middle area for fixing the middle sections of the cables.

[0054] The additional cable holders can, for example, serve to separate the outer areas from the central area. For this purpose, the additional cable holders can be implemented as walls with slotted recesses for holding the cables, or as brush strips. The additional cable holders can also be positioned centrally between the two outer areas. Using the additional cable holders further simplifies the removal and placement of cables.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the cable carrier has a plurality of processing openings for processing the cables.

[0056] The access openings can, for example, allow access from both sides to the ends of the cables fixed to the cable tray. This simplifies cable processing.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the cable tray has multiple protective flaps for protecting the cables. When the protective flaps are closed, the cable tray is partially covered by them, and when they are opened, the protective flaps expose the cable tray.

[0058] The protective flaps can be located on the top and / or bottom of the cable tray. Furthermore, the protective flaps can be positioned so that, when closed, they only cover the sections of the cable tray located between the cable holders, while the cable holders remain accessible. It is also possible for the protective flaps, when closed, to cover sections of the cable tray where the cable ends are located. For example, the protective flaps, when closed, can also cover the access openings described above.

[0059] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 shows a cable processing machine according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a device for filling a cable storage device according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a cable processing machine for sequentially processing cables according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a cable processing machine with a cassette-like cable storage device according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a cable processing machine with an extended working area according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 shows a cassette-like cable storage device according to an embodiment of the invention in the closed state; Fig. 7 shows the cable storage device made of Fig. 6 in the open state; Fig. 8 shows components of the cable storage device from the Figuren 6 and 7Fig. 9 shows a winding spool according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 shows a section of a cable carrier according to an embodiment of the invention with two short cables; Fig. 11 shows a section of the cable carrier made of Fig. 10 with a long cable; Fig. 12 showed a section of a cable carrier according to a further embodiment of the invention with diagonally arranged cables; Fig. 13 showed a section of a cable carrier according to a further embodiment of the invention with U-shaped arranged cables; Fig. 14 showed a section of a cable carrier with a working opening and protective flaps according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 15 showed a top view of the cable carrier made of Fig. 14 Fig. 16 showed a cable holder according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 17 showed a cable holder according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 18 showed a cable holder according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 19 showed a cable holder according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 20 showed an end section of a cable for fixing on a cable carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 21 showed a block diagram to illustrate a method for operating a cable processing machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0060] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. Identical reference symbols in the different figures denote identical or equivalent features.

[0061] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a cable processing machine 100 with a cable storage device 102 for storing cables. The cable storage device 102 comprises a spool 104 onto which a first section of a cable carrier 106 is wound, and a winding spool 108 onto which a second section of the cable carrier 106 is wound. A plurality of cables processed by the cable processing machine 100 are fixed to the cable carrier 106 by means of a plurality of cable holders (the cable carrier 106 is subsequently described by reference to the Figuren 10 bis 20 (described in more detail).

[0062] Cable material can be fed from a cable container 107 to the cable processing machine 100 for further processing, such as cutting to length, stripping, fitting with connectors, etc. The finished cables are then placed in the cable storage device 102, i.e., mounted on the cable carrier 106.

[0063] For example, the unwinding spool 104 can be wound with an empty cable carrier 106, with the winding spool 108 being wound with the cable carrier 106 and the processed cables fixed on it.

[0064] At least one of the two spools 104, 108 can be rotated in a drive direction 110 by a spool drive 109 of the cable processing machine 100. For example, the spool drive 109 can drive the winding spool 108. In this process, the cable carrier 106 is unwound from the unwinding spool 104 and wound onto the winding spool 108. A mechanical coupling between the spool drive 109 and the winding spool 108 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0065] Furthermore, the cable storage device 102 includes a deflection device 112 that guides a third section of the cable carrier 106, located between the first and second sections, through a working area 114. The third section of the cable carrier 106 extends through the working area 114 in one plane. Depending on the application, the cable carrier 106 can also be deflected in different directions within the working area 114, so that the cable carrier 106 extends in several planes within the working area 114.

[0066] The deflection device 112 can comprise a first deflection roller 118 and a second deflection roller 120, wherein the first deflection roller 118 guides the cable carrier 106 from the unwinding spool 104 into the working area 114, and the second deflection roller 120 guides the cable carrier 106 from the working area 114 to the winding spool 108. The length of the working area 114 can thus be essentially determined by the distance between the respective axes of rotation of the two deflection rollers 118 and 120.

[0067] In working area 114, cables can be fed into and / or removed from the cable carrier 106. This can be done using a cable gripping device 122 of the cable processing machine 100.

[0068] By reversing the drive direction 110 using the coil drive 109, the cable carrier 106 can also be moved in the opposite direction through the working area 114.

[0069] Alternatively or additionally, the coil drive 109 can drive the unwinding coil 104.

[0070] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a device 200 for filling the cable storage device 102 with cut cables. The device 200 comprises a cable container 107 with cable material 204, which is fed from the cable container 107 into a cutting device 206. The cutting device 206 cuts the cable material 204 into a plurality of individual cables of a defined length. By means of a cable gripping device 122, the individual cables are transported from the cutting device 206 to the cable storage device 102 and placed there in the working area 114 on the cable carrier 106.

[0071] The winding spool 108, loaded with the cut cables, can then, for example, be inserted into a sequential cable processing machine 100 for further processing and unwound there, as shown below with reference to Fig. 3 is described. The winding spool 108 made of Fig. 2 functions in Fig. 3 as unwinding spool 104.

[0072] Fig. 3 shows a cable processing machine 100 for the sequential processing of cables. In contrast to the one in Fig. 1 The cable processing machine 100 shown here comprises a sequential processing machine with several cable processing stations or process modules 300 arranged in series. Accordingly, the working area 114 is significantly longer here than in Fig. 1 The cable carrier 106 runs from the unwinding spool 104 to the first deflection roller 118, from the first deflection roller 118 through each of the cable processing stations 300 to the second deflection roller 120 and from there to the winding spool 108.

[0073] At the start of the processing process, a free end of the cable carrier 106 is drawn into the processing machine and wound onto the winding spool 108. While the cable carrier 106 passes through the processing machine, the cable ends of the cables fixed to the cable carrier 106 can be processed in the cable processing stations 300. The cable processing stations 300 can perform processing steps such as applying a ferrule, stripping, crimping, or testing. As described in the Figuren 14 und 15 As shown, the cable carrier can have 106 processing openings through which the cable ends are also accessible from below.

[0074] The processing steps can also be divided between different processing machines. For example, the cables can be cut to length and fitted with sealing grommets by one processing machine, while further processing steps are carried out by a second machine. It is also conceivable that each processing step is performed by a different processing machine.

[0075] The finished cables can be easily fed to subsequent processes using the cable storage device 102, such as a process for fitting the cables with connectors or a process for manufacturing cable harnesses.

[0076] Fig. 4 shows a cable processing machine 100, which is essentially the one in Fig. 1 The cable processing machine 100 shown corresponds to the cable storage device 102, with the difference that the cable storage device 102 here has a cassette-like protective housing 400. The protective housing 400 has a slot-shaped opening 402 on its upper side facing the cable gripping device 122, which here extends over the entire length LS of the protective housing 400. The two coils 104, 108 are arranged inside the protective housing 400. The cable carrier 106 can be wound from one coil to the other inside the protective housing 400.

[0077] The two deflection pulleys 118, 120 of the deflection device 112 are arranged partly inside and partly outside the protective housing 400 in the area of ​​the protective housing opening 402. The working area 114 extends longitudinally along the protective housing opening 402. Similar to in Fig. 1 The cable carrier 106 is accessible at its upper side for the cable gripping device 122.

[0078] The working area 114 can extend from the first deflection pulley 118 to the second deflection pulley 120. If the working area 114 is too short for loading or unloading the cable carrier 106, the cable carrier 106 can be pulled out of the protective housing 400 as a loop and guided over further deflections, as shown below. Fig. 5 This will be described in more detail. This will significantly extend the working area 114.

[0079] The two coils 104, 108 can each have a central drive receptacle 404 for receiving a drive element rotatable by means of the coil drive 109. The drive elements can, for example, each engage positively in one of the drive receptacles 404. The protective housing 400 can have corresponding drive openings 406 for guiding the drive elements through.

[0080] Thus, the protective housing 400, with all components arranged within or attached to it, can be slid onto the drive lugs and easily replaced, similar to an audio or video cassette.

[0081] Such a cassette-style cable storage system can be easily integrated into an automated logistics system and automatically fed to a cable processing machine. For this purpose, familiar techniques analogous to those used for handling VHS cassettes or magnetic tapes can be employed.

[0082] Fig. 5 shows a version of the cable processing machine 100, in which a length LA of the working area 114 is different from Fig. 4 significantly greater than the length L s of the protective housing 400. This can be achieved, for example, by the deflection device 112 having, in addition to the two deflection rollers 118, 120, three further deflection rollers 500, which guide the cable carrier 106 from the first deflection roller 118 out of the protective housing 400 at an exit point 501, guide it for a defined length LA through the working area 114 and finally guide it back to the second deflection roller 120 at an entry point 502. The working area 114 can extend completely outside the protective housing 400.

[0083] Fig. 6 The protective housing 400 shows, as shown above, the Figuren 4 and 5The protective housing 400 comprises a movable protective housing flap 600 for closing the protective housing opening 402, i.e., for separating an interior of the protective housing 400 from an external environment. In the closed state of the protective housing 400, as described in Fig. 6 As shown, both the two coils 104, 108 and the deflection device 112, more precisely the two deflection rollers 118, 120, are each completely surrounded by the protective housing 400.

[0084] Fig. 7 The protective housing 400 with the protective housing flap 600 is shown in the open position.

[0085] Fig. 8 shows a possible arrangement of the unwinding spool 104, the winding spool 108 and the two deflection rollers 118, 120 of the deflection device 112 in the protective housing 400.

[0086] Fig. 9 shows an enlarged view of the unwinding spool 104 with the cable carrier 106 wound on it.

[0087] An information carrier 900 can optionally be attached to the unwinding spool 104, indicating which cables are fixed at which position on the cable carrier 106. The information carrier 900 can be, for example, a memory module, an RFID transponder, or a machine-readable code.

[0088] Fig. 10 Figure 1 shows an enlarged section of the cable carrier 106. The cable carrier 106, shown here in an exemplary ribbon-like form, has a plurality of cable holders 1000 on its upper surface, arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106 and each at a specific distance from the other. The cable holders 1000 secure two adjacent cables 1002, each extending longitudinally in the direction of the cable carrier 106 and each having a connection 1004, such as a crimp connector, at its end.

[0089] For example, the cable carrier 106 can comprise a plurality of such cable pairs, wherein the cable pairs can be arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106. Cables of different cable pairs arranged one behind the other can be considered a single cable line. The cable carrier 106 can thus comprise at least two parallel cable lines or rows of cables 1002.

[0090] Optionally, the cable carrier 106 can have a machine-readable marking 1006 that encodes positions in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106. The marking 1600 is only schematically indicated here and can be implemented in any suitable form.

[0091] Fig. 11 shows cable carrier 106 from Fig. 10 The difference is that here, instead of two short cables 1002, a long cable 1002, which is approximately twice as long as one of the short cables 1002, is held by the cable holders 1000. The long cable 1002 is fixed to the cable carrier 106 in the form of an open loop.

[0092] Fig. 12 Figure 1 shows a cable carrier 106, which is divided transversely to the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106 into two outer regions 1200 and a central region 1202 located between the two outer regions 1200. The longitudinal direction is indicated by a dashed line. The regions 1200 and 1202 can be considered parallel tracks or paths of the cable carrier 106. The outer regions 1200 can serve to receive the respective cable ends of the cables 1002. For this purpose, a plurality of cable holders 1000 are arranged in each of the outer regions 1200. By way of example, the cable holders 1000 in each of the outer regions 1200 are arranged in a row one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106. By means of the cable holders 1000 the cables 1002 can be fixed, for example, diagonally to the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106, i.e. diagonally, on the cable carrier 106, with a respective central section of the cables 1002 extending over the central area 1202.

[0093] Protective bodies can be provided around the individual cable end locations to protect the cable ends.

[0094] In addition to the cable holders 1000, the cable carrier 106 can have a plurality of additional cable holders 1204. These additional cable holders 1204 can be, for example, brush strips or slotted dividers for additionally securing the respective middle sections of the cables 1200. As in Fig. 12 As can be seen, the additional cable holders 1204 can serve to separate the central area 1202 from the two outer areas 1200. The use of brush strips or slotted separating elements can improve the removal of the cables 1002.

[0095] As an example, the cable carrier 106 is designed here in a chain-like manner from a plurality of movably coupled cable carrier links 1206.

[0096] The cables 1002 can, for example, also be positioned in an S-shape on the cable tray 106. For an S-shaped positioning of the cables 1002, the cable tray 106 can be made significantly wider, for example approximately 200 mm wide. This allows the storage capacity to be considerably increased.

[0097] Fig. 13 shows a cable carrier 106 similar to the one in Fig. 12 The cable carrier 106 shown here additionally includes a plurality of hooks 1300 for arranging the cables 1002 in a loop. Both cable ends of a cable 1002 point in the same direction. This may be necessary for special cable processing machines such as connector assembly machines.

[0098] The hooks 1300 in the central area 1202 can be arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier 106. For example, the hooks 1300 can be designed as slotted elastomer bodies and serve to secure loops.

[0099] The number of areas 1200, 1202 can also be reduced to two in this case, more precisely to a first area for holding the cable ends and a second area for holding the cable loops.

[0100] Fig. 14 Figure 1 shows a section of a cable carrier 106, which has a plurality of processing openings 1400. The processing openings 1400 allow, for example, easy access to the cable ends of the cables 1002, for stripping, applying sealing grommets or crimping contacts.

[0101] To prevent damage or to guide the cables 1002, the cable carrier 106 can additionally have a plurality of protective flaps 1402 which, when closed, cover sections of the cable carrier 106 and, when opened, expose them. When closed, the protective flaps 1402 can cover sections of the cables 1002 fixed to the cable carrier 106 and / or the processing openings 1400.

[0102] Fig. 15 shows a top view of cable carrier 106 from Fig. 14 .

[0103] The cable holders 1000 can be designed differently depending on the specifications of the cables 1002. Cables with a robust insulation layer can, for example, be clamped between the coils of a spiral spring. Common pressure fasteners such as 3M Dual Lock™ are suitable for securing thin cables. Delicate cables can be held with elastomer jaws.

[0104] To adapt to a current cable length, the cable holders 1000 can be moved along a track on the cable carrier 106.

[0105] Fig. 16 shows a possible design of a cable holder 1000 in the form of a spiral spring for clamping one or more cables 1002.

[0106] Fig. 17 shows a possible design of a cable holder 1000 in the form of a pressure closure for fixing one or more cables 1002.

[0107] Fig. 18 shows a possible design of a cable holder 1000 in the form of two jaws, between which one or more cables 1002 can be clamped.

[0108] Fig. 19 Figure 1 shows a possible design of a cable holder 1000 in the form of a clamp for holding one or more cables 1002.

[0109] Fig. 20 shows an example of a cable 1002 which has a connector 1004 in the form of a crimp plug at its end.

[0110] For example, the cable holders 1000 can be designed as clips that can be detached from the cable carrier 106. The clips can hold the cables 1002 at any point above their insulation sheath. Several such clips can be used to hold the cables 1002.

[0111] The clamps can also hold the cables 1002 in the area of ​​their cable tips using relatively robust crimp points of a B-crimp or insulation crimp. The clamps can be connected to the cable carrier 106 using standard push-fit or snap-fit ​​connections. It is also possible to attach the clamps to the cables 1002 during a processing step, such as crimping. This allows the orientation of a contact element to be maintained for subsequent processes, such as connector assembly.

[0112] Fig. 21 shows a block diagram to illustrate a method for operating a cable processing machine 100, as previously described using the Figuren 1 bis 20 was described.

[0113] The cable processing machine 100 can have a control unit 2100 configured to receive position information 2102 from a detection device 2104 for detecting the marker 1006 on the cable carrier 106 and cable information 2106 from a readout device 2108 for reading the information carrier 900 on the unwinding spool 104. The position information 2102 can indicate which section of the cable carrier 106 is currently located in the working area 114. The cable information 2106 can indicate which cables 1002 are located in which sections of the cable carrier 106. For example, the control unit 2100 can use the cable information 2106 to determine which of the cables 1002 fixed to the cable carrier 106, or which section of the cable carrier 106, should be moved into the working area 114 next.Based on the position information 2102, the control unit 2100 can rewind or advance the cable carrier 106 by appropriately controlling the spool drive 109 until the position information 2102 indicates that the desired section of the cable carrier 106 is in the working area 114.

[0114] Additionally, the control unit 2100 can control the cable gripping device 122 depending on a movement of the cable carrier 106.

[0115] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "encompassing," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps from other embodiments described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as limitations. Reference symbol list

[0116] 100 Cable processing machine 102 Cable storage device 104 Unwinding spool 106 Cable carrier 107 Cable container 108 Winding spool 109 Spool drive 110 Drive direction 112 Deflection device 114 Working area 118 First deflection roller 120 Second deflection roller 122 Cable gripping device 200 Device for filling a cable storage device 204 Cable material 206 Cutting device 300 Cable processing station 400 Protective housing 402 Protective housing opening 404 Drive receptacle 406 Drive opening 500 Additional deflection roller 501 Exit point 502 Entry point 600 Protective housing flap 900 Information carrier 1000 Cable holder 1002 Cable 1004 Connection 1006 Marking 1200 Outer area 1202 Middle area 1204 Additional Cable holder 1206 Cable support link 1300 Hook 1400 Machining opening 1402 Protective flap 2100 Control unit 2102 Position information 2104 Detection device 2106 Cable information 2108 Readout device LA Working area length LS Protective housing length

Claims

1. Cable storage device (102) for a cable processing machine (100) for processing cables (1002), wherein the cable storage device (102) comprises: a coilable cable carrier (106) with a plurality of cable holders (1000) for fixing cables (1002) to the cable carrier (106); a winding spool (104) for unwinding the cable carrier (106); a winding spool (108) for winding the cable carrier (106) when the cable carrier (106) is unwound from the winding spool (104); wherein at least one of the spools (104, 108) is connectable to a spool drive (109) of the cable processing machine (100); and a deflection device (112) designed to guide the cable carrier (106) through a working area (114) when unwinding from the unwinding spool (104) and winding onto the winding spool (108).

2. Cable storage device (102) according to claim 1, wherein the cable carrier (106) has a machine-readable marking (1006) that encodes positions in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier (106).

3. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable holders (1000) are arranged to fix the cables (1002) in at least two rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier (106).

4. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable holders (1000) are at least partially releasably attached to the cable carrier (106).

5. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable holders (1000) are arranged to be slidably arranged at least partially on the cable carrier (106).

6. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a protective housing (400) with a protective housing opening (402); wherein the unwinding spool (104) and the winding spool (108) are arranged at least partially inside the protective housing (400); wherein the deflecting device (112) is configured to guide a section of the cable carrier (106) along the protective housing opening (402) and / or through the protective housing opening (402).

7. Cable storage device (102) according to claim 6, wherein the protective housing opening (402) comprises an exit point (501) and an entry point (502); wherein the deflection device (112) is designed to guide the cable carrier (106) from the unwinding spool (104) out of the protective housing (400) at the exit point (501), through the working area (114) and, at the entry point (502), back into the protective housing (400) going to the winding spool (108).

8. Cable storage device (102) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a length (L A ) of the work area (114) is greater than a length (L S ) of the protective housing (400).

9. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable carrier (106) is divided transversely to its longitudinal direction into two outer regions (1200) for receiving a respective end section of the cables (1002) and a central region (1202) located between the outer regions (1200) for receiving a respective central section of the cables (1002); wherein the cable holders (1000) are arranged in the outer regions (1200).

10. Cable storage device (102) according to claim 9, wherein the cable holders (1000) are arranged in the outer areas (1200) in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier (106).

11. Cable storage device (102) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the cable carrier (106) has a plurality of additional cable holders (1204; 1300) in the central region (1202) for fixing the central sections of the cables (1002).

12. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable carrier (106) has a plurality of processing openings (1400) for processing the cables (1002).

13. Cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable carrier (106) has a plurality of protective flaps (1402) for protecting the cables (1002); wherein the protective flaps (1402) partially cover the cable carrier (106) in a closed state and release it in an open state.

14. Cable processing machine (100) for processing cables (1002), comprising: a working area (114); a cable storage device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable carrier (106) is guided through the working area (114) by means of the deflection device (112) of the cable storage device (102); a coil drive (109) for driving at least one of the coils (104, 108) of the cable storage device (102).

15. Method for operating a cable processing machine (100) according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises: detecting a marking (1006) of the cable carrier (106); determining a position in the longitudinal direction of the cable carrier (106) based on the marking (1006); and moving the cable carrier (106) by means of the spool drive (109) until the position corresponds to a predetermined position.