Connector crimping device

Abstract

A connector crimping device is suitable for crimping a connector to the end of a cable. The connector crimping device includes: a base; a fixed mold mounted on the base, the fixed mold having a first groove adapted to accommodate a portion of an uncrimped connector; a movable mold configured to reciprocate relative to the fixed mold, the movable mold having a second groove adapted to cooperate with the first groove to crimp the connector to the end of the cable; and a separation mechanism configured to remove the crimped connector and cable stuck in the second groove from the second groove. By providing the separation mechanism, the crimped cable can be driven out of the movable mold, facilitating removal of the crimped cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a connector crimping device, and more particularly, to a connector crimping device suitable for crimping a connector to an end of a cable. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, to facilitate the connection of a cable with other cables or electronic devices, a connector crimping device is typically used to pre-install a connector on one end of the cable by crimping. The connector crimping device includes a fixed die and a movable die that is movable relative to the fixed die. The fixed die and the movable die are each provided with grooves that match the cable and connector to be crimped. During the crimping process, the connector is pre-installed on the end of the cable; then, the end of the cable with the connector installed is placed in the groove of the fixed die, which is then driven toward the movable die to crimp the connector to the end of the cable.

[0003] After the crimping operation is complete, the movable die is driven away from the fixed die to allow the cable with the crimped connector to be removed. However, due to the high force applied by the movable die to the connector, the connector often becomes lodged in the groove of the movable die and moves with it. This tends to change the cable's placement and makes cable removal difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to solve at least one aspect of the above-mentioned problems and defects in the prior art and to provide a connector crimping device that can automatically separate a crimped cable from a movable die.

[0005] According to an embodiment of one aspect of the present invention, a connector crimping device is provided, adapted to crimp a connector to an end portion of a cable. The connector crimping device comprises: a base; a fixed die mounted on the base, the fixed die having a first groove adapted to accommodate a portion of an uncrimped connector; a movable die configured to reciprocate relative to the fixed die, the movable die having a second groove adapted to cooperate with the first groove to crimp the connector to the end portion of the cable; and a separating mechanism configured to remove the crimped connector and cable stuck in the second groove from the second groove.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the separation mechanism includes a tongue-shaped portion mounted on the base and located above the fixed mold, and the tongue-shaped portion is configured to push down the cable with the crimped connector stuck in the second groove during the rising of the movable mold.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the separation mechanism further comprises a support portion configured to be fixed relative to the base, and the tongue-shaped portion is mounted on the support portion.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the separation mechanism also includes: a pivot, through which the tongue-shaped portion is pivotally mounted on the support portion; and an elastic mechanism, through which the tongue-shaped portion pivots relative to the support portion against the elastic force of the elastic mechanism under the drive of the movable mold.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the movable mold includes a pressing portion disposed opposite the fixed mold, the second groove being formed in the pressing portion. During movement of the pressing portion, the tongue-shaped portion elastically abuts against one side of the pressing portion and pushes downward the crimped cable, which is stuck in the second groove, while the pressing portion ascends.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the movable mold further includes: a main body portion, the pressing portion is mounted on the main body portion, and the main body portion is suitable for being mounted on a driving mechanism; a guide portion, mounted on the pressing portion, the end of the guide portion is provided with a roughly U-shaped guide groove, and the guide groove is suitable for guiding the end of the cable and the uncrimped connector into the first groove.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the joint crimping device further includes a guiding mechanism configured to guide the movable die to move up and down.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a guide channel is formed in the guide mechanism, and the movable mold moves through the guide channel.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support portion of the separation mechanism is installed at the lower portion of the guide mechanism.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connector crimping device further comprises a support frame, and the support portion of the separation mechanism is mounted on the support frame.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the guiding mechanism is mounted on the supporting frame.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fixed mold is detachably mounted on the base to replace the first grooves with different sizes.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first groove and the second groove connected together define an accommodating channel with a substantially regular hexagonal cross-section.

[0018] In the connector crimping device according to the embodiment of the present invention, by providing a separation device, the crimped cable can be driven to separate from the movable die, thereby facilitating the removal of the crimped cable.

[0019] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing a connector crimping device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 show Figure 1 An exploded schematic diagram of the connector crimping device shown;

[0022] Figure 3 show Figure 2 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of the lower portion of the connector crimping device shown;

[0023] Figure 4 A perspective schematic diagram showing a separation mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0024] Figure 5-7 Display Utilization Figure 1 A side view of the operation process of the connector crimping device crimping the connector to the end of the cable is shown, wherein: Figure 5 The pressing portion of the movable die has not yet come into contact with the tongue-shaped portion of the separation mechanism; Figure 6 The middle pressing part is pressing the joint in the fixed mold; Figure 7 The middle pressing portion has left the fixed mold, but the cable with the connector crimped thereon still remains in the second groove of the pressing portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below through examples and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0026] In addition, in the following detailed description, for ease of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices are shown in diagrammatic form to simplify the accompanying drawings.

[0027] According to a general technical concept of the present invention, a connector crimping device is provided for crimping a connector to the end of a cable. The connector crimping device includes: a base; a fixed die mounted on the base, the fixed die having a first groove adapted to accommodate a portion of the connector sleeved on the end of the cable; a movable die configured to reciprocate relative to the fixed die, the movable die having a second groove adapted to cooperate with the first groove to crimp the connector to the end of the cable; and a separating mechanism configured to remove the cable, with the connector crimped thereto, from the second groove.

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing a connector crimping device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 show Figure 1 An exploded schematic diagram of the connector crimping device shown; Figure 3 show Figure 2 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of the lower part of the connector crimping device is shown.

[0029] See also Figure 1-3 , a connector crimping device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is suitable for crimping a connector 20 to the end of a cable 10. The connector crimping device 100 includes: a base 1, a fixed mold 2, a movable mold 3 and a separation mechanism 4. The fixed mold 2 is detachably mounted on the base 1, and the fixed mold 2 is provided with a first groove 21 suitable for accommodating a portion of the uncrimped connector 20 sleeved on the end of the cable 10. The movable mold 3 is configured to reciprocate relative to the fixed mold 2, and the movable mold 3 is provided with a second groove 31 suitable for cooperating with the first groove 21 to crimp the connector 20 to the end of the cable 10. The separation mechanism 4 is configured to remove the connector stuck in the second groove and the cable with the connector crimped thereon from the second groove.

[0030] Although not shown, those skilled in the art will understand that the connector crimping device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention also includes a driving device suitable for driving the movable mold 3 to reciprocate relative to the fixed mold 2. Embodiments of the driving device include, but are not limited to, a hydraulic driving device based on a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic driving device based on a pneumatic cylinder, and an electric driving device based on a motor or an electromagnetic suction mechanism. Although the connector crimping device 100 shown in the accompanying drawings is arranged in an upright manner, that is, the movable mold 3 moves back and forth in the vertical direction, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this. For example, the connector crimping device can be arranged in a horizontal manner, that is, the movable mold moves back and forth in the horizontal direction relative to the fixed mold.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first groove 21 and the second groove 31 face each other, and the first groove 21 and the second groove 31, when joined together, define a receiving channel having a substantially regular hexagonal cross-section. Thus, regardless of the shape of the outer contour of the connector 20 before crimping, such as a substantially cylindrical shape, at least a portion of the connector after crimping has a regular hexagonal outer contour and can be securely fixed to the end of the cable 10. This facilitates the use of external tools such as a wrench to rotate the connector 20 and the cable 10. The connector 20 may comprise a conductive connector or an insulating connector. For example, the connector may comprise conductive terminals suitable for electrical connection to other cables or electronic devices.

[0032] The connector crimping device of the embodiment of the tool present invention can drive the crimped cable to separate from the movable mold by setting a separation device, so that the crimped connector is loosely placed on the fixed mold, which is convenient for removing the crimped cable and performing the next crimping operation.

[0033] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view showing a separation mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In one embodiment, if Figure 1-4 As shown, the separation mechanism 4 includes a tongue-shaped portion 41 mounted on the base 1 and located above the fixed mold 2, and the tongue-shaped portion 41 is configured to push downward the cable 10 with the connector 20 crimped thereon, which is stuck in the second groove 31 during the rising of the movable mold 3, so that the crimped connector 20 is disengaged from the second groove 31 and falls loosely on the fixed mold.

[0035] In one embodiment, if Figure 1-4 As shown, the separation mechanism 4 further includes a support portion 42 configured to be fixed relative to the base 1 , and the tongue-shaped portion 41 is mounted on the support portion 42 .

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1-4 As shown, the separation mechanism further includes a pivot 44 and an elastic mechanism 45, and the tongue-shaped portion 41 is pivotally mounted on the support portion 42 via the pivot 45; the tongue-shaped portion 41 pivots relative to the support portion 42 against the elastic force of the elastic mechanism 45 under the drive of the movable mold 3. Figure 4As shown, one end of the main body 42 is provided with two first cantilever arms 46, and one end of the tongue-shaped portion 41 is provided with two second cantilever arms 47 pivotally connected to the two first cantilever arms 46 via pivots 44. The elastic mechanism 45 includes one or two torsion springs, the main body of which is mounted on the pivot 44, and the two ends of which are respectively mounted on the tongue-shaped portion 41 and the support portion 42. When driven by the movable mold 3, the tongue-shaped portion 41 pivots relative to the support portion 42 against the elastic force of the elastic mechanism 45.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1-4 As shown, the movable mold 3 includes a pressing portion 32 disposed opposite the fixed mold 2, with the second groove 31 formed at the end of the pressing portion 32. When the movable mold 3 is not moving downward, the elastic mechanism 45 is not pressed, and the tongue-shaped portion 41 is positioned below the pressing portion 32 under the action of the elastic mechanism 45. During the movement of the pressing portion 32, the tongue-shaped portion 41 elastically abuts against one side of the pressing portion 32 and, during the upward movement of the pressing portion 32, pushes downward the cable 10, with the connector 20 crimped thereto, stuck in the second groove 31, thereby removing the connector from the second groove.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1-4 As shown, the movable mold 3 further includes a main body 34 and a guide portion 33. The pressing portion 32 is mounted on the main body 34, and the main body 34 is suitable for being mounted on a driving device. The guide portion 33 is mounted on the pressing portion 32, and a substantially U-shaped guide groove 331 is provided at the end of the guide portion 33. The guide groove 331 is suitable for guiding the end of the cable 10 and the uncrimped connector 20 into the first groove 21. Before the crimping operation, when the end of the cable 10 and the uncrimped connector 20 are not placed in the first groove 21, as the movable mold 3 moves downward, the guide groove 331 moves the cable and connector laterally, thereby moving them into the first groove 21.

[0039] By adopting the separation mechanism with the above configuration, no additional force is required to drive the separation mechanism to operate, thereby simplifying the structure of the connector crimping device.

[0040] Although the separating mechanism 4 is shown to be provided inside the pressing portion 32 ( Figure 5-7The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the right side of the figure (see FIG. 2 ), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. It is understood that, without affecting the reciprocating movement of the movable mold 3, the tongue-shaped portion 41 only needs to extend above the first groove 21 and, while the movable mold 3 is moving the connector and cable upward, be able to contact the connector stuck in the second groove 31, or the cables located on either side of the connector. In this way, the tongue-shaped portion 41 can prevent the cable and connector from moving further upward, thereby removing the connector from the second groove.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1-4 As shown, the joint crimping device 100 further includes a guide mechanism 6 , and the guide mechanism 5 is configured to guide the movable die 3 to stably move up and down.

[0042] Furthermore, a guide channel 61 is formed in the guide mechanism 6, and the movable mold 3 moves through the guide channel 61. In this way, the pressing portion 32 of the movable mold 3 can be kept moving up and down stably in the vertical direction to prevent the first groove and the second groove from being misaligned.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the support portion 42 of the separation mechanism 4 is mounted below the guide mechanism 6. For example, a connecting member such as a bolt can be passed through a through-hole formed in the support portion 42 to mount the support portion 42 below the guide mechanism 6. It will be appreciated that the main body 34 of the movable mold 3 cannot extend from the lower portion of the guide mechanism 6, while the pressing portion 32 and the guide portion 33 can extend from the lower portion of the main body.

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the connector crimping device 100 further includes a support frame 5 , and the guide mechanism 6 is mounted on the support frame 5 . In an alternative embodiment, the guide mechanism can be omitted, and the support portion 42 of the separation mechanism 4 is mounted on the support frame 5 .

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the fixed die 2 is detachably mounted on the base 1 to allow replacement of first grooves 21 having different sizes. Thus, the connector crimping device 100 of the present invention can crimp connectors of different dimensions onto cables of different diameters by replacing fixed dies with first grooves of different sizes.

[0046] Figure 5-7 Display Utilization Figure 1 A side view of the operation process of the connector crimping device crimping the connector to the end of the cable is shown, wherein: Figure 5 The pressing portion of the movable die has not yet come into contact with the tongue-shaped portion of the separation mechanism; Figure 6 The middle pressing part is pressing the joint in the fixed mold; Figure 7The middle pressing portion has left the fixed mold, but the cable with the connector crimped thereon still remains in the second groove of the pressing portion.

[0047] Refer to the following Figure 5-7 The operation process of crimping the connector 20 to the end of the cable 10 using the connector crimping device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0048] First, the connector 20 to be crimped is loosely sleeved on the end of the cable 10, and part of the cable extends from the connector 20; Figure 5 As shown, when the movable mold 3 leaves the fixed mold, the unpressed connector 20 and part of the cable 10 are pushed out from the outside of the pressing portion 32 ( Figure 5-7 The left side of the diagram is placed in the first groove 21 of the fixed mold. At this time, the tongue-shaped portion 41 is in the initial state and is partially located between the first groove and the pressing portion 32, and does not hinder the operation of placing the uncrimped connector 20 and part of the cable 10 in the first groove 21 of the fixed mold.

[0049] Afterwards, the movable mold 3 is driven downward by a driving device (not shown), and the guide groove 331 on the guide portion 33 guides a portion of the cable 10 and the uncrimped connector 20 into the first groove 21 of the fixed mold 2. During this period, the lower end of the pressing portion 32 presses the tongue-shaped portion 41, causing the tongue-shaped portion 41 to rotate counterclockwise, and the end of the tongue-shaped portion is pressed against the inner side of the pressing portion under the action of the elastic mechanism ( Figure 6 on the right side of the ).

[0050] like Figure 6 As shown, the pressing portion 32 continues to move downward, so that the second groove 31 at the end of the pressing portion 32 tightly engages with the first groove 21 of the fixed mold 2, squeezing the connector 20 into the roughly regular hexagonal space formed by the first and second grooves. In this way, the connector 20 is firmly crimped to the end of the cable 10, at this time, the end of the tongue-shaped portion still rests on the inner side of the pressing portion.

[0051] like Figure 7 As shown, after the crimping operation is completed, the movable die 3 and its pressing portion move upward. Due to the pressure of the second groove 31, the crimped connector 20 may remain in the second groove and move upward with the pressing portion 32. When the pressing portion 32 moves until the cable extending from the connector 20 contacts the tongue-shaped portion 41, the tongue-shaped portion 41 blocks the cable 10 from further upward movement, thereby separating the cable 10 and the crimped connector 20 from the second groove 31 and causing them to fall loosely onto the fixed die. Afterwards, the cable can be removed and the next connector can be crimped.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described above are exemplary and that they may be improved upon. The structures described in the various embodiments may be freely combined without causing any conflict in structure or principle.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to exemplify the preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0054] Although some embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

[0055] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In addition, any element reference in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector crimping device, suitable for crimping a connector to an end of a cable, comprising: base; a fixed die mounted on the base, the fixed die being provided with a first groove adapted to accommodate a portion of the uncrimped joint; a movable die configured to reciprocate relative to the fixed die, the movable die being provided with a second groove adapted to cooperate with the first groove to crimp the connector to the end of the cable; as well as Separation agencies, including: a support portion configured to be fixed relative to the base; a tongue-shaped portion, located above the fixed die, configured to push downward and remove the cable with the connector crimped thereon stuck in the second groove during the ascending of the movable die; a pivot by which the tongue-shaped portion is pivotally mounted on the support portion; and The elastic mechanism is configured such that the tongue-shaped portion pivots relative to the support portion against the elastic force of the elastic mechanism under the driving of the movable mold, so that the tongue-shaped portion abuts against the inner side of the movable mold under the action of the elastic mechanism.

2. The connector crimping device according to claim 1, wherein: The movable mold comprises: A pressing portion is provided facing the fixed mold, and the second groove is formed on the pressing portion. During the movement of the pressing portion, the tongue-shaped portion elastically abuts against one side of the pressing portion and pushes the cable with the connector crimped thereon, which is stuck in the second groove, downward during the ascent of the pressing portion.

3. The connector crimping device according to claim 2, wherein: The movable mold further comprises: a main body, the pressing portion being mounted on the main body, and the main body being suitable for being mounted on a driving mechanism; The guide portion is mounted on the pressing portion, and a substantially U-shaped guide groove is provided at the end of the guide portion. The guide groove is suitable for guiding the end of the cable and the uncrimped connector into the first groove. 4 . The joint crimping device according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide mechanism configured to guide the movable die to move up and down.

5. The connector crimping device according to claim 4, wherein: A guide channel is formed in the guide mechanism, and the movable mold moves through the guide channel.

6. The connector crimping device according to claim 4, wherein: The support portion of the separation mechanism is installed at the lower portion of the guide mechanism. 7 . The connector crimping device according to claim 4 , further comprising a support frame, wherein the support portion of the separation mechanism is mounted on the support frame.

8. The connector crimping device according to claim 7, wherein: The guiding mechanism is mounted on the supporting frame.

9. The joint crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The fixed mold is detachably mounted on the base to replace the first grooves with different sizes.

10. The joint crimping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first groove and the second groove connected together define an accommodating channel with a substantially regular hexagonal cross section.

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