Mechanical processing of electrical conductors with the aid of a docking aid

Abstract

The invention provides a method for machining at least one electrical conductor (200). The method comprises the steps of introducing a first end of the electrical conductor (200) into a docking aid (300) from a first side of the docking aid (300), transporting the first end of the electrical conductor (200) into a contact portion housing (400) from a second side of the docking aid (300) different from the first side, wherein during the transporting the electrical conductor (200) is held by the docking aid (300) and / or the contact portion housing (400).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for mechanically processing at least one electrical conductor. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for mechanically processing an electrical conductor. The present invention particularly relates to mechanical processing of an electrical conductor using a docking aid. Background Art

[0002] In some technical applications, such as cable harnesses for vehicles, it may be desirable to provide an electrical conductor with, for example, a contact housing. Such a contact housing may be, for example, a plug housing. One end of the electrical conductor typically has an electrical contact connected thereto, which is received within the contact housing. When automating this process, it may be advantageous to have the end of the electrical conductor in a desired orientation, direction, and / or position so that it can be introduced into the contact housing.

[0003] Furthermore, there are technical applications in which multiple electrical conductors are twisted together and additionally provided with contact housings. Twisting can, for example, reduce interfering influences on or caused by the conductors. In this case, the desired orientation, direction, and / or position of the ends of the electrical conductors can be altered by undesirably untwisting the conductors, thereby changing the orientation, direction, and / or position of the ends of the electrical conductors. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the possibilities for mechanical processing of electrical conductors by using a constructionally as simple as possible means.

[0005] This technical problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for machining at least one electrical conductor. The method comprises the following steps:

[0007] introducing a first end of an electrical conductor into the docking assist device from a first side of the docking assist device,

[0008] transporting a first end of the electrical conductor from a second side of the docking aid different from the first side into the contact housing,

[0009] In this case, the electrical lines are held during transport by the docking aid and / or the contact housing.

[0010] The method can be performed, for example, with the apparatus for machining an electrical conductor according to the second aspect described below. Preferably, the method can be performed automatically, ie by an automatic machine.

[0011] The electrical conductor can be understood as a rope-shaped element, which therefore has two ends. The electrical contact portion can be connected to the first end and / or the second end, for example, by crimping. For example, the electrical contact portion can be a plug-in contact portion, wherein multiple (i.e., at least two) of these contacts can form a plug connector, which has, for example, multiple pins. Although only the first side of the electrical conductor is involved here, the method can also be applied to the second side in a similar or identical manner. Of course, the type, configuration, etc. of the contacts, docking aid, and / or contact housing can also be different on each side.

[0012] The docking aid can, for example, have a base, such as a cuboid, that is open on two sides along a longitudinal axis defined by the longitudinal extension of the electrical conductor. In other words, the docking aid can have two opposing open sides. Two or more hollow spaces, such as contact chambers, can be formed within the base, each of which can be configured to receive a first end or a contact connected to the first end. The hollow spaces are preferably shaped so that a fit, preferably a clearance fit, is formed between the inner walls of the respective hollow spaces and the respective first ends of the electrical conductors. This prevents the electrical conductors from rotating about their longitudinal axis, which could potentially untwist previously twisted electrical conductors.

[0013] In this context, conveying the first end of the electrical conductor can be understood as leading the first end of the electrical conductor out through the second side of the docking aid and reintroducing it into the contact housing, wherein leading out and reintroducing intersect.

[0014] During transport, the electrical conductors are held by the docking aid, by the contact housing, or by both the docking aid and the contact housing. In other words, the respective electrical conductors are held by at least one of the above components throughout transport, so that their position and / or orientation do not change, for example, after being twisted, they are not untwisted again.

[0015] The method allows electrical conductors to be held in a desired orientation and / or position during assembly of the contact housing. For example, the method allows multiple electrical conductors to be twisted together before assembly of the contact housing, maintaining this twist, and only then assembling the contact housing with the first ends of the electrical conductors. Furthermore, the twisted electrical conductors and untwisted electrical conductors guided parallel thereto can be arranged on a single contact housing. The method can be fully automated, or at least automated to a relatively high degree. The docking aid can be reused, thereby enabling the method to be implemented cost-effectively.

[0016] In an improved solution, the method further comprises:

[0017] The first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor are twisted with each other while the first end of the electrical conductor is retained within the docking aid.

[0018] According to the method described herein, the first ends of two or more electrical conductors can thus be processed with the aid of a docking aid. The method ensures that the twisting of the conductors is maintained during transport into the contact housing.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the first end can be held in the docking aid in a torsionally fixed manner. This can be achieved, for example, by a fit, in particular a clearance fit. The first end is preferably held in a form-fitting manner, but can also be held in a force-fitting manner if necessary. This ensures that the position and / or orientation of the first end is maintained, particularly if twisting has already been performed.

[0020] According to another improved solution, the first end of the electrical conductor can be retained within the docking aid device by a securing device. The securing device is configured to allow the first end of the electrical conductor to move in a first direction from a first side to a second side of the docking aid device and to be secured in an opposite second direction. For example, the securing device can be configured to form a stop or locking portion in the second direction, thereby restricting movement in this direction. This allows the first end of the electrical conductor to move further through the docking aid device while simultaneously preventing it from being removed in the opposite direction.

[0021] In one refinement, the fastening device may include a latching mechanism, on which the first end slides when moving in a first direction and engages when moving in a second direction. This can be achieved, for example, by a recess, a groove, or the like on the inner side of the docking aid. Thus, the first end of the electrical conductor (and, if necessary, a contact portion optionally mounted on the first end) may include a protrusion, a nose, or the like.

[0022] According to one refinement, the docking aid can form an undercut with the first end of the electrical conductor and a clearance fit with the conductor adjacent to the first end. This allows for movement along the longitudinal extension of the electrical conductor. Simultaneously, it prevents rotation about the longitudinal axis, thereby maintaining position and / or orientation, for example, maintaining the twisting of multiple conductors.

[0023] In a further embodiment, to transport the first ends of the electrical conductors, a gripping device can move the conductors individually or together along a common axis between the docking aid and the contact housing. The gripping device can, for example, be designed as a clamp and be electronically controlled. The movement can, in particular, be a translational movement. The axis can at least substantially correspond to the longitudinal axis of the electrical conductor. For functional purposes, the gripping device can push the first end through the docking aid or from the docking aid into the contact housing. This allows for a high degree of automation.

[0024] According to an improved solution, the method may further include:

[0025] After the first end of the electrical conductor has been transported into the contact housing, the docking aid is removed from the electrical conductor.

[0026] The docking aid may be slotted on at least one side to form an undercut with the first end of the electrical conductor, but not with an adjacent portion (e.g., a simple conductor portion). As a result, the docking aid can be detached from the corresponding electrical conductor or manually removed in a simple manner once the first end is no longer received therein. This allows the docking aid to be reused.

[0027] In another refinement, after the first end of the electrical conductor has been transported into the contact housing, the docking aid can be removed from the electrical conductor using a gripping device. The docking aid can be slotted on at least one side to form an undercut with the first end of the electrical conductor, but not with adjacent parts (e.g., simple conductor sections). As a result, the connection aid can be removed from the corresponding electrical conductor using the gripping device once the first end is no longer received therein. This allows for a high degree of automation. Furthermore, the docking aid is reusable.

[0028] A second aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for mass-producing electrical conductors. The apparatus comprises:

[0029] a first holding device, which is configured to hold the docking aid with the open first side and the open second side in a torsionally fixed manner,

[0030] a second holding device, which is configured to hold the contact housing in a rotationally fixed manner and such that the contact housing faces a second side of the docking aid, and

[0031] a gripping device configured to carry the first ends of the twisted electrical conductors from the second side of the docking aid into the contact housing,

[0032] In this case, the electrical lines are held during the transport process by the docking aid and / or the contact housing.

[0033] In particular, the method according to the first aspect can be carried out using the device. Furthermore, the device can be an automatic machine and, if necessary, also part of a tool set for mass production of cables. The holding device can be in the form of a chuck or the like.

[0034] If necessary, the twisting device can use the first holding device as a fixed point or for rotation. Twisting devices are otherwise known to those skilled in the art and are therefore not described further here. The gripping device can be part of a robot, a linear drive, etc.

[0035] The device temporarily uses the docking aid to first secure the wire ends for twisting and then transfers the wire ends directly from the docking aid into the contact housing.

[0036] Further features, advantages and application possibilities of the invention are apparent from the following description of advantageous exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The following is an explanation of advantageous embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 A device for machining an electrical conductor according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in a schematic side view,

[0039] Figure 2 A portion of an apparatus for machining an electrical conductor according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in a schematic side view,

[0040] Figure 3 A portion of an apparatus for machining an electrical conductor according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in a schematic side view,

[0041] Figure 4 A portion of an apparatus for machining an electrical conductor according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in a schematic side view, and

[0042] Figure 5 In a schematic side view, part of an apparatus for machining an electrical conductor according to an embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0043] The drawings are merely schematic representations and serve merely to explain the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1A schematic side view of an apparatus 100 is shown, which is particularly suitable for machining electrical conductors. Apparatus 100 is an automatic machine and comprises a first holding device 110 and a second holding device 120, which are designed, for example, in the form of chucks. Apparatus 100 also has an optional twisting device 130, which is illustrated here by way of example as two mutually spaced, rotatable rotation / tensioning devices. Apparatus 100 also has a gripping device 140, which can be moved linearly, multiaxially, or in other ways, for example, by means of a linear drive or the like. Apparatus 100 can be operated at least partially automatically, for example, by means of an electronic controller (not shown).

[0045] In the device 100, two electrical lines 200 are arranged, here by way of example, which are to be twisted together, for example, wherein this has already been described. Figure 1 The device 100 is also suitable for winding three, four, five or more wires 200. For example, one of the wires 200 is held by the gripping device 140. Each wire 200 has an electrical contact 210 at its first end, which is exemplarily Figure 1 , the electrical contacts are fixed to the corresponding conductors 200, for example, by crimping. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the second ends of the conductors 200, not shown here, can have a similar or identical structure. The contacts 210 are designed, for example, as plug contacts or pins. The contacts 210 have fixing elements 211 on at least one outer side, which are designed, for example, as a latching connection for a counter element. The fixing elements 211 are designed, for example, as latching projections.

[0046] according to Figure 1 , the corresponding contact portion 210 is received in the docking aid 300, which is held by the first holding device 110. Here, the docking aid 300 has, for example, a cuboid block 310 with openings 320, 330 on two opposite sides. In addition, the cuboid block 310 has a plurality of hollow spaces 340, Figure 1Two of them are shown by way of example in the figure. In this respect, the docking aid 300 can be matched to the number of conductors 200. The shape and / or size of the hollow space 340 are designed so that a fit is produced between the inside of said hollow space 340 and the contact portion 210, said fit preventing rotation about the longitudinal axis of the contact portion 210 or of the conductor 200, but allowing movement along said longitudinal axis. This can also be understood as a type of form fit, which holds the contact portion 210 in a torsionally fixed but movable manner. Furthermore, the docking aid 300 has a fixing device 350 in the respective hollow space 340, said fixing device 350 being designed here as a locking device with a locking protrusion. The locking protrusion is oriented so that the first end of the conductor 200 can be moved in a first direction, here in the direction from the opening 320 to the opening 330, and is fixed in an opposite second direction, here in the direction from the opening 330 to the opening 320. According to Figure 1 , the fixing element 211 of the contact portion 210 can slide on the fixing device 350 in the first direction, but is engaged with the fixing device 350 in the second direction and is thus fixed in the second direction.

[0047] In addition, according to Figure 1 Arranged within the device 100 is a contact housing 400, held here by the second retaining device 120. Relative to the first direction defined above, the contact housing 400 is arranged downstream of the docking aid 300. The contact housing 400 has a plurality of hollow spaces 410 for receiving the first ends of the conductors 200, in particular for receiving the contacts 210 arranged at the first ends. Each of these hollow spaces has an opening 420 on the side facing the docking aid 300. The respective hollow spaces 410 are preferably oriented flush with the matching hollow spaces 340 of the docking aid 300. The contacts 210 can also be secured within the contact housing 400, for example, via their securing elements 211.

[0048] It should be noted that the twisting device 130 is arranged to be placed directly on the docking aid 300. Figure 1 In order to better illustrate the overall structure of the device 100, only the contact portion housing 400 between the docking auxiliary device 300 and the twisting device 130 is shown (in Figure 1 on the left side of the ).

[0049] A method is described below, with which at least two electrical lines 200 are twisted together by means of a device 100 .

[0050] As in Figure 2As shown in FIG, the first end of a conductor 200 is first introduced into the docking aid 300 from a first side thereof (i.e., here through the opening 320). The contact portion 210 is already mounted on the conductor 200. The conductor 200 can be moved, for example, by means of a clamping device 140. The docking aid 300 can be held in place by means of a first retaining device 110. After introduction, the securing element 211 of the contact portion 210 latches onto the securing device 350 and is thus held within the docking aid 300.

[0051] according to Figure 3 The conductors 200, which are held in a particularly torsionally fixed manner within the docking aid 300, are then twisted together by the twisting device 130. To this end, the twisting device 130 can directly or indirectly abut the docking aid 300, for example by enclosing the docking aid 300 as required. Due to the latching between the fixing element 211 and the fixing device 350, the conductors 200 are fixed on both sides and can be twisted together by the twisting device.

[0052] As in Figure 4 As shown in FIG, the first end of the mutually twisted wire 200 is then transported from a second side of the docking aid 300 different from the first side (i.e., through the opening 330) into the contact housing 400. The docking aid 300 is held, for example, by the first holding device 110. The contact housing 400 is held, for example, by the second holding device 120. The wire 200 to be transported is moved in the direction of the contact housing 400, for example, by the gripping device 140. However, Figure 4 In the embodiment, the contact portion 210 is still in the docking assisting device 300 and is transported from the docking assisting device 300 .

[0053] Now, Figure 5 The first end of the conductor 200 is shown being transported into the contact housing 400. The contact 210 is merely received in the corresponding hollow space 410 of the contact housing 400 and, for example, latched there. Thus, during transport, the conductor 200 is always held in a torsionally rigid manner by the docking aid 300 and / or the contact housing 400, maintaining the twist of the conductor 200. With the contact 210 in its final position within the contact housing 400, the docking aid 300 can be removed because the first end of the conductor 200 forms an undercut and forms a clearance fit with the conductor 200 adjacent to the first end. The docking aid 300 can be removed by automatically dropping out, manually removing it, or removing it with the aid of a gripping device 140.

[0054] Reference Signs List

[0055] 100 devices

[0056] 110 first holding device

[0057] 120 second holding device

[0058] 130 twisting device

[0059] 140 gripping device

[0060] 200 wires

[0061] 210 Contact Department

[0062] 211 fixing element

[0063] 300 Docking Aid

[0064] 310 pieces

[0065] 320 First Opening

[0066] 330 Second Opening

[0067] 340 Hollow Space

[0068] 350 Fixtures

[0069] 400 contact housing

[0070] 410 Hollow Space

Claims

1. A method for machining at least two electrical conductors (200), the method comprising the steps of: introducing a first end of the electrical conductor (200) into the docking assist device (300) from a first side of the docking assist device (300), transporting a first end of the electrical conductor (200) from a second side of the docking aid (300) different from the first side into a contact housing (400), in, During transportation, the electrical conductor (200) is held by the docking assist device (300) and / or the contact housing (400), and the method further comprises the step of twisting a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor (200) of the electrical conductor (200) with each other while the first end of the electrical conductor (200) is held in the docking assist device (300).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first end is held in the docking aid (300) in a torsionally fixed manner.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first end is held in a torsionally fixed manner within the contact housing (400).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first end of the electrical conductor (200) is retained in the docking assist device (300) by a fixing device (350, 211), the fixing device (350, 211) being configured to enable the first end of the electrical conductor (200) to move from a first side to a second side of the docking assist device (300) in a first direction and to be fixed in an opposite second direction.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the fixing device (350) has a latching device, the first end slides on the latching device (350) when moving in the first direction, and engages with the latching device (350) when moving in the second direction.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the docking assist device (300) forms an undercut with a first end of the electrical conductor (200) and forms a clearance fit with the electrical conductor (200) adjacent the first end.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: To transport the first ends of the electrical conductors (200), the gripping device (140) moves each of the electrical conductors (200) individually or together along a common axis of the docking aid (300) and the contact housing (400).

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: After the first end of the electrical conductor (200) is transported into the contact housing (400), the docking aid (300) is removed from the electrical conductor (200).

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein after the first end of the electrical conductor (200) has been transported into the contact housing (400), the docking aid (300) is removed from the electrical conductor (200) by the gripping device (140).

10. An apparatus for machining an electrical conductor, the apparatus comprising: a first holding device (110) configured to hold the docking aid (300) with an open first side and an open second side in a torsionally fixed manner, a second retaining device (120) configured to retain the contact housing (400) in a torsionally rigid manner and to position the contact housing (400) toward a second side of the docking aid (300); and a gripping device (140) configured to carry a first end of an electrical conductor (200) from a second side of the docking assist device (300) into the contact portion housing (400), in, During transport, the electrical conductor (200) is held by the docking aid (300) and / or the contact housing (400), and the device further comprises a twisting device (130) configured to twist at least two electrical conductors (200) held in the docking aid (300) with each other.

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