Method and tool for machining electrical contact from carrier unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for irreversibly connecting an electrical contact to an electrical conductor by means of an external-force-actuated pressing device, in particular an external-force-actuated crimping machine. The contact is produced by means of a cutting method, has at least one electrical connection region and at least one pressing region, and is introduced into a strip-like carrier unit (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention is based on a method for producing an electrical contact by means of an extrusion device according to independent claim 1. The invention is also based on a tool for carrying out such a method. The invention is also based on an extrusion device for accommodating a tool according to the method in order to carry out the method.

[0002] Such a pressing device and the associated tools are required in order to irreversibly connect an electrical contact to an electrical conductor. Pressing devices such as crimping machines and / or crimping robots are used for (partially) automatic, force-activated pressing of electrical contacts onto electrical conductors, usually (partially stripped) cables, which is primarily known as crimping. Background Art

[0003] A variety of ingenious and useful extrusion devices are known in the prior art. However, most (partially) automated extrusion devices are designed for punching contacts. These punched contacts are punched and formed from a coil, wherein a small strip of the coil is retained and used in order to connect the contacts formed in this way to one another as a carrier tape. The carrier tape is wound onto rollers with the contacts located thereon for simple transportation and simple processing.

[0004] However, for contacts produced by cutting methods, for example by turning, there is no such advantageous device. For such contacts, a sorting device must usually be integrated into the extrusion device or arranged at the extrusion device.

[0005] DE 6803967 U discloses a pneumatically actuated crimping device for plug-in contact elements, the crimping device having a sorting container that allows the plug-in contact elements to be advanced into a delivery connection of a compressed air-operated delivery device in a suitable position having an opening defined for accommodating conductor cores; and having a compressed air-operated crimping pliers component controlled by a bottom valve, wherein the bottom valve connected to the compressed air delivery line is connected to the compressed air cylinder via another compressed air line.

[0006] US 3460230 A shows a device for fastening electrical contacts to electrical conductors, the device comprising: a funnel containing a plurality of electrical contacts and being suitable for outputting the contacts from predetermined positions on the circumference of the funnel and at a predetermined speed; and a track device, the track device cooperating with the funnel and positioned adjacent to the predetermined positions so as to accommodate the contacts in rows and in a predetermined orientation when outputting them from the funnel so that they can subsequently be connected to the conductors in the device.

[0007] A disadvantage of the prior art is the space-consuming sorting devices which cannot be arranged without effort on existing pressing plants. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to disclose a method which allows the machining of contact parts produced by cutting in a (partially) automated extrusion system without a sorting device.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for a pressing device, which can realize the connection of a contact part and a conductor according to the method.

[0010] A further object is to provide an extrusion device which accommodates the tool according to the invention and carries out the method according to the invention.

[0011] This object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 .

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, a method is proposed for irreversibly connecting an electrical contact to an electrical conductor by means of a force-actuated pressing device, in particular a force-actuated crimping machine. The contact is produced by means of a cutting method, has at least one electrical connection area and at least one pressing area, and is introduced into a tape-like carrier unit. The carrier unit has a plurality of contact receptacles following one another, which receive one contact each in the same orientation and in principle parallel to one another.

[0014] The pressing device actuates at least one tool by means of at least one actuator actuated by an external force in order to carry out the pressing of the pressing region onto the electrical conductor.

[0015] The tool of the pressing device releases the electrical contact from the carrier unit and performs the pressing of the pressing region of the contact onto the electrical conductor.

[0016] When the contacts are produced by cutting methods, they are usually turned using a machine tool. Contacts produced by turning usually offer improved current carrying capacity due to the solid material in the connection area, so that higher currents can be transmitted.

[0017] The compression region of a contact is understood to be a region which receives an electrical conductor, usually a core of a cable, and which is compressed, ie crimped, by the action of force, so that an electrically conductive connection is produced between the contact and the electrical conductor.

[0018] Similarly, the connection region of a contact is a region designed to be connected to a corresponding contact, i.e. in the case of a rotating pin contact, the connection region is a pin region formed (from solid material) which is, for example, electrically conductively connected to a socket contact.

[0019] The carrying unit should be understood as a device for carrying a contact portion: the device for carrying a contact portion can realize that the extrusion device conveys the next contact portion after the extrusion process of the contact portion, wherein a separate sorting device does not have to be used. Basically, the carrying unit replaces the carrying belt as appears in the stamped contact portion. Therefore, the rotating contact portion arranged in the carrying unit is pre-sorted and connected to the carrying unit. As a result, the use of different embodiments for the extrusion device can be simplified. The carrying unit can be made of a textile fabric. Advantageously, the carrying unit is made of a flexible and / or elastic plastic. The contact receiving portion of the carrying unit is formed into a hollow partial cylinder in an ingenious way. Particularly preferred is a carrying unit with two partially annular elements for each contact receiving portion. The partially annular element ideally accommodates the contact portion at the end of the extrusion area, wherein the end is opened to the extrusion area of ​​the contact portion and the opening of the transition area between the extrusion area and the contact area. A connector element is advantageously provided between the contact receiving portions. The connector element, for example, maintains the shape of the contact receiving portion, whereby the contact portion remains reliably accommodated. In addition, the contact portion can be loosened from the contact receiving portion by the force consumption at the connector element.

[0020] An actuator operated by external force generally refers to an actuator which is represented by mechanical energy, electrical energy, pneumatic energy, hydraulic energy or a combination of the mentioned forces, which is not generated by the user who distributes and / or operates the squeezing device. In the prior art, pneumatic squeezing devices are particularly used because they can quickly and safely squeeze the contact elements by pressure regulation.

[0021] In the context of the present invention, a tool is understood not only to be a pressure element, such as a die and / or a punch, but also a counterpressure element, i.e. an anvil or a die. In this case, an actuator actuated by an external force moves the pressure element toward the counterpressure element, wherein the contact to be pressed together with the conductor to be connected is located in a meaningful manner with a pressing region between the pressure element and the counterpressure element and is pressed or crimped by the pressure element and the counterpressure element, so that the conductor and the contact are irreversibly and electrically conductively connected. According to the invention, the tool releases the contact from the carrier unit before, during and / or after the pressing process.

[0022] In one embodiment, the force-actuated actuator moves the tool at least into a starting position, a release position and a pressing position.

[0023] The initial position is understood to be the position assumed in the stationary, activated state of the pressing device.

[0024] A release position is to be understood as a position in which the tool releases the contact part to be pressed from the carrier unit.

[0025] The pressing position is therefore a position in which the pressure element and the counterpressure element of the tool come together so that a pressing, ie a plastic deformation of the contact occurs in the pressing region, thereby producing an irreversible connection between the contact and the conductor.

[0026] Another embodiment provides that the actuator has at least one eccentric and moves the tool into its different operating positions in a basically cyclic manner.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the pressing device transports the carrier unit after the pressing process, so that a further contact can be connected to a further electrical line by the pressing device.

[0028] By the design, at least one semi-automatic process can be realized, which can be fully automated by simple adjustment. Control can be realized in a smart manner here so that the semi-automatic and / or automatic process is interrupted when the end of the carrying unit is reached.

[0029] A meaningful embodiment provides that the extrusion device performs the following steps:

[0030] a) transporting the contact part to the tool,

[0031] b) Fix the contact part by tools,

[0032] c) Release the contact part from the carrier unit,

[0033] d) pressing the contact portion along the pressing area,

[0034] e) Release the contact part.

[0035] According to the invention, the steps are carried out in the order mentioned. However, it may also be expedient to exchange steps c) and d).

[0036] In a clever embodiment, the tool releases the contact part from the carrying unit by means of at least one force which is oriented substantially orthogonally with respect to the carrying unit.

[0037] A force orthogonal to the carrier unit specifically refers to a force additionally oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the contact portion. Alternatively, the contact portion can be released from the carrier unit along its longitudinal axis, but the design of the tool and / or pressing device required for this seems to be complex.

[0038] Another object of the present invention is achieved by a tool for use in an externally-forced extrusion device, in particular an externally-forced crimping machine, the tool having a pressure element, such as a die and a counter-pressure element, such as an anvil, wherein the pressure element is implemented in at least two parts. According to the present invention, it is proposed that the pressure element is constructed by at least one extrusion element and at least one release element. Particularly preferred is a tool having an extrusion element with at least one extrusion die and two release elements, wherein the extrusion element is arranged between the two release elements. In this way, the tool can realize the implementation of the method steps according to the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

[0039] In a further embodiment, the pressing element is first conveyed by a tool actuated by the pressing device and its force-actuated actuator in order to fix the contact.

[0040] Following the improvement, one embodiment provides that after the contact part is fixed, the tool releases the fixed contact part from the carrier unit by means of a releasing element through a pressing device and its external force-operated actuator. The releasing element is lowered and the contact part is released from the carrier unit. Finally, the pressing element is finally lowered, wherein the contact part is pressed in its pressing area and thus connected to the conductor.

[0041] Finally, the present application discloses a pressing device, in particular a force-operated crimping machine, which at least semi-automatically connects an electrical contact to an electrical conductor irreversibly by pressing. The pressing device is designed to receive the tool described above in order to carry out the method described at the outset. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in detail below. The drawings show:

[0043] Figure 1 A detail of an extrusion device according to the invention is shown, wherein the tool is in an initial position;

[0044] Figure 2 A detail of an extrusion device according to the invention is shown, wherein the tool is in a fixed position;

[0045] Figure 3 A detail of a pressing device according to the invention is shown, with the tool in a released position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The drawings contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. In some cases, the same reference numerals are used for identical, but possibly different, elements. Different views of the same element may be scaled differently. Directional indications such as "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" are to be understood with reference to the corresponding drawings and may vary in the individual figures relative to the objects shown.

[0047] Figure 1 A detailed view of a tool 1 according to the invention is shown, which is inserted into an extrusion device 10 according to the invention. The extrusion device 10 and the tool 1 therein are in the initial position here. The initial position is ideally occupied when the extrusion device 10 is ready for use but has not yet been activated. This means that the extrusion device 10 is supplied with energy, but the extrusion process has not yet been triggered. The extrusion device 10 accommodates a pressure element, which is composed of an extrusion element 14 and two release elements 12 and 12' located on both sides of the extrusion element 14, wherein the release elements 12 and 12' are not visible in the illustrated position of the tool 1. Here, the extrusion element 14 has an extrusion die 16, which actively affects the extrusion process. Therefore, the extrusion die 16 is used in such a way that the extrusion is not excessively loaded with force, which may cause damage and / or destruction of the wire and / or the contact portion. Another component of the tool 1, a counterpressure element 11 implemented as an anvil or a die, can be seen. In addition, a receiving portion 13 for accommodating a carrier unit 2 can be seen. The carrier unit 2 has a contact receptacle 20, which consists of two partial rings connected by a connector element 21, which is shown as a rod element or a tab. The carrier unit 2 accommodates identical or at least identical type of contacts 3. The contacts 3 are embodied with a pressing region 30, which is provided with a connection region 31. It can be clearly seen here that the contact receptacle 20 accommodates the contact 3 at the pressing region 30 of the receptacle 3 or fixes the contact 3 in the carrier unit.

[0048] exist Figure 2 , the design of the tool 1 becomes clear. The tool 1 has two release elements 12 and 12 ′, between which a pressing element 14 is arranged. The illustrated position of the tool 1 is a fixed position in which the pressing element 14 fixes the contact part 3 .

[0049] The release elements 12 and 12' remain slightly above or on the lateral connector elements 21 of the contact 3 to be pressed. In semi-automatic operation of the pressing device 10, electrical conductors can now be introduced into the pressing region 30 of the contact 3.

[0050] exist Figure 3 The release position of the tool 1 is shown in FIG. Here, the contact part 3 is first held fixed between the pressing element 14 of the pressure element and the counter-pressure element 11. The carrier unit 2 is moved by the release elements 12 and 12' in the feed direction of the release elements 12 and 12' and released from the fixed contact part 3. Alternatively, the final pressing can be performed by the pressing element 14 after the contact part 3 is released. In one embodiment, the carrier unit 2 can be held in place in the receiving part 13 by a clamping device 15.

[0051] Reference numerals list

[0052] 1 Tools

[0053] 10Extrusion equipment

[0054] 11 Back pressure element

[0055] 12 Loose components

[0056] 13 Accommodation

[0057] 14Extrusion elements

[0058] 15. Clamping device

[0059] 16 Extrusion die

[0060] 2 load-bearing units

[0061] 20 contact receiving portion

[0062] 21 Connector components

[0063] 3 contact parts

[0064] 30 Squeeze Area

[0065] 31 connection areas

Claims

1. A method for irreversibly connecting an electrical contact to an electrical conductor by means of a force-actuated pressing device, in particular a force-actuated crimping machine, wherein the contact has at least one electrical connection region and at least one pressing region and is introduced into a tape-like carrier unit having a plurality of contact receptacles following one another, which receive one contact each in the same orientation and in principle parallel to one another, wherein the pressing device actuates at least one tool by means of at least one actuator actuated by an external force in order to perform the pressing of the pressing region onto the electrical conductor, and The tool of the pressing device not only releases the electrical contact from the carrier unit, but also performs a pressing operation of the pressing region of the contact with the electrical line.

2. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The force-actuated actuator moves the tool at least into a starting position, a release position and a pressing position.

3. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The actuator has at least one eccentric and moves the tool into its different operating positions in a basically cyclic manner.

4. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The pressing device transports the carrier unit after the pressing process in such a way that a further contact can be connected to a further electrical line by the pressing device.

5. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The extrusion equipment implements the following steps: a) conveying the contact portion to the tool, b) fixing the contact portion by means of the tool, c) loosening the contact portion from the carrier unit, d) pressing the contact portion along the pressing area, e) releasing the contact portion.

6. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The tool releases the contact portion from the carrying unit by means of at least one force which is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to the carrying unit.

7. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The contact portion is produced by drawing and pressing.

8. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The contact portion is produced by a cutting method.

9. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The contact portion is produced by turning, in particular by machine turning.

10. A tool for use in a force-actuated pressing device, in particular a force-actuated crimping machine, the tool comprising a pressure element and a counterpressure element, It is characterized in that The pressure element is designed in at least two parts.

11. The tool according to claim 10, It is characterized in that The pressure element has a pressing element and a release element.

12. The tool according to claim 10, It is characterized in that The tool, via the pressing device and its force-actuated actuator, initially transports the pressing element in order to fix the contact.

13. The tool according to claim 10, It is characterized in that After the contact part has been fixed, the tool releases the fixed contact part from the carrying unit by means of the release element via the pressing device and its externally-force-actuated actuator.

14. A pressing device, in particular a force-operated crimping machine, which at least semi-automatically connects an electrical contact to an electrical conductor irreversibly by pressing, It is characterized in that The pressing device accommodates a tool according to claim 10 in order to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

Images