Transport device for crimping robot, crimping robot, strip and belt system, transport system, method for operating crimping robot, hybrid plug connector and installation method for hybrid plug connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying device (1) for conveying as large as possible a number of different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23), which can be selectively used during a treatment process, to a treatment process of a crimping robot by means of a single strip (3). The transport device (1) has a holding device (12), which is implemented in particular in the form of a cylindrical holding drum, and a plurality of contact receptacles (121, 122, 123, 124) of different sizes for temporarily holding a plurality of crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) of different sizes to be processed by the crimping robot. The holding device (12) can hold a plurality of different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) and, if necessary, feed them to the treatment process for a period of time predefined by the treatment process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention is based on a conveying device for an automatic crimping device of the type according to independent claim 1 .

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention is based on a crimping robot having a feed device according to claim 1 .

[0003] Furthermore, the invention is based on a strip for holding and feeding crimping contacts to a crimping robot according to claim 9 .

[0004] Furthermore, the invention is based on a strip system consisting of a strip according to claim 12 and a plurality of crimp contacts held on the strip.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention is based on a conveying system comprising a crimping robot according to claim 9 and a strip system of the type described above.

[0006] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for operating a conveyor system according to claim 20 .

[0007] Furthermore, the invention is based on a hybrid plug connector which is equipped with crimp contacts processed according to the method according to claim 21 .

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is based on a method for equipping a contact carrier of a hybrid plug connector.

[0009] Such a conveyor device is required as a component of a crimping robot in order to feed the crimping contacts to the crimping process of the crimping robot. Such a crimping robot is required in order to process the crimping contacts, in particular also different crimping contacts, and crimp them onto the electrical conductors of manually fed cables. Such a strip and strip system is required in order to introduce the crimping contacts into the conveyor device.

[0010] This conveying system is used to convey crimped contacts to a processing process. A method for operating an automatic crimping device is used to process the crimped contacts. A hybrid plug connector is used to transmit different electrical signals and supply currents to a mating plug connector in a manner that is pluggable and can be reversibly disconnected again without effort. This method for equipping a hybrid plug connector is used to flexibly adapt the hybrid plug connector to the respective requirements regarding its electrical transmission properties. Background Art

[0011] Numerous automatic crimping devices are known in the prior art. These devices can, in part, crimp a crimping contact onto an electrical cable with a high degree of automation by inserting the electrical conductor of the respective cable into a cavity of a cable connection region of the respective crimping contact, which is implemented as a crimping region. During crimping, the electrical conductor is first inserted into the cavity of the crimping region of the respective crimping contact. Then, by pressing the crimping region, typically with a high force, for example in the range of several kN (kilonewtons), a mechanically and electrically efficient connection, i.e., a crimped connection, is established between the respective electrical conductor and the respective crimping contact.

[0012] Furthermore, it is known to crimp different sized crimp contacts onto different sized electrical conductors, such as stranded conductors of cables or cores of multi-core cables, either manually with crimping pliers or using a plurality of different crimping automates. However, this is expensive, labor-intensive, and space-consuming.

[0013] EP 0 889 560 A1 discloses, for crimping multiple different crimp contacts in an automatic crimping device, that in order to allow for arbitrary alternation when feeding different contact types to a contact processing station, contacts in the form of different contact strips are gradually fed to a plurality of contact feeding stations arranged side by side. Contacts to be fastened to conductors in a contact processing station are moved by means of the contact feeding stations associated with these contacts into contact gripping positions located within the movement path of contact gripping elements of a first contact transport unit. In this latter position, the contacts to be processed are received by the first contact transport unit, moved to a transfer position, and there received by a second contact transport unit, which then transports the contacts to the contact processing station.

[0014] Furthermore, automated crimping machines are known that have multiple vibrating funnels, each of which can contain a different crimping contact than the crimping contact in the respective other vibrating funnel. This allows for targeted delivery of multiple different crimping contacts to the crimping process. However, such machines require a high amount of space.

[0015] A disadvantage of the prior art is that the number of different crimping contacts that can be supplied in such automated crimping devices is already limited for space reasons. Furthermore, such devices require an undesirably high amount of space. Furthermore, the manual effort required to crimp crimping crimping contacts of different sizes onto the associated cables / wires is undesirably high in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0016] The object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device for a crimping robot that can feed the largest possible number of different crimping contacts that can be selectively used during the processing process to the crimping robot. The manual effort and space required for this should be minimized. In particular, the processing process should not be impaired. For example, despite the availability of selection options, the access time to the crimping contacts should be so short that no delays occur during the processing, or at least as few delays as possible.

[0017] The term "different crimp contacts" should be understood to mean crimp contacts that differ at least in their electrical transmission characteristics and, in particular, also in their dimensions. The term "selectively usable in the crimping process" means that different crimp contacts can be used in the process. Thus, for example, if a cable is manually introduced and automatically identified, a crimp contact matching it with the short approach time should be automatically selected and fed to the process. This should preferably ensure that the process is not impaired, in particular without time delays.

[0018] This object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 .

[0019] The conveying device for the crimping robot enables a plurality of crimping contacts to be processed to be introduced into the crimping robot by means of a single strip, on which the crimping contacts to be processed are detachably held at least during their introduction into the crimping robot.

[0020] Furthermore, the conveying device is used to convey the crimped contacts to be processed to the processing process of the crimping robot.

[0021] Among the crimp contacts that are detachably held on the strip, there are at least two crimp contacts that are different from one another.

[0022] The conveying device has an identification device which is configured to identify the crimp contacts to be processed and to remove them from the strip in a targeted manner depending on the processing sequence.

[0023] The conveying device is further configured to ensure that each crimp contact to be processed is conveyed to the processing process within a time period predetermined by the processing process.

[0024] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the recognition of the crimping contact can be performed, for example, via a camera system and an image recognition device and / or via a marking, for example, a logo of the crimping contact. For this purpose, the recognition device can have a camera system with image recognition software.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the identification device can also have, for example, a reader, in particular an RFID reader.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the strip can have a label, for example, at its end to be introduced, on which information is stored: which contact receptacle of the strip is intended for which type of crimp contact. The label can be digital, and the information can be stored digitally on the label. For example, the label can be an RFID tag. This information allows each contact portion of the strip to be automatically identified based on the corresponding feed of the strip.

[0028] Of course, it should also be noted that among the crimp contacts, not only different crimp contacts but also crimp contacts of the same type can be present.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, at least two of the different crimp contacts can be of different sizes, i.e., the at least two crimp contacts can differ not only in the diameter of their respective crimping regions but also in the diameter of their respective plug-in regions. In particular, one of the crimp contacts can then be an electrical energy transmission contact, while the other can be an electrical signal transmission contact. It is clear to those skilled in the art that these different sizes also lead to different electrical transmission characteristics, in particular different current carrying capacities. Ultimately, incurring the costs associated with these different sizes without realizing the advantages of different electrical characteristics is generally unproductive.

[0030] However, among different crimp contacts, there may be multiple, for example two, crimp contacts that, while identical or at least similar in shape so that they fit into the same contact chamber of a contact carrier of a plug connector, such as a so-called "hybrid" plug connector, and correspondingly, can also be accommodated in the same receptacle of a strip, nevertheless differ from one another in terms of their electrical transmission properties, in particular their current carrying capacity. The term "hybrid plug connector" should be understood here to mean a plug connector that can transmit both electrical energy and electrical signals. To this end, the hybrid plug connector typically has at least one electrical energy transmission contact and at least one electrical signal transmission contact, wherein the electrical energy transmission contact and the electrical signal transmission contact typically differ not only in terms of their electrical transmission properties, in particular their current carrying capacity, but also in terms of their dimensions. Consequently, the crimping region and the plugging region of the electrical energy transmission contact have a larger diameter than in the electrical signal transmission region.

[0031] Correspondingly, the hybrid plug connector may also have a contact carrier having a plurality of different types of contact chambers, namely at least one large contact chamber for accommodating at least one electrical energy transmission contact and at least one small contact chamber for accommodating at least one electrical signal transmission contact. Of course, the electrical energy transmission contact should then be accommodated in one of the large contact chambers, and the electrical signal transmission contact should be accommodated in one of the small contact chambers.

[0032] However, as already indicated, crimp contacts for receiving the contact carrier can also be provided that, despite having the same / similar shape, nevertheless have different electrical transmission characteristics. For example, some of the signal transmission contacts can be designed to transmit higher-frequency electrical signals, i.e., at a higher data transmission rate, than other signal transmission contacts. Alternatively or additionally, some energy transmission contacts can be designed, for example, by their material and / or coating, for a higher current density than other energy transmission contacts, despite having the same dimensions. In this way, the hybrid plug connector can also have its characteristics modularly adapted to the desired transmission characteristics according to the modular design principle.

[0033] Therefore, the pursuit of the most automated possible production, and in particular the assembly of such hybrid plug connectors, requires the targeted use of a plurality of different crimp contacts. Conventionally, crimping the various crimp contacts onto the associated electrical conductors would have required a high level of manual effort and a large space requirement. Therefore, a particular advantage of the present invention is that it provides for the most individual assembly / manufacture of such hybrid plug connectors in the widest possible variety of variants, i.e., with the greatest possible number of different selectable transmission characteristics for the widest possible variety of applications, with minimal manual effort, a high degree of automation, and relatively little space requirement.

[0034] It is particularly advantageous in a way that simplifies the work, for example, if a cable, for example, which is manually introduced into the crimping robot, is automatically identified, for example, by an internal camera system of the crimping robot by means of automatic image recognition, while adhering to a calculable short approach time, and the electrical conductors of the cable, i.e. its strands, etc., are processed, i.e. crimped, by means of crimping contacts that are matched thereto, likewise automatically identified and associated therewith.

[0035] The introduction of the crimping contacts, in which different crimping contacts are also present, takes place via a single strip, which accommodates the crimping contacts. The strip can be product-specific or at least equipped in a product-specific manner. In an advantageous embodiment, the individual crimping contacts are identified by means of an identification device, for example by means of the camera system already mentioned or any other identification means, such as an RFID reader in combination with an RFID transponder arranged on the strip, and / or by means of digital information provided with the strip about which crimping contact is arranged in which receptacle of the strip. In particular, the strip can have a label, such as an RFID label, on which the information can be stored in digital form and read by a reader, such as an RFID reader.

[0036] In an advantageous refinement, the conveying device can include a holding device. The holding device can, for example, include a plurality of contact receptacles of different sizes for temporarily holding a plurality of different, and in particular different, sized crimping contacts to be processed by the crimping robot. For example, the holding device can include one or more large contact receptacles for electrical energy transmission contacts and one or more small contact receptacles for electrical signal transmission contacts. Furthermore, however, in addition to a plurality of contact receptacles of different sizes, the holding device can also include contact receptacles of the same type in order to hold a plurality of identical contacts or contacts that differ in their transmission characteristics but are of the same size and, if necessary, to be fed to the processing process within the time period predetermined by the processing process.

[0037] In another advantageous embodiment, in the special case where only crimp contacts of one size but with different electrical transmission characteristics are to be produced, the feed device can also have only uniformly sized contact receptacles. This special case will generally also include the production of conventional, i.e., non-hybrid, plug connectors, but it can also include the possibility of equipping the plug connectors with different, but uniformly sized, contacts, for example, to transmit different digital signals. This scenario is conceivable, but rarely occurs in practice.

[0038] A particularly great advantage of the holding device is that it can be "loaded" or "reloaded" with crimp contacts of the type required for the process during pauses in the process, for example, just when a cable, such as another cable, is being introduced. As will be described below, the duration of this "loading" of crimp contacts cannot be calculated as well as the delivery of the crimp contacts to the process with the aid of the holding device. This makes the holding device particularly advantageous. As soon as the process requires one of the crimp contacts held by the holding device, the holding device provides it with a short, calculable access time. Subsequently, the holding device can simultaneously begin reloading contacts of the same type, for example, while the next cable is being manually picked up and introduced. In this way, the holding device is almost constantly loaded with crimp contacts of the type required for the process, their positions are known, and suitable crimp contacts can be delivered to the process without delay. Of course, the holding device can also be configured to simultaneously hold multiple crimp contacts of the same type that are frequently used in the process.

[0039] For the loading of the crimp contacts, the conveying device can have a feed device for feeding the strip with a feed movement, in particular in a linear feed direction. The feeding is preferably performed linearly, i.e. the strip is on a surface, for example a transport surface of the feed device, and is transported in one direction, i.e. the feed direction.

[0040] In addition, the holding device can be moved relative to the feed movement of the feed device. Thus, the holding device can accommodate different crimping contacts in each of the contact receptacles matched to the corresponding crimping contacts and temporarily hold them in the contact receptacles.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the holding device is automatically movable relative to the feed device in at least two degrees of freedom, namely a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom.

[0042] Here, the first degree of freedom can be used to position the contact receptacle suitable for the respectively to be accommodated crimp contact at the corresponding crimp contact together with the suitable feed of the feed device.In addition, the second degree of freedom can be used to accommodate the crimp contact in the suitable contact receptacle.

[0043] The first degree of freedom can consist, for example, in a rotational movement of the holding device about an axis of rotation. This is particularly advantageous compared to a translational movement, which is also conceivable but less advantageous for reasons of space and approach time, because, in addition to saving structural space, the maximum approach time for the held crimp contacts only corresponds to a rotation of the holding device by 180°.

[0044] Preferably, the second degree of freedom can be a change in the translational spacing between the holding device and the feed device. This is advantageous because the holding device can be moved toward the crimping contact to accommodate the crimping contact, thereby being able to accommodate its plug-in area in the contact receptacle with minimal effort.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the translational spacing can be changed along the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the retaining device can be cylindrical. Furthermore, the contact receptacle can be a cylindrical recess or through-opening, with the cylinder axis of the contact receptacle oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the retaining device. Thus, the retaining device can be shaped like a turret drum, so that the retaining device is a retaining drum. The crimping contacts are then removed from the strip by the translational movement, whereby the respective crimping contacts are accommodated with their plug-in contact portions in the associated contact receptacles previously positioned therein. Finally, the crimping contacts are subsequently removed from the strip by a rotational movement, during which the contact receptacles ideally move substantially perpendicularly to the feed direction of the strip. In an advantageous embodiment, the axis of rotation of the retaining device can be coplanar with the linear feed direction of the strip. However, this is not necessarily required if the strip, which is preferably made of plastic, has sufficient elasticity. After the contacts are accommodated in the contact receptacles at their plug-in areas, they are always released from the strip by rotating the retaining device.

[0046] In one advantageous embodiment, the holding device can have an additional degree of translational freedom in and against the feed direction. For this purpose, the holding device can be mounted on a slide. The slide can be automatically moved in and against the feed direction of the feed device. This allows the holding device to be "moved" to the processing unit of the crimping robot as needed, depending on space requirements.

[0047] The automatic crimping device has the above-mentioned conveying device and the above-mentioned processing unit, which has a crimping unit for crimping a plurality of different crimping contacts conveyed to the crimping unit by the conveying device onto electrical conductors matched therewith.

[0048] In a preferred refinement, the crimping robot is configured to transfer the crimped contacts to be processed from the conveying device to the processing unit by a translational transfer movement of the holding device. In particular, the translational transfer movement can also be performed in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0049] As already mentioned, for space reasons, especially in the case of four-point crimping, due to the space required by the processing unit, it may be necessary to first move the holding device in the crimping robot in the feed direction—for example, by means of the slide already mentioned—in order to then transfer the crimped contacts to the processing unit by the aforementioned translational transfer movement. If necessary, the corresponding crimped contacts can be selected beforehand by rotation and then placed at the corresponding height.

[0050] The slide has the advantage that the processing unit in the crimping robot can be arranged alongside the conveying direction, along or counter to the feed direction.

[0051] In one advantageous embodiment, the strip is used with a conveyor device and has a plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are used to releasably retain the crimping contacts, particularly at their crimping areas. The receptacles include at least two receptacles of different sizes for retaining at least two crimping contacts of different sizes, namely, one large receptacle and one small receptacle. Of course, there may also be more than two receptacles of different sizes, for example, three receptacles of different sizes.

[0052] In a preferred refinement, the receptacles for the crimp contacts are evenly distributed on the strip, so that the crimp contacts can be found more easily and automatically and can be identified more quickly.

[0053] The strip is preferably constructed in one piece. In one advantageous refinement, the strip is made of plastic. The strip can be constructed in the form of a chain consisting of a plurality of segments connected to one another in an articulated manner, or can include at least one such chain, each segment having a receptacle for a crimping contact. For feed, a gear can engage with its teeth in each of the strip segments. By rotating the gear, each tooth advances a chain segment and thus a contact receptacle, i.e., a crimping contact. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the receptacles are evenly distributed over the strip.

[0054] The strip system consists of a strip of the type described above and the crimp contacts, preferably already accommodated in the strip's receptacles. As already mentioned, the crimp contacts contain at least two different crimp contacts. Each crimp contact has a crimping region at its cable connection-side end and a plugging region at its plugging-side end, opposite the cable connection-side end. The crimping region and plugging region of each crimp contact share a common axis of symmetry. As already mentioned, the crimp contacts contain at least two different crimp contacts, which differ at least in their electrical transmission characteristics.

[0055] Among the at least two different crimp contacts, there may be at least two crimp contacts of different sizes, which differ from one another not only in their electrical transmission characteristics but also in the diameters of their respective crimping regions and their respective plug-in regions. For example, at least one of the crimp contacts may be an electrical energy transmission contact, and at least one other crimp contact may be an electrical signal transmission contact. The electrical energy transmission contact and the electrical signal transmission contact may differ in their electrical transmission characteristics, for example, in that the electrical energy transmission contact has a higher current carrying capacity than the electrical signal transmission contact. Preferably, the diameters of the crimping region and the plug-in region of the electrical energy transmission contact are larger than the diameters of the crimping region and the plug-in region of the electrical signal transmission contact, respectively.

[0056] Preferably, the symmetry axis / plug axis of the crimping contact piece that is accommodated in the strip stretches parallel to each other and is arranged with equidistant intervals.Thus, the crimping contact piece can be more easily found automatically, can be identified faster and can only be taken out automatically with little expenditure.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the strip is configured to make the crimp contacts accommodated therein available for removal in such a way that the axes of symmetry of the crimp contacts of different sizes lie in a common plane.

[0058] For this purpose, a supporting mating molded portion can be molded onto at least some of the strip segments, in particular in the region of the corresponding receptacles. The supporting mating molded portion ensures that when the strip is placed on a surface, such as the transport surface of a feed device, the receptacles are positioned with their central axes at the same height, i.e., at the same distance from the surface. This ensures that the axes of symmetry / plug-in axes of the crimp contacts accommodated in the strip are also at a common height, which facilitates both finding and removing the crimp contacts.

[0059] The conveyor system consists of a conveyor device and a strip system. The conveyor device has an introduction state for each crimping contact and a holding state for each crimping contact to be processed. In the introduction state, the introduced crimping contacts are introduced together with the strip into the conveyor device of the crimping robot and are releasably held in the strip at their crimping sections. In the holding state, the respective crimping contact to be processed, removed from the strip for this purpose, is held by the holding device of the conveyor device at its insertion area.

[0060] Basically, two methods for operating a crimping robot are particularly advantageous.

[0061] The first method is particularly well suited for the mass production of cables or wires for specific products, i.e., specific hybrid plug connectors, to which the associated crimping contacts are crimped. To this end, the contact receptacles of the retaining device, in particular the retaining roller, are adapted in number and shape to the contact carrier of the hybrid plug connector. For example, if the contact carrier has two large contact chambers for electrical energy transmission contacts and four small contact chambers for electrical signal transmission contacts, the retaining device can also have two large contact receptacles and four small contact receptacles. However, the retaining device can also have three large contact chambers and six small contact chambers. The retaining device can also have four large contact chambers and eight small contact chambers, and so on. In any case, it is particularly advantageous to transfer the ratio of the number of contact chambers of different sizes to the ratio of the number of contact receptacles of the retaining device. Advantageously, this ratio can also be transferred to the number of receptacles of the product-specific strip and the corresponding number of different crimping contacts of the corresponding strip system.

[0062] To equip the corresponding hybrid connector, it is only necessary to introduce the cable / strand wire intended for processing into the crimping robot. The cable can be automatically identified, for example, by the identification device and subsequently crimped with suitable crimping contacts. While a new cable is being introduced, the holding device can be completely filled again with crimping contacts, in particular crimping contacts of the type just used. Since the contact carriers of the plug connector are usually fully equipped before the next hybrid connector is processed, uneven consumption does not occur.

[0063] If the crimping robot is suitable for many different products, ie for mass production of stranded wires for many different hybrid plug connectors, the situation is slightly different. The holding device then has a contact receiving portion in terms of its size.

[0064] Even in this case, the strip can be product-specific, i.e., adapted to all products to be equipped with crimp contacts, meaning it only holds a corresponding number of crimp contacts to be used for the product. However, the holding device can then have contact receptacles that may not be used for individual products. Of course, the above-described method can also be used in this case. However, it is particularly advantageous if the crimp contacts are accommodated in the holding device in the consecutive order in which they are also arranged on the strip and are also processed in this order according to the processing method. For this purpose, it is also particularly advantageous if the crimping robot, in particular the conveying device, has a display that shows which cable / cable strand should be introduced next.

[0065] The hybrid plug connector is equipped with crimp contacts processed according to one of the above-described methods. The contact carrier of the hybrid plug connector is equipped according to the method for equipping a hybrid plug connector.

[0066] The equipping method for equipping a contact carrier of a hybrid plug connector comprises the following steps:

[0067] - selecting a plurality of crimp contacts according to a predetermined required range of electrical transmission characteristics, wherein at least two different crimp contacts are present among the crimp contacts;

[0068] - Select or manufacture a contact carrier suitable for the selected crimp contacts;

[0069] - selecting or producing a strip having a receptacle for temporarily releasably fixing the crimp contact;

[0070] - accommodating the crimp contacts in the respective corresponding receptacles of the strip;

[0071] - creating digital information which indicates in which receptacle of the strip the individual crimp contacts required for equipping the contact carrier are located;

[0072] - Storing digital information on the strip's label;

[0073] - Introducing the strip into the crimping automation unit;

[0074] - transmitting the following information from the label of the strip to the automatic crimping device: in which receptacle of the strip the individual crimping contacts required for equipping the contact carrier are located;

[0075] The following method steps are then processed in a loop until the crimped contacts required for equipping the contact carrier are crimped onto each cable / strand:

[0076] - receiving the crimp contacts to be processed from a strip, in which at least two different crimp contacts are present, in a holding device of a conveyor device and introducing the cables / wires into a processing unit of a crimping robot;

[0077] - delivering the crimp contacts matching the cables / cores from the delivery device to the processing unit;

[0078] - stripping of the insulation of the cables / cores by means of a processing unit;

[0079] - Crimping the delivered crimp contacts onto the cables / cores;

[0080] - Remove the cable / core with the crimped contacts from the crimping robot.

[0081] Once the loop is processed, the following method steps follow:

[0082] - Insert the crimp contacts into the contact carrier. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in detail below. The drawings show:

[0084] Figure 1a 、 Figure 1b A conveying device for a crimping robot is shown from two angles with the introduced strip;

[0085] Figures 2a to 2c Three different crimp contacts are shown;

[0086] Figures 3a to 3c The strips are shown in three views;

[0087] Figure 4a 、 Figure 4b Two flow charts are shown for carrying out a crimping process using a crimping robot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0088] The drawings contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. Identical, but possibly non-identical, elements are sometimes designated by the same reference numerals. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently. Directional designations such as "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" are to be understood with reference to the corresponding figures and may vary in the individual figures relative to the objects shown.

[0089] FIG. 1 shows a conveying device 1 for an automatic crimping device from two angles, with an introduced strip 3 .

[0090] The conveying device 1 has a feed device 14 having a gear wheel 13 with a gear shaft 130 and a toothing 131 for feeding the strip 3 on a transport surface of the feed device 14 .

[0091] Furthermore, the conveying device 1 has a holding drum 12 as a holding device. The holding drum is cylindrical, has a rotation axis 120 and a plurality of cylindrical recesses as contact element receptacles 121, 122, 123, 124, and is mounted so as to be automatically movable with three degrees of freedom V1, V2, V3 relative to the feed device 14.

[0092] On the one hand, the holding device 12 has a rotational degree of freedom V1 which is used in particular for selecting the contact receptacles 121 , 122 , 123 by positioning them, for example for receiving crimp contacts 21 , 22 , 23 , also shown below, from the strip 3 .

[0093] Furthermore, the holding drum 12 has an axial translational degree of freedom V2 in the direction of the axis of rotation 120. This axial translational degree of freedom serves to move the holding drum 12 toward the strip 3 and to accommodate the corresponding insertion region 211, 221, 231 of the desired contact 21, 22, 23 in the selected contact receptacle 121, 122, 123.

[0094] To achieve a further degree of translational freedom V3, the holding drum 12 is movably mounted on a slide (not shown in detail). The holding drum 12 can thus be moved both in the feed direction and counter to the feed direction. Similarly, by means of a rotation V1 and a movement V3, and optionally, for example, by means of a further axial translation V2, the required crimping contacts 21, 22, 23 can be conveyed to a crimping unit (not shown in the drawing) arranged to the right of the conveyor device 1 in the drawing. The required crimping contacts can then be selected by means of a further rotation V1 and transported to the appropriate height.

[0095] Figure 2a 、 Figure 2b and Figure 2c Three crimp contacts 21, 22, 23 of different sizes are shown. Each crimp contact has a plug-in area 211, 221, 231 and a crimping area 212, 222, 232. The third crimp contact 23 has a central retaining flange 234 and, as its connection-side crimping opening 230, a connection-side flange 233. The two other crimp contacts 21, 22 also have crimping openings, which, however, are obscured in the drawing by the corresponding crimp contacts and are therefore not visible.

[0096] The first crimping contact 21 is an electrical signal transmission contact. The second crimping contact 22 and the third crimping contact 23 are electrical energy transmission contacts.

[0097] Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b and Figure 3cThe strip 3 is shown with three receptacles 31, 32, and 33 of different sizes, each of which can accommodate and releasably retain one of the crimp contacts 21, 22, and 23. Each receptacle 31, 32, and 33, together with two connecting regions 30 disposed on either side of the receptacle, forms a segment, wherein each segment is articulatedly connected to its adjacent segments to form a chain. Support-matching molded portions 318 and 328 are molded into at least some of the segments. As a result, when the strip is on a surface, such as a transport surface, the receptacles 31, 32, and 33—measured at their respective center axes—are at the same height. This facilitates the automated removal of crimp contacts of different sizes.

[0098] exist Figure 3b The top view shown in Figure 3c and Figure 2b As can be seen in the figure, the receptacles 31, 32, and 33 are two-part, that is, divided into sub-receptacles 31a, 31b; 32a, 32b; and 33a, 33b, respectively, to allow the teeth 131 of the gear 13 to engage therebetween. Thus, a strip 3 equipped with crimping contacts 21, 22, and 23 can also be fed through the gear 13, with each tooth 131 corresponding to a chain segment and, therefore, to a receptacle 31 of the strip 3, and, therefore, to a crimping contact 21, 22, and 23. Differently sized segments of the strip 3 are also configured to be grasped and transported by the teeth 131 of the gear 13.

[0099] exist Figure 3a and Figure 3b In FIG, a label 36 is shown on the right side of the strip 3. The label contains information indicating which type of crimping contact 21, 22, 23 is held at which section of the chain. The label 36 can be read by a reading device (not shown) of the crimping robot, so that the type of each crimping contact 21, 22, 23 can be identified by its position.

[0100] Figure 4a and Figure 4b A flow chart is shown for each crimping process performed by means of a crimping robot.

[0101] Figure 4a The crimping process for a product-specifically configured strip 3 is shown. The strip 3 is characterized in that it only accommodates the appropriate number of crimp contacts 21 , 22 , 23 required for a specific hybrid plug connector.

[0102] The columns of the flowchart represent the following:

[0103] IEmployee

[0104] II Feeding device

[0105] III Holding device / holding roller

[0106] IV Deinsulation Unit

[0107] V crimping unit

[0108] VI Display

[0109] VII control unit

[0110] VIII Input / Output Documentation

[0111] The first flow chart, its exact process from Figure 4a The method steps obtained from the flowchart are:

[0112] a. Start;

[0113] b order or produce a strip system suitable for the product to be manufactured, ie equipped with a suitable number of different crimp contacts 21, 22, 23 of the strip 3 to be processed for the product;

[0114] c The strip system is introduced into the conveying device 1 of the crimping automatic device;

[0115] d. The feeding device 14 transports the strip 3 to the reading unit where the tag 36 of the strip 3 is read;

[0116] e. The control unit processes the following information: which crimping contact 21, 22, 23 is provided at which segment of the strip 3.

[0117] f. The feeding device 14 conveys the strip 3 to a position suitable for removing the crimped contacts 21, 22, 23 to be processed relative to the holding roller 12.

[0118] g. Keeping the roller 12 removed from the strip 3 to be processed crimped contacts 21, 22, 23

[0119] h. Output on the display: Which core of the cable should be introduced

[0120] i. Manually insert the core wires of the cable

[0121] j. The insulation removal unit clamps the introduced core wire

[0122] k. Cable identification device of insulation removal unit identifies core wire

[0123] l. I / O document calculation of core wire thickness

[0124] m. I / O document generation query: Is this really the right core?

[0125] n. If not, the system control device outputs an error notification

[0126] o. And then the display also outputs the correct core wire should be introduced

[0127] p. Then manually introduce another core, if it is now the correct core, then

[0128] q. Fix the core wire by the insulation stripping unit and strip the insulation of the core wire

[0129] r. Holding roller 12 will be suitable for crimping contact member delivery to the crimping unit

[0130] s. Adjust the crimping unit to match the contact piece

[0131] t. The crimping unit performs crimping

[0132] u. Process control device performs crimping force monitoring

[0133] v. Release of core wires by the insulation removal unit

[0134] w. Manually remove the core wire

[0135] x. ->h (the display again outputs which conductor should be introduced next).

[0136] In the example described, it is also possible—possibly in a slightly different variant that is easily understood—to completely fill the holding device 12 in parallel with other process steps, or already at the start of the process, and always refill it with the type of crimping contact 21, 22, 23 used last, thus naturally ensuring greater process safety and avoiding delays. Consequently, it is not necessary to first search for and / or analyze the suitable crimping contact 21, 22, 23 during the process. Instead, the process control system already "knows" which crimping contact 21, 22, 23 is located in which contact receptacle 121, 122, 123 of the holding device 12 and performs the filling during a pause, for example, when the next wire is manually introduced.

[0137] The advantages of the holding device 12 are still clearer in the following example, in which the display is omitted and the user introduces the desired cables / cable strands in any order:

[0138] The second flow chart, its exact process from Figure 4a The method steps obtained from the flowchart are:

[0139] A. Start

[0140] B. ordering or producing a strip system suitable for the product to be manufactured, ie a strip 3 equipped with the appropriate number of crimp contacts 21 , 22 , 23 to be processed for the product;

[0141] C. introducing the strip 3 / strip system into the conveyor device 1 of the crimping robot;

[0142] D. The feeding device 14 transports the strip 3 to the reading unit where the label 36 of the strip 3 is read.

[0143] E. The control unit processes the information: which crimping contact 21, 22, 23 is provided at which section of the strip 3

[0144] F. The feeding device 14 conveys the strip 3 to a position relative to the holding cylinder 12 suitable for removing the crimped contacts 21 , 22 , 23 to be processed.

[0145] G. The holding roller 12 removes the crimped contacts 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the strip 3;

[0146] H. Manually introduce (any) core wire of the cable to be processed;

[0147] I. The feeding device 14 conveys the strip 3 to another relative position relative to the holding roller 12 suitable for removing the crimped contact to be processed;

[0148] J. The holding roller 12 takes out another crimped contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the strip 3;

[0149] K. the feeding device 14 conveys the strip 3 to another relative position relative to the holding drum 12 suitable for removing the crimped contacts 21 , 22 , 23 to be processed;

[0150] L. The holding roller 12 removes another crimped contact piece 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the strip 3;

[0151] Steps D. to L. can be repeated until or, if necessary, also partially in parallel with the following steps:

[0152] M. keeping the drum 12 completely filled (or at least to the extent necessary for the method);

[0153] N. The core wire introduced by the insulation removal unit clamping;

[0154] O. The cable identification device of the insulation removal unit identifies the core wire;

[0155] P. I / O document calculates core wire thickness;

[0156] Q. The insulation of the core wire is stripped by the insulation stripping unit;

[0157] The following steps R. use a holding device and therefore cannot be carried out in parallel with the equipment (and possibly "reloading") of the holding drum:

[0158] R. The crimping contact pieces 21, 22, 23 matching the core wire are delivered to the crimping unit by the holding roller 12;

[0159] S. The crimping unit is adjusted to match the crimping contacts 21, 22, 23 to be crimped;

[0160] T. Crimp unit performs crimping

[0161] U. Process control unit performs crimping force monitoring

[0162] V. Release the core wire by the insulation removal unit

[0163] W. Remove the core wire manually

[0164] X. ->H. The other core of the input cable

[0165] As already mentioned, it is very advantageous and practical for the two methods shown above by way of example to provide a strip system that is adapted to the product, ie the hybrid plug connector to be produced.

[0166] Of course, the two methods mentioned above are only implemented as examples and can be modified into different variants and adapted to slightly modified requirements using the knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

[0167] Applicant: HARTING Electronics Foundation GmbH & Co. KG

[0168] Invention Title: Conveyor device for an automatic crimping device, automatic crimping device, strip and tape system, conveyor system, method for operating an automatic crimping device, hybrid plug-in connector and method for equipping a hybrid plug-in connector

[0169] Reference Signs List

[0170] 1 conveying device

[0171] 12 Holding device / holding roller

[0172] 120 rotation axis

[0173] 121-124 contact accommodating portion

[0174] 13 gears

[0175] 130 gear shaft

[0176] 131 teeth

[0177] 14 Feeding device

[0178] 21, 22, 23 crimping contacts, wherein

[0179] 21 signal transmission contacts

[0180] 22, 23 Electric energy transmission contacts

[0181] 211, 221, 231 plug-in areas

[0182] 212, 222, 232 crimping area

[0183] 230 flange on the connection side

[0184] 234 retaining flange

[0185] 3 strips

[0186] 30 connection areas

[0187] 31, 32, 33 accommodation parts

[0188] 318, 328 support matching molded portion

[0189] 31a, 31b; 32a, 32b; 33a, 33b sub-accommodation portion

[0190] 36 tags

[0191] V1 first degree of freedom / rotational degree of freedom

[0192] V2 second degree of freedom, axial

[0193] V3 third degree of freedom

Claims

1. A conveying device (1) for a crimping automatic device, - for introducing a plurality of crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed into the crimping robot by means of a single strip (3), the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) being detachably held on the strip at least during their introduction, and - a process for conveying the crimping contact pieces (21, 22, 23) to be processed to the crimping automation device, ○ wherein there are at least two mutually different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) among the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23), and ○ wherein the conveying device (1) is configured to: ■ Identifying the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed and removing them from the strip (3) in a targeted manner according to the processing procedure, and ■ Ensure that each crimped contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed is fed to the process within a time period predetermined by the process.

2. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) differ from one another in their dimensions, i.e., both in the diameter of their respective crimping regions (212, 222, 232) and in the diameter of their respective plug-in regions (211, 221, 231).

3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the conveying device (1) has a holding device (12), the holding device having a plurality of contact receptacles (121, 122, 123, 124) of different sizes for temporarily holding a plurality of crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) of different sizes to be processed by the crimping automatic device, so as to hold a plurality of different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) and, when necessary, convey them to the processing process within the time period preset by the processing process.

4. A conveying device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the conveying device (1) also has a feed device (14) for feeding the strip (3) with a feed movement, and wherein the holding device (12) can be automatically moved relative to the feed movement of the feed device (14) so ​​as to accommodate different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) in each of the contact receiving portions (121, 122, 123, 124) matching the corresponding crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) and temporarily hold them in the contact receiving portions.

5. The conveying device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the holding device (12) is automatically movable relative to the feed device (14) in at least two degrees of freedom (V1, V2), namely a first degree of freedom (V1) and a second degree of freedom (V2).

6. A conveying device (1) according to claim 5, wherein one of the two degrees of freedom (V1) is used to position the contact receptacle (121, 122, 123) suitable for the respectively received crimping contact (21, 22, 23) at the corresponding crimping contact (21, 22, 23) together with a suitable feed of the feed device (14), and wherein the second degree of freedom (V2) is used to accommodate the crimping contact (21, 22, 23) in a suitable contact receptacle (121, 122, 123) of the holding device (12).

7. The conveying device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first degree of freedom (V1) consists in a rotational movement of the holding device (12) about an axis of rotation (120).

8. The conveying device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the second degree of freedom (V2) consists in a change in the translational spacing between the holding device (12) and the feed device (14), wherein the change in the translational spacing (V2) occurs in the direction of the rotation axis (120).

9. An automatic crimping device, comprising a conveying device (1) according to any one of the above claims and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit comprises a crimping unit for crimping a plurality of different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) conveyed to the crimping unit by the conveying unit onto electrical conductors matching the crimping contacts.

10. The crimping automation device according to claim 9, wherein the crimping automation device is configured to transfer the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed from the conveying device (1) to the processing unit by a translational transfer movement to the processing unit, wherein the above-mentioned further transfer movement is carried out in the direction of the rotation axis (120).

11. The automatic crimping device according to claim 10, wherein in the automatic crimping device, the processing unit is arranged next to the feed device (14) in an offset manner along or against the feed direction, and wherein the holding device (12) is automatically movably arranged on a slide with another translational degree of freedom (V3) parallel to the feed direction in order to transport the respectively accommodated crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) toward the processing unit in a translational manner.

12. A strip (3) for a conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the strip (3) has a plurality of receptacles (31, 32, 33) for detachably holding the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23), wherein at least two receptacles (31, 32, 33) of different sizes are present in the receptacles (31, 32, 33), namely a large receptacle (33) and a small receptacle (31).

13. The strip (3) according to claim 12, wherein the receptacles (31, 32, 33) are evenly distributed over the strip (3).

14. The strip (3) according to any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein the receptacles (31, 32, 33) are configured to hold the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) at their respective crimping regions (212, 222, 232).

15. The strip (3) according to claim 12 , wherein the strip (3) is made of plastic and is embodied in one piece, wherein the strip (3) comprises a chain formed by a plurality of segments connected in an articulated manner to one another, wherein each segment has a receptacle (31, 32, 33) for a crimping contact (21, 22, 23), wherein a supporting matching molded portion (318, 328) is molded on at least some of the segments.

16. A strip system, comprising a strip (3) according to any one of claims 12 to 15 and a plurality of crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) held in or at the strip, the crimping contacts each having a crimping region (212, 222, 232) at an end on the cable connection side and a plugging region (211, 221, 231) at an end on the plugging side opposite the end on the cable connection side, wherein the crimping region (212, 222, 232) and the plugging region (211, 221, 231) of each crimping contact (21, 22, 23) have a common axis of symmetry, wherein the crimping contacts (21, At least one of the crimping contacts (22, 23) is an electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23), and at least one of the other crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) is an electrical signal transmission contact (21), wherein the electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23) and the electrical signal transmission contact (21) differ from one another in their electrical transmission properties and in the diameter of their crimping regions (212, 222, 232) and the diameter of their plug-in regions (211, 221, 231), wherein the strip (3) enables the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) to be provided for removal in such a manner that their axes of symmetry lie in a common plane.

17. The strip system according to claim 16, wherein the electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23) has a higher current carrying capacity than the electrical signal transmission contact (21), and wherein the diameter of the crimping area (222, 232) of the energy transmission contact (22, 23) is larger than the diameter of the crimping area (212) of the signal transmission contact (21), and wherein the diameter of the plug-in area (221, 231) of the energy transmission contact (22, 23) is larger than the diameter of the plug-in area (211) of the signal transmission contact (21).

18. A strip system according to any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein each of the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) is releasably held with its corresponding crimping area (212, 222, 232) at a receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the strip (3) that matches the corresponding crimping area (212, 222, 232), wherein at least one of the energy transmission contacts (22, 23) is releasably held in at least one of the large receptacles (32, 33), and wherein at least one of the signal transmission contacts (21) is releasably held in at least one of the small receptacles (31) of the strip (3).

19. The strip system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the axes of symmetry of the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) held at the strip (3) are arranged parallel to one another and at equidistant intervals.

20. A conveying system, comprising a conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a strip system according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the conveying system has an introduction state for each crimping contact (21, 22, 23) and a holding state for each crimping contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed, wherein in the introduction state, the introduced crimping contact (21, 22, 23) is detachably held on the strip (3) at its crimping area (212, 222, 232), and wherein in the holding state, the corresponding crimping contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed and removed from the strip (3) for this purpose is held by the holding device (12) at the plug-in area (211, 221, 231) of the crimping contact.

21. A method for operating a conveying system according to claim 20, wherein the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) are introduced into the conveying system from the strip (3) in such a manner as to be held at the crimping area (212, 222, 232) and, after being removed from the strip (3), are held at the plug-in area (211, 221, 231) by the holding device (12) so as to be conveyed to a processing unit of the crimping robot when necessary.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the introduced electrical cable is automatically identified by an identification device, and a crimping contact suitable therefor is automatically selected and transferred to the processing unit by the holding device (12).

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) are removed from the strip (3) by the holding device (12) in a continuous sequence and are fed by the holding device (12) to a processing direction in exactly said sequence, wherein an instruction is output to each crimping contact (21, 22, 23): which cable / cable strand should be introduced into the crimping automation device.

24. A hybrid plug connector having crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) which are processed according to the method according to any one of claims 21 to 23.

25. A method for equipping a contact carrier of a hybrid plug connector, the method comprising the following steps: - selecting a plurality of crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) according to a predetermined required range of electrical transmission characteristics, wherein at least two different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) are present among the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23); - selecting or manufacturing a contact carrier suitable for the selected crimping contact (21, 22, 23); - selecting or producing a strip (3) having a receptacle (31, 32, 33) for temporarily releasably fixing the crimping contact (21, 22, 23); - accommodating the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) into accommodating portions (31, 32, 33) of the strip (3) respectively matching the crimping contacts; - creating digital information which specifies in which receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the strip (3) each crimping contact (21, 22, 23) required for equipping the contact carrier is located; - storing said digital information on a label (36) of said strip; - introducing the strip (3) into the crimping robot; - transmitting the following information from the label (36) of the strip (3) to the automatic crimping device: in which receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the strip (31, 32, 33) the individual crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) required for equipping the contact carrier are located; The following method steps are then processed in a cycle characterized by the following steps until the crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) required for equipping the contact carrier are crimped onto a respective cable / strand: - accommodating at least some of the different crimping contacts (21, 22, 23) from the strip (3) into the holding device (12) of the conveying device (1) and simultaneously introducing the cables / wires into the processing unit of the crimping robot; - delivering the crimping contact pieces (21, 22, 23) matching the cable / the core wire from the delivery device (1) to the processing unit; - stripping the insulation of the cable / core wire by the processing unit; - crimping the delivered crimping contact piece (21, 22, 23) onto the cable / core wire; - removing the cable / the core wire together with the crimping contact pieces (21, 22, 23) crimped thereon from the crimping automatic device; Once the cycle has been processed, the following method steps follow: - Inserting the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) into the contact carrier.

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