Device and method for forming a notch for stripping insulation

Abstract

Each of the cutting mechanisms of a device for forming a notch for stripping comprises: an electrically conductive notch-forming cutting blade; a contact-sensing section configured to detect contact between an outermost conductor of a sheathed electrical conductor and the notch-forming cutting blade based on a current through an electrical circuit comprising a power supply connecting part, the outermost conductor, and the notch-forming cutting blade;and a cut-forming movement mechanism configured to move the cut-forming cutting blade in a cutting direction that intersects an outer circumferential surface, wherein, upon detection of contact by the contact detection section during the movement of the cut-forming cutting blade, the cut-forming movement mechanism is configured to adjust a position of the cut-forming cutting blade in the cutting direction and to position the cut-forming cutting blade at a position according to a specified cut depth to form cuts therein.

Description

Background of the inventionTechnical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming a notch for stripping, in which the notch is formed starting from an outer peripheral surface of a covered electric wire for stripping the covered electric wire. State of the art

[0002] As one of conventional methods for processing terminals of covered electric wires, a stripping method in which a covering is removed to expose an inner conductor such as a core is widely used. Furthermore, a stripping notch forming apparatus is known that forms a notch in the covered electric wire starting from its outer peripheral surface to make an insulated portion detachable (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a type of stripping notch forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 includes a pair of V-shaped cutting blades configured to clamp a covered electric wire therebetween to penetrate the outer peripheral surface and then rotate around an electric wire axis of the covered electric wire to form the stripping notch. Citation listPatent literaturePatent document 1: JP 2000-350324 ASummary of the invention

[0003] Covered electrical wires comprise a thick electrical wire comprising a plurality of layers of covering materials arranged around a core and stacked on top of each other, such as an inner sheath, a braid, a metal foil, and an outer sheath. In many cases, this type of stripping notch forming device is configured to use the electrical wire axis as a reference for moving the V-shaped cutting blades to clamp the covered electrical wire with the V-shaped cutting blades, with target positions to be reached by the V-shaped cutting blades determined as a distance from the electrical wire axis.Then, the V-shaped cutting blades are moved toward the electric wire axis to clamp the covered electric wire, causing the V-shaped cutting blades to penetrate it to a cutting depth according to the determined target positions. For example, in the case of forming a cut in a thick electric wire as mentioned above, the target positions for the V-shaped cutting blades are determined as a distance from the electric wire axis obtained by subtracting a thickness of a covering material to be removed from a sum of a radius of a core and individual thicknesses of the plurality of layers of covering materials.In the case of a thick electric wire, a tolerance in the target positions for the V-shaped cutting blades with the electric wire axis as a reference tends to be large because this tolerance is an accumulated tolerance obtained from a tolerance of the core radius and a tolerance of a thickness of a covering material different from the removed covering material. This may result in low accuracy for the movement of the V-shaped cutting blades. For example, in the case of forming a cut in a thick electric wire to a desired covering material contained therein, the cut may be formed to too great a depth due to low accuracy for the movement of the V-shaped cutting blades, so that the cut may extend into a further inner covering material that is intended to be left untouched.An incision that is too superficial may also be formed, so that the incision may not be sufficient for stripping.

[0004] Furthermore, many covered electric wires are wound around spools for storage. During such storage, the core and / or the cover may be deformed and flattened due to a load by its own weight, or a misalignment may occur in which the electric wire axis is offset from a center of the covered electric wire. When a notch formation is applied to a covered electric wire with such deformation and / or misalignment using the above type of notch forming apparatus for stripping, rotation of the pair of V-shaped cutting blades about the electric wire axis may result in a fluctuating notch depth obtained with the cutting blades in a direction around the electric wire axis.As a result, the resulting incision may be too deep in one region along the direction around the electrical line axis, so that a more inwardly located portion, which is intended to be untouched, may be incised, whereas the incision may be too shallow in another region along the direction around the electrical line axis, so that the electrical line may be insufficiently incised.

[0005] Thus, the above-mentioned type of notch forming apparatus for stripping, namely, an apparatus having a pair of V-shaped cutting blades that clamp a covered electric wire and are then rotated around the electric wire axis, has a problem that notch forming accuracy may be reduced when forming a notch in a thick electric wire and a covered wire wound around a reel for storage.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for forming a notch for stripping, which makes it possible to improve an accuracy for notch formation in the case of forming a notch in a thick electric wire and / or a covered electric wire wound around a reel for storage.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, an apparatus for forming a notch for stripping comprises: one or more cutting mechanisms comprising one or more notch-forming mechanism parts, wherein one of the one or more notch-forming mechanism parts is associated with each of the one or more cutting mechanisms, wherein the one or more notch-forming mechanism parts are configured to be arranged around an electrical line axis of a covered electrical line, wherein the covered electrical line comprises a core covered with an insulating layer or covered with the insulating layer and one or more conductive layers, wherein the one or more conductive layers are layered within the insulating layer, wherein each of the one or more cutting mechanisms is configured,to form one or more cuts in the covered electric wire up to a specified cut depth starting from an outer peripheral surface of the covered electric wire by means of a respective one of the one or more cut-forming mechanism parts; and a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the one or more cut-forming mechanism parts about the electric wire axis and thereby expand the one or more cuts in a direction about the electric wire axis in a state of the one or more cut-forming mechanism parts having formed the one or more cuts in the covered electric wire, making a stripped portion removable according to the cut depth; and a power supply connecting part configuredto connect a power supply to an outermost conductor in the covered electric wire at a connection position that is closer to its tip on a side of the covered electric wire than a notch-forming position of the covered electric wire for forming the one or more notches therein by the one or more cutting mechanisms, the outermost conductor being disposed at a minimum depth from the outer peripheral surface in the covered electric wire; wherein each of the one or more cutting mechanisms comprises: an electrically conductive notch-forming cutting blade movable in a cutting direction that intersects the outer peripheral surface; a contact detecting portion configured to detect contact between the outermost conductor and the notch-forming cutting blade based on a current through an electrical circuit,comprising the power supply connection part, the outermost conductor, and the notch-forming cutting blade; and a notch-forming moving mechanism configured to move the notch-forming cutting blade in the cutting direction. Upon detection of contact by the contact detection portion during movement of the notch-forming cutting blade, the notch-forming moving mechanism is configured to adjust a position of the notch-forming cutting blade in the cutting direction and position the notch-forming cutting blade at a position according to the cutting depth to form one or more notches therein.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention also provides a method for forming a notch for stripping, comprising: a preparation step of arranging the covered electric wire in the device as described above and positioning the notch-forming cutting blade in a home position by means of the device, the home position being spaced from the outer peripheral surface in the cutting direction; a power supply connecting step of connecting the power supply to the outermost conductor on the covered electric wire side closer to its tip by means of the power supply connecting part; a first notch forming step of moving the notch-forming cutting blade until contact between the notch-forming cutting blade and the outermost conductor is detected based on the current;Upon detection of contact by the contact portion during movement of the notch-forming cutting blade according to the first notch-forming step, a second notch-forming step of adjusting the position of the notch-forming cutting blade in the cutting direction and positioning the notch-forming cutting blade at a position according to the cutting depth to form one or more notches therein; and a rotating step of rotating the one or more notch-forming mechanism parts around the electric wire axis in the state of the one or more notch-forming mechanism parts having formed the one or more notches in the covered electric wire, making the stripped portion removable.

[0009] With the apparatus and method for forming a notch for stripping, it is possible to improve the accuracy of notch formation in the case of forming a notch in a thick electric wire and / or a covered electric wire wound around a reel for storage. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for forming a stripping notch according to an embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a sheathed electrical cable in which a cut is formed by the device for forming a cut for stripping, as in Fig. 1 can be applied; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the sheathed electrical cable according to Fig. 2 along the line V11-V11, as in Fig. 2 shown; Fig. Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a notch forming mechanism part of a cutting mechanism and a power supply mechanism part of a power supply connecting part according to Fig. 1, viewed in a cutting rotation direction; Fig. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing a flow of a series of operations of a method for forming a stripping notch at a terminal of a covered electric wire by means of the stripping notch forming apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. Fig. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining some of the processes of the method for forming a stripping notch according to Fig. 5 by means of a peripheral structure around the incision forming cutting blades and power supply cutting blade, as in the side view of Fig. 4 shown. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0010] Embodiments of an apparatus and a method for forming an incision for stripping are described below.

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for forming a stripping incision according to an embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a sheathed electrical cable in which a cut is formed with the device for forming a cut for stripping, as in Fig. 1 shown, can be applied and Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the sheathed electrical cable according to Fig. 2 along the line V11-V11, as in Fig. 2 shown.

[0012] First, a covered electric wire 2 to which cut-forming is applied according to the present embodiment is a thick electric wire including a plurality of layers of covering materials and a conductive core 21 covered with the plurality of layers of covering materials. This covered electric wire 2 is wound around a reel for storage and is used, for example, for a high-voltage wire harness for an automobile. As covering materials, the covered electric wire 2 includes an inner covering 22 made of an insulating resin as an insulating layer, a braid 23 as a conductive layer, a metal foil 24 as a conductive layer, and an outermost covering 25 made of an insulating resin as an insulating layer.For processing a terminal of the covered electric wire 2, the stripping notch forming apparatus 1 is configured to form one or more notches up to a specific notch depth starting from an outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2, whereby an indented portion can be removed in accordance with the notch depth.

[0013] For example, a cut formation is possible as described below: For example, a cut formation process is possible in which a depth extending to an inner periphery of the metal foil 24 is specified as the cut depth, so that the outermost sheath 25 and the metal foil 24 are defined as the insulated region, and one or more cuts are formed extending to the inner periphery of the metal foil 24. In this example, after stripping, the braid 23 will be exposed at a terminal of the covered electric wire 2, the braid 23 accommodating the inner sheath 22 and the core 21 therein.Furthermore, as another example, a cut-forming process is possible in which a depth extending to an inner periphery of the inner sheath 22 is specified as the cut depth, so that all sheath materials except the core 21 are defined as the stripped area, and one or more cuts are formed extending to the inner periphery of the inner sheath 22. In this example, after stripping, the core 21 will be exposed at the terminal of the covered electrical wire 2.

[0014] The stripping notch forming apparatus 1 can form such a notch in the covered electric wire 2 and includes three cutting mechanisms 11 and one rotating mechanism 12. The three cutting mechanisms 11 are provided to include a plurality of notch forming mechanism parts 11a (in the present embodiment, three notch forming mechanism parts 11a) in a one-to-one manner, that is, one of the notch forming mechanism parts 11a is associated with each of the cutting mechanisms 11, and the notch forming mechanism parts 11a are arranged around an electric wire axis 2b of the covered electric wire 2. The cutting mechanisms 11 are each configured to form one or more notches to a predetermined notch depth starting from the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2 by means of the respective notch forming mechanism parts 11a.In the present embodiment, the three notch-forming mechanism parts 11a of the cutting mechanisms 11 are arranged at an angle of 120° around the electric wire axis 2b and spaced apart from each other. The rotation mechanism 12 is configured to rotate the three notch-forming mechanism parts 11a in a cutting rotation direction D11 around the electric wire axis 2b, thereby extending the one or more notches in the cutting rotation direction D11 around the electric wire axis 2b in a state where the notch-forming mechanism parts 11a have formed the one or more notches in the covered electric wire 2. In the present embodiment, the rotation mechanism 12 rotates the three cutting mechanisms 11 by an angle equal to or greater than 120° in the cutting rotation direction D11 around the electric wire axis 2b.This rotation connects the cuts at three locations in the direction around the electric wire axis 2b to form a cut extending over the entire circumference of the covered electric wire 2, allowing the stripped area to be removed in accordance with the determined cut depth. Furthermore, the power supply connection part 13 is configured to connect the power supply 13b to an outermost conductor by means of a single power supply mechanism part 13b, the outermost conductor being located at the shallowest depth from the outer peripheral surface 2a in the covered electric wire 2.

[0015] In the stripping notch forming apparatus 1, the three cutting mechanisms 11 are identically configured, including the notch forming mechanism parts 11a. The following describes configurations of the cutting mechanisms 11 and the single power supply mechanism part 13a, where the single power supply mechanism part 13a is the only one initially provided.

[0016] Fig. Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a notch forming mechanism part of a cutting mechanism and a power supply mechanism part of a power supply connecting part according to Fig. 1, seen in a cutting rotation direction.

[0017] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, the cutting mechanism 11 includes a notch-forming cutting blade 111, a notch-forming moving mechanism 112, and a contact detecting portion 113, wherein the notch-forming cutting blade 111 and the notch-forming moving mechanism 112 constitute a notch-forming mechanism part 11a. The contact detecting portion 113 is configured to detect contact between the outermost conductor of the covered electric wire 2 and the notch-forming cutting blade 111. In the present embodiment, in which notch formation is applied to the covered electric wire 2 as shown in FIGS. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the outermost conductor is the metal foil 24.

[0018] The cutting blade 111 is an electrically conductive and disc-shaped cutting element movable in a cutting direction D12 that intersects the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2. According to the present embodiment, the moving mechanism 112 includes a cutting frame 112b as described below, and the cutting blade 111 is mounted on the cutting frame 112b so that the cutting blade 111 can be pivoted about a cutting axis 111a extending along the electric wire axis 2b and intersecting the cutting direction D12.

[0019] The incision-forming moving mechanism 112 is configured to move the incision-forming cutting blade 111 in the cutting direction D12. Further, when contact between the incision-forming cutting blade 111 and the metal foil 24 is detected by the contact detection section 113 during movement of the incision-forming cutting blade 111, the incision-forming moving mechanism 112 adjusts a position of the incision-forming cutting blade 111 in the cutting direction D12 and positions the incision-forming cutting blade 111 at a position corresponding to the cutting depth. With this positioning after contact detection, an incision corresponding to the cutting depth is formed in the covered electric wire 2.The notch-forming moving mechanism 112 according to the present embodiment includes a servomotor 112a as a drive source, the servomotor 112a capable of precise driving. Furthermore, the notch-forming moving mechanism 112 includes a cutting-connecting frame 112b driven by the servomotor 112a in the cutting direction D12, with the notch-forming cutting blade 111 pivotally mounted on a front end of the cutting-connecting frame 112b facing the covered electric wire 2. The notch-forming moving mechanism 112 precisely moves the notch-forming cutting blade 111 via the cutting-connecting frame 112b by means of the servomotor 112a to move the notch-forming cutting blade 111 into the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2 to a predetermined cutting depth.

[0020] As described above, the contact detection section 113 is configured to detect contact of the incision-forming cutting blade 111 with the metal foil 24. This contact detection is performed based on whether or not a current flows from the power supply 13b connected through the power supply connection part 13, as described later, by forming an electric circuit CR1 through contact between the metal foil 24 and the incision-forming cutting blade 111. Current detection by the contact detection section 113 can be performed by detecting the current through the electric circuit CR1 with an electric meter or other sensor. Detection can also be performed by opening / closing contacts of a relay with a current flow. Various conventional detection methods can be used for current detection.

[0021] The power supply connecting part 13 is configured to connect the power supply 13b to the metal foil 24 in the covered electric wire 2 at a connecting position P12 located on a side of the covered electric wire 2 that is closer to its tip than a notch forming position P11 of the covered electric wire 2 for forming the one or more notches therein by the cutting mechanisms 11. This power supply connecting part 13 includes the power supply 13b and a power supply mechanism part 13a for connecting the power supply 13b to the metal foil 24 (the outermost conductor) of the covered electric wire 2.

[0022] The power supply 13b is a DC power supply connected to the incision-forming cutting blade 111 of each of the three cutting mechanisms 11 and the power supply mechanism part 13a. A negative side of the power supply 13b is connected to the incision-forming cutting blade 111, and a positive side of the power supply 13b is connected to the power supply mechanism part 13a.

[0023] The power supply mechanism part 13a includes a power supply cutting blade 131 and a power supply moving mechanism 132. The power supply cutting blade 131 is a disc-shaped cutting element substantially similar to the incision-forming cutting blade 111. The power supply moving mechanism 132 includes a power supply connecting frame 132b as described below, wherein the power supply cutting blade 131 is mounted on the power supply connecting frame 132b so as to be rotatable about a cutting axis 131a, the cutting axis 131a extending along the electrical line axis 2b and intersecting the cutting direction D12.

[0024] The power supply moving mechanism 132 is configured to move the power supply cutting blade 131 in the cutting direction D12 that intersects the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2. The power supply moving mechanism 132 moves the power supply cutting blade 131 in this cutting direction D12 so that the power supply cutting blade 131 cuts into the outer peripheral surface 2a and thus comes into contact with the metal foil 24 (the outermost conductor). According to the present embodiment, the power supply moving mechanism 132 includes a servomotor 132a as a drive source, and the servomotor 132a is capable of precise driving.The power supply moving mechanism 132 further includes a power supply connecting frame 132b driven by the servomotor 132a in the cutting direction D12, with the power supply cutting blade 131 pivotally mounted at a front end of the power supply connecting frame 132b facing the covered electric wire 2. The power supply moving mechanism 132 precisely moves the power supply cutting blade 131 through the power supply connecting frame 132b by means of the servomotor 132a, so that the power supply cutting blade 131 penetrates into the covered electric wire 2 up to the metal foil 24 and comes into contact with it. This contact between the power supply cutting blade 131 and the metal foil 24 connects the power supply 13b to the metal foil 24.

[0025] When the incision-forming cutting blade 111 of each of the cutting mechanisms 11 cuts down to the metal foil 24, with the power supply 13b connected to the metal foil 24, the electrical circuit CR1 is formed, including the power supply connection part 13, the metal foil 24, and the incision-forming cutting blade 111, whereby a current flows through the electrical circuit CR1. The contact between the incision-forming cutting blade 111 of each of the cutting mechanisms 11 and the metal foil 24 is detected by the fact that the current is detected by the contact detection section 113. After this detection, the incision-forming moving mechanism 112 adjusts a position of the incision-forming cutting blade 111 in each cutting mechanism 11 to position it at a position according to the determined incision depth, so that an incision is formed at the incision depth in the covered electric wire 2.

[0026] In a state where the notches for the three cutting mechanisms 11 have been formed, the rotation mechanism 12 rotates the notch forming mechanism parts 11a around the electric wire axis 2b to expand the notches in a direction around the electric wire axis 2b, so that the insulated portion can be removed according to the determined notch depth.

[0027] Next, a method for forming a stripping notch will be described, in which a stripping notch is formed at a terminal of the covered electric wire 2 by using the stripping notch forming apparatus 1 described above. Although the following description includes repetition of part of the above description, the following description will be given with reference to other figures.

[0028] Fig. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing a flow of a series of operations of a method for forming a notch for stripping at a terminal of the covered electric wire by means of the notch for stripping forming apparatus shown in Fig. 1 shown. Fig. Fig. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining some of the processes of the method for forming a stripping notch according to Fig. 5 by means of a peripheral structure around the incision-forming cutting blades and the power supply cutting blade, as in the side view of Fig. 4 shown.

[0029] The process of forming a stripping incision according to Fig.5 is started when the covered electric wire 2 in which a notch is to be formed is provided. When the series of operations is started, a preparatory step S11 is first performed. In the preparatory step S11, the covered electric wire 2 is arranged in the apparatus 1, and the three notch-forming cutting blades 111 are positioned at a home position P11, the home position P11 being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2. Further, in the present embodiment, in this preparatory step S11, a power supply cutting blade 131 is also positioned at the home position P14 away from the outer peripheral surface 2a.

[0030] After the preparation step S11, the power supply connection step S12 is performed by the power connection unit 12. In the power supply connection step S12, the power supply connection unit 13 connects the power supply 13b at the distal end connection position P12 in the covered electric wire 2. When connecting the power supply 13b as described above, the power supply moving mechanism 132 is executed by cutting the power supply cutting blade 131 from the outer peripheral surface 2a to the metal foil 24. The cutting amount of the power supply cutting blade 131 at this time has a cut amount determined in advance according to the thickness of the outermost covering 25.

[0031] Next, the first incision forming step S13 is executed, in which the incision forming moving mechanism 112 moves the incision forming cutting blades 111 as follows. In this first incision forming step S13, the cutting movement step S131 at the incision forming position P11 and the contact determination step S132 are repeatedly executed based on the current detection in the electrical circuit CR1. In the contact determination step S132, the contact detection unit 113 determines whether or not a current flows through the electrical circuit CR1 by supplying power due to contact between the incision forming cutting blade 111 and the metal foil 24. If no current is detected (No determination), the cutting movement process S131 is repeated because the incision forming cutting blade 111 is not in contact with the metal foil 24 as the outermost conductor.When the current is detected (Yes determination) since the incision forming cutting blade 111 is in contact with the metal foil 24, the process proceeds to the subsequent second incision forming step S14.

[0032] In the second incision forming step S14, after the contact between the incision forming cutting blade 111 and the metal foil 24 is detected by the contact detection unit 113, the position of the incision forming cutting blade 111 is adjusted in the cutting direction D12, and the incision is positioned at a position corresponding to the specified depth of cut t11. As described above, the movement of the incision forming cutting blade 111 is stopped at the contact detection point when the specified depth of cut t11 ​​extends to the metal foil 24. Further, when the depth of cut t11 ​​extends to the mesh 23, the incision forming cutting blade 111 is stopped after the incision forming cutting blade 111 is advanced from the contact detection point by the thickness of the metal foil 24.In the second incision forming step S14, the position of the incision forming cutting blade 111 is adjusted to form an incision after the contact engagement of the incision forming cutting blade 111 and the metal foil 24 is performed.

[0033] Finally, after the second notch forming step S14 is performed for each of the three cutting mechanisms 11, the notches are expanded according to a rotation step S15. In the rotation step S15, the notch forming cutting parts 11a of the three cutting mechanisms 11 are rotated by an angle equal to or greater than 120° around the electric wire axis 2b by the rotation mechanism 12 in a state of the notch forming mechanism parts 11a having formed the notches in the covered electric wire 2. With this rotation, the notches at the three locations are expanded in the direction around the electric wire axis 2b to be connected to each other, so that a notch extending over the entire circumference of the covered electric wire 2 in the direction around the electric wire axis 2b is formed at one terminal of the covered electric wire 2.Forming this incision over the entire circumference makes the insulated portion removable according to the specified incision depth t11, and the series of operations of the stripping incision forming method is completed here. Afterward, the removable stripped portion is removed to expose its inner section. The stripped portion can be removed manually by a worker or can be removed using a dedicated removal device.

[0034] The stripping notch forming device 1 and method according to the above-described embodiment can have one or more effects as follows: According to the present embodiment, to form one or more stripping notches, the notch-forming cutting blade 111 detects the contact between the metal foil 24 (the outermost conductor) and the notch-forming cutting blade 111 based on the current flowing through the electrical circuit CR1 including the power supply connecting part 13, the metal foil 24, and the notch-forming cutting blade 111. After the detection, the position of the notch-forming cutting blade 111 is adjusted to position the notch-forming cutting blades 111 at a position according to the specified notch depth t11 to form one or more notches at the notch depth t11.According to this configuration, the incision-forming cutting blade 111 is subsequently advanced starting from a position as a reference where the incision-forming cutting blade 111 has actually come into contact with the metal foil 24 of the covered electric wire 2. By defining the reference for advancement as described above, it is possible to suppress an effect of accumulated thickness tolerances for individual covering materials and thus improve the incision formation accuracy even for forming an incision in a thick electric wire.Furthermore, even for a covered electric wire 2 with deformation and / or misalignment caused by being wound around a spool and stored, since the slit-forming cutting blade 111 is advanced after the slit-forming cutting blade 111 is actually brought into contact with the metal foil 24, an effect of the deformation and / or misalignment can be suppressed to improve the accuracy for slitting. In this way, the present embodiment can enable the accuracy for slitting to be improved when forming a slit in a thick electric wire and / or a covered electric wire 2 wound around a spool for storage.Furthermore, in the case of a thick electric wire, the specified cut depth t11 according to the present embodiment can be variably selected as appropriate, which enables one or more cuts to be formed up to a desired covering material without changing a device structure, and the desired covering material can be selected within a wide range.

[0035] Here, according to the present embodiment, the incision-forming moving mechanism 112 includes the servo motor 112a and is configured to move the incision-forming cutting blade 111 by means of the servo motor 112a. This configuration can further improve the accuracy of incision formation by precisely moving the incision-forming cutting blade 111 with the servo motor 112a.

[0036] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the power connection unit 13 includes a conductive power supply cutting blade 131 electrically connected to the power supply 13b, the power supply for the cutting blade 131 is moved, and a power supply moving mechanism 132 for contacting the metal foil 24 by cutting into the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2. According to this configuration, by contacting the metal foil 24 by cutting the power supply cutting blade 131 on the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire 2, it is possible to effectively connect the power supply 13b.At this time, the connection position P12 of the power supply 13b by cutting the power supply cutting blade 131 on the distal end side is more than the cutting position P11 by the cutting mechanism 11, since it becomes the cutting object or the like after stripping, consideration of the cutting marks at the time of line connection is not required.

[0037] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the power supply moving mechanism 132 includes a servo motor 132a for moving the power supply cutting blade 131 by the servo motor 132a. According to this configuration, by precisely moving the power supply cutting blade 131 with the servo motor 132a, it is possible to further improve the cutting accuracy for the power supply connection.

[0038] It should be noted that the embodiment described above merely shows representative configurations for the apparatus and method for forming a stripping notch. The apparatus and method for forming a stripping notch are not limited thereto, but can be modified and implemented in various ways.

[0039] For example, the above-described embodiment shows the covered electric wire 2 to be used for, for example, a high-voltage wiring harness for an automobile as an example of a covered electric wire in which a notch for stripping is formed. However, the covered electric wire to which the notch formation is applied is not limited to this, but the covered electric wire can be used in any specific manner.

[0040] As an example of a covered electric wire in which a stripping cut is formed, the above-described embodiment further shows the covered electric wire 2 in the form of a thick electric wire, including the conductive core 21 covered with the plurality of layers of covering materials. As examples of the plurality of layers of covering materials mentioned above, the present embodiment shows the inner covering 22 of an insulating resin, the conductive braid 23, the conductive metal foil 24, and the outermost covering 25 of an insulating resin.However, the covered electric wire for which cutting is applied is not limited to this, but may include a core covered with a single layer of resin sheathing. For example, any specific layered structure can be used for the multiple layers of covering materials, even for a thick electric wire. In the case of a simple covered electric wire including the core covered with a single layer of resin sheathing, the core is the outermost conductor at the shallowest depth from the outer peripheral surface.

[0041] As an example of the cutting mechanism, the above-described embodiment shows the three cutting mechanisms 11 comprising the three notch-forming mechanism parts 11a in a one-to-one manner, that is, one of the mechanism parts 11a is assigned to each of the cutting mechanisms 11, the notch-forming mechanism parts 11a being arranged around the electric wire axis 2b of the covered electric wire 2 at a pitch of an angle of 120°. However, the cutting mechanism is not limited to this, but any specific number of cutting mechanisms and any specific arrangement can be selected for the cutting mechanism, provided that one or more mechanism parts are arranged around the electric wire axis of the covered electric wire.

[0042] As an example of the incision-forming movement mechanism, the above-described embodiment further shows the incision-forming movement mechanism 112, which moves the incision-forming cutting blade 111 by means of the servo motor 112a. However, the incision-forming movement mechanism is not limited to this; rather, a motor or cylinder mechanism, for example, used jointly as a drive source can be selected. However, the incision-forming accuracy can be further improved by using the servo motor 112a as the drive source for the incision-forming movement mechanism 112, as described above.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the power supply connection part, the power supply connection part 13 for connecting the electric wire 13b by contacting the metal foil 24 (the outermost conductor) into the outer peripheral surface 2a, a power supply cutting blade 131 connected to the power supply 13b is exemplified. However, the power connection is not limited to the outermost conductor of the covered electric wire; as long as the power supply is connected at a position closer to the front end than the cutting position by the cutting mechanism, the specific connection mechanism can adopt any mechanism.However, by contacting the metal foil 24 by cutting the power supply cutting blade 131 on the outer peripheral surface 2a of the covered electric wire, it is possible to effectively connect the power supply 13b as described above.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an exemplary power supply moving mechanism, a power supply moving mechanism 132 for moving the power supply cutting blade 131 with a servo motor 132a is exemplified. However, the power supply moving mechanism is not limited to this; it may be adopted as a common motor or cylinder mechanism or the like as a drive source. Unlike the above-described incision-forming moving mechanism, if the power supply cutting blade for the moving mechanism securely contacts the outermost conductor of the covered electric wire, it is acceptable even if it slightly pierces the internal structure. For this reason, the possibility of adopting a common motor or cylinder mechanism for the power supply moving mechanism is higher than that for the depth of the incision-forming moving mechanism.However, in the power supply moving mechanism 132, it is possible to further improve the cutting accuracy of the power supply connection by employing a servo motor 132a as a drive source as described above. List of reference symbols 1 Device for forming an incision for stripping 2 sheathed electrical cables 2a outer peripheral surface 2b electrical line axis 11 Cutting mechanism 11a Incision formation mechanism parts 12 Rotation mechanism 13 Power supply connector 13a Power supply mechanism part 13b Power supply 21 core 22 inner sheath 23 braid 24 metal foil 25 outermost sheath 111 incision-forming cutting blades 111a, 131a cutting axis 112 Incision formation movement mechanism 112a, 132a servo motor 112b Cutting connection frame 113 Contact recording section 131 Power supply cutting blade 132 Power supply movement mechanism 132 b Power supply connection frame CR1 electrical circuit D11 Cutting rotation direction D12 cutting direction P11 Incision formation position P12 connection position P13, P14 starting positions S11 Preparation step S12 Power supply connection step S13 first incision formation step S14 second incision formation step S15 Rotation step S131 Cutting movement step S132 Contact determination step t11 cutting depth

Claims

[1] Device (1) for forming a stripping incision, comprising: one or more cutting mechanisms (11) comprising one or more incision-forming mechanism parts (11a), wherein one of the one or more incision-forming mechanism parts (11a) is associated with each of the one or more cutting mechanisms (11), wherein the one or more incision-forming mechanism parts (11a) are configured to be arranged around an electrical line axis (2b) of a covered electrical line (2), wherein the covered electrical line (2) comprises a core (21) covered with an insulating layer (22, 25) or covered with the insulating layer (22, 25) and one or more conductive layers (23, 24), wherein the one or more conductive layers (23, 24) are layered within the insulating layer (22, 25), wherein each of the one or more cutting mechanisms (11) is configured,to form one or more cuts in the covered electric wire (2) up to a specified cut depth starting from an outer peripheral surface (2a) of the covered electric wire (2) by means of a respective one of the one or more cut-forming mechanism parts (11a); and, a rotation mechanism (12) configured to rotate the one or more notch forming mechanism parts (11a) around the electric wire axis (2b) and thereby expand the one or more notches in a direction around the electric wire axis (2b) in a state of the one or more notch forming mechanism parts (11a) having formed the one or more notches in the covered electric wire (2), making a stripped portion removable according to the notch depth; and a power supply connecting part (13) configured to connect a power supply (13b) to an outermost conductor in the covered electric wire (2) at a connecting position that is closer to its tip on a side of the covered electric wire (2) than a notch forming position of the covered electric wire (2) for forming the one or more notches therein by the one or more cutting mechanisms (11), the outermost conductor being arranged at a shallowest depth from the outer peripheral surface (2a) in the covered electric wire (2); wherein each of the one or more cutting mechanisms (11) comprises: an electrically conductive incision-forming cutting blade (111) movable in a cutting direction (D12) intersecting the outer peripheral surface (2a); a contact detection section (113) configured to detect contact between the outermost conductor and the incision-forming cutting blade (111) based on a current through an electrical circuit including the power supply connection part (13), the outermost conductor, and the incision-forming cutting blade (111); and a notch-forming moving mechanism (112) configured to move the notch-forming cutting blade (111) in the cutting direction (D12), wherein, upon detection of the contact by the contact detection section (113) during the movement of the notch-forming cutting blade (111), the notch-forming moving mechanism (112) is configured to adjust a position of the notch-forming cutting blade (111) in the cutting direction (D12) and position the notch-forming cutting blade (111) at a position according to the cutting depth to form one or more notches therein. [2] The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the notch-forming moving mechanism (112) comprises a servo motor (112a), and wherein the incision-forming moving mechanism (112) is configured to move the incision-forming cutting blade (111) by means of the servo motor (112a). [3] The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the power supply connection part (13) comprises the power supply (13b) and a power supply mechanism part (13a), wherein the power supply mechanism part (13a) is configured to connect the power supply (13b) to the outermost conductor, wherein the power supply mechanism part (13a) comprises: an electrically conductive power supply cutting blade (131) electrically connected to the power supply (13b) and movable in the cutting direction (D12); and a power supply moving mechanism (132) configured to move the power supply cutting blade (131) in the cutting direction (D12) so that the power supply cutting blade (131) cuts into the outer peripheral surface (2a) and thereby comes into contact with the outermost conductor. [4] The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the power supply moving mechanism (132) comprises a servo motor (132a), and wherein the power supply moving mechanism (132) is configured to move the power supply cutting blade (131) by means of the servo motor (132a). [5] A method for forming a stripping incision, comprising: a preparation step of arranging the covered electric wire (2) in the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and positioning the incision-forming cutting blade (111) in a starting position by means of the device (1), the starting position being spaced from the outer peripheral surface (2a) in the cutting direction (D12); a power supply connecting step of connecting the power supply (13b) to the outermost conductor on the side of the covered electric wire (2) closer to its tip by means of the power supply connecting part (13); a first notch forming step of moving the notch forming cutting blade (111) until the contact between the notch forming cutting blade (111) and the outermost conductor is detected based on the current; upon detection of the contact by the contact portion (113) during the movement of the incision-forming cutting blade (111) according to the first incision-forming step, a second incision-forming step of adjusting the position of the incision-forming cutting blade (111) in the cutting direction (D12) and positioning the incision-forming cutting blade (111) at a position according to the incision depth to form one or more incisions therein; and a rotation step of rotating the one or more notch forming mechanism parts (11a) around the electric wire axis (2b) in the state of the one or more notch forming mechanism parts (11a) having formed the one or more notches in the covered electric wire (2), making the stripped portion removable.

Images