Feeding module, processing unit and cable assembly device

Abstract

A cable assembly device, a crimping machine (a processing unit) and a feeding module, in which the contact elements to be processed are pneumatically fed, have been revealed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding module according to the preamble of claim 1, a processing unit according to the preamble of dependent claim 9, and a cable assembly device with such a feeding module and such a processing unit.

[0002] Generic feeding modules are used, for example, to feed wire ferrules to a crimping machine. Wire ferrules can be supplied, for instance, as taped reels, which are then fed to the crimping machine via a conveyor unit for further processing, depending on the required wire ferrule type. Such a solution for processing taped wire ferrules is disclosed, for example, in WO 2019 / 034 482 A1 of the applicant and marketed under the name “Z+F Unic-GV®”. A similar crimping machine is described in EP 3 257 117 B1 of the applicant.

[0003] In many cases, however, the wire ferrules or other contact elements are not supplied on tapes but individually, with the individual contact elements being fed to the processing unit, in particular the crimping machine, via a vibrating feeder. The design of such feeding modules with a vibrating feeder is described, for example, in the publications DE 20 2014 105 634 U1 and DE 10 2017 102 618 A1, which also originate from the applicant. In these known feeding modules, the individual contact elements, for example wire ferrules, are received in the vibrating feeder, which is set into vibration by a vibration unit such that the loose wire ferrules are conveyed along a spiral conveyor track along the inner circumferential wall of the vibrating feeder in the direction of an alignment unit of the feeding module.In this alignment unit, the wire ferrules are brought into a predetermined processing position and, if necessary, conveyed via a downstream singulation unit to an interface from which the singulated, correctly oriented wire ferrules are then fed to the processing unit, in this case the crimping machine. Such a processing unit is offered by the applicant, for example, under the name "Z+F Unic-LS®", which crimps singulated wire ferrules to a stripped cable end.

[0004] In series production, it is necessary to crimp different cable cross-sections and electrical components / contact elements together. With tape-mounted contact elements / ferrules, this is relatively easy using a processing unit like the one described in the aforementioned WO 2019 / 034 482 A1, as only the roller holding the desired contact element needs to be activated. The aforementioned stripper-crimper "Z+F Unic-LS®" is designed so that different cable cross-sections can be stripped and crimped without complex retooling. However, a vibratory feeder must be mounted for each contact element, which feeds the individual contact elements to the interface.To reduce these changeover times, the applicant proposes in European patent EP 3 794 690 B1 to design a processing unit, for example a stripper-crimper as described above, with a plurality of vibrating feed pots which are positioned either side by side in a plane or one above the other in a vertical direction, wherein each vibrating feed pot is in turn assigned an alignment and / or singulation device by which the respective contact element can be conveyed to the interface of the crimping machine.

[0005] In a subsequently published patent application by the applicant, an extremely compact feeding module is described in which the individual wire end ferrules are received in a pot-in-pot system, in which, so to speak, two vibrating feed pots are placed inside each other, so that the required installation space is minimized compared to conventional solutions.

[0006] In all these solutions, the drum magazines for receiving the contact elements provided as a tape or the vibrating feed pots are integrated into the respective crimping machines, so that different crimping machines must be provided depending on the concept, whereby complex mechanical slide or feeding systems are required to feed the contact elements from the storage arrangement to the respective processing head, e.g. crimp head.

[0007] In contrast, the invention is based on the objective of creating a feeding module, a processing unit and a cable assembly device that enables the processing of different contact elements with minimal equipment effort.

[0008] This problem is solved with regard to the feeding module by the features of claim 1, with regard to the processing unit by the features of dependent claim 9 and with regard to the cable assembly device by the features of claim 14.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the feeding module, the processing unit and the cable assembly device are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] The feeding module according to the invention serves for the position-defined feeding of contact elements or the like, in particular wire ferrules, to a processing unit, preferably a crimping machine. The feeding module has, in a manner known per se, a storage arrangement for receiving contact elements of different designs or geometries, wherein this storage arrangement can, for example, be implemented with vibratory feeders and / or drum magazines. The contact elements are transported from the storage arrangement to a transfer interface, which is operatively connected to the processing unit, via a conveying device. According to the invention, this transport along the conveying path is pneumatically operated, i.e., the contact elements to be transported are subjected to a pressure differential or a pressure medium pulse via a suitable device, which is sufficient to transport the contact elements to the transfer interface.

[0011] This pneumatically operated conveyor significantly reduces the equipment-related effort required to transport the contact elements between the storage arrangement and the transfer interface compared to the complex solutions described above. Furthermore, most such processing units used in cable assembly are already equipped with electropneumatic drives, so the necessary pressure means are readily available, allowing the concept according to the invention to be implemented with minimal investment.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the feed module, the conveying path between the storage arrangement and the transfer interface is at least partially formed by a substantially pressure-resistant, hose- or tube-shaped conveying channel, with each contact element type preferably being assigned at least a portion of its conveying channel. This makes it possible to adapt each conveying channel to the dimensions of the contact element, thus optimizing its pneumatic transport.

[0013] A particularly compact solution is to allow at least some of the conveying channels to feed into a collective conveying channel leading to the transfer interface, thus minimizing the installation space required for pneumatic conveying.

[0014] The feed module according to the invention is further equipped with a pressure medium source for pressurizing the contact element received in the conveying channel in the direction of the transfer interface, wherein the control is effected, for example, via valves or the like.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage arrangement is configured with a plurality of vibrating feeders and / or drum magazines, each of which can be individually controlled to feed a contact element to the assigned conveying channel or the assigned collecting conveying channel. It is particularly preferred if the storage arrangement comprises both vibrating feeders and drum magazines, with each drum magazine potentially having a singulation device integrated into the feed module.

[0016] In a particularly preferred concept, the storage arrangement is positioned on a mobile base, such as a cart, with the vibratory feeders and / or drum magazines being positioned on one or more levels on the mobile base. This makes it possible to process a large number of different contact elements, especially wire ferrules, with a single processing unit. This is not possible with conventional solutions, as the processing units are always coupled with predetermined storage arrangements (vibratory feeders, drum magazines).

[0017] The control of the storage arrangement and the conveying system is particularly flexible and largely independent of the processing unit's control when the feeding module is equipped with a control unit that controls both the storage arrangement and the pneumatic conveying unit. This control unit is connected to an industrial PC (IPC), for example, via an electronic interface. CAE data, containing information about cables to be assembled, such as cable diameter, cable length, type of marking to be applied, contact element type, etc., can be transferred to the control unit via this IPC. This transfer can occur, for example, via a network, data lines, or, in simpler solutions, via a USB flash drive or similar device.

[0018] In the event of a processing interruption due to a malfunction, the feeding module can be equipped with a blow-off station that allows unprocessed contact elements to be blown out of the conveying channel or transfer interface. These blown-out contact elements can then be collected in a blow-off buffer.

[0019] The processing unit according to the invention is designed in particular as a crimping machine and serves for processing contact elements. According to the invention, this processing unit is equipped with a transfer interface designed to receive contact elements of different cross-sections supplied by an external storage arrangement, preferably pneumatically. The processing unit according to the invention further comprises a transfer unit for transferring a contact element to be processed from the transfer interface to a processing head, in particular a crimping head, for crimping the contact element to a stripped cable end.

[0020] As explained at the beginning, such a processing unit can be operated individually with a variety of different storage arrangements, so that with a single processing unit, for example, both individual wire end ferrules and wire end ferrules provided on drum magazines can be processed without conversion.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the processing unit, the transfer unit is designed with a rotor disk in which, at least on the interface side, a recess pattern is provided with a plurality of recesses lying on a pitch circle and adapted to the geometry of different contact elements. A drive is associated with this rotor disk, by means of which a contact element to be processed can be aligned into a processing position with respect to the processing head and preferably a centering device for the associated cable end by rotating the rotor disk.

[0022] It is particularly preferred if the recesses of the recess pattern are positioned successively next to each other on a circular segment of the partial circle with increasing diameter, so that at one "end" of the recess pattern a recess with a comparatively small diameter is provided, while at the other "end" of the recess pattern the recess with the largest diameter is provided.

[0023] The cycle time for processing the contact elements can be further improved if two essentially identical recess patterns are arranged approximately diametrically opposite each other on the rotor disk, of which in the machining position one recess of the recess pattern is aligned with reference to the transfer interface and at the same time the corresponding recess of the other recess pattern, already loaded with a contact element, is aligned with reference to the machining head of the machining unit.

[0024] The transfer interface connected to the pneumatically actuated conveyor is designed, for example, with a multitude of tubular feed nozzles for different contact elements, which lead into a feed block, via which the respective contact element can be conveyed to the transfer unit, in particular to a transfer position with reference to the rotor disk.

[0025] The cable assembly device according to the invention is preferably designed for crimping contact elements, in particular wire end ferrules, of different geometries with cable ends of different cross-sections, wherein the processing is carried out with a processing unit according to the invention and the feeding of the respective contact elements is carried out via an external feeding module that is largely independent of the processing unit.

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a cable assembly device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a feed module of the cable assembly device according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a vibrating feeder pot of the feed module Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of vibrating feed pots of the feed module recorded in a plane according to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a top view of the vibrating conveyor bowls according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a variant of a feeding module with drum magazines and vibrating feed pots; Fig. 7 a single representation of a machining unit according to the invention with the housing removed; Fig. 8 a transfer unit of the processing unit according to Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 another embodiment of a processing unit.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic partial representation of a cable assembly device 1 designed to connect different contact elements, preferably wire ferrules, with different cable cross-sections. Such a cable assembly device 1 typically has a stripping unit for removing the insulation from the cable end and a crimping machine, which can also be configured as a crimper / stripper. Furthermore, a quality control device can be provided, allowing the trajectory of the stripped cable end and the quality of the crimp to be checked, so that further processing is carried out depending on the result of the inspection by appropriately controlling the components. Such a cable assembly device 1 can also be equipped with a storage unit into which the assembled cables can be stored for further processing.The cables can be fed in via unwinding devices as described in a subsequently published application by the applicant.

[0028] In the representation according to Fig. Figure 1 shows only a crimping machine 2 of the cable assembly device 1, to which the wire end ferrules / contact elements to be crimped are fed via a feed module 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the feed module 4 is designed with two vibrating feeder assemblies 6, 8, which are arranged in two planes on a mobile base, in this case a carriage 10, so that the feed module 4 can be easily aligned with respect to the crimping machine 2 and, if necessary, can be replaced with minimal effort with a feed module with a different storage arrangement.

[0029] The feed module 4 shown is further equipped with a control unit 12, via which the functional elements of the feed module 4 can be controlled. This control unit 12 can, for example, be in data communication with a central control unit (IPC) 14, via which the individual components of the cable assembly device 1, in this case the crimping machine 2, and the control unit 12, are supplied with the information / data required for processing, such as the cable cross-sections to be processed and the type of contact elements, etc.

[0030] According to the invention, the contact elements separated by means of the vibrating feeder assembly 6, 8 are pneumatically conveyed to the crimping machine 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each vibrating feeder assembly 6, 8 is assigned a collecting conveying channel 16, 18, which is connected on one side to a region in which the contact element separated by the vibrating feeder assembly 6, 8 is received, and on the other side to a transfer interface 20 in the region of the crimping machine 2. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, each vibrating feeder assembly 6, 8 is assigned a common collecting conveying channel 16, 18. In principle, however, each individual vibrating feeder 22 can also be connected to the transfer interface 20 via an individual conveying channel.

[0031] In the area of ​​the respective vibratory feeder arrangement 6, 8, a pressure medium source (not shown), for example a compressed air reservoir or connection, is provided, through which the contact elements supplied to the respective collecting conveying channel 16, 18 can be subjected to a pressure differential or a pressure pulse sufficient to convey the respective contact element towards the transfer interface 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the collecting conveying channels 16, 18 are designed as hoses. In principle, these can also be designed as pipes, whereby the flexibility of a hose design facilitates the changing and connection of the feed module 4 to the respective processing unit, so that the relative position can be flexibly changed at any time by moving the carriage 10.

[0032] Fig. Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the feed module 4 according to the invention, in which – as explained above – two vibratory feeder assemblies 6, 8 are positioned in two planes. In the illustrated embodiment, each of these vibratory feeder assemblies 6, 8 has five vibratory feeders 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e or 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, respectively, which in the illustrated embodiment are each arranged in one plane. In principle, the vibratory feeders 22, 24 of each vibratory feeder assembly 6, 8 can also be stacked one above the other in a tower-like arrangement or positioned relative to each other in some other way. Such concepts are described, for example, in the aforementioned European patent EP 3 794 690 B1 of the applicant, so that for further details reference is made to the explanations in that patent.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 2, top left, also indicates a pot-in-pot system in which an inner pot 23 is positioned inside the respective vibrating feeder pot 22, so that two different types of contact elements can be separated from each other using the inner pot 23 and the surrounding vibrating feeder pot 22 (a, b, c, d, e). In the illustrated embodiment with a vibrating feeder pot arrangement 6 (with five vibrating feeder pots 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e), a total of ten different contact elements could be processed. This pot-in-pot system can also be implemented with a tower-like arrangement of the vibrating feeder pots.

[0034] In the Fig. The control unit 12 is located on the lowest level of carriage 10 and is connected to the IPC 14 via an electronic interface 25. Further details of the vibratory feeder arrangements 6, 8 are described below with reference to the Fig. 3 to 5 explained.

[0035] Fig. Figure 3 shows a single representation of a vibrating conveying pot 22, the basic structure of which is known per se from the aforementioned DE 10 2017 102 618 A1, so that in the following only the details necessary for understanding the invention will be explained and reference is made to the disclosure of DE 10 2017 102 618 A1.

[0036] Accordingly, each vibrating feeder 22 has a pot 26 on whose inner circumferential wall a spiral conveyor track 28 is arranged. Each pot 26 is associated with a vibration device, which will be described in more detail below, by means of which the pot 26 can be set into vibration so that contact elements, for example, wire end ferrules, are conveyed along the conveyor track 28 from the bottom 30 of the pot 26 to a cam guide 32, the geometry of which is selected such that the respective contact elements are conveyed in a predetermined relative position along the cam guide 32. In the area of ​​this cam guide 32, an alignment device 34 and a singulation device 36 are provided, by which the respective contact elements are separated.In the area between the alignment device 34 and the singulation device 36, a baffle (deflector) 38 is provided, via which contact elements not arranged in the desired relative position are stripped and led back into the pot 26.

[0037] The singulation device 36 has a slide 40 which is actuated by means of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 42. A [missing information] is attached to this slide 40, as shown in the illustration. Fig. 3. A non-visible lateral recess is provided into which the contact element, located at the front within the cam guide 32, is guided by the vibratory conveying mechanism, so that when the slide 40 is adjusted by means of the pneumatic cylinder 42, this contact element is moved into a transfer position, from which it is then inserted into a conveying channel 44. This channel can be pressurized with a pressure medium, for example compressed air, via a pressure medium source, so that a wire end sleeve located therein is pneumatically moved towards the collecting conveying channel 16, 18 (see Fig. 1) is conveyed. The control of this pressure medium pulse can be achieved via suitable control valves that open or close a connection to the pressure medium source. A control device, for example a light barrier, can also be provided in this transfer area to detect whether a contact element to be processed is actually present in this transfer area. In the illustration according to Fig. 3 are pressure lines 46, 48 of this pneumatic conveying device.

[0038] Fig. Figure 4 shows an oblique view from below of the vibrating feeder assembly 6 according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. This illustration shows the support plate 49 positioned on the carriage 10, on which the vibratory feeder assembly 6 is arranged. As explained, this assembly is exemplified with five vibratory feeders 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, each of which is assigned an individual vibratory drive, of which the illustration shows according to Fig. 4. By way of example, only the vibrating feeder 22b is designated with the reference numeral 50. As explained, each vibrating feeder 22, 24 has its own vibration drive 50, with a common frequency converter preferably assigned to each of these drives in each plane, so that the vibration drives and thus the vibrating feeders 22, 24 can be controlled individually. In a manner known per se, the vibrating feeders 22b are each supported by several struts (in Fig. Only two support struts 52a, 52b (visible) are supported on the base plate 49, with the support being elastically actuated so that when the vibratory drive 50 is activated, the vibrating feeder 22, 24 is set into the vibrations required for conveying contact elements. In this respect, the vibrating feeder arrangement 6, 8 corresponds to the conventional solutions described above. A special feature of the vibrating feeder arrangement 6, 8 is that the outlet of each vibrating feeder 22, 24 is connected to a conveying channel 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e (conveying channel 44d, 44e not visible in Fig. 4) are connected, which together lead via a coupling piece 54 into the respective collecting conveying channel 16, 18, which then leads to the transfer interface 20 of the crimping machine 2, so that the separated contact element is pneumatically guided to the crimping machine 2 or the transfer interface 20.

[0039] Fig. Figure 5 shows a top view of the vibrating feeder assembly 6, 8 according to Fig. 4. As explained, in this embodiment five vibrating conveyor bowls 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e are provided, whose respective conveying tracks 28 (in the illustration according to Fig. 5 is only the vibrating feeder 22a (with the corresponding reference numerals) each leading into the cam guide 32 with the alignment device 34 and with the singulation device 36, which is implemented by means of a slide 40. By appropriately controlling the singulation device 36 via the control unit 12, a separated contact element is then conveyed into the respective conveying channel 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, 44e of the controlled vibrating feeder 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and then pneumatically conveyed via the central collecting conveying channel 16 to the transfer interface 20.

[0040] As explained at the beginning, instead of the collecting conveying channel 16, 18, each vibrating conveying pot 22 can also be individually connected to the transfer interface 20 via a conveying channel shaped, for example, by a hose or tube, with the conveying within each conveying channel being pneumatic.

[0041] Fig. Figure 6 shows a variant of a feeding module 4, in which, for example, the middle level on carriage 10 is equipped with a vibrating feeder arrangement 8 according to the Fig. 1 to 5 is implemented, while a drum magazine arrangement 58 is positioned on the upper support plate 56. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, nine drum magazines 60, 62 are each grouped into a drum magazine group 64, 66, which are arranged in a V-shape relative to each other. Such concepts are known from the aforementioned prior art, for example EP 3 257 117 B1 or WO 2019 / 034 482 A. On each of these drum magazines 60, 62, contact elements / ferrules in the form of a webbing 68, 70 (indicated by dashed lines in ) are Fig. 6) wound up, which are led to cutting devices 72, 74, which on the one hand have a motor drive for unwinding the respective belt 68, 70 and on the other hand a cutting device for separating a contact element to be processed. The cutting devices 72, 74 are preferably controlled by the control unit 14. Such cutting devices 72, 74 are known, for example, from the crimping machine “Z+F UNIC GV®”. The individually separated wire end ferrules are then guided, similarly to the vibrating feeders 22 described above, via individual feed channels in an output block 76, 78 towards the collecting feed channels 16, 80 connected to it and then pneumatically guided towards the transfer interface 20. The respective control of the vibrating feeder arrangement 6 and the drum magazine arrangement 58 is preferably carried out by the control unit 12 according to the IPC specifications.In this embodiment, three collecting conveying channels 16, 18 and 80 are provided, wherein the collecting conveying channels 16, 80 are assigned to the drum magazine arrangement 58 and the collecting conveying channel 18 to the vibrating feeder arrangement 8.

[0042] As explained at the beginning, a separate conveying channel could be routed to transfer interface 20 for each vibrating feeder or drum magazine. In principle, it is also possible to connect the three collecting conveying channels 16, 18, 80 with a common channel that then leads to transfer interface 20.

[0043] With appropriate design of the transfer interface 20, several carriages 10 can also be connected to the transfer interface 20 via individual conveying channels or collective conveying channels 16, 18, 80, ... so that a single crimping machine can process a wide variety of contact elements by selectively controlling the control unit 12.

[0044] For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that this control unit 12 does not necessarily have to be integrated into the feeding module 4. In principle, it is also possible to design this control unit 12 as part of the cable assembly unit or the processing unit (crimping machine 2).

[0045] Fig. Figure 7 shows a partial representation of the crimping machine 2 of the cable assembly device 1 according to the invention. Fig. 1.

[0046] Part of the housing has been removed to better show the components described below. The basic structure of such a crimping machine is described, for example, in EP 3 257 117 B1, so only the components essential for understanding will be explained here.

[0047] The in Fig. The crimping machine 2 shown in Figure 7 has a centering device 82 in which, in the vertical direction (view to Fig. 7) A plurality of centering openings 84 are arranged one above the other, the clear width of which is designed according to the cable cross-sections to be processed. The centering device 82 is mounted on a portal 86, which is adjustable along a vertical guide 88 in order to align the respective centering opening 84 with respect to the crimping head 96. This height adjustment is driven by a motor via a belt drive 90.

[0048] Above the vertically oriented centering device 82, the previously described transfer interface 20 is positioned, which has a plurality of connections 92 for the conveying channels 44 or the collecting conveying channels 16, 18, 80, etc. The separated contact element is then conveyed via the associated connection 92 to a transfer unit 94, which is designed to guide the separated contact element into the access area of ​​a crimping head 96. The actuation of the crimping head 96, which will be explained in more detail below, is carried out in a manner known per se (see, for example, the prior art mentioned above) via an electropneumatic drive 98.

[0049] Fig. Figure 8 shows a front view of the crimping machine 2, excluding the transfer interface 20 and the centering device 82. This illustration shows the crimping head 96, which is designed with four crimping jaws 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d arranged in a cross shape. These jaws can be moved radially towards each other for crimping, so that the metal sleeve of the contact element, in particular the wire end ferrule, is crimped onto the stripped cable end. This illustration also shows part of the portal 86 and the vertical guide 88 for adjusting the centering device 82, which is not shown.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transfer unit 94 is configured with a rotor disk 102, which is connected to a drive via a drive shaft 104, such that the rotor disk 102 can be rotated at least 180° from the position shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotor disk 102 has a rotor ring 106, which is connected to the drive shaft 104 via a diagonal strut 108. The rotor ring 106 has two diametrically opposed recess patterns 110, 111, each comprising a plurality of recesses 112, 114. In this specific embodiment, these recesses have a circular cross-section adapted to the geometry of the contact elements to be processed. The recesses 112, 114 are arranged on a common pitch circle, with the diameter d increasing towards the diagonal strut 108.In the illustrated embodiment, each recess pattern 110, 111 is designed with eleven recesses 112, 114. Of course, a different number and / or other cross-sectional geometries can also be implemented.

[0051] In the position shown for rotor ring 106, the largest recess of the Fig. 8 lower recess pattern 110 is aligned with reference to the crimping head 96 and the centering device 82, while the recess of the upper recess pattern, which has a corresponding diameter, is aligned with reference to the output of the transfer interface 20 (see Fig. 7) is aligned. By appropriately pivoting the rotor ring 106, other recesses 112, 114 of the recess patterns 110, 111 can of course also be aligned with reference to the crimp head 96 or to the transfer interface 20.

[0052] This design of the rotor ring 106 allows a contact element to be taken from the transfer interface 20 at the same time, and another contact element, taken over in a previous step, to be crimped via the crimp head 96.

[0053] The geometry of the recesses 112, 114 of the recess patterns 110, 111 is chosen such that the contact element, for example a plastic collar of the wire end sleeve, is positively engaged in the respective recess in the axial and / or radial direction, so that an exact positioning with reference to the crimping head 96 and to the centering device 82 is ensured.

[0054] The one based on the Fig. 7 and Fig. The crimping machine 2 described in section 8 is designed for optimal crimping. A separate stripping device is required to remove the insulation from the cable end. This disadvantage can be eliminated by using a crimper / stripper, such as the "Z+F UNIC GV®" crimping machine mentioned earlier. An example of such a crimping machine 2 is shown in... Fig. Figure 9 shows that this model currently includes its own holding device 116 for drum magazines 60, 62, this holding device 116 being mounted on the frame or housing of the crimping machine 2. The drum magazines 60, 62 are usually also equipped with a Fig. The separating device 72 shown in Figure 9 is used to separate the contact element from the tape. Such a crimping machine 2 is therefore only suitable for processing a comparatively small number of contact element variants held on the drum magazines 60, 62, the number of which depends on the capacity of the holding device 116 – in the illustrated embodiment, the holding device is designed for five drum magazines.

[0055] In the crimping machine 2 according to the invention, neither such a holding device 116 nor a separating device 72 is provided – as explained at the outset, these components are integrated into the feed module 4, so that the design of the crimping machine 2 is significantly simplified compared to conventional solutions, since the singulation and provision of the contact elements via the respective feed module 4 is extremely flexible, individual and mobile. As in Fig. As indicated in Figure 9, the crimping machine 2 according to the invention is designed for coupling to the feed module 4 according to the invention only with a transfer interface 20, which in the Fig.In the illustrated embodiment 9, the feeder is mounted on a cover surface 118 of the housing. A plurality of pipe nozzles 120 are provided in the feed area of ​​the transfer interface 20, to which the previously described feed channels 44 or collection feed channels 16, 18, 80... are connected, so that the respective separated contact element is pneumatically fed to the transfer interface 20 via the respective pipe nozzle 120. From there, the separated contact element is guided to the crimping head 96 via the previously described rotor disk 102. In the illustrated embodiment, five pipe nozzles 120 are provided – this number can vary depending on the design of the feeder modules 4.As explained, this crimping machine is designed as a stripper / crimper, so that for crimping the cable end is fed through a feed opening 122 aligned with reference to the crimping head 96, then stripped via a stripping unit and crimped via the crimping head 96 with the contact element located in the crimping position.

[0056] The feed module 4 and / or the processing unit can be equipped with a blow-out station (not shown) for blowing out contact elements not to be processed from the conveying channel 16, 18, 44, 80 or from the transfer interface 20 to a blow-out storage container.

[0057] A cable assembly device, a processing unit and a feeding module are revealed, in which contact elements to be processed are pneumatically fed. Reference symbol list: 1 cable assembly machine 2 crimping machines 4 Feed module 6 vibrating feeder arrangement 8 vibrating feeder arrangement 10 cars 12 Control unit 14 IPC 16 Collection conveyor channel 18 Collection conveyor channel 20 Transfer interface 22 Vibrating feed pot 23 inner pot 24 vibrating feed pot 25 electronic interface 26 pots 28 Conveyor belt 30 floor 32 Backstage tour 34 Alignment device 36 Singling device 38 harassment 40 sliders 42 pneumatic cylinders 44 Conveyor channel 46 Compressed air line 48 Compressed air line 49 Support plate 50 vibration drive 52 Support strut 54 coupling piece 56 Support plate 58 Drum magazine arrangement 60 drum magazine 62 drum magazine 64 Drum magazine group 66 Drum magazine group 68 webbing 70 webbing 72 Separating device 74 Separating device 76 Exit block 78 Exit block 80 Collection conveyor channel 82 Centering device 84 Centering opening 86 Portal 88 Vertical guide 90 Belt drive 92 connection 94 Transfer unit 96 crimp head 98 Drive 100 crimping jaws 102 Rotor disk 104 Drive shaft 106 Rotor ring 108 Diagonal brace 110 Exclusion patterns 111 Exclusion patterns 112 Exclusion 114 Exclusion 116 Holding device 118 Cover area 120 pipe fittings 122 Feed opening QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2019 / 034 482 A1 [0002, 0004] EP 3 257 117 B1 [0002, 0041, 0046] DE 20 2014 105 634 U1

[0003] DE 10 2017 102 618 A1 [0003, 0035] EP 3 794 690 B1 [0004, 0032] WO 2019 / 034 482 A

[0041]

Claims

[1] Feed module for position-defined feeding of contact elements or the like to a processing unit, preferably a crimping machine (2), with a storage arrangement for receiving contact elements of different designs or geometries, in particular wire end ferrules, and a conveying device for transporting a contact element along a conveyor track to a transfer interface (20) that is operatively connected to the processing unit, characterized by that the transport along the conveyor belt is pneumatic. [2] Feed module according to claim 1, wherein the conveying path between the storage arrangement and the transfer interface (20) is formed at least section by a substantially pressure-resistant and / or hose-shaped conveying channel (44), wherein preferably each contact element type is assigned at least section by a conveying channel (44). [3] Feed module according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the conveying channels (44) open into a collecting conveying channel (16, 18) leading to the transfer interface (20). [4] Feed module according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a pressure medium source for applying pressure / impulse to the contact elements received in the conveying channel (44) or the collecting conveying channel (16, 18) in the direction of the transfer interface (20). [5] Feeding module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage arrangement has a plurality of vibrating feed pots (22, 24) and / or drum magazines (60, 62) which can be individually controlled to feed a contact element to the associated feed channel (16, 18, 44, 80), wherein each drum magazine (60, 62) is associated with a separating device (72, 74). [6] Feed module according to claim 5, wherein the storage arrangement is positioned on a mobile base, preferably a carriage (10), wherein vibrating feed pots (22, 24) and / or drum magazines (60, 62) are arranged in one or more planes. [7] Feed module according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (12) for controlling the storage arrangement and the pneumatic conveying device, wherein preferably the control unit (12) is connected to an IPC (14) via an electronic interface (25). [8] Feed module according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a blow-out station for blowing out unprocessed contact elements from the conveying channel (16, 18, 44) or the transfer interface (20) to a blow-out storage. [9] Processing unit, in particular crimping machine (2) for processing contact elements, characterized bya transfer interface (20) designed to receive pneumatically supplied contact elements of different cross-sections from an external storage arrangement and to transfer a contact element from the transfer interface (20) to a processing head for processing the contact elements, in particular to a crimping head (96) for crimping the contact element to a cable end. [10] Processing unit according to claim 9, wherein the transfer unit (94) has a rotor disk (102) in which a recess pattern (110, 111) is formed on the interface side with a plurality of recesses (112, 114) lying on a pitch circle and adapted to the geometry of different contact elements, and wherein a drive is assigned to the rotor disk (102) by means of which a contact element to be processed can be aligned into a processing position with reference to the processing head and a centering device (82) for the associated cable end by rotating the rotor disk (102). [11] Machining unit according to claim 10, wherein the recess pattern 110, 111) has a plurality of recesses (112, 114) which are arranged side by side on a circular segment of the pitch circle with increasing diameter (d). [12] Machining unit according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein two substantially identical recess patterns (110, 111) are formed on the rotor disk (102), one of which is aligned with reference to the transfer interface (20) and the other with reference to the machining head and centering device (82) of the machining unit in the machining position. [13] Processing unit according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the transfer interface (20) is designed with a plurality of pipe nozzles (120) for different contact elements which open into a feed block of the transfer interface (20), via which the separated contact element can be conveyed to the transfer unit (94), in particular to a transfer position with reference to the rotor disk (102). [14] Cable assembly device for crimping contact elements of different geometries with cable ends of different cross-sections, comprising a processing unit, in particular a crimping machine, according to one of claims 9 to 13, and a feed module (4), preferably mobile, according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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