METHOD AND TOOL FOR CUTTING OFF AND JOINING A CONTACT WITH A CONDITIONER

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a tool for separating and joining a contact with a cable having an erected shield. State of the art

[0002] The document DE 20 2017 003 670 U1 relates to a device for crimping at least one core of a cable. The document describes a cable having a shield whose end is raised. In the document, a device for crimping the at least one core can have a so-called cutter for separating individual crimp contacts from a carrier strip. During the cable assembly process, the cable is stripped towards the end and its core is stripped at one end. In addition, the shield is raised so that it protrudes radially outwards. During operation of the device, the cable prepared in this way is inserted counter to a y-direction, first into a recess in a support, then into an opening in the cutter, and finally placed on a support surface.For the actual crimping, the crimper is moved in a z-direction over a predefined stroke relative to an anvil from a rest position to a processing position or a crimping position.

[0003] During this process, crimp tabs are plastically deformed so that they close tightly around the wire. The document further describes that the cutter has an opening into which the cable, with its shielding and its end raised, can be inserted so that the raised shield can be placed in the cutter's opening.

[0004] JP 2007 311 062 A relates to a contact crimping device comprising a holding member arranged to move freely up and down. When an upper crimping die moves downward to a predetermined point between a top dead center and a bottom dead center, a terminal is cut from a chain terminal by a sliding cutter, and the terminal is placed on the lower crimping die. The holding member is moved downward by interlocking with the downward movement of the upper crimping die. In accordance with the downward movement, the sliding cutter is moved downward to largely expose the lower crimping die.

[0005] The above prior art has at least the disadvantage that, once the shield has been positioned in the cutter opening, the cable with the raised shield can no longer be moved arbitrarily along the cable's longitudinal direction, especially not in the direction of the contact. This makes subsequent displacement of the cable along its longitudinal direction, for example, to perform an additional joining step, impossible. Description of the invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method with which a cable with an erected shield can be processed flexibly.

[0007] The above-mentioned object is achieved by a separating and joining method according to claim 1 and a tool for separating and joining a contact with a line according to claim 9. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0008] In particular, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a separation and joining method for a first contact with a line having an erected shield, the method comprising the following steps: moving an actuator and a hold-down device from an open position to a closed position such that the actuator acts on a cutter and the first contact provided on a contact carrier strip is separated from the contact carrier strip, and the first contact is fixed by the hold-down device, joining the line into the first contact until the erected shield of the line rests against the actuator and / or cutter, activating a first cylinder such that a stop is moved from an inactive position to an active position, wherein the first contact can be fixed in the active position by the stop,Moving the actuator and the hold-down device from the closed position to the open position, and simultaneously activating a second cylinder so that a contact guide track and the cutter are moved from a home position to a lowered position, and joining the cable to a final position in the first contact.

[0009] The method enables continuous separation of a first contact from a contact carrier strip and joining of a wire into the separated contact in one process cycle. In particular, the method enables separation and joining of an outer conductor contact with a wire having a fixed inner conductor contact and a raised shield. Joining a wire with a raised shield into an outer conductor contact requires the wire or inner conductor contact to be inserted deeply into the outer conductor contact. The wire must be inserted deeply into the outer conductor contact along its longitudinal direction in order to correctly position the wire with the inner conductor contact in the outer conductor contact. If joining is to take place directly at the cutter of a crimping tool, the wire must be movable along its longitudinal axis.Using the method described here, the cable can be joined completely with the shield raised directly at the cutter to a final position in the first contact or outer conductor contact, as the cable can be moved freely with the shield raised. This method simplifies cable assembly.

[0010] Preferably, the step of moving the actuator and the hold-down device between the open and closed positions comprises a movement along a first direction, in particular transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cable. This movement has the advantage of enabling a directed force from the actuator to the cutter. In particular, a vertical movement allows for a clean separation between the contact and the contact carrier strip without undesirable deformation. Furthermore, the fixation of the hold-down device exerts a force-locking effect on the first contact, enabling reliable fixation.

[0011] Preferably, the step of moving the stop between the active position and the inactive position comprises a movement along a second direction, in particular along the longitudinal direction of the line. This movement enables the first contact to be fixed independently of the arrangement or movement of the hold-down device. In particular, the movement takes place on the side of the first contact facing away from the line. Thus, the movement does not restrict the range of movement of the line. Finally, the movement can achieve a positive fixation of the first contact via the stop or the opening in the stop.

[0012] Preferably, activating the first and / or second cylinder comprises extending the first and / or second cylinder.

[0013] Preferably, the movement of the actuator and the hold-down device is performed in a split cycle of a crimping tool. A crimping tool that is known in principle in the prior art can be used for the method. This simplifies the application of the method. However, the full force of the crimping tool, as required for crimping, is not required for separating and joining the first contact, so it is more gentle on the material to perform the movements only in a split cycle, in which only a fraction of the maximum force of the crimping tool acts on the first contact.

[0014] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of retracting the first cylinder so that the stop is moved from the active position to the inactive position, releasing the first contact. This retraction has the effect that the first contact, into which the cable was inserted, is again freely movable and can be removed from the tool. In addition, the stop is returned to its home position for a new process cycle.

[0015] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of retracting the second cylinder so that the contact guide and the cutter are moved from the lowered position to the home position. Returning or raising the contact guide has the effect that a new first contact can be repositioned on the anvil as it passes through the contact guide. In addition, the contact guide and the cutter are returned to their home position for a new process cycle.

[0016] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of extending and retracting a third cylinder coupled to a feed, so that the contact carrier strip can be moved a predetermined distance in the process direction with the aid of the feed, and a subsequent first contact can be provided at the cutter. This step enables the start of a new process cycle. The use of a third cylinder, which is in particular identical in construction to the first and / or second cylinder, enables the synchronized response and activation of all three cylinders, since their behavior is identical, so that a synchronous process cycle can be achieved.

[0017] The above-mentioned object is further achieved in particular by a tool for separating and joining a first contact provided on a contact carrier strip, with a line having a raised shield, comprising a contact guide path for providing the contact carrier strip with first contacts, a cutter for separating a first contact from the contact carrier strip, an actuator and a hold-down device for fixing the first contact, wherein the actuator and the hold-down device can move from an open position to a closed position so that the actuator acts on the cutter and the first contact can be separated from the contact carrier strip and fixed by the hold-down device, a first cylinder with a stop, wherein the cylinder can move the stop from an inactive position to an active position and the stop can fix the first contact in the active position,and a second cylinder coupled to the contact guide and the cutter, wherein the second cylinder can move the contact guide and the cutter from a home position to a lowered position and simultaneously move the actuator and the hold-down device from the closed position to the open position.

[0018] The tool enables the processing of cables with a raised shield. The cylinders, particularly the first and second cylinders, allow components to be moved on the tool so that the components do not interfere with the movement of the cable. The resulting freedom of movement of the cable allows process steps to be performed on the tool, particularly within a process cycle, that are not possible with state-of-the-art tools.

[0019] The first contact preferably comprises an outer conductor contact, and a second contact, in particular an inner conductor contact, is preferably attached to the cable. Processing outer conductor contacts, and in particular joining cables with an inner conductor contact and a raised shield into an outer conductor contact, requires deep insertion or positioning of the cable in the outer conductor contact. For deep positioning, the cable must have at least full freedom of movement along its longitudinal axis. With the present tool, this freedom of movement is possible or provided.

[0020] Preferably, the contact guide is coupled to the cutter via a driver. Coupling the cutter to the contact guide via a driver allows for precise adjustment of the cutter's movement behavior relative to the contact guide. For example, the driver height can be adjusted relative to the cutter's home position.

[0021] Preferably, the hold-down device secures the first contact using spring tension. The spring tension allows the pressure of the hold-down device to be adjusted. Should unexpectedly high forces suddenly occur in the direction of the first contact, the hold-down device can compensate for these forces using the spring tension. During tool movement, the spring tension ensures reliable contact between the hold-down device and the first contact.

[0022] The tool preferably comprises a crimping tool. A crimping tool is suitable for cable assembly. In particular, a crimping tool is configured to separate a contact from a contact carrier strip and exert forces on the separated contact. The forces can merely be holding forces required during joining. The use or conversion of a known tool facilitates the use or conversion.

[0023] Preferably, the tool further comprises a third cylinder coupled to a feed, wherein the third cylinder can move the feed in a process direction, so that the contact carrier strip can be moved in the process direction with the aid of the feed. The third cylinder is preferably identical in construction to the first and / or second cylinder, whereby the behavior of the cylinders is identical. The identical cylinders facilitate or enable the synchronous execution of a process.

[0024] The following description of exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool; Fig. 2 a side view of a section of the tool from Fig. 1 in a starting position; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a section of the tool, in which a cable with the shield raised has been partially inserted into a first contact; Fig. 4 a side view of the illustration from Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a section of the tool, in which a cable with erected shield has been fully inserted into a first contact; Fig. 6 a side view of the illustration from Fig. 5 ; and Fig. 7 a side view of a section of the tool from Fig. 1 in a final position.

[0025] In the following, embodiments are described in detail with reference to the figures.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a tool 1. The tool 1 is preferably a crimping tool for separating and crimping contacts onto a cable. The tool 1 is configured to provide a contact carrier strip 13, to which contacts 11 are attached, in a process direction X with the aid of a feed 62 to a processing area. In the processing area, at least one contact 11 can be separated from the contact carrier strip 13.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, a contact 11 is separated from the contact carrier strip 13 with the aid of a cutter 30. A contact 11, which has preferably been placed on an anvil 38 in the processing area, is separated from the contact carrier strip 13 by a shearing movement between the anvil 38 and the cutter 30. To move the cutter 30 relative to the anvil 38, i.e. to actuate the cutter 30, in the exemplary embodiment an actuator 20 exerts a force on the cutter 30. For this purpose, the actuator 20 is moved from its basic position or open position (see Fig. 1 ), which is located at a distance from the cutter 30, is moved in the direction of the cutter 30 or into a closed position (see Fig. 3). During a continuous movement of the actuator 20, it presses on support surfaces 34 on the cutter 30 and moves the latter relative to the anvil 38. The movement of the actuator 20 and cutter 30 preferably occurs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction X of the contact carrier strip 13. A first height H1 of the cutter 30 relative to the anvil 38 or a lower shield guide 36 is reduced to a second height H2. The contact carrier strip guide 32 or the support surfaces 34 can serve as reference points on the cutter 30 for determining the height.

[0028] The force of the actuator 20 on the cutter 30 preferably occurs during a split cycle of the crimping tool 1, so that only the force necessary for severing acts on the cutter 30. In the closed position, in which the actuator 20 is in contact with the cutter 30, an upper shield guide 22, which is mounted on the actuator 20, preferably rests against a lower shield guide 36, which is mounted on the tool 1. A cable guide is preferably formed on the contact surface of the cutter 30, in which a cable 10 can be arranged, even when the actuator 20 and the cutter 30 are in contact with one another.

[0029] The cable 10 is preferably a multi-layer cable, which in particular has an inner conductor. In the illustrated embodiment, an inner conductor contact 12 is already attached to the inner conductor. At least one shielding braid 14 surrounds the inner conductor. The shielding braid is bent away from the cable 10, i.e., erected. A gap can be formed between the erected shield and the inner conductor contact along the longitudinal direction Y of the cable 10. Preferably, the shielding braid or the shield 14 is bent away from the cable 10 by 90 degrees. As a result of the bending, the outer diameter of the cable 10 increases in the region of the bent shielding braid 14 (see Fig. 2 ).

[0030] In the state in which the actuator 20 is in contact with the cutter 30, the inner conductor contact 12 can extend through the mentioned cable guide in the cutter 30, but the cable 10 as a whole can only be inserted into the cutter 30 until the erected shield braid 14 comes into contact with the actuator 20 and / or the cutter 30 (see Fig. 3 and 4 ). In this position, the cable 10 or the inner conductor contact 12 is only partially, and not yet completely, arranged in the outer conductor contact 11.

[0031] The outer conductor contact 11 is an exemplary embodiment of a first contact to be joined to the cable 10. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the outer conductor contact 11 is fixed to the anvil 38 by a hold-down device 24. In the open position, the crimping tool is maximally opened, so that the distance between the anvil and the hold-down device can have a maximum stroke of approximately 40 mm. The hold-down device 24 preferably moves simultaneously and parallel to the actuator 20. For fixing, the hold-down device 24 rests on the outer conductor contact 11 in the position when the actuator 20 comes into contact with the cutter 30. The hold-down device 24 is preferably spring-mounted. When the actuator 20 moves further to actuate the cutter 30, the hold-down device 24 exerts a pressure force on the first contact or outer conductor contact 11 and thus fixes the contact 11 on the anvil 38 (see Fig. 4). The fixation acts transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the outer conductor contact 11 or the longitudinal direction Y of the cable 10. The fixation is achieved by frictional engagement. Due to the spring, a reduced force acts on the outer conductor contact 11, so that it is not damaged. Among other things, the fixation allows for consistent precision when separating contacts 11 from the contact carrier strip 13.

[0032] In order to fix the outer conductor contact 11 in its position when the hold-down device 24 is removed again, a stop 42 is moved from an inactive position P1 to an active position P2. The movement is effected by a first cylinder 40 which can be extended and retracted along one direction. The direction is preferably along the longitudinal direction Y of the line 10 or the outer conductor contact 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop 42 has an opening 44 which is designed such that the first contact or the outer conductor contact 11 can be received therein. The stop 42 is pushed over the outer conductor contact 11 with the opening 44 (cf. Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 ). The outer conductor contact 11 is secured in place by means of the stop 42. The first cylinder 40 can be operated pneumatically.

[0033] Fig. 5shows the tool 1 in a subsequent state. In order to fully insert the cable 10 or the inner conductor contact 12 into the first contact or outer conductor contact 11, the actuator 20 and the hold-down device 24 are again in their home position or open position, i.e., spaced apart from the cutter 30 and anvil 38. The first contact 11, or outer conductor contact, continues to be fixed by the stop 42. Due to the partial insertion into the outer conductor contact 11, the cable 10 is already in the correct alignment with the outer conductor contact 11. The cable 10 can be held in position by a holding device such as a gripper (not shown).

[0034] To ensure that the portion of the erected shield braid 14 that is in contact with the cutter 30 is no longer blocked by the cutter 30 in the longitudinal direction Y of the cable 10, the cutter 30 is lowered to a third height H3. For lowering, a second cylinder 50, which is coupled to the contact guide track 52, is extended by a gap height S (see Fig. 5). As a result, the contact guide track 52 is lowered from a first distance difference D1 to a second distance difference D2, where the difference can be equal to the gap height S, relative to the lower shield guide 36, which is firmly connected to the tool 1. In one embodiment, the contact guide track 52 is coupled to the cutter 30 by a driver. The driver can be implemented, for example, as a bolt or screw connection. The lowering of the contact guide track 52 also results in the cutter 30 being lowered to the third height H3 relative to the lower shield guide 36.

[0035] How Fig. 5As shown, the retraction of the actuator 20 and the hold-down device 24 as well as the simultaneous lowering of the cutter 30 results in the cable 10 with the shielding braid 14 raised no longer being obstructed along the longitudinal axis Y of the cable 10. In this position of the tool 1, the cable 10, and in particular the inner conductor contact 12, can be fully inserted into the first contact or the outer conductor contact 11 (see Fig. 6 ).

[0036] Fig. 6shows an end position of the tool 1, in which the cable 10 with joined outer conductor contact 11 has been removed from the tool 1. The joining process merely comprises arranging the cable 10, or the inner conductor contact 12, which is fastened to the cable 10, in the outer conductor contact 11. Fastening the outer conductor contact 11 to the cable 10 can take place in a separate subsequent process step. In the end position, the cutter 30 is back at its first height H1. For this purpose, the second cylinder 50 was retracted, whereby the contact guide track 52, and preferably also the cutter 30 via the driver, moved from the lowered position back to the home position.

[0037] In a further process step, a third cylinder 60 can be moved in and out again along a process direction X (see Fig. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the third cylinder 60 is coupled to a feed 62, so that the movements of the third cylinder 60 move the feed 62 accordingly, which in turn moves the contact carrier strip 13 forward by a certain length in the process direction X, so that another contact 11 or outer conductor contact is placed on the anvil 38. A new process cycle can then begin. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0038] 1 tool 10 cable 11 first contact 12 second contact 13 contact carrier strip 14 raised shield 20 actuator 22 upper shield guide 24 hold-down device 30 cutter 32 contact carrier strip guide 34 support surface 36 lower shield guide 38 anvil 40 first cylinder 42 stop 44 opening 50 second cylinder 52 contact guideway 60 third cylinder 62 feed D1, D2 first, second distance difference H1, H2, H3 first, second, third height P1, P2 inactive, active position S gap height X third direction (process direction) Y second direction (longitudinal direction) First direction

Claims

1. Separating and joining method for a first contact (11) from / to a line (10) which has an installed shield (14), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) moving an actuator (20) and a hold-down device (24) from an open position into a closed position such that the actuator (20) acts on a cutter (30), and the first contact (11), which is provided on a contact carrier strip (13), is separated from the contact carrier strip (13), and the first contact (11) is fixed by the hold-down device (24); b) joining the line (10) in the first contact (11) until the installed shield (14) of the line (10) lies against the actuator (20) and / or cutter (30); c) activating a first cylinder (40) such that a stop (42) is moved from an inactive position (P1) into an active position (P2), wherein the first contact (11) can be fixed in the active position (P2) by the stop (42); d) moving the actuator (20) and the hold-down device (24) from the closed position into the open position, and simultaneously activating a second cylinder (50), such that a contact-guiding track (52) and the cutter (30) are moved from a main position into a lowered position; and e) joining the line (10) into a final position in the first contact (11).

2. Separating and joining method according to Claim 1, in which the step of moving the actuator (20) and the hold-down device (24) between the open position and the closed position comprises a movement along a first direction (Z), in particular transversely to the longitudinal direction (Y) of the line (10).

3. Separating and joining method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the step of moving the stop (42) between the active position (P2) and the inactive position (P1) comprises a movement along a second direction (Y), in particular along the longitudinal direction (Y) of the line (10).

4. Separating and joining method according to one of Claims 1 - 3, in which the activation of the first and / or second cylinder (40, 50) comprises extending the first and / or second cylinder (40, 50).

5. Separating and joining method according to one of Claims 1 - 4, in which the movement of the actuator (20) and of the hold-down device (24) is carried out in a split cycle of a crimping tool (1).

6. Separating and joining method according to Claim 4, furthermore comprising the step of: retracting the first cylinder (40) such that the stop (42) is moved from the active position (P2) into the inactive position (P1), with the first contact (11) being released.

7. Separating and joining method according to Claim 4 or 6, furthermore comprising the step of: retracting the second cylinder (50) such that the contact-guiding track (52) and the cutter (30) are moved from the lowered position into the main position.

8. Separating and joining method according to one of Claims 1 - 7, furthermore comprising the step of: retracting and extending a third cylinder (60), which is coupled to a feed mechanism (62), and therefore the contact carrier strip (13) can be moved by a predetermined distance in the process direction (X) with the aid of the feed mechanism (62) and a following first contact (11) can be provided at the cutter (30).

9. Tool (1) for separating and joining a first contact (11), which is provided on a contact carrier strip (13), from / to a line (10) which has an installed shield (14), having: a) a contact-guiding track (52) for providing the contact carrier strip (13) with first contacts (11); b) a cutter (30) for separating a first contact (11) from the contact carrier strip (13); c) an actuator (20) and a hold-down device (24) for fixing the first contact (11), wherein the actuator (20) and the hold-down device (24) can move from an open position into a closed position such that the actuator (20) acts on the cutter (30) and the first contact (11) can be separated from the contact carrier strip (13) and fixed by the hold-down device (24); d) a first cylinder (40) with a stop (42), wherein the cylinder (40) can move the stop (42) from an inactive position (P1) into an active position (P2) and the stop (42) can fix the first contact (11) in the active position (P2); and e) a second cylinder (50), which is coupled to the contact-guiding track (52) and to the cutter (30), characterized in that the second cylinder (50) is activated simultaneously with a movement of the actuator (20) and the hold-down device (24) from the closed position into the open position such that the contact-guiding track (52) and the cutter (30) are moved from a main position into a lowered position.

10. Tool (1) according to Claim 9, in which the first contact (11) comprises an outer conductor contact, and preferably a second contact (12), in particular an inner conductor contact, is fastened to the line (10).

11. Tool (1) according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the contact-guiding track (52) is coupled to the cutter (30) via a driver.

12. Tool (1) according to one of Claims 9 - 11, in which the hold-down means (24) fixes the first contact (11) by spring tension.

13. Tool (1) according to one of Claims 9 - 12, in which the tool (1) comprises a crimping tool.

14. Tool (1) according to one of Claims 9 - 13, furthermore having a third cylinder (60), which is coupled to a feed mechanism (62), wherein the third cylinder (60) can move the feed mechanism (42) in a process direction (X), and therefore the contact carrier strip (13) is movable in the process direction (X) with the aid of the feed mechanism (62).