CRIMPING DEVICE AND CRIMPING METHOD

Description

Technisches Gebiet

[0001] The invention relates to a crimping device for attaching a crimp sleeve to a conductor of a cable, wherein the crimping device comprises a crimper, an anvil cooperating with the crimper, a cutter, and a cutter actuator that can be actuated together with the crimper. The invention further relates to a method, preferably carried out using the crimping device according to the invention, for crimping a crimp sleeve onto a conductor of a cable. Stand der Technik

[0002] In cable assembly practice, it is known to strip the outer sheath of a data cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, at least one outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor. This involves removing the radially outer jacket and attaching a crimp sleeve to, for example, the inner conductor, provided that the dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, which can also be referred to as an insulator, has also been removed beforehand. It is further known to attach a crimp sleeve to the outer conductor, which may be inverted and, for example, be a braided stranded wire. The crimp sleeve is attached to the exposed conductor of the cable, for example, using a crimping device. This device comprises an anvil on which the crimp sleeve rests and into which the cable conductor is inserted, as well as a crimping tool.The crimper is moved towards the crimp sleeve and deforms surface sections, such as the wing surfaces of the crimp sleeve, in such a way that the deformed crimp sleeve is secured to the conductor. In this process, the crimper moves cyclically in strokes with a defined frequency back and forth on the anvil and the crimp sleeves arranged on the anvil, with the deformation of the crimp sleeve taking place in a reversed position relative to the anvil.

[0003] In cable assembly practice, it is also known to provide several crimp sleeves attached to a carrier strip, projecting laterally from the strip at a defined distance along its length. In automated operation of this crimping device, with each stroke of the crimper towards the anvil, not only is the crimp sleeve attached to the cable conductor, but the crimp sleeve currently being processed is also detached from the carrier strip. To detach the crimp sleeve from the lateral carrier strip, the crimping device includes a cutter, which can be positioned laterally next to the anvil and receives the carrier strip in a groove, as well as a cutter actuator, which can be positioned laterally next to the crimper and can be actuated together with the crimper.At a reversal point, where the cutter actuator touches and actuates the cutter, the cutter actuator presses the cutter down, in particular against the preload of a spring element, so that the carrier strip groove is guided along a cutting edge, at which the carrier strip is sheared off from the crimp sleeve that has just been attached to the conductor by the crimper at the cutting edge.

[0004] The crimper and the anvil that interacts with it serve to fasten the crimp sleeve onto the cable conductor; the cutter and the cutter actuator, which can be operated together with the crimper, serve to detach the crimp sleeve from the carrier strip. It is known in practice to insert an intermediate layer, i.e., a disc-shaped component, between the crimper and the cutter actuator. The sole function of this intermediate layer is to maintain a spatial distance between the crimper and the cutter actuator. This intermediate layer does not participate in either fastening the crimp sleeve to the cable conductor or detaching the crimp sleeve from the carrier strip, as the intermediate layer maintains a distance from both the cable and the cable conductor at the reversal point.

[0005] Forces and stresses occur between the cutter and the cutter actuator on the one hand, and between the crimper and the anvil on the other. These forces and stresses influence each other and have a particularly unpredictable and reproducible impact on the strength and reproducibility of the crimp sleeve pressed onto the cable conductor. This problem is exacerbated in automated production with short cycle times and simultaneous actuation of the crimper and cutter actuator.

[0006] WO 2008 / 087938 A1 (Abstract) describes a crimping device comprising a two-part crimper, an anvil, a cutter, and a cutter actuator. The crimping device further includes a clamping device that vertically adjusts the stripped cable end between a crimping position, in which the crimp sleeve is crimped onto the stripped end of the cable, and a position, in which the cutter separates the crimp sleeve from the carrier strip. The cutter actuator has a cheek on one of its two side sections that projects onto the cutter. A lower edge of the cheek of the cutter actuator interacts with a side surface of the cutter to actuate the cutter. The cutter actuator is rigidly connected to the two-part crimper.

[0007] US10454234 B2 describes a crimping device for attaching a crimp sleeve to a conductor of a cable, wherein the cable has a conductor and a sheath. The crimping device comprises a cutter and a guide with an upper section and a lower section, the sections together forming a conical cable guide through which the stripped cable end can be inserted into the crimp sleeve. Beschreibung der Erfindung

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a crimping device with a simpler, predictable force flow and stress behavior.

[0009] This problem is solved for the aforementioned crimping device essentially by a crimping device according to claim 1.

[0010] The enclosing of the cable's dielectric at the reversal point, where the cutter actuator presses the cutter down against the preload of the crimping device's spring element, enables a secure, adjustable, and reproducible holding of the cable within the crimping device, as well as a separation of the forces and mechanical stresses occurring between the crimper and the anvil interacting with the crimper on the one hand, and between the cutter and the cutter actuator on the other.

[0011] For this purpose, a receiving surface is provided on the cutter, which is designed to receive the dielectric surrounding the conductor, for example section by section, in a substantially or approximately form-fitting manner.

[0012] Furthermore, a holding position is provided, which is arranged as a defined tool plunger between the cutter actuator and the crimper, wherein the holding position has a shaped section on a side facing the receiving surface of the cutter, the shaped section of the holding position having a defined shape with respect to the dielectric. The shape of the shaped section of the holding position can be such that, with respect to the dielectric surrounding the conductor, the shaped section also receives the dielectric of the cable section in a substantially or approximately form-fitting manner.

[0013] According to the invention, the receiving surface of the cutter is designed as a surface segment projecting from the adjacent surface of the cutter. Preferably, the receiving surface of the cutter has a circular segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and the radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile is matched to the radius of the dielectric.

[0014] Preferably, the mold section of the holding position has a circular segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and the radius of curvature of the mold section's cross-sectional profile is matched to the radius of the dielectric. If both the radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the cutter's receiving surface and the radius of curvature of the mold section's cross-sectional profile are matched to the radius of the dielectric, it is preferably provided that the radii of curvature of the mold section and the receiving surface substantially correspond to the radius of the dielectric or are approximately 10 to approximately 20% less than the radius of the dielectric.

[0015] If the radii of curvature of the cross-sectional profiles of both the receiving surface and the forming section are equal, the cable's dielectric is enclosed in a ring shape at the reversal point of the cutter actuator relative to the cutter, so that the dielectric is contained within a resulting composite contour formed by the cross-sectional profile of the receiving surface and the cross-sectional profile of the forming section. At the reversal point of the cutter actuator relative to the cutter, the two cross-sectional profiles merge into one another. If, in addition, the diameter of the composite contour encompassing the dielectric is smaller than the diameter of the dielectric, the dielectric is essentially radially compressed at the reversal point, thus permanently reducing its diameter.Such a reduction in the diameter of the dielectric can be acceptable as long as the conductor's conductivity is not impaired; in some cases, a reduction in the diameter of the conductor's dielectric may even be desirable. It should be noted that in a method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto a cable conductor, the reduction in the diameter of the cable's dielectric is carried out while the crimper is moving relative to the anvil, i.e., while at least one section of the crimp sleeve is being deformed by moving the crimper relative to the anvil in such a way that the deformed section of the crimp sleeve is secured to the cable conductor. In particular, the reduction in the diameter of the dielectric is integrated into the timed sequence of the crimping process and does not require any upstream or downstream process step.It should also be noted that reducing the diameter of the conductor's dielectric does not require any material removal from the dielectric or any heat input into the dielectric, since the diameter reduction is carried out at ambient temperature, at the clock frequency with which the crimper and the anvil are operated during the crimping process, i.e., when attaching the crimp sleeve to the conductor of the cable.

[0016] With regard to the design of the cutter of the crimping device, it can preferably be provided that the cutter is formed in one piece, in particular as a wire EDM part.

[0017] The crimping device may preferably be further equipped with a tension spring that applies the holding position in advance towards the receiving surface of the cutter relative to the cutter actuator.

[0018] If, in particular, the aforementioned tension spring is provided at the holding position, the crimping device may preferably be designed with a driver on the cutter actuator, and the driver be guided in an elongated hole in the holding position between two end positions. At the reversal point of the cutter actuator, the driver is located at one of the two end positions of the elongated hole, so that the extent to which the radius of the dielectric is deformed can be adjusted by the design of the elongated hole, in particular its end positions.

[0019] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description of at least one embodiment.

[0020] The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of components of an embodiment of a crimping device according to the invention, Figs. 2a and 2b show a further perspective view of further components of the embodiment of the crimping device according to the invention. Fig. 1 , namely in an oblique view ( Fig. 2a ) as well as in a frontal view ( Fig. 2b ), Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a cutter, as part of the embodiment of the crimping device according to the invention. Fig. 1 , 2a und 2b , and Fig. 4 shows a partial cutaway view of the embodiment of the crimping device according to the invention. Fig. 1 , 2a , 2b and 3 .

[0021] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a crimping device 1 according to the invention. The crimping device 1 is designed for attaching a crimp sleeve to a conductor of a cable, in particular a data cable. The cable comprises the conductor, a dielectric surrounding the conductor, a second conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a sheath surrounding the second conductor. In a prepared section where the sheath and the dielectric are separated from the conductor, the crimp sleeve is attached to the conductor. Particularly if the second conductor is designed as a braided shield, a support sleeve may optionally be provided.

[0022] The crimping device 1 comprises as essential components a crimper 2, an anvil 3 cooperating with the crimper 2, a cutter 4 and a cutter actuator 5 which can be actuated together with the crimper 2, for example in a synchronized stroke movement.

[0023] When attaching the crimp sleeve to the exposed conductor of the cable, the conductor is inserted into the crimp sleeve, which is positioned on a carrier strip projecting laterally. The carrier strip is inserted into a carrier strip groove 6 of the cutter 4. The crimp sleeve is attached to the conductor of the cable by the crimper 2 plastically deforming it as it lowers towards the anvil 3, thereby mechanically connecting the crimp sleeve to the conductor.The crimper 2 can actuate the cutter actuator 5 together, i.e., it can be lowered synchronously with the crimper 2 towards the cutter 4, so that at a reversal point, in which the cutter 4 is touched by the cutter actuator 5 and experiences a force impulse, the cutter actuator 5 presses the cutter 4 down against the preload of a spring element 7, which is designed as a helical compression spring or, in a modified embodiment, comprises a helical compression spring extended with additional spring elements such as disc springs, so that the carrier strip is cut off from the crimp sleeve at a shear edge formed at the opening of the carrier strip groove 6 of the cutter 4 towards the anvil 3 adjacent to the cutter 4.

[0024] A holding position 8 is provided between the cutter actuator 5 and the crimper 2. This holding position 8 is located opposite the cutter 4 and can be actuated together with the crimper 2 and, in particular, the cutter actuator 5, i.e., it can be lowered synchronously in the direction of the cutter 4. The holding position 8 keeps the cutter actuator 5 and the crimper 2 spaced apart and interacts with a receiving surface 9. The receiving surface 9 is provided on the cutter 4 and is formed as a defined surface section. The receiving surface 9 is designed to receive the dielectric surrounding the conductor of the cable in the area where the cable sheath has been removed, so that the outer surface of the dielectric rests directly on the receiving surface 9, thus allowing the receiving surface 9 to receive the dielectric surrounding the conductor.

[0025] The holding position 8 has a shaped section 10 on the side facing the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4, opposite the receiving surface 9.

[0026] The shaped section 10 of the holding position 8 and the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 are designed and arranged in such a way that, at the reversal point during actuation of the cutter actuator 5, when the cutter actuator 5 touches and actuates the cutter 4, the shaped section 10 and the receiving surface 9 together essentially completely enclose the dielectric of the cable, which is exposed from the cable sheath and rests on the receiving surface 9, as can be seen in particular from the following: Fig. 2a, 2b This is evident and explained in more detail below.

[0027] Due to the essentially complete enclosure of the dielectric at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, i.e., at the moment of plastic deformation of the crimp sleeve, the dielectric, and thus the cable being processed, is securely held. This allows forces or mechanical stresses occurring between the crimper 2 and the cutter actuator 5, or between the anvil 3 and the cutter 4, to be absorbed and have a minimal, if any, defined impact on crimp quality and the reject rate. Because the dielectric is enclosed at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, any angling or buckling of the crimped crimp sleeve or crimped crimp contact relative to the adjacent cable can be compensated for.

[0028] In order to substantially completely enclose the dielectric of the cable exposed by the sheath at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, the shaped section 10 of the holding position 8 has a cross-sectional profile open towards the cutter 4, for example, a U-shaped profile. Furthermore, the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 has a cross-sectional profile open towards the cutter actuator 5, for example, a U-shaped profile. The superposition of the cross-sectional profiles of the shaped section 8 and the receiving surface 9 at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5 results in a combined cross-sectional profile within which the exposed dielectric is substantially completely enclosed between the holding position 8 and the cutter 4.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows the cutter 4 with the carrier band groove 6, the cutter actuator 5 and the holding position 8 of the crimping device 1. Fig. 4 In a perspective exploded view, it is evident that a tension spring 11 is provided on each side of the holding position. Together, these springs actuate the holding position 8 in the direction of the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 relative to the cutter actuator 5. The tension springs 11 act on a surface section of the holding position 8 facing away from the cutter 4 and are supported, with adjustable preload, by a housing of the crimping device (not shown). An adjusting element 12 is also visible. This element supports the holding bearings 8 on the housing of the crimping device and, like the holding position 8, is movably mounted on the housing of the crimping device. The adjusting element 12 allows, in particular, adjustment of the position of the holding position 8 at the reversal point, and thus indirectly also of the extent to which the radius of the dielectric can be compressed.The design of the retaining position 8, which is pre-tensioned by at least one tension spring 11, offers the further possibility of compensating for any angling of the crimped crimp contact relative to the adjacent cable section. When crimping the crimp contact in conjunction with the crimper 2 and the anvil 3, the crimped crimp contact can be angled relative to the adjacent longitudinal cable section, which can be compensated for by the retaining position 8, adjustable by means of the adjusting element 12 or by means of the at least one tension spring 11.

[0030] A driver 13 is formed on the cutter actuator 5, which can be designed as a screw ( Fig. 4 ), wherein the screw 13 is located within a bore 14 designed as a threaded bore ( Fig. 1 ) is detachably received in the cutter actuator 5, wherein the driver 13, designed as a screw, is guided in an elongated hole 15 of the holding position 8 between two end positions. The screw 13 is surrounded in the area of ​​the holding position 8 by a spacer ring 16, wherein the spacer ring 16 is arranged in a first end position at a first end section of the elongated hole 15 facing away from the cutter 4 in a first end position ( Fig. 1 ), and in a second position, in which the holding position 8 is at a minimal distance to the cutter 4, is arranged in a second end position at a second end section of the elongated hole 15 that is closest to the cutter 4 (position in Fig. 2a, 2b The guidance of the driver 13 in the elongated hole 15 in the holding position 8 enables a leading preload of the holding position 8 relative to the cutter actuator 5 under the influence of the tension springs 11, which are located in the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining position 8 is designed as a helical compression spring. The retaining position 8 is slidably guided between the end positions of the elongated hole 15 relative to the cutter actuator 5. In particular, the retaining position 8, which is pre-tensioned relative to the cutter actuator 5 by the tension spring 11, can also have the effect of holding the exposed dielectric of the cable pressed against the cutter 4 under slight preload in conjunction with the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4. Due to the pre-tensioning of the retaining position 8 relative to the cutter actuator 5 by the at least one tension spring 11, the cable is first fixed in the area of ​​the exposed dielectric during operation, and the cutter 4 is actuated by the cutter actuator 5 after a time delay.

[0031] Fig. 2a und Fig. 2b Figure 8 shows the holding position 8, the anvil 3, and the cutter 4 at the reversal point of the cutter actuator, where it contacts and actuates the cutter 4. At this reversal point, the holding position 8 also has a minimal distance to the cutter 4. It is particularly evident from Fig. 2b It is evident that the shaped section 10 of the retaining position 8 and the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 can substantially completely enclose the dielectric of the cable. In particular, it is evident that the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 has a circular segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and a radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile can be matched to the radius of the dielectric. Furthermore, it is evident that the shaped section 10 has a circular segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and a radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the shaped section 10 can be matched to the radius of the dielectric. In particular, Fig. 2b It can be deduced that the radii of curvature of the cross-sectional profiles of the mold section 10 and the receiving surface 9 are equal, so that the cross-sectional profiles together form an approximately circular overall or sum contour within which the dielectric of the cable is contained.

[0032] The radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the molded section 10 or the receiving surface 9, in particular the radii of curvature of the molded section 10 and the receiving surface 9, are such that they correspond essentially to the radius of the dielectric, so that the dielectric, except for a possible tolerance-related air gap, is contained without play between the molded section 10 and the receiving surface 9 and is completely surrounded by the molded section 10 and the receiving surface 9. Alternatively, the radii of curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the molded section 10 and the receiving surface 9 can be designed to be approximately 10 to approximately 20% smaller than the radius of the dielectric, so that in the Fig. 2b At the depicted reversal point of the cutter actuator 5 or the holding position 8, the dielectric is compressed on all sides, particularly radially. This compression can cause a permanent, slight plastic deformation of the dielectric, in particular a permanent reduction in the diameter of the dielectric, which is acceptable or may be desirable in some cases. The plastic deformation of the dielectric, in particular the reduction in the diameter of the dielectric, occurs synchronously between the forming section 10 and the receiving surface 9 and takes place in the same machining stroke when the crimper moves relative to the anvil in such a way that a section of the crimp sleeve is deformed between the crimper and the anvil and is fixed onto the conductor of the cable.

[0033] The described crimping device is particularly suitable for carrying out a method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto a conductor of a cable, comprising the following steps: Deforming at least one section of the crimp sleeve by moving a crimper 2 relative to an anvil 3 such that the deformed section of the crimp sleeve is fixed to the conductor of the cable, and reducing a diameter of the dielectric of the cable during the movement of the crimper 2 relative to the anvil 3.

[0034] During the step of reducing the diameter of the dielectric located between the forming section 10 and the contact surface 9, while and simultaneously moving the crimper 2 relative to the anvil 3, the forming section 10 or the contact surface 9 can come into direct contact with the outside of the exposed dielectric; alternatively to direct contact, a shielding foil or remnants of a shielding foil can be located between the dielectric and the forming section 10 or the contact surface 9, wherein the shielding foil surrounds the dielectric in the case of the initially provided conductors, possibly in addition to a second conductor designed as a shielding braid.

[0035] It should be noted that the reduction of the cable's dielectric diameter is not performed in a process step prior to or following the actual crimping step, but rather simultaneously with the deformation of the crimp sleeve as the crimper 2 moves relative to the anvil 3. It should also be noted that reducing the cable's dielectric diameter does not require prior thermal treatment of the dielectric and can be carried out at ambient temperature.

[0036] Fig. 2a und Fig. 2b It can further be seen that the holding position 8 is designed as a flat metal blank, one flat side of which rests against the cutter actuator 5 and the other, opposite flat side of which rests against the crimper 2 ( Fig. 4 The crimper 2, the holding position 8 and the cutter actuator 5 are jointly controllable and actuable as a unit, i.e., they can be lowered or raised in the direction of the anvil or the cutter, with the holding position 8 being pre-tensioned with respect to the cutter actuator 5.

[0037] Fig. 2b Figure 10 further shows that the forming section 10 is arranged at the edge of the holding position 8 furthest towards the cutter 4. The forming section 10 is specifically designed as the base of a groove, wherein the groove base has a sectionally arc-shaped cross-sectional profile, and wherein the groove is bounded by two side flanks 17, 18 ( Fig. 2b ). How Fig. 2b As further shown, in the reverse position of the cutter actuator 5, in which the holding position 8 also has a minimal distance to the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4, the side flanks 17, 18 of the groove forming the mold section 10 between flanks 19, 20 ( Fig. 3 ) of cutter 4 recorded.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of cutter 4 from Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 It can be seen that the cutter has a surface section 21 (see also Fig. 1 ), which is designed to receive the sheath surface of the cable, and the receiving section 9 for receiving the exposed dielectric of the cable, freed from the sheath and, if applicable, from the second conductor or from an outer conductor, which in the case of a coaxial cable is designed as a braided shield and / or a shielding foil. It is evident that the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 is designed as a surface section projecting from the adjacent surface of the surface section 21 of the cutter 4. In particular, it is evident that a projection 22 is formed in the area of ​​surface section 21, on the end surface of which, pointing towards the holding position 8, the receiving surface 9 is formed. It is further evident that the receiving surface 9 is provided adjacent to a side surface 23 of the cutter 4 that abuts the anvil 3.

[0039] Fig. 3 This further reveals that the cutter 4 is manufactured in one piece, i.e., without internal boundary or joining surfaces, and is designed in particular as a wire EDM part.

[0040] The surface section 21 and the projection 22 with the receiving surface 9 for the cable's dielectric are bounded on both sides by flanks 19, 20, wherein at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, the side flanks 17, 18 of the holding position 8 are arranged between the flanks 19, 20 of the cutter 4. The holding position 8 maintains a distance from the cutter 4, i.e., it does not directly contact the cutter 4. At the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, it contacts the higher flank 20 of the cutter 4 and transmits a force to the cutter 4, so that the cutter 4 is actuated and lowered.

[0041] How Fig. 3 As further shown, the protrusion 22 with the receiving surface 9 with the adjacent surface section 21, on which the cable sheath rests, forms a contact edge 24, against which the sheath edge formed when the cable sheath is removed, or in the case of a coaxial cable, for example, the outer conductor folded over at the support sleeve, can be placed in order to position the exposed dielectric in the receiving surface 9 and thus also to align it reproducibly with respect to the opposite shaped section 10 of the holding position 8.

[0042] In the embodiment described above, the receiving surface 9 was formed as a section of the projection 22 that was integral with the rest of the cutter 4. It is understood that in a modified embodiment, the receiving surface can be formed on an additional component that is attached to the cutter opposite the holding position 8.

[0043] In the embodiment described above, it was assumed that the cable was an electrical cable, in particular a coaxial cable with a second conductor or outer conductor designed as a braided shield or shielding foil, wherein the crimp sleeve was crimped onto the inner conductor of the coaxial cable using the crimping device described above. It is understood that the cable can also be an optical cable, to whose optical conductor a ferrule is attached using the crimping device described above. Furthermore, the cable can be a multi-core electrical and / or optical cable, the dielectric of which does not necessarily have to have a circular cross-section.

[0044] In the embodiment described above, the cutter 4 was pre-tensioned against the pre-tension of a spring element designed as a helical compression spring 7 ( Fig. 4In the event that a stiffer spring element with a higher spring constant is required, particularly to compensate for the force of the tension spring(s) 11, the helical compression spring 7 can be supplemented by one or more springs, for example, by at least one disc spring or a pack of several disc springs. Alternatively, spring elements with a higher spring constant, in particular a disc spring or a pack of two or more disc springs, can be provided instead of the helical compression spring 7. In a further modified embodiment, a hard stop can be provided, which is height-adjustable and, for example, designed as a threaded pin that limits the displacement of the cutter. The threaded pin can be adjustable transversely to the direction of displacement of the cutter or antiparallel to the direction of displacement of the cutter.

[0045] In addition to the illustrated embodiment, the at least one tension spring 11 and / or the spring element 7 can be detected and monitored by sensors. In particular, the front end position or the compression (or longitudinal extension) of the at least one tension spring 11 and / or the spring element 7, which acts as a return spring for the cutter 4, can be detected, for example, by means of a laser beam. This allows for the indirect, but process-reliable, detection of the force exerted by the at least one tension spring 11 or the spring element 7 on the exposed dielectric. In particular, it also allows for the reproducible determination of the amount by which the diameter of the dielectric is reduced when, at the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, the forming section 10 of the holding position 8 and the receiving surface 9 of the cutter 4 substantially completely enclose the dielectric of the cable exposed by the sheath.The sensor, in particular the laser beam, can be arranged transversely to the extension of the at least one tension spring 11 or transversely to the spring element 7 and detect the amount by which the tension spring 11 or the spring element 7 is stretched. Alternatively, the sensor can directly detect the length and thus the preload of the tension spring 11 or the spring element 7 in the longitudinal direction of the at least one tension spring 11 or in the longitudinal direction of the spring element 7. The sensor can be a laser or a pressure or length measuring sensor, or it can be designed in a simple form as a light barrier.The sensor, in particular the laser, can preferably be assigned to the spring element 7, which serves as the return spring for the cutter 4. This is because the cutter 4, in particular, as a slidably guided abutment of the holding position 8 relative to the spring element 7, must assume a defined, repeatable, and stable end position to enable, for example, a repeatable and precise reduction of the dielectric diameter. The sensor then detects, in particular, the position, and optionally also the length, of the spring element 7. The end position of the cutter 4 can be adjusted by a crimp height adjustment mechanism of the cutter actuator 5. The crimp height adjustment mechanism allows the reversal point of the cutter actuator 5, and thus also the end position of the cutter 4, which is fully displaced against the preload of the spring element 7, to be adjusted. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0046] 1 Crimping device 2 Crimper 3 Anvil 4 Cutter 5 Cutter actuator 6 Carrier band groove 7 Spring element 8 Retaining position 9 Receiving surface 10 Forming section 11 Tension spring 12 Adjusting element 13 Driver 14 Bore in the cutter actuator 15 Slotted hole 16 Spacer ring 17 Side flank 18 Side flank 19 Flank 20 Flank 21 Surface section 22 Projection 23 Side surface of the cutter 4 24 Contact edge

Claims

1. Crimping device (1) for fastening a crimp sleeve to a conductor of a cable, comprising a crimper (2), an anvil (3) which interacts with the crimper (2), a cutter (4), a cutter actuator (5) which is actuatable together with the crimper (2), wherein the cable comprises a conductor, a dielectric surrounding the conductor, a second conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a sheath surrounding the second conductor, wherein the cutter actuator (5) pushes the cutter (4) down at a reversal point, in particular counter to the preload of a spring element (7), wherein, on the cutter (4), provision is made of a receiving surface (9) for receiving the dielectric surrounding the conductor of the cable in the region in which the sheath of the cable has been removed, so that the outer surface of the dielectric bears directly on the receiving surface (9), wherein the cutter (4) has a surface portion (21) which is configured for receiving the sheath surface of the cable, wherein provision is furthermore made of a holding member (8) which has a forming portion (10) on the side which faces towards the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4), wherein the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4) is in the form of a surface portion which is elevated in relation to the adjacent surface of the surface portion (21) of the cutter (4), so that, in the region of the surface portion (21), there is formed a projection (22) on whose end surface facing towards the holding member (8) the receiving surface (9) is formed, and wherein, at the reversal point of the cutter actuator (5), the forming portion (10) of the holding member (8) and the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4) substantially completely enclose the dielectric of the cable.

2. Crimping device according to Claim 1, wherein the forming portion (10) is in the form of a groove base of a groove, wherein the groove is delimited by two side flanks (17, 18), wherein, at the reversal point of the cutter actuator (5), at which, also, the holding member (8) is at a minimum distance from the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4), the side flanks (17, 18) of the groove forming the forming portion (10) are received between flanks (19, 20) of the cutter (4).

3. Crimping device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4) has a circular-segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and wherein a radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile is matched to the radius of the dielectric.

4. Crimping device according to Claim 3, wherein the forming portion (10) has a circular-segment-shaped cross-sectional profile, and wherein a radius of curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the forming portion (10) is matched to the radius of the dielectric.

5. Crimping device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the radii of curvature of the forming portion (10) and the receiving surface (9) correspond substantially to the radius of the dielectric or are approximately 10 to approximately 20% less than the radius of the dielectric.

6. Crimping device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the cutter (4) is formed in one piece, in particular is in the form of a wire EDM part.

7. Crimping device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein provision is made of a tensioning spring (11) which loads the holding member (8) in the direction of the receiving surface (9) of the cutter (4) in advance in relation to the cutter actuator (5).

8. Crimping device according to Claim 7, wherein the preload of the tensioning springs (11) is settable.

9. Crimping device according to Claim 8, wherein a setting element (12) serves to support the holding member (8) on a housing and is mounted movably on the housing of the crimping device, wherein the position of the holding member (8) at the reversal point is settable by way of the setting element (12).

10. Crimping device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein a driver (13) is provided at the cutter actuator (5), and wherein the driver (13) is received in a slot (15) of the holding member (8) so as to be guidable between two end positions.

11. Crimping device according to Claim 10, wherein the holding member (8) is guided displaceably between the end positions of the slot (15) in relation to the cutting actuator (5), in particular under advance preloading of the holding member (8) in relation to the cutting actuator (5) by way of action of a tensioning spring (11).

12. Crimping device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the projection (22) forms together with the adjacent surface portion (21) a bearing edge (24) against which the sheath edge that forms when the sheath of the cable is removed can be placed.

13. Crimping device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one tensioning spring (11) and / or the spring element (7) are / is monitored and detected in a sensor-based manner, wherein in particular the front end position or the compression or the longitudinal extension of the at least one tensioning spring (11) and / or the spring element (7), acting as a restoring spring of the cutter (4), are / is detected in a sensor-based manner, wherein the sensor comprises a laser or a pressure sensor or a length-measuring sensor or may be in the form of a light barrier.

14. Method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto a conductor of a cable, wherein the cable comprises a conductor, a dielectric surrounding the conductor, a second conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a sheath surrounding the second conductor, using a crimping device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, comprising the method steps of: deforming at least one portion of the crimp sleeve by moving a crimper (2) relative to an anvil (3) in such a way that the deformed portion of the crimp sleeve is fastened to the conductor of the cable, and reducing a diameter of the dielectric of the cable during the movement of the crimper (2) relative to the anvil (3).

15. Method according to Claim 14, wherein the reduction of the diameter is carried out at ambient temperature.