Device for bundling a plurality of cables

Abstract

A device for bundling several cables (14), comprising at least one rotatable feed wheel (3) which has several notches (4) circumferentially for receiving at least one cable (14) each, a spring-loaded pressure roller (2) that can be pressed against an abutment (5) and two roller receptacles (6) arranged apart from each other for holding one roll of adhesive tape (7) with a rollable adhesive tape (8), wherein in operation the adhesive tapes (8) with their adhesive surfaces facing each other are guided between the abutment (5) and the pressure roller (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for bundling several cables by which electrical devices are connected to one another. An example is the assembly of a control cabinet, which is factory-assembled and functionally connected to other electrically corresponding devices.

[0002] Depending on the requirements, different cables are used, each of which is marked with a corresponding indication, usually a warning sign, for identification purposes.

[0003] However, fitting the aforementioned control cabinet with the various cables proves problematic insofar as the individual cables have to be mounted separately, which is only possible with a relatively high workload.

[0004] When a large number of cables need to be connected to the same device, these cables are sometimes bundled together using cable connectors. This is naturally very complex and expensive, and runs counter to the constantly demanded cost optimization.

[0005] In DE 10 2018 131 439 A1, as well as in DE 10 2018 131 444 A1, which each address a modular cable processing center, a bundling unit is proposed as a further component, but without any design details, so that these documents do not provide any guidance that would enable simplified bundling of several cables.

[0006] From US patent 5,878,489 A, a method and apparatus for manufacturing a flat cable for a cable harness are known, in which a plurality of individual cables are fixed by a reinforcing band which is bonded to the cables by means of resin.

[0007] Naturally, the use of this flat cable is limited because the individual cables are relatively close together, so this flat cable can only be used where the connections assigned to each individual cable are also correspondingly close together.

[0008] US Patent 4 360 400 A discloses a device for bundling several cables into a cable harness, which is fixed at intervals by adhesive strips to hold the cables in place.

[0009] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a device of the generic type in such a way that simple bundling of several cables is possible and the handling of the bundle becomes easier.

[0010] This problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0011] First and foremost, the new system is characterized by its simple design, which makes it extremely cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, this simple design results in low susceptibility to malfunctions, meaning a long service life and ease of use.

[0012] The device can be used in stand-alone operation, but also as a functional component in the cable processing center mentioned in the prior art, according to DE 10 2018 131 439 A1. That is, the bundle unit mentioned therein is now configured according to the invention.

[0013] Preferably, the operation of the device, especially the insertion of the individual cables into the notches, is carried out manually, as is the drive of the adhesive tape rolls by simply turning the feed wheel by means of the cable inserted into the notch, whereby the adhesive tape rolls are, so to speak, dragged along.

[0014] According to the invention, only a rotatable feed wheel is provided with the immediately adjacent abutment, which, as according to a further idea of ​​the invention, is designed as a roller and is arranged immediately adjacent to it, rotating in the same direction as the feed wheel.

[0015] Preferably, however, two feed wheels are provided which are not torsionally fixed to each other and whose notches are congruent in the axial direction, with the abutment being arranged between these two feed wheels.

[0016] The abutment and the pressure roller are arranged in a plane that is vertical in the operating position. The thickness of the pressure roller, as well as that of the abutment if it is arranged as a roller between the two feed wheels, corresponds to the clear distance between the two feed wheels, thus achieving lateral guidance of the adhesive strips.

[0017] The radius of the roller-shaped abutment corresponds to the radius of the feed wheel up to the bottom of the groove. That is, the abutment is flush with the groove at its deepest point.

[0018] The spacing between the individual notches determines the distance between the bundled cables, whereby at least one feed wheel can be interchangeable to vary the spacing between the bundled cables as needed. Furthermore, the feed wheels can be provided with a different number of notches in different designs.

[0019] Furthermore, the indentations are wedge-shaped and dimensioned across the entire width of the base so that the inserted cable always rests on them.

[0020] In addition to the aforementioned manual drive of the rotating components, there is also the possibility of a motorized drive, which is particularly preferred in the case of automated bundling.

[0021] To press down the two adhesive strips, guided in function with their adhesive surfaces facing each other, and to pass over the cable to be fixed, the pressure roller is spring-mounted so that it can automatically perform a corresponding stroke.

[0022] The number of cables to be bundled is freely selectable and depends only on the specifications. Therefore, one or more cables can be inserted into a notch in the feed wheels.

[0023] Preferably, adhesive strips are used that can be easily torn off by hand in sections. Alternatively, a cutting device may be provided for separation.

[0024] A force storage device is provided for the spring loading of the pressure roller, preferably in the form of a compression spring, such as a coil spring.

[0025] Furthermore, the device features a support frame to which the functional components—the feed wheel, the abutment, the pressure roller, and the roller mounts—are attached. This creates a unit that can be pre-assembled at the factory and used as a compact unit either as a module of a cable processing center or as a standalone unit at the cable bundle assembly site.

[0026] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

[0027] They show: Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention in a perspective view. Figure 2 shows the device according to the invention. Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a side view of the device; Figure 4a - 4d shows a top view of the device; Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, each in different functional positions; Figure 6 shows a section of the device in a front view; Figure 6 shows the section according to Figure 5Figure 7 shows a side view, Figure 8 a detail of the device in a graphical representation, Figure 8 the arrangement of the device according to the invention on a modular cable processing center

[0028] The figures include a device for bundling multiple cables 14 ( Figure 4 ) shown, which has a dimensionally stable support frame 1 on which, in the examples, two feed wheels 3, a pressure roller 2, a support 5 and two spaced-apart roller mounts 6 are held. A roll of adhesive tape 7 is attached to each of these roller mounts 6 so that it can be unwound, for unwinding an adhesive tape 8.

[0029] The feed wheels 3, which are a single component in the Figure 7 The figures shown have several indentations 4, into each of which at least one cable 14 can be inserted, whereby the feed wheels 3 are rotated in the direction of the pressure roller 2 by pressure on the inserted cable(s) 14.

[0030] This pressure roller 2 is held spring-loaded in the direction of the roller-shaped abutment 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the pressure roller 2, as well as that of the feed wheels 3 and the abutment 5, are arranged in one plane in the stroke direction of the pressure roller 2.

[0031] The pressure roller 2 is rotatably held in a roller holder 9, which is slidably attached to the support frame 1 by means of a compression spring 10 and which has a guide track for the adhesive strip 8. The compression spring 10 is supported on one side by the roller holder 9 and on the other side by the support frame 1.

[0032] According to the invention, the adhesive strips 8 of the respective adhesive strip roll 7 are guided in such a way that, in the function of the device, they run with their mutually facing adhesive surfaces between the abutment 5 and the pressure roller 2, wherein the cable 14 is held adhesively between the two adhesive strips 8, while the adjacent areas of the adhesive strips 8 are also glued together.

[0033] To protect the lower adhesive strip 8, a protective plate 11 is connected to a swivel table 12 attached to the support frame 1, which, as in particular the Figure 3 The feed wheel 3 is pivotably mounted on a support 13 in the axial direction. The pivotability of the swivel table 12 provides an increased storage area for longer cables.

[0034] While the Figures 1-3 To represent a facility that can be used independently is what is described in the Figure 4 and 8The illustrated example of a setup is configured so that it can be connected to a modular cable processing center 17, wherein in the Figure 8 The device is shown mounted on a movable frame 18.

[0035] The modular cable processing center 17, according to DE 10 2018 131 439 A1, has several cable reels 19, a cutting machine 20, a marking system 21, a crimping machine 22 and a drum magazine 23.

[0036] To secure the device, a rod 15 is connected to the support frame 1 and is attached to the frame 18 by means of a pipe clamp 16. In the Figures 4a) - 4d ) shows the device with cables 14 inserted into the feed wheels 3, in different rotational positions of the feed wheels 3.

[0037] This shows Figure 4a) a situation in which a cable 14 is inserted into a notch 4 before this cable 14 enters the effective area of ​​the pressure roller 2 and the abutment 5 by turning the feed wheels 3, as can be seen in Figure 4b).

[0038] In the next step, where the initially inserted cable 14 is fixed by the adhesive strips 8 glued together, another cable 14 is inserted into the notch 4 located in front of it in the direction of rotation, as shown in the illustration. Figure 4c ). The Figure 4d ) finally shows the situation in which the trailing cable 14 is also led into the effective area of ​​the pressure roller 2 and the abutment 5.

[0039] The Figure 5Figure 1 shows a front view detailing the arrangement of the feed wheels 3, each fitted with two cables 14 in its grooves. It can be seen that the distance between the feed wheels 3 corresponds to the thickness of the abutment 5 located between the two feed wheels 3 and the maximum width of the adhesive strip 8, ensuring that the two adjacent adhesive strips 8 lie precisely on top of each other when bonded together. The two feed wheels 3, with their opposing surfaces, effectively form a guide for the adhesive strips 8.

[0040] In the Figure 6 is the section after Figure 5 The side view shows the positioning of the two cables 14, one of which is already fixed by the adhesive strips 8 glued together, while the front one is inserted into the notches 4 before it enters the working area of ​​the pressure roller 2 with the abutment 5.

[0041] The Figure 7 Finally, the unit shows feed wheels 3 and abutments 5, which practically form a functional unit, such that they rotate in the same direction, with the grooves 4 of the opposing feed wheels 3 being congruent. The flanks of the grooves 4 are designed such that the flank facing away from the direction of rotation is convex, in order to facilitate the insertion of the respective cable 14. Reference symbol list

[0042] 1Support frame 2Pressure roller 3Feed wheel 4Notch 5Abutment 6Roller holder 7Adhesive tape roll 8Adhesive tape 9Roll holder 10Compression spring 11Protector 12Swivel table 13Support 14Cable 15Rod 16Pipe clamp 17Modular cable processing center 18Frame 19Cable reel 20Cut-to-cut machine 21Marking system 22Crimping machine 23Drum magazine

Claims

1. A device for bundling a number of cables (14), wherein the device comprises: - at least one rotatable feeding wheel (3), which has on its periphery a number of notches (4) for receiving in each case at least one cable (14), wherein the feeding wheel (3) is connected to the immediately adjacent abutment (5), - a pressure roller (2) - two spaced-apart roll receptacles (6) for the mounting of one roll of adhesive tape (7) in each case with an unwindable adhesive tape (8) - wherein, in function, the adhesive tapes (8) are guided, with their adhesive surfaces facing one another, between the abutment (5) and the pressure roller (2), characterized in that the abutment (5) is configured as a roller, the pressure roller (2) is a spring-loaded pressure roller that can be pressed against the abutments, and wherein the radius of the abutment (5) corresponds to the radius of the feeding wheel (3) up to the base of the notch (4).

2. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that two spaced-apart feeding wheels (3) are provided which are rotationally fixed relative to one another and between which the abutment (5) is arranged.

3. The device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacing between the feeding wheels (3) and thus the thickness of the abutment (5) corresponds to the maximum width of the adhesive tape (8), which means that the adhesive tape (8) can be introduced without any problems and freely guided between the feeding wheels (3).

4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notches (4) of the feeding wheels (3), which are situated opposite one another, are congruent.

5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure roller (2) is affixed to a roller holder (9), which is affixed to the supporting frame (1) displaceably in the stroke direction of the pressure roller (2).

6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pressure spring (10), which on the other side bears on the supporting frame (1), is supported on the roller holder (9).

7. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the supporting frame (1) there is held a swivel table (12) which, in the axial direction of the feeding wheel (3), is supported pivotably on a support (13) and can be locked depending on the pivot position.

8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each roll of adhesive tape (7) can be placed onto the assigned roll receptacle (6).

9. The arrangement of a device according to Claim 1 on a modular cable-processing center, having a number of cable rollers (19), and / or a trimming machine (20), and / or a marking system (21), and / or a crimping machine (22) and / or a drum magazine (23).

Images