Feeding device for a crimping machine, crimping machine, tape and tape system, feeding system, method for operating the crimping machine, hybrid connector, and method for assembling same

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding device (1) for feeding, by means of a single tape (3), the largest possible number of different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23), which can optionally be used in the processing process, to the processing process of a crimping machine. The feeding device (1) has a holding device (12) which is designed in particular in the form of a cylindrical holding drum and which has a plurality of differently sized contact holders (121, 122, 123, 124) for temporarily holding the plurality of differently sized crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed by the crimping machine. The holding device (12) can hold a plurality of different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) and feed them to the processing process as required within a period of time predefined by the processing process.

Description

[0001] Title: Feeding device for a crimping machine, crimping machine, belt and belt system, feeding system, method for operating the crimping machine, hybrid connector and assembly method for the same

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention is based on a feeding device for a crimping machine according to the preamble of independent claim 1

[0004] Furthermore, the invention is based on a crimping machine comprising the feeding device according to claim 1.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention is based on a belt for holding and feeding crimp contacts to a crimping machine according to claim 9.

[0006] Furthermore, the invention is based on a belt system consisting of the belt according to claim 12 and a plurality of crimp contacts held on the belt.

[0007] Furthermore, the invention is based on a feeding system comprising a crimping machine according to claim 9 and a belt system of the aforementioned type.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for operating a feeding system according to claim 20.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention is based on a hybrid connector equipped with crimp contacts that were processed according to the method according to claim 21. Furthermore, the invention is based on an assembly method for assembling a contact carrier of a hybrid connector.

[0010] Such feeders are required as components of crimping machines to feed crimp contacts into the crimping process. Such crimping machines are required to process crimp contacts, especially various crimp contacts, and crimp them onto electrical conductors of manually fed cables. Such belts and belt systems are required to insert the crimp contacts into the feeder.

[0011] Such feed systems are used to feed the crimp contacts to the processing line. The method for operating the crimping machine is used to process the crimp contacts. Hybrid connectors are used for the pluggable and easily reversible transmission of various electrical signals and supply currents to a mating connector. Such assembly processes for assembling hybrid connectors allow for the flexible adaptation of the hybrid connectors to the specific requirements regarding their electrical transmission properties.

[0012] State of the art

[0013] A variety of crimping machines are known in the prior art. These, some with a high degree of automation, can crimp crimp contacts onto electrical cables by inserting an electrical conductor of the respective cable into a cavity in a cable connection area of ​​the respective crimp contact, designed as a crimping area. During crimping, the electrical conductors are first inserted into the aforementioned cavity of the crimping area of ​​the respective crimp contact. By squeezing this crimping area, usually with high force, for example in the range of several kN ("kilo-Newtons" = thousand Newtons), a mechanically and electrically highly effective connection, namely a crimp connection, is then established between the respective electrical conductor and the respective crimp contact.

[0014] Furthermore, it is known to crimp crimp contacts of different sizes onto electrical conductors of different sizes, such as stranded wires of cables or cores of multi-core cables, either manually with a crimping tool or using several different crimping machines. However, this is expensive, labor-intensive, and space-consuming.

[0015] The document EP 0 889 560 A1 discloses the following for crimping several different crimp contacts in a crimping machine: In order to enable any desired alternation in the supply of different contact types to a contact processing station, the contacts are fed step by step in the form of mutually different contact strips to a plurality of adjacent contact feed stations. The contact to be attached to a conductor in the contact processing station is moved by the contact feed station assigned to this contact into a contact gripping position located in the displacement path of a contact gripping part of a first contact transfer unit. In the latter position, the contact to be processed is taken over by the first contact transfer unit, moved to a transfer position and there taken over by a second contact transfer unit, which then feeds the contact to the contact processing station.

[0016] Crimping machines with multiple vibrating hoppers are also known, where each vibrating hopper can accommodate different crimp contacts—i.e., crimp contacts that differ from the crimp contacts located in the other vibrating hoppers. This allows several different crimp contacts to be fed into the crimping process in a targeted manner. However, such devices require a lot of space.

[0017] The disadvantage of this state of the art is that with such

[0018] The number of different crimp contacts that can be fed into crimping machines is already limited due to space constraints. Furthermore, such arrangements require an undesirably large amount of space. Furthermore, the manual effort required to crimp different sized crimp contacts on the associated cables / wires is undesirably high in the current state of the art.

[0019] Task

[0020] The object of the invention is to provide a feed device for a crimping machine that can feed the largest possible number of different crimp contacts that can be used selectively in the processing process. The necessary manual effort and space requirements should be kept to a minimum. In particular, the processing process should not be impaired. For example, despite the selection option, the access times to the crimp contacts should be so short that no, or at least minimal, delays in the processing process occur.

[0021] The term "various crimp contacts" refers to crimp contacts that differ at least in their electrical transmission properties and, in particular, in their dimensions. The term "selectively usable in the crimping process" means that the various crimp contacts are available for the processing. For example, if a cable is manually inserted and automatically detected, a matching crimp contact with the aforementioned short access time should be automatically selected and fed into the processing process. This should preferably be ensured without impairing the processing process, in particular without any time delay.

[0022] This problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. A feed device for a crimping machine enables the insertion of a plurality of crimp contacts to be processed into the crimping machine. This insertion occurs via a single belt, to which the crimp contacts to be processed are releasably held, at least during their insertion into the crimping machine.

[0023] Furthermore, the feeding device serves to feed the crimp contacts to be processed to a processing process of the crimping machine.

[0024] Among the crimp contacts that are releasably held on the belt strap, there are at least two different crimp contacts.

[0025] The feeding device has a detection device which is designed to detect the crimp contacts to be processed and to remove them from the belt in a targeted manner according to the processing process.

[0026] The feeding device is further configured to ensure the feeding of each crimp contact to be processed to the processing process within a period of time specified by the processing process.

[0027] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the crimp contacts can be detected, for example, via a camera system and image recognition and / or via a marking, such as a label on the crimp contacts. For this purpose, the detection device can have a camera system with image recognition software. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device can also have a reading device, in particular an RFID reading device.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the webbing can have a label on one end, e.g., its inserted end, which contains information about which contact receptacle of the webbing is intended for which type of crimp contact. The label can be digital, and the information can be stored digitally on it. For example, the label can be an RFID tag. With this information, each contact of the webbing can be automatically identified according to the corresponding advance of the webbing.

[0030] Of course, by the way, the crimp contacts can include not only different but also similar crimp contacts.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, at least two of the said different crimp contacts can be of different sizes, i.e. they can differ from one another both in the diameter of their respective crimping area and in the diameter of their respective plug-in area. In particular, one of them can then be an electrical energy transmission contact and the other an electrical signal transmission contact. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that these different dimensions also lead to different electrical transmission properties, in particular to different current carrying capacities. After all, it would usually make little sense to accept the effort associated with these different dimensions without also achieving the benefit of the different electrical properties. However, there can also be several of the different crimp contacts, e.g.Two crimp contacts are located between them, which are identical in shape or at least similar enough to fit into the same contact chambers of a contact carrier of a connector, e.g., a so-called "hybrid" connector, and can therefore also be accommodated in the same receptacles of the webbing, but which nevertheless differ from one another in their electrical transmission properties, particularly their current-carrying capacity. The term "hybrid connectors" refers to connectors that can transmit both electrical energy and electrical signals.For this purpose, they typically have at least one electrical power transmission contact and at least one electrical signal transmission contact. The electrical power transmission contact usually differs from the electrical signal transmission contact not only in its electrical transmission properties, particularly its current-carrying capacity, but also in its size. In this case, its crimping area and plug-in area have a larger diameter than the electrical signal transmission area.

[0032] Accordingly, the hybrid connector can also have a contact carrier that has several different types of contact chambers, namely at least one large contact chamber for accommodating the at least one electrical energy transmission contact and at least one small contact chamber for accommodating the at least one electrical signal transmission contact. Naturally, the electrical energy transmission contact should then be accommodated in one of the large contact chambers and the electrical signal transmission contact in one of the small contact chambers.

[0033] However, as already indicated, crimp contacts can also be provided for inclusion in the contact carrier, which, although they have the same / a similar shape, nevertheless possess different electrical transmission properties. For example, some of the signal transmission contacts can be designed to transmit electrical signals at higher frequencies, e.g., with higher data transmission rates, than other signal transmission contacts. Alternatively or additionally, some power transmission contacts can be designed for higher currents than other power transmission contacts, e.g., due to their material and / or coating, even though both have the same dimensions. In this way, the properties of a hybrid connector can also be modularly adapted to the desired transmission properties according to a modular principle.

[0034] The desired maximum automation of production, particularly assembly, of such a hybrid connector therefore requires the targeted use of a large number of different crimp contacts. Conventionally, crimping the various crimp contacts onto the associated electrical conductors would require considerable manual effort and a large amount of space. A particular advantage of the invention is therefore that it provides the most customized assembly / manufacturing of such a hybrid connector in as many variants as possible, i.e., with as many different optional transmission properties as possible for as diverse applications as possible, with minimal manual effort, a high degree of automation, and a comparatively small space requirement.

[0035] It is of particular benefit, for example, to facilitate work if a cable, e.g. manually inserted into the crimping machine, is automatically recognized, e.g. by an internal camera system of the crimping machine using automatic image recognition, and its electrical conductor, i.e. its stranded wire or similar, is processed, i.e. crimped, with a matching crimp contact, which is also automatically recognized and assigned, while maintaining calculably short access times.

[0036] The crimp contacts, which also include various crimp contacts, are inserted via a single belt strap in which the crimp contacts are accommodated. This belt strap can be product-specific or at least equipped with product-specific components. Identification of the individual crimp contacts is carried out by means of the recognition device in advantageous embodiments, for example by means of the camera system already mentioned or any other recognition means, e.g. an RFID reader in conjunction with RFID transponders arranged on the belt strap and / or e.g. by means of digital information supplied with the belt strap regarding which crimp contact is arranged in which receptacle of the belt strap. In particular, the belt strap can have a label, e.g. an RFID label, on which this information is digitally stored and can be read by the reading means, e.g. the RFID reader.

[0037] In an advantageous further development, the feed device can have a holding device. This holding device can, for example, have a plurality of mutually different sized contact receptacles for temporarily holding the plurality of different and, in particular, differently sized crimp contacts to be processed by the crimping machine. For example, the holding device can have one or more large contact receptacles for electrical energy transmission contacts and one or more small contact receptacles for electrical signal transmission contacts. Furthermore, the holding device can have, in addition to the plurality of differently sized but also similar contact receptacles in order to hold a plurality of identical contacts or contacts that differ in their transmission properties but are of the same size and to feed them to the processing process as needed within the said period of time predetermined by the processing process.In a special case where only crimp contacts of one size but with different electrical transmission properties are to be produced, the feeder can, in a further advantageous embodiment, also have only contact receptacles of the same size. This special case would then typically involve the production of a conventional, i.e., non-hybrid, connector, but would also include the possibility of equipping it with different, but equally sized, contacts, e.g., for transmitting different digital signals. This case is conceivable, but will rarely occur in practice.

[0038] A particularly great advantage of the holding device is that it can "load" or "reload" crimp contacts of the type required by the processing process during breaks in the processing, for example while a cable, e.g. another cable, is being inserted. The duration of this "loading" of the crimp contacts, as described below, is less predictable than their feeding to the processing process using the holding device. This makes the holding device particularly advantageous. As soon as one of the crimp contacts held by the holding device is required by the processing process, the holding device makes it available with a short, calculable access time. The holding device can then begin reloading a similar contact at the same time, e.g. while the next cable is being manually picked and inserted.In this way, the supply device is almost constantly loaded with crimp contacts of the type required by the manufacturing process, knows their position and can feed the appropriate crimp contact to the process without delay. Of course, the supply device can also be designed to simultaneously hold several similar crimp contacts of a type frequently used in the process. For the said loading of the crimp contacts, the feeding device can have a feed device for feeding the belt in a feed movement, in particular in a linear feed direction. This feed preferably takes place linearly, i.e. the belt lies on a surface, e.g. on a transport surface of the feed device, and is transported in one direction, namely a feed direction.

[0039] Furthermore, the holding device can be movable relative to the feed movement of the feed device. This allows the holding device to pick up and temporarily hold various crimp contacts in a contact receptacle that matches the respective crimp contact.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the holding device can be automatically movable relative to the feed device in at least two degrees of freedom, namely in a first degree of freedom and in a second degree of freedom.

[0041] The first degree of freedom, together with a suitable feed of the feed device, can be used to position the contact receptacle suitable for the respective crimp contact to be accommodated on the respective crimp contact. Furthermore, the second degree of freedom can be used to accommodate the crimp contact in this suitable contact receptacle.

[0042] The first degree of freedom can, for example, consist of a rotational movement of the holding device around a rotational axis. Compared to a translational movement, which is also conceivable but less advantageous due to space and access time constraints, this is particularly advantageous because, in addition to saving installation space, the maximum access time to a held crimp contact corresponds to only a 180° rotation of the holding device.

[0043] Preferably, the second degree of freedom can consist of a translational change in the distance between the holding device and the feed device. This is advantageous because it allows the holding device to move toward the crimp contact for receiving the crimp contact, thus allowing its mating area to be inserted into a contact receptacle with minimal effort.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the translational change in distance can occur in the direction of said axis of rotation. Furthermore, the holding device can be cylindrical. In addition, the contact receptacles can be designed as cylindrical recesses or through-openings, wherein their cylinder axis is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the holding device. Thus, the holding device can be designed like a revolver drum, so that the holding device is a holding drum. The crimp contacts are then picked up from the webbing by said translational movement, whereby the respective crimp contact with its plug contact is picked up into the associated contact receptacle previously positioned on it. The crimp contact is then finally removed from the webbing by the rotational movement, during which the contact receptacle moves essentially, ideally perpendicular to the feed direction of the webbing.In an advantageous embodiment, the axis of rotation of the holding device can lie in the same plane as the linear feed direction of the webbing. However, if the webbing, which is preferably made of plastic, is sufficiently elastic, this is not absolutely necessary. After the contact has been inserted into the contact receptacle at its plug-in area, it is released from the webbing by the rotation of the holding device. In an advantageous embodiment, the holding device can have a further translational degree of freedom in and against the feed direction. For this purpose, the holding device can be arranged on a carriage. The carriage can be automatically displaceable in and against the feed direction of the feed device. This allows the holding device to "travel" to a processing unit of the crimping machine, depending on the space required.

[0045] A crimping machine has a feeding device of the aforementioned type. In addition, the crimping machine has the aforementioned processing unit, which has a crimping unit that serves to crimp the several different crimp contacts fed to it by the feeding device onto matching electrical conductors.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the crimping machine is configured to transfer the crimp contacts to be processed from the feed device to the processing unit by means of a translational transfer movement of the holding device. In particular, this translational transfer movement can also occur in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0047] As already mentioned, for space reasons, particularly in four-point crimping, it may be necessary, due to the space requirements of the processing unit, for the holding device within the crimping machine to first move in the feed direction—for example, using the aforementioned carriage—in order to then transfer the crimp contact to the processing unit using the aforementioned translational transfer movement. If necessary, the respective crimp contact can be selected beforehand by rotation and brought to the appropriate height. The carriage has the advantage that the processing unit in the crimping machine can be arranged next to the feed direction, either in or against the feed direction.

[0048] In an advantageous embodiment, the belt is designed for use with the feed device and has a plurality of receptacles. These receptacles serve to releasably hold the crimp contacts, particularly at their crimping areas. Among the receptacles, there are at least two receptacles of different sizes for holding at least two crimp contacts of different sizes, namely a large receptacle and a small receptacle. Of course, more than two receptacles of different sizes, e.g., three receptacles of different sizes, can also exist.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the receptacles for the crimp contacts are evenly distributed across the strap. This makes the crimp contacts easier to locate automatically and therefore faster to identify.

[0050] The belt is preferably constructed in one piece. In an advantageous embodiment, the belt is made of plastic. The belt can be constructed in the form of a chain made up of many articulated links, or at least comprise such a chain, each link having a receptacle for a crimp contact. For advancement, a gear can engage with its teeth in a respective link of the belt. By rotating the gear, each tooth can be advanced by one chain link, and thus by one contact receptacle, i.e., by one crimp contact. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous that the receptacles are evenly distributed over the belt.

[0051] A webbing system consists of a webbing of the aforementioned type and the aforementioned crimp contacts, preferably already accommodated in the webbing receptacles. Among the crimp contacts, as already mentioned, there are at least two different crimp contacts. The crimp contacts each have a crimping area at one end on the cable connection side and a plug-in area at one end on the plug-in side, opposite the cable connection side. The crimping area and the plug-in area of ​​each crimp contact share a common axis of symmetry. Among the crimp contacts, as already mentioned, there are at least two different crimp contacts, which differ at least in their electrical transmission properties.

[0052] Among the aforementioned at least two different crimp contacts, there can be at least two crimp contacts of different sizes, which differ from one another not only in their electrical transmission properties, but also in the diameter of their respective crimping area and the diameter of their respective plug-in area. For example, at least one of these crimp contacts can be an electrical energy transmission contact, and at least one other crimp contact can be an electrical signal transmission contact. The electrical energy transmission contact and the electrical signal transmission contact differ from one another in their electrical transmission properties, for example, in that the electrical energy transmission contact has a higher current-carrying capacity than the electrical signal transmission contact.Preferably, the diameter of the crimping area and the diameter of the plug-in area of ​​the electrical energy transmission contact are each larger than the diameter of the crimping area and the diameter of the plug-in area of ​​the electrical signal transmission contact.

[0053] Preferably, the symmetry axes / plug-in axes of the crimp contacts mounted in the webbing run parallel to each other and are arranged at equidistant intervals. This makes the crimp contacts easier to locate automatically, faster to identify, and easy to remove automatically.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the belt is designed to make the crimp contacts accommodated in the belt available for removal in such a way that the axes of symmetry of the crimp contacts of different sizes also lie in a common plane.

[0055] For this purpose, a support adjustment molding can be molded onto at least some of the links of the belt, particularly in the area of ​​the respective receptacle. This support adjustment molding ensures that when the belt is placed on a surface, e.g., on the aforementioned transport surface of the feed device, the receptacles are aligned with their central axes, i.e., are at the same distance from this surface. As a result, the axes of symmetry / plug-in axes of crimp contacts accommodated in the belt are also at the same height, which facilitates both their location and removal.

[0056] A feeding system consists of the feeding device and the belt system. The feeding device has an insertion state for each crimp contact and a holding state for each crimp contact to be processed. In the insertion state, the inserted crimp contacts are inserted into the feeding device of the crimping machine together with the belt and are releasably held in the belt at their crimping section. In the holding state, the respective crimp contact to be processed, which has been removed from the belt for this purpose, is held at its plug-in area by the holding device of the feeding device.

[0057] There are basically two particularly advantageous methods for operating the crimping machine. The first method is particularly well-suited to assembling cables or wires for a specific product, i.e., a specific hybrid connector, i.e., crimping the corresponding crimp contacts onto them. For this purpose, the contact receptacles of the holding device, in particular the holding drum, are adapted in number and shape to the contact carrier of the hybrid connector. For example, if the contact carrier has two large contact chambers for electrical energy transmission contacts and four small contact chambers for electrical signal transmission contacts, the holding device can also have two large and four small contact receptacles. However, it can also have three large and six small contact chambers. It can also have four large and eight small contact chambers, etc.In any case, it is particularly advantageous that the ratio of the number of contact chambers of different sizes is transferred to the number of contact receptacles of the holding device. This ratio can also advantageously be transferred to the number of receptacles of a product-specific belt, as well as to the respective number of different crimp contacts of the corresponding belt system.

[0058] To assemble the corresponding hybrid connector, only a cable / strand intended for processing needs to be inserted into the crimping machine. This cable can be automatically recognized, e.g., by the aforementioned detection device, and is then crimped with a suitable crimp contact. While a new cable is being inserted, the holding device can be completely refilled with crimp contacts, especially with a crimp contact of the type just used. Since the contact carrier of the connector is usually fully loaded before the next hybrid connector is processed, uneven consumption cannot occur. The situation is somewhat different if the crimping machine is suitable for many different products, i.e., for assembling strands for many different hybrid connectors. In this case, the holding device has contact receptacles that vary in size.

[0059] In this case too, the belt can be product-specific, i.e. adapted to all products to be fitted with the crimp contacts, i.e. it can only accommodate the corresponding number of crimp contacts to be used for the product. However, the holding device may then possibly have unused contact receptacles for individual products. Of course, the aforementioned method can also be carried out in this case. However, it is particularly advantageous if the crimp contacts are held in the holding device in the sequential order in which they are arranged on the belt and are processed in this order according to the processing method. For this purpose, it is also particularly advantageous if the crimping machine, in particular the feeding device, has a display that shows which cable / cable strand is to be fed in next.

[0060] A hybrid connector is equipped with crimp contacts that have been processed according to one of the aforementioned methods. The contact carrier of the hybrid connector is assembled according to a method for assembling the hybrid connector.

[0061] A method for assembling a contact carrier of a hybrid connector comprises the following steps:

[0062] Selection of several crimp contacts according to a requirement profile of specified electrical transmission properties, wherein at least two different crimp contacts are located among the crimp contacts;

[0063] Selection or manufacture of a suitable contact carrier for the selected crimp contacts; selection or manufacture of a strap with receptacles for the temporary, detachable fixation of the crimp contacts; insertion of the crimp contacts into the corresponding receptacles of the strap;

[0064] Creating digital information that indicates in which slot of the belt the individual crimp contacts required to equip the contact carrier are located;

[0065] Storing the digital information on a label on the webbing;

[0066] Inserting the strap into the crimping machine;

[0067] Transferring the information from the label on the webbing to the crimping machine, indicating which webbing receptacle contains the individual crimp contacts required to assemble the contact carrier; whereupon the following process steps are executed in a loop until the crimp contacts required to assemble the contact carrier are crimped onto each cable / strand:

[0068] Picking up crimp contacts to be processed, including at least two different crimp contacts, from the belt into a holding device of the feeding device and inserting a cable / wire into a processing unit of the crimping machine;

[0069] Feeding a crimp contact matching the cable / wire from the feeding device to the processing unit;

[0070] Stripping the insulation from the cable / wire by the processing unit; crimping the supplied crimp contact onto the cable / wire; removing the cable / wire with the crimped contact from the crimping machine;

[0071] Once the loop has been processed, the following process step follows:

[0072] Inserting the crimp contacts into the contact carrier. Example of implementation

[0073] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show:

[0074] Fig. 1a, b a feeding device for a crimping machine with an inserted belt strap from two perspectives;

[0075] Fig. 2a - c three different crimp contacts;

[0076] Fig. 3a - c the webbing in three views;

[0077] Fig. 4a, b two flow diagrams for carrying out crimping processes using the crimping machine.

[0078] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0079] Figure 1 shows a feeding device 1 for a crimping machine with an inserted belt 3 from two perspectives.

[0080] The feeding device 1 has a feed device 14 which has a gear 13 with a gear axis 130 and teeth 131 for feeding the belt 3 on a transport surface of the feed device 14.

[0081] Furthermore, the feed device 1 has a holding drum 12 as a holding device. This is cylindrical, has a rotational axis 120 and several cylindrical recesses as contact receptacles 121, 122, 123, 124, and is automatically mounted for movement relative to the feed device 14 in three degrees of freedom V1, V2, V3.

[0082] Firstly, the holding device 12 has a rotational degree of freedom V1. This serves, among other things, to select the respective contact receptacle 121, 122, 123 by positioning it, e.g., to receive a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 (shown below) from the belt strap 3.

[0083] Furthermore, the holding drum 12 has an axial translational degree of freedom V2 in the direction of the rotation axis 120. This serves to move the holding drum 12 towards the belt 3 and to select the respective plug-in area 211, 221, 231 of the desired

[0084] Contact 21 , 22, 23 to be included in the selected contact 121 , 122, 123.

[0085] To realize a further translational degree of freedom V3, the holding drum 12 is displaceably mounted on a carriage (not further specified). This allows the holding drum 12 to be displaced both in and against the feed direction, and the required crimp contact 21, 22, 23 can be fed to the crimping unit (not shown in the drawing but arranged to the right of the feed device 1) by rotation V1 and displacement V3, if necessary, e.g., by means of a further axial translation V2. Prior to this, the required crimp contact can be selected by a further rotation V1 and transported to the appropriate height.

[0086] Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c show three differently sized crimp contacts 21, 22, 23. These each have a plug-in area 211, 221, 231 and a crimp area 212, 222, 232. The third crimp contact 23 has a central retaining collar 234 and a connection-side collar 233 as its connection-side crimp opening 230. Of course, the other two crimp contacts 21, 22 also have a crimp opening, but this is covered by the respective crimp contact in the drawing and therefore cannot be seen.

[0087] The first crimp contact 21 is an electrical signal transmission contact. The second 22 and third 23 crimp contacts 22 are electrical power transmission contacts.

[0088] 3a, 3b and 3c show a belt strap 3 with three differently sized receptacles 31, 32, 33, each of which can accommodate and releasably hold one of the crimp contacts 21, 22, 23. Together with two connecting areas 30 arranged on either side of the receptacle, the respective receptacles 31, 32, 33 each form a link, wherein the links are each pivotally connected to their adjacent links to form a chain. A support adaptation formation 318, 328 is formed on at least some of the links. As a result, the receptacles 31, 32, 33 are at the same height - measured along their respective center axis - when the belt strap is lying on a surface, e.g. the transport surface. This facilitates the automated removal of crimp contacts of different sizes.

[0089] In the plan view shown in Fig. 3b as well as in Fig. 3c and Fig. 2b it can be seen that the receptacles 31, 32, 33 are divided into two parts, i.e. each divided into partial receptacles 31a, 31b; 32a, 32b; 33a, 33b and thus allow engagement of the teeth 131 of the gear 13 between them. As a result, the belt strap 3 equipped with crimp contacts 21, 22, 23 can also be fed forward by the gear 13, wherein each tooth 131 corresponds to a link in the chain and thus to a receptacle 31 of the belt 3 and thus to a crimp contact 21, 22, 23. Differently sized links of the belt strap 3 are also designed to be gripped and transported by the teeth 131 of the gear 13. In Figs. 3a and 3b, a label 36 is shown on the right side of the belt strap 3. It contains information indicating which type of crimp contact 21, 22, 23 is attached to which link of the chain.This label 36 can be read by a reading device (not shown) of the crimping machine, so that the type of each crimp contact 21, 22, 23 can be identified by its position.

[0090] Fig. 4a and 4b each show a flow diagram of a crimping process using the crimping machine.

[0091] Fig. 4a shows a crimping process for a product-specifically configured belt 3. This belt 3 is characterized in that it only accommodates crimp contacts 21, 22, 23, which are required for the assembly of a specific hybrid connector, in a suitable number.

[0092] The columns of the flowcharts symbolize the following:

[0093] I Employees

[0094] II Feed device

[0095] III Holding device / holding drum

[0096] IV Stripping unit

[0097] V Crimping unit

[0098] VI Display

[0099] VII Control unit

[0100] VIII Input / Output - Documentation

[0101] The method steps of the first flow chart, the exact sequence of which can be seen from the flow chart in Fig. 4a, are: a. Start b. Ordering or producing a belt system suitable for the product to be manufactured, i.e. a belt 3 equipped with different crimp contacts 21, 22, 23 to be processed for the product, in a suitable number in each case; c. Inserting the belt system into the feed device 1 of the crimping machine; d. The feed device 14 transports the belt 3 to a reading unit at which the label 36 of the belt 3 is read; e. The control unit processes the information as to which crimp contact 21, 22, 23 is arranged on which link of the belt 3 f. The feed device 14 conveys the belt 3 to a relative position to the supply drum 12 suitable for removing a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed. the supply drum 12 removes the crimp contact 21, 22, 23 h to be processed from the belt 3.the display shows which cable core is to be inserted i. the cable core is inserted manually j. the stripping unit clamps the inserted core k. a cable detection system on the stripping unit identifies the core l. the I / O documentation calculates the core thickness m. the I / O documentation generates the query: is this really the right core? n. if NO, the system control displays an error message; o. and then the display also gives the instruction to insert the correct core; p. a different core is then inserted manually, if this is the correct core, then q. the core is held in place and stripped by the stripping unit r. the holding drum 12 feeds the suitable crimp contact to the crimping unit s. the crimping unit adjusts itself to suit the contact t. the crimping unit carries out the crimping u. the process control monitors the crimp force v.the wire is released by the stripping unit w. the wire is removed manually X. -> h (the display again shows which wire is to be inserted next).

[0102] Even in this example, it is also possible - possibly in a slightly different, easily understandable variant - for the holding device 12 to be fully filled in parallel to the other process steps or to be fully filled at the start of the process and to always be refilled with a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 of the most recently used type, naturally ensuring greater process reliability and avoiding delays. After all, this eliminates the need to search for and / or analyze a suitable crimp contact 21, 22, 23 during the process. Instead, the process control already "knows" which crimp contact 21, 22, 23 is located in which contact receptacle 121, 122, 123 of the holding device 12 and fills itself during the pauses, e.g. while the next wire is being inserted manually.

[0103] The advantage of the holding device 12 becomes even clearer in the following example, in which the display is omitted and a user inserts the required cables / cable strands in any order:

[0104] The process steps of the second flowchart, the exact sequence of which can be seen from the flowchart in Fig. 4b, are:

[0105] A. Start

[0106] B. Ordering or producing a belt system suitable for the product to be manufactured, ie a belt 3 equipped with crimp contacts 21, 22, 23 to be processed for the product in a suitable number;

[0107] C. Inserting the belt 3 / belt system into the feed device 1 of the crimping machine;

[0108] D. The feed device 14 transports the belt 3 to a reading unit, at which the label 36 of the belt 3 is read E. The control unit processes the information on which link of the belt 3 which crimp contact 21, 22, 23 is arranged

[0109] F. The feed device 14 conveys the belt 3 to a relative position to the supply drum 12 suitable for removing a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed.

[0110] G. the supply drum 12 removes the crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the belt 3;

[0111] H. a (random) core of a cable to be processed is inserted manually;

[0112] I. the feed device 14 conveys the belt 3 to a further relative position to the supply drum 12 suitable for removing a crimp contact to be processed;

[0113] J. the supply drum 12 removes another crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the belt 3;

[0114] K. the feed device 14 conveys the belt 3 to a further relative position to the supply drum 12 suitable for removing a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed;

[0115] L. the supply drum 12 removes another crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be processed from the belt 3;

[0116] Steps D. to L. can be repeated until or, if necessary, partly in parallel with the following steps

[0117] M. the supply drum 12 is completely filled (or at least as required for the process);

[0118] N. the inserted wire is clamped by the stripping unit;

[0119] O. the cable detection of the stripping unit identifies the wire;

[0120] P. The I / O documentation calculates the wire gauge;

[0121] Q. the wire is stripped by the stripping unit;

[0122] The following step R. uses the holding device and therefore cannot be carried out in parallel with the assembly (or “reloading”) of the holding drum: R. a crimp contact 21, 22, 23 matching the wire is fed to the crimping unit from the holding drum 12;

[0123] S. the crimping unit adjusts itself to the crimp contact 21, 22, 23 to be crimped; T. the crimping unit performs the crimping

[0124] U. the process control performs crimp force monitoring

[0125] V. the wire is released by the stripping unit

[0126] W. the wire is removed manually

[0127] X. -> H. another wire of the cable is entered

[0128] As already mentioned, it is very advantageous and sensible for the two aforementioned, exemplary processes to offer a belt system suitable for the product, namely a hybrid connector to be manufactured.

[0129] Of course, these two aforementioned procedures are only examples and can be modified into different variants and easily adapted to different requirements with expert knowledge.

[0130] Applicant: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG

[0131] Title: Feeding device for a crimping machine, crimping machine, belt and belt system, feeding system, method for operating the crimping machine, hybrid connector and assembly method for the same

[0132] List of reference symbols

[0133] Feeding device

[0134] 12 Holding device / holding drum

[0135] 120 rotation axis

[0136] 121 - 124 contacts

[0137] 13 gear

[0138] 130 Gear axle

[0139] 131 tooth

[0140] 14 Feed device

[0141] 21 , 22, 23 Crimp contacts, including

[0142] 21 Signal transmission contact

[0143] 22, 23 electrical energy transmission contacts

[0144] 211 , 221 , 231 plug-in area

[0145] 212, 222, 232 crimping range

[0146] 230 connection-side collar

[0147] 234 retaining collar

[0148] 3 webbing

[0149] 30 connection areas

[0150] 31, 32, 33 shots

[0151] 318, 328 Support adjustment moldings

[0152] 31a, 31b; 32a, 32b; 33a, 33b partial views

[0153] 36 labels

[0154] V1 first degree of freedom / rotational degree of freedom

[0155] V2 second degree of freedom, axial

[0156] V3 third degree of freedom

Claims

Applicant: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG Title: Feeding device for a crimping machine, crimping machine, belt and belt system, feeding system, method for operating the crimping machine, hybrid connector and assembly method for the same Claims 1. Feeding device (1) for a crimping machine, for enabling the introduction of a plurality of crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed into the crimping machine by means of a single belt (3) on which the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are releasably held at least during their said introduction, and for feeding the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed to a processing step of the crimping machine, o wherein among the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) there are at least two different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23), and o wherein the feeding device (1) is designed to ■ to identify the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed and to remove them from the belt (3) in accordance with the processing process and ■ to ensure the supply of each crimp contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed to the processing process within a period of time specified by the processing process.

2. Feeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) differ from each other in their size, namely both in the diameter of their respective crimping area (212, 222, 232) and in the diameter of their respective plug-in area (211, 221, 231).

3. Feeding device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the feeding device (1) has a holding device (12) which has a plurality of mutually different sized contact receptacles (121, 122, 123, 124) for temporarily holding the plurality of differently sized crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed by the crimping machine, in order to hold a plurality of different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) and to feed them to the processing process as required within the said period of time predetermined by the processing process.

4. Feeding device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the feeding device (1) further comprises a feed device (14) for feeding the belt webbing (3) in a feed movement, and wherein said holding device (12) is automatically movable relative to the feed movement of the feed device (14) in order to receive different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) in a contact receptacle (121, 122, 123, 124) matching the respective crimp contact (21, 22, 23) and to hold them temporarily therein.

5. Feeding device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the holding device (12) is automatically movable relative to the feed device (14) in at least two degrees of freedom (V1, V2), namely a first (V1) and a second (V2) degree of freedom.

6. Feeding device (1) according to claim 5, wherein one of the two degrees of freedom (V1) serves, together with a suitable feed of the feed device (14), to position the contact receptacle (121, 122, 123) suitable for the respective crimp contact (21, 22, 23) to be received on the respective crimp contact (21, 22, 23) and wherein the second degree of freedom (V2) serves to receive the crimp contact (21, 22, 23) in the suitable contact receptacle (121, 122, 123) of the holding device (12).

7. Feeding device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first degree of freedom (V1) consists in a rotational movement of the holding device (12) about an axis of rotation (120).

8. Feeding device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the second degree of freedom (V2) consists in a translational change in distance between the holding device (12) and the feed device (14), wherein the translational change in distance (V2) occurs in the direction of said axis of rotation (120).

9. Crimping machine, comprising a feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a processing unit which has a crimping unit which serves to crimp the several different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) fed to it by the feeding unit onto matching electrical conductors.

10. Crimping machine according to claim 9, wherein the crimping machine is designed to transfer the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) to be processed from the feed device (1) to the processing unit by a translatory transfer movement to the processing unit, wherein the aforementioned further transfer movement takes place in the direction of the rotation axis (120).

11. Crimping machine according to claim 10, wherein in the crimping machine the processing unit is arranged offset in or against the feed direction next to the feed device (14) and wherein the holding device (12) is arranged in a further translational degree of freedom (V3) parallel to the feed direction on a carriage so as to be automatically displaceable in order to transport the respectively received crimp contact (21, 22, 23) translationally in the direction of the processing unit.

12. Belt strap (3) for a feeding device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the belt strap (3) has a plurality of receptacles (31, 32, 33) for releasably holding the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23), wherein among the receptacles (31, 32, 33) there are at least two receptacles (31, 32, 33) of different sizes, namely a large receptacle (33) and a small receptacle (31).

13. Belt strap (3) according to claim 12, wherein the receptacles (31, 32, 33) are evenly distributed over the belt strap (3).

14. Belt strap (3) according to one of claims 12 to 13, wherein the receptacles (31, 32, 33) are adapted to hold the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) at their respective crimping area (212, 222, 232).

15. Belt strap (3) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the belt strap (3) consists of plastic and is designed in one piece, wherein the belt strap (3) has a chain which is formed from a plurality of links which are connected to one another in an articulated manner, wherein each link has a receptacle (31, 32, 33) for a crimp contact (21, 22, 23), wherein a support adaptation formation (318, 328) is formed on at least some links.

16. A belt webbing system comprising a belt webbing (3) according to one of claims 12 to 15, and a plurality of crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) held therein or thereon, each having a crimping region (212, 222, 232) at a cable connection-side end and a plug-in region (211, 221, 231) at a plug-in end opposite the cable connection-side end, wherein the crimping region (212, 222, 232) and the plug-in region (211, 221, 231) of each crimp contact (21, 22, 23) have a common axis of symmetry, wherein at least one of the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) is an electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23) and wherein at least one of the other crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) a electrical signal transmission contact (21), wherein the electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23) and the electrical signal transmission contact (21) differ from one another in their electrical transmission properties as well as in the diameter of their crimping area (212, 222, 232) and in the diameter of their plug-in area (211, 221, 231), wherein the belt strap (3) makes it possible to make the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) available for removal in such a way that their axes of symmetry lie in a common plane.

17. Belt webbing system according to claim 16, wherein the electrical energy transmission contact (22, 23) has a higher current carrying capacity than the electrical signal transmission contact (21) and wherein the diameter of the crimping region (222, 232) of the energy transmission contact (22, 23) is larger than the diameter of the crimping region (212) of the signal transmission contact (21) and wherein the diameter of the plug-in region (221, 231) of the energy transmission contact (22, 23) is larger than the diameter of the plug-in region (211) of the signal transmission contact (21).

18. Belt webbing system according to one of claims 16 to 17, wherein each of the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) is releasably held with its respective crimping area (212, 222, 232) on a receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the belt webbing (3) that matches this respective crimping area (212, 222, 232), wherein the at least one energy transmission contact (22, 23) is releasably held in the at least one large receptacle (32, 33) and wherein the at least one signal transmission contact (21) is releasably held in the at least one small receptacle (31) of the belt webbing (3).

19. Belt system according to one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the axes of symmetry of the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are arranged parallel to each other and at equidistant intervals.

20. Feed system comprising a feed device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a belt system according to one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the feed system has an insertion state for each crimp contact (21, 22, 23) and a holding state for each crimp contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed, wherein in the insertion state the inserted crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are releasably held on the belt (3) at their crimping area (212, 222, 232) and wherein in the holding state the respective crimp contact (21, 22, 23) to be processed and removed from the belt (3) for this purpose is held by the holding device (12) at its plug-in area (211, 221, 231).

21. Method for operating a feeding system according to claim 20, wherein the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are introduced into the feeding system held by the belt (3) at the crimping area (212, 222, 232) and, after their removal from the belt (3), are held by the holding device (12) at the plug-in area (211, 221, 231) in order to be fed to the processing unit of the crimping machine when required.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein an inserted electrical cable is automatically detected by the detection device and a suitable crimp contact is automatically selected and transferred from the holding device (12) to the processing unit.

23. Method according to claim 21, wherein the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are removed from the belt (3) by the holding device (12) in sequential order and are fed in the same order by the holding device (12) to the processing direction wherein for each crimp contact (21, 22, 23) the instruction is given as to which cable / cable strand is to be inserted into the crimping machine.

24. Hybrid connector with crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) processed by a method according to one of claims 21 to 23.

25. Assembly method for assembling a contact carrier of a hybrid connector, comprising the following steps: Selection of a plurality of crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) according to a requirement profile of predetermined electrical transmission properties, wherein at least two different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) are located among the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23); Selecting or manufacturing a suitable contact carrier for the selected crimp contacts (21, 22, 23); Selection or production of a belt strap (3) which has receptacles (31, 32, 33) for the temporary, releasable fixing of the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23); Inserting the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) into the respective matching receptacles (31, 32, 33) of the belt strap (3); Creating digital information indicating in which receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the belt (3) the individual crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) required for fitting the contact carrier are located; Storing the digital information on a label (36) of the belt strap; Inserting the strap (3) into the crimping machine; Transferring the information from the label (36) of the belt (3) to the crimping machine, in which receptacle (31, 32, 33) of the belt (31, 32, 33) the individual crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) required for equipping the contact carrier are located; whereupon the following process steps are processed in a loop characterized by the following steps until the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) required for fitting the contact carrier are crimped onto one cable / strand each: Picking up at least some of the different crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) from the belt (3) into a holding device (12) of the feeding device (1) and simultaneously inserting a cable / wire into a processing unit of the crimping machine; Feeding a crimp contact (21, 22, 23) matching the cable / wire from the feeding device (1) to the processing unit; Stripping the cable / wire by the processing unit; crimping the supplied crimp contact (21, 22, 23) onto the cable / wire; Removing the cable / wire with the crimped contact (21, 22, 23) from the crimping machine; as soon as this loop has been processed, the following process step follows: Insert the crimp contacts (21, 22, 23) into the contact carrier.

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