Crimping device and method for crimping a crimping sleeve on a conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to a crimping device (1) with a wire clamp (2) which is prepared to feed a wire end (3) of a conductor (4) for a cable to a crimper (5), wherein the crimper (5) is designed to attach a crimp sleeve (6) to the wire end (3) by pressing a movable part (7) of the crimper (5) onto a stationary part (8) of the crimper (5). The crimping device (1) includes a control unit which is configured and designed to adjust the position of the wire clamp (2) depending on a detected position of the movable part (7) of the crimper (5) during the movement of the movable part (7) of the crimper (5). The invention further relates to a method for crimping a crimp sleeve (6) onto a wire end (3) of a conductor (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a crimping device with a wire tensioner receptacle for a wire tensioner, wherein the wire tensioner is configured to feed a wire end of a conductor for a cable to a crimper, wherein the crimper is configured to attach a crimp sleeve to the wire end by pressing a movable part of the crimper onto a stationary part of the crimper, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto a conductor, according to claim 10.

[0002] Conventional crimping presses in a crimping device have a movable, punch-like component that can be moved vertically relative to an anvil-like component to compress crimp sleeves between the movable and anvil-like components. This compression plastically deforms the crimp sleeve through a cold extrusion process, i.e., crimping. The deformation of the crimp wings of the crimp sleeve allows it to be mechanically and electrically connected to the conductor end. Before the actual crimping process, i.e., before the crimp wings of the crimp sleeve are plastically deformed, the conductor end, previously exposed by stripping the cable, is fed into the crimping press using a holder or gripper. The movable part of the crimping press, usually the crimping punch, is driven, for example, by an eccentric or a servo drive.The stamp-like component of the crimper moves down onto the end of the cable and presses the electrically conductive crimp section of the crimp sleeve onto the exposed conductor of the cable.

[0003] In cable assembly practice, it is known to preferably hold the cable to be processed in a U-shape or ring shape within a cable tensioner such that both stripped ends of the cable can be processed or crimped at the same level by the crimping press. The cable tensioner is conveyed between different processing stations via a transport system and, if the processing station is designed as a crimping press, is detachably fixed in a cable tensioner holder upstream of the crimping press. After processing, the cable tensioner is released from the cable tensioner holder and transported via the aforementioned transport system to another processing station downstream of the crimping press. The cable tensioner remains detachably fixed in the cable tensioner holder for the duration of the crimping process. The cable tensioner holder is assigned to the respective crimping press.

[0004] During the processing process in the crimper of the crimping device, the wire end to be processed should be held in a defined position relative to the crimper in order to ensure a correct connection between the crimp sleeve and the stripped wire end, around which the crimp sleeve is plastically deformed.

[0005] Typically, the contacts to be processed are connected to each other via a carrier strip due to their manufacturing process. This ensures they are precisely spaced, accurately positioned, and easily conveyed, thus reducing processing complexity. Conversely, processing requires separating the contacts from the carrier strip. This is achieved through the vertical movement of a cutter. Therefore, it is essential that the wire ends can follow the cutter's vertical movement without any unfavorable repositioning or displacement.

[0006] It is known from the prior art to design the conductor clamps with spring bearings in order to counteract the sudden acceleration of the conductor end during the critical crimping process step, i.e., during the application of a crimp sleeve to the conductor end, since otherwise there would be a risk that the conductor end would be pulled out of the crimper by the pressing movement of the punch-like component. This applies particularly to conductors with small cross-sections.

[0007] DE 20 2018 103 289 U1 describes a crimping device with a crimper designed to crimp a crimp sleeve onto a cable end by pressing a movable part of the crimper, designed as a crimping die, against a stationary part of the crimper, designed as an anvil. Stripped cable ends, held by a cable gripping module, are fed into the crimping device. In addition to the crimper, the crimping device includes a countersink with a countersinking plunger. The countersinking plunger is movably mounted relative to the crimper and can be moved in the countersinking direction by an additional electric countersinking drive, independent of the drive of the crimping press, such that the underside of the countersinking plunger strikes the top side of a section of the cable gripping module from above, pressing the cable gripping module downwards synchronously with the crimping die.The cable gripper module has its own drive, so the lowering drive must be synchronized with both the crimping press drive and the cable gripper module drive, requiring a correspondingly coordinated higher-level control system. At the start of the crimping process, the cable gripper module is in a horizontal processing position below the lowering plunger, but in an undefined starting position. Therefore, the lowering plunger is required to press the cable gripper module into a defined position for further processing. The cable gripper module returns to this undefined starting position after the crimping process is complete and the lowering plunger no longer holds it down.

[0008] However, in some cases, a different, asynchronous positioning of the conductor relative to the crimper or crimping movement can be helpful in optimizing the quality and reject rate of the process. Therefore, it is necessary to release the rigid mechanical coupling between the crimper and the conductor clamp, as otherwise relative movement of the crimper to the conductor would not be possible.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention is based on the objective of avoiding or at least mitigating the disadvantages described above and, in particular, providing a crimping device which does not have a rigid mechanical coupling of the cable tensioner with the crimper; in particular, it should be possible to react flexibly to the requirement of crimping various shaped crimp sleeves onto cable ends with different diameters.

[0010] This problem is solved by the crimping device according to the features of claim 1 and by a method for crimping a conductor according to the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims or will become apparent from the following description.

[0011] The invention relates to a crimping device with a crimper designed to attach a crimp sleeve to a conductor end of a cable by pressing a movable part of the crimper onto a stationary part of the crimper, and a conductor tensioner receptacle for a conductor tensioner, wherein the conductor tensioner is designed to feed the conductor end of the cable to the crimper, wherein the cable tensioner receptacle detachably fixes the cable tensioner for the duration of the crimping process, wherein the crimping device further comprises a control unit which is configured and designed to set a position of the cable tensioner depending on a detected position of the moving part of the crimper during the movement of the moving part of the crimper by controlling a motor which is part of the cable tensioner receptacle.

[0012] The crimping device thus comprises the crimper, the cable clamp receptacle and the control unit for the at least one motor, which is part of the cable clamp receptacle, as essential components.

[0013] The cable tensioner mount has at least one motor, and the control unit is designed and intended to control the at least one motor of the cable tensioner mount.

[0014] The invention therefore relates firstly to a crimping device with a wire tensioner receptacle designed to detachably hold a wire tensioner, wherein the wire tensioner secures a wire end of a conductor for a cable, and wherein the wire tensioner receptacle feeds the wire tensioner to the crimper. The crimper is specifically designed to attach a crimp sleeve to the wire end by pressing a movable part of the crimper onto a stationary part of the crimper. The crimping device includes a control unit configured to adjust the position of the wire tensioner based on a detected position of the movable part of the crimper during its movement, by controlling a motor that is part of the wire tensioner receptacle.

[0015] In other words, the crimping device has a higher-level control unit / programmable logic controller (PLC) whose input values ​​(master values) are the detected position of the crimper's moving part and whose output values ​​(slave values) are a coordinated position of the wire tensioner. During the crimping process, the wire tensioner is thus integrated into the crimping device. In other words, the crimping device comprises the crimper and the wire tensioner holder with at least one motor controlled by the control unit. The wire tensioner position is adjusted primarily during the movement of the crimper's moving part, i.e., during the actual crimping process. The wire tensioner holder is also designed to center the wire tensioner, and thus the cable held in the wire tensioner, relative to the crimper with the wire end being crimped.In other words, the wire tensioner mount of the present crimping device can be controlled independently of the crimper, in particular servo-electrically, and the wire tensioner can be positioned independently of the crimper drive, but in a freely selectable manner, in particular adjustable and reproducible by an operator.

[0016] The adjustment of the wire tensioner's position, particularly its vertical position, is linked to the crimping / pressing movement (movement of the crimper's moving part along the crimping axis) via the control unit or software. Thus, the wire tensioner's movement (raising and lowering) parallel to the crimping axis is coupled to the position of the crimper's moving part via the control unit. The moving part of the crimper can be moved vertically upwards or downwards onto the stationary part of the crimper to compress the crimp sleeve. This means the crimper can also be designed so that the crimp sleeve is compressed by a downward movement of the moving part.

[0017] This means that the movement of the wire tensioner is no longer rigidly connected to the crimper, thus advantageously creating more freedom in the entire crimping process. If, for example, the crimper of the crimping device is to crimp sleeves with a different geometry, the control unit of the crimping device can be configured so that the movement of the wire tensioner holder, and thus the movement of the wire tensioner (which is detachably fixed in the holder), accommodates this new geometry of the crimp sleeves. In particular, the control unit can be provided with a program tailored to each crimp sleeve being crimped. Such a program allows empirical data to be saved and made available to other crimping devices. The same applies if the diameter or geometry of the cable ends to be processed changes.

[0018] In an advantageous aspect of the invention, the cable clamp has a z-linear motor for adjusting the stroke of the cable clamp. A separate drive for adjusting a vertical position along the z-axis (for raising and lowering) of the cable clamp can preferably be designed as a linear motor. A linear motor can directly provide linear motion, and unlike a rotary motor, it is not necessary to convert a rotary motion into a linear motion via a spindle or similar mechanism.

[0019] For the z-linear motor, it is particularly preferred that the z-linear motor is arranged below the cable tensioner and at least partially supports the weight of the cable tensioner. Since the z-linear motor operates continuously against the weight of the cable tensioner, which is detachably fixed in the cable tensioner holder, it is ensured that the z-linear motor can precisely control the cable tensioner. In particular, an undefined initial position of the cable tensioner and the cable held in the cable tensioner with respect to the crimper of the crimping device can be prevented. In particular, a pneumatic counterweight can be provided in addition to the z-linear motor, which additionally absorbs the weight of the cable tensioner, so that the power of the z-linear motor is essentially entirely available for acceleration in the positive or negative z-direction.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the crimper has a crimper drive configured to move the movable part of the crimper vertically to / from the stationary part of the crimper, preferably periodically, for example as a sine wave. A signal tapped from the crimper drive, for example an instantaneous power consumption by the crimper drive, can be supplied as an input to the control unit of the motor of the wire clamping device.

[0021] According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the control unit is set up and configured to adjust a vertical position of the wire tensioner via the z-linear motor depending on the position of the moving part of the crimper.

[0022] In other words, the drive for adjusting the vertical position of the wire clamp depends on the movement of the crimper and can be controlled via the higher-level control unit. The stroke setting of the wire clamp is therefore synchronized with the crimper during the crimping process, or the actuation of the linear motor is synchronized with the crimper drive.

[0023] Preferably, the linear motor of the wire tensioner mount is synchronized with the crimper drive by detecting the position of the crimper's moving part. The control unit then sends target positions to the wire tensioner's linear motor based on these predetermined positions of the crimper's moving part. The control unit is thus configured to synchronize the wire tensioner's linear motor with the crimper's moving part. The position of the moving part is detected at a defined trigger point. For example, the start of the crimping process can be defined as such a trigger point—that is, when the crimper's moving part begins to deform the crimp sleeve. Alternatively, the reaching of freely chosen reference points by the crimper's moving part can also be defined as a trigger point.Preferably, the coordination or interdependence of the linear motor and the crimper drive is determined by a predetermined profile, which the wire tensioner must follow. The profile can, for example, be stored as a recipe and be based on the operator's experience.

[0024] The crimping device comprises the control unit described above as an example, which is configured and designed to adjust the position of the wire tensioner based on a detected position of the crimper's moving part during its movement. This is achieved by the control unit driving a motor that is part of the wire tensioner housing. The motor includes an actuator whose movement is transmitted via the wire tensioner housing to the wire tensioner, which is detachably fixed within the housing.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the wire tensioner receptacle has an x-linear motor for moving the wire tensioner laterally relative to the crimper and a y-linear motor for moving the wire tensioner to and from the crimper.

[0026] The x-linear motor is designed and configured to align and position the cable clamp and the cable held in the cable clamp along the x-axis with respect to the crimper of the crimping device. This means that the x-linear motor is designed to correctly align the cable clamp, and thus the cable clamped in the cable clamp, relative to the crimper, so that the axis of the conductors at both ends of the cable lies at least in a virtual plane that is drawn perpendicularly through the crimp sleeve in the crimper and in which the axis of the crimp sleeve also lies.

[0027] The y-linear motor is designed to guide the wire tensioner and thus the wire end to the crimper and away from the crimper along the y-axis; in particular, the y-linear motor is designed and intended to arrange the wire end correctly aligned in the longitudinal direction of the cable in the space between the moving part of the crimper and the stationary part of the crimper.

[0028] The y-linear motor moves the wire tensioner, which is detachably fixed in the wire tensioner holder, towards or away from the wire end shortly before or after the crimp sleeve is compressed. The x-linear motor and the y-linear motor are thus designed to position the wire tensioner in the horizontal plane, with the direction in which the moving part of the crimper interacts with the stationary part of the crimper being perpendicular to this imaginary horizontal plane.

[0029] Preferably, three linear motors, one each for the x, y, and z axes, are provided in the crimping device. The control unit transmits control signals to the respective linear motors / actuators and is connected to each linear motor via a signal transmission cable.

[0030] In this process, at least the z-linear motor for the movement of the line tensioner along the z-axis (for adjusting the stroke) is synchronized with the crimper drive.

[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured and designed to determine the position of the cable tensioner via position sensors on the respective linear motors. For example, the position sensors are designed as Hall sensors on the respective linear motors of the cable tensioner.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured and configured to check the detected position of the wire tensioner and output an error signal if a deviation is detected between the detected position and the position to be set for the wire tensioner. In other words, the actual position of the wire tensioner is additionally checked against a target position of the wire tensioner, determined in particular from the detected position of the movable part of the crimper, via the control unit, which controls the at least one motor that is part of the wire tensioner housing. Consequently, if this actual position deviates from the target position, the operator can be warned by an alarm, or the crimping device can automatically interrupt the crimping process in such a case.

[0033] According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured and designed to determine the position of the moving part of the crimper via a rotary encoder in the crimper drive. That is, the position of the moving part is preferably determined by a position measurement of the crimper drive. This position can be detected, for example, by a rotary encoder in the crimper drive, which is then transmitted to the control unit.

[0034] Preferably, a non-contact position sensor, for example magnetic, is arranged in each of the x, y and z directions to detect the current position of the cable tensioner.

[0035] The invention further relates to a method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto / to a conductor end of a cable, comprising the steps: Moving a wire tensioner with a conductor towards a crimper into a starting position and fixing the wire tensioner in a wire tensioner holder of the crimper; feeding one end of the conductor to the crimper via a y-linear motor of the wire tensioner holder; attaching a crimp sleeve to the conductor end by pressing a moving part of the crimper onto a stationary part of the crimper; detecting the position of the moving part of the crimper via a control unit; adjusting the stroke of the wire tensioner depending on the detected position of the moving part using a z-linear motor of the wire tensioner holder via the control unit; returning the wire tensioner with the conductor through the wire tensioner holder of the crimper to the starting position, and Releasing the clamping force clamp using the clamping force clamp holder of the crimper.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective side view of the crimping device with a crimper and a wire clamp, according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective isometric front view of the wire clamp of the crimping device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a perspective isometric rear view of the wire clamp of the crimping device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows an enlarged, partial view of the crimper of the crimping device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for crimping a crimp sleeve onto / to a wire end of a conductor, according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The figures are purely schematic and serve solely to illustrate the present invention. It should be noted that the features of the individual embodiments are interchangeable and may occur in specific combinations.

[0038] The present invention is now described in part by reference to a preferred embodiment of the Figs. 1 to 5 described. It shows Fig. 1 A crimping device 1 in a perspective side view. Fig. 2 and 3 show isometric views of the wire tensioner 2 of the crimping device 1. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the crimper 5 of the crimping device 1 and Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary process flow for crimping using the crimping device 1 according to the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of the crimping device 1 with a crimper 5 and a wire clamp 2a, wherein the wire clamp 2a is detachably fixed and mounted on a wire clamp receptacle 2.

[0040] The crimper 5 has a vertically movable part 7, namely a crimping die, and a stationary part 8, namely an anvil. The movable part 7, i.e., the crimping die with a closing contour open towards the crimp flanks, functions as a die-like component which moves up and down, particularly periodically, relative to the stationary part 8, namely the anvil, and which is designed as a corresponding anvil-like component to compress a crimp sleeve 6 which is arranged on the stationary part 8 of the crimper 5.

[0041] A conductor 4 for a cable is held in the conductor clamp 2a, and one end 3 of the conductor 4 protrudes horizontally to be fed to the crimper 5. The conductor clamp holder 2 is shown with the conductor clamp 2a detachably fixed to it. It is designed to center the conductor end 3 relative to the crimper 5 (along an x-axis, which in this illustration runs perpendicular to the plane of the image) and simultaneously to feed the conductor end 3 to the crimper 5 (along a y-axis, which lies in the plane of the image and on the axis of the conductor 4 and the crimp sleeve 6), so that the crimp sleeve 6 can be crimped to the conductor end 3 by the crimper 5, in particular by the vertical movement of the movable part 7. Furthermore, the conductor clamp holder 2 is designed to move the conductor clamp 2a along a z-axis, which in this illustration runs vertically upwards.This means that the stroke of the cable tensioner 2a can be adjusted via a separate drive, for which purpose the cable tensioner mount 2 has at least one motor that is part of the cable tensioner mount 2. The actuators of the respective motor for adjusting the position of the cable tensioner 2 are controlled by a control unit (not shown here), whereby the control unit acts on the respective motor that is part of the cable tensioner mount 2.

[0042] The in Fig. 1The illustrated cable clamp 2a has pneumatically actuated clamping jaws 2b, between which the end section of the cable is held, and an actuating section 2c that can be pneumatically actuated to open or close the clamping jaws 2b. A bottom surface of the cable clamp 2a rests flat, in particular in a form-fitting manner, on a coupling plate 2d, to which the cable clamp 2a is additionally detachably locked by means not shown. In addition to the motors 9, 10 and the motor for the x-direction (not shown), the coupling plate 2d is a component, i.e., a part, of the cable clamp receptacle 2; in particular, the actuator of the y-linear motor 10 engages laterally directly with the coupling plate 2d. The assembly consisting of the y-linear motor 10 and the coupling plate 2d is supported or displaceable in the z-direction, i.e. in the direction of gravity, by the z-linear motor 9.The assembly consisting of the coupling plate 2d, the y-linear motor 10 and the z-linear motor 9 arranged below the y-linear motor 10 is supported by the x-linear motor arranged below the z-linear motor (not shown in the illustration), which is mounted on a housing 13, the housing 13 being a further component, i.e., a further part of the line clamp receptacle 2.

[0043] The cable clamp holder 2 thus comprises as its essential components the coupling plate 2d, the linear motors 9 and 10, and the linear motor for displacement in the x-direction. At least the linear motor 10 for the z-direction is controlled by the control unit, which controls the position of the cable clamp 2a depending on the detected position of the moving part 7, namely the crimping die of the crimping press of the crimper 5, during the movement of the crimping die 7. This is particularly the case for the lowering movement of the cable clamp 2 when the cable clamp 2a is detachably locked in the coupling plate 2d of the cable clamp holder 2 with its underside.

[0044] It is understood that, as will be further explained, the control unit can also be configured to control the y-linear motor 10 as well as the motor for the displacement in the x-direction. This control of the y-linear motor 10 and / or the motor, specifically the linear motor, for the displacement in the x-direction can occur before or after the control of the z-linear motor 9, or, alternatively, during the control of the z-linear motor 9, so that in the latter case the lowering movement in the z-direction is superimposed on a movement in the y- and / or x-direction.

[0045] The in Fig. 1 The crimping device 1 shown is part of a modular device for cable assembly, wherein the crimping device 1 is one of several processing modules. The modular device for cable assembly further comprises a transport system (not shown) that transports wire tensioners 2a from one module to another. The Fig. 1The illustrated cable tensioner 2a is shown in a position after it has been transported from a processing station upstream of the crimping device 1 via the transport system in the X-direction to the front of the crimping device 1 and in the Y-direction towards the crimping device 1 until it is releasably fixed in the cable tensioner holder 2 of the crimping device 1. After processing is complete, the cable tensioner 2a is removed by the transport system (not shown) in the negative Y-direction and transported in the X-direction to a processing station downstream of the crimping device 1. The transport system (not shown) of the modular cable assembly device thus transports the respective cable tensioner 2a in the X- and Y-directions, and optionally also in a Z-direction perpendicular to the X- and Y-directions, from one module to the next.Upon reaching the crimping device 1, the wire tensioner 2a is placed onto the wire tensioner receptacle 2 of the crimping device 1. The feeding of the wire end 3, held in the wire tensioner 2a, to and from the crimper 5 of the crimping device 1 is controlled by the control unit described above and below, which is part of the crimping device 1. This control unit, which is assigned to the crimping device 1, is independent of the control unit of the transport system (not shown), but both control units operate in a coordinated manner.

[0046] The Fig. 2 and 3 Figure 1 shows a perspective isometric front view or rear view of the wire tensioner receptacle 2 of the crimping device 1 with the wire tensioner 2a detachably fixed to the wire tensioner receptacle 2. Fig. 1The conductor 4 with its end 3 is clearly visible, firmly clamped in an upper section of the conductor clamp 2a. This section, together with the conductor 4, can be raised or lowered vertically by a z-linear motor 9. The z-linear motor 9 moves along a z-linear motor axis 11 to adjust the position (or stroke) of the conductor clamp 2a along the z-axis as a function of the detected position of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5 during the movement of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5, i.e., during the actual crimping process. A y-linear motor 10 is provided to move the upper section of the conductor clamp 2a along the y-axis towards and away from the crimper 5. The y-linear motor moves along the illustrated y-linear motor axis 12 to guide the clamped wire end 3 towards the crimp sleeve 6 before the crimping process and away from the crimper 5 after completion of the crimping process.Not shown is an x-linear motor configured to guide the wire clamp 2a along an x-axis perpendicular to the y- and z-axes in order to align the wire end 3 laterally relative to the crimper 5. The individual linear motors are controlled by a control unit of the crimping device 1 (not shown). At least the control of the z-linear motor 9 is dependent on a detected position of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5. Additionally, the control unit of the crimping device 1 could be configured such that the control of the x-linear motor and / or the y-linear motor 10 is also dependent on this detected position of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5. Furthermore, the wire clamp receptacle 2 includes the housing 13, which surrounds the motors 9, 10, and the motor for the x-direction movement.

[0047] Fig. 4Figure 1 shows an enlarged representation of the crimper 5 of the crimping device 1 according to the advantageous embodiment of the invention.

[0048] Fig. 4Figure 1 shows a plurality of crimp sleeves 6 arranged on a stationary part 8 of the crimper 5. These sleeves can be crimped onto the stationary part 8, the anvil, by vertically lowering the movable part 7 (i.e., the crimping press) onto the stationary part 8 (i.e., the anvil). A conductor end 3 (not shown here) of a conductor 4 can be crimped onto the stationary part 8 (i.e., the anvil) by the control unit. The position of the movable part 7 of the crimper 5, particularly its vertical position, is detected by the control unit so that the conductor 4 can be moved in a time-synchronized and spatially parallel direction (i.e., in the z-direction) to the crimping process by the z-linear motor 9. This prevents potentially damaging bending of the conductor 4 caused by the impulse input from the contacting parts 7 and 8. Thus, the z-linear motor 9 of the conductor clamping device 2 enables a relative, time-synchronized, and spatially parallel movement of the conductor clamping device 2a to the crimper 5.

[0049] Fig. 5Figure 1 shows a flowchart of an exemplary and preferred implementation of the method for crimping a crimp sleeve 6 onto a conductor end 3 of a conductor 4. In a first step S1, the wire clamp 2 with the conductor 4 clamped therein is moved towards the crimper 5 into a starting position by actuating the x-linear motor 9 of the wire clamp holder 2. Previously, the wire clamp 2a had been releasably fixed in the wire clamp holder 2. Then, in a second step S2, the conductor end 3 of the clamped conductor 4 is fed to the crimper 5 by actuating the y-linear motor 10 of the wire clamp holder 2. In the subsequent step S3, a crimp sleeve 6 is attached / crimped onto the conductor end 3 by pressing the movable part 7 of the crimper 5 onto the stationary part 8 of the crimper 5. In the fourth step S4, the control unit detects the position of the movable part 7.Preferably, the detection of the spatial position of the moving part 7 occurs continuously. In the fifth step S5, the stroke of the cable clamp 2a in the z-direction is set via the control unit using the z-linear motor 9 of the cable clamp 2a, depending on the detected position of the moving part 7. In the last step S6, the cable clamp 2a, with the clamped conductor 4, returns to a starting position via the x-linear motor, the y-linear motor 10, and / or the z-linear motor 9 of the cable clamp holder 2. Finally, the cable clamp 2a is released from the cable clamp holder 2. The steps S3 attaching the crimp sleeve 6, S4 detecting the position of the moving part 7, and S5 setting the stroke of the cable clamp 2 can be performed in parallel / simultaneously, or the sequence of these steps S3 to S5 is not fixed.Regarding steps S4 (detecting the position of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5 via a control unit) and S5 (setting a stroke of the line tensioner 3 depending on the detected position of the moving part 7 of the crimper 5 using a z-linear motor 9 of the line tensioner mount 2 via the control unit), it should be noted that the movement between the moving part 7 of the crimper 5 and the line tensioner 2a is permanently synchronized with each other. Reference symbol list

[0050] 1 Crimping device 2 Wire tensioner holder 2a Wire tensioner 2b Clamping jaws 2c Actuating section 2d Coupling plate 3 Wire end 4 Wire 5 Crimper 6 Crimp sleeve 7 Moving part (of the crimper), in particular crimp die 8 Fixed part (of the crimper), in particular anvil 9z Linear motor 10y Linear motor 11z Linear motor shaft 12y Linear motor shaft 13 Housing

Claims

1. Crimping device (1) comprising a crimper (5) designed to attach a crimp sleeve (6) to a conductor end (3) of a cable by pressing a movable part (7) of the crimper (5) onto a stationary part (8) of the crimper (5), and a conductor tensioner receptacle (2) for a conductor tensioner (2a), wherein the conductor tensioner (2a) is configured to feed the conductor end (3) of the conductor (4) of the cable to the crimper (5), wherein the conductor tensioner receptacle (2) releasably fixes the conductor tensioner (2a) for the duration of the pressing operation, wherein the crimping device (1) further comprises a control unit configured and designed to adjust the position of the conductor tensioner (2a) as a function of a detected position of the movable part (7) of the crimper (5) during the movement of the movable part (7) of the crimper (5) by controlling a motor. which is part of the line tensioner mount (2).

2. Crimping device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cable tensioner receptacle (2) has a z-linear motor (9) for adjusting a stroke of the cable tensioner (2a), wherein it is provided in particular that the z-linear motor (9) is arranged below the cable tensioner (2a) and supports the weight of the cable tensioner (2a) at least partially.

3. Crimping device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the crimper (5) has a crimper drive which is configured to move the movable part (7) of the crimper (5) vertically to / from the stationary part (8) of the crimper (5), preferably periodically, wherein a signal taken from the crimper drive is supplied to the control unit.

4. Crimping device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact thatthe control unit is set up and designed to adjust a vertical position of the line tensioner (2a) via the z-linear motor (9) depending on the position of the moving part (7).

5. Crimping device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by the fact that the wire tensioner receptacle (2) has an x-linear motor for moving the wire tensioner (2) laterally relative to the crimper (5) and a y-linear motor (10) for moving the wire tensioner (2a) to / from the crimper (5), wherein it is particularly provided that the y-linear motor (10) and / or the x-linear motor is arranged below the wire tensioner (2a).

6. Crimping device (1) according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the control unit is set up and designed to adjust a horizontal position of the line tensioner (2a) via the x-linear motor and the y-linear motor (10) depending on the position of the moving part (7).

7. Crimping device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that the control unit is set up and designed to determine the position of the line tensioner (2a) via position sensors on the respective linear motors.

8. Crimping device (1) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the control unit is set up and trained to check the detected position of the line tensioner (2a) and to output an error signal if a deviation is detected between the detected position and the position to be set of the line tensioner (2a).

9. Crimping device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the control unit is set up and designed to determine the position of the moving part (7) of the crimper (5) via a rotary encoder in the crimper drive.

10. Method for crimping a crimp sleeve (6) onto / to a wire end (3) of a conductor (4), characterized bythe steps are: moving (S1) a wire tensioner (2a) with a conductor (4) towards a crimper (5) into a starting position and fixing the wire tensioner (2a) in a wire tensioner holder (2) of the crimper (5); feeding (S2) a wire end (3) of the conductor (4) to the crimper (5) via a y-linear motor (10) of the wire tensioner holder (2); attaching (S3) a crimp sleeve (6) to the wire end (3) by pressing a moving part (7) of the crimper (5) onto a stationary part (8) of the crimper (5); detecting (S4) a position of the moving part (7) of the crimper (5) via a control unit; Setting (S5) a stroke of the cable tensioner (2a) depending on the detected position of the moving part (7) using a z-linear motor (9) of the cable tensioner mount (2) via the control unit;Returning (S6) the wire tensioner (2) with the conductor (4) through the wire tensioner receptacle (2) of the crimper (5) to the initial position, and releasing the fixation of the wire tensioner (2a) with the wire tensioner receptacle (2) of the crimper (5).;

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