Cable processing device

Abstract

To provide a cable processing device capable of processing a tip end part of a cable with high quality.SOLUTION: A cable processing device 200 comprises: a first station that has a plurality of processing stations St2 to St6; a second station that includes a plurality of other processing stations St7 to St9; a first transportation device 110 that transports a cable 1 to the plurality of processing stations St2 to St6 of the first station; and a second transportation device that transports the cable 1 to the plurality of other processing stations St7 to St9 of the second station. The second transportation device comprises a carrier 120 that can grip the cable 1; and a carrier movement device 121 that moves the carrier. The carrier movement device moves the carrier among a receiving position where the cable 1 is received, a plurality of opposite positions that respectively face each of the plurality of other processing stations St7 to St9 of the second station, and a release position where the cable after the processing is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable processing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a method for insulating a drain wire of a multi-core shielded cable having a drain wire has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, after removing the sheath to expose the covered wire (core wire) and the drain wire, the drain wire is bent at 90 degrees to separate it from the core wire, and a method for insulating the drain wire by inserting the drain wire into a heat shrinkable tube is disclosed. In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, thereafter, the heat shrinkable tube is heated and shrunk, whereby the drain wire is insulated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, a cable processing device that can perform high-quality processing of the tip of a cable is proposed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The cable processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first station having a plurality of processing stations arranged side by side, each configured to process the tip of a cable, a second station having another plurality of processing stations arranged side by side, each configured to process the tip of the cable, a first transfer device configured to transfer the cable to the plurality of processing stations of the first station, and a second transfer device configured to transfer the cable to the other plurality of processing stations of the second station. The second station is arranged on the downstream side of the cable transfer path with respect to the first station. The second transfer device includes a carrier capable of gripping the cable and a carrier moving device configured to move the carrier. The carrier moving device moves the carrier between a take-up position where the cable is taken up, a plurality of opposing positions each facing the other plurality of processing stations of the second station, and a release position where the cable after processing is released.

[0006] According to the above cable processing apparatus, during the processing of the tip of the cable at the second station, the cable can be transferred without being re-gripped. Therefore, there is no possibility that the position of the tip of the cable changes due to re-gripping, and the position is stabilized. As a result, the processing of the tip of the cable can be performed with high quality.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

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Figure 15

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] [Overview of the Processing Device] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a multi-core cable, which is the object of line processing here, specifically, a multi-core shielded cable 1 having a shield will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-core shielded cable 1 according to an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-core shielded cable 1 includes a sheath 2, a drain wire 3 and a plurality of core wires 4 inserted through the sheath 2, and a shield 5. The multi-core shielded cable 1 is an electric wire in which the drain wire 3, the plurality of core wires 4, and the shield 5 are covered by the sheath 2. The plurality of core wires 4 are used, for example, as signal lines for transmitting electrical signals. Each of the plurality of core wires 4 has a core wire 4a and a coating 4b of an insulator covering the core wire 4a. The shield 5 is a conductor that shields the core wires 4 from external noise. The shield 5 covers the outside of the plurality of core wires 4. The drain wire 3 is electrically connected to the shield 5. The drain wire 3 is grounded, whereby the shield 5 is grounded. The drain wire 3 is composed of a plurality of thin conductor strands and is not covered with an insulator. Although not shown, the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are twisted inside the shield 5. The shield 5 is covered by an insulating sheath 2. The number of core wires 4 is not particularly limited. Hereinafter, when the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are not particularly distinguished, they may be collectively referred to as core wires.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a processing apparatus 200 (hereinafter simply referred to as a processing apparatus) for the multi-core shielded cable 1 according to an embodiment. The processing apparatus 200 is an apparatus that performs insulation treatment on the drain wire 3 and crimps a terminal 8 to the tip thereof, and further crimps the terminal 8 to the tips of the plurality of core wires 4. The insulation treatment for the drain wire 3 is, here, a process of covering the drain wire 3 with a heat-shrinkable tube 6 and heat-shrinking the heat-shrinkable tube 6. In the present embodiment, a rubber plug 7 for waterproofing is also attached to the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, but the attachment of the rubber plug 7 may be omitted depending on the specifications of the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 2, the processing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment includes ten stations from the first station St1 to the tenth station St10. The multi-core shielded cable 1 is conveyed between the stations from the first station St1 toward the tenth station St10. The first station St1 to the ninth station St9 are provided side by side in the conveying direction of the multi-core shielded cable 1 (here, the left-right direction in FIG. 2). At the first station St1, a process of measuring the length of the multi-core shielded cable 1 and cutting it to a predetermined length is performed. At the second station St2, a process of making a cut in the sheath 2 and pulling out the sheath 2 on the tip side is performed. In this process, the sheath 2 is not pulled out until it is detached from the multi-core shielded cable 1 and remains inserted into the multi-core shielded cable 1. Further, when pulling out the sheath 2, the sheath 2 is rotated in the circumferential direction, and a process of untwisting the twisted core wires of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is performed. Hereinafter, the process performed at the second station St2 is also referred to as "semi-stripping of the sheath 2".

[0011] At the third station St3, the drain wire 3 exposed by the semi-stripping of the sheath 2 is detected by the camera 31a (see FIG. 5), and the multi-core shielded cable 1 is rotated so that the drain wire 3 is positioned at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the multi-core shielded cable 1. Further, the sheath 2 is completely pulled out from the multi-core shielded cable 1. Hereinafter, this process of completely pulling out the sheath 2 from the multi-core shielded cable 1 is also referred to as "full stripping of the sheath 2". At the third station St3, thereafter, only the plurality of core wires 4 are bent while avoiding the drain wire 3 to separate the drain wire 3 from the plurality of core wires 4.

[0012] At the fourth station St4, a correction process of the drain wire 3 is performed in which the drain wire 3 is twisted and stretched straight. At the fifth station St5, an insulation process is performed in which the heat shrinkable tube 6 is put on the drain wire 3 and the heat shrinkable tube 6 is heat-shrunk. At the sixth station St6, the plurality of core wires 4 are bent back and aligned with the drain wire 3 that has been subjected to the insulation process.

[0013] At the seventh station St7, rubber stoppers 7 are attached to a plurality of core wires 4. At the eighth station St8, the tip of the heat-shrinkable tube 6 of the drain wire 3 and the tip of the coating 4b of the core wire 4 are stripped. At the ninth station St9, terminals 8 are crimped to the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. At the tenth station St10, the processed multi-core shielded cable 1 is discharged.

[0014] Note that each process does not necessarily have to be performed according to the above station division. Which process is performed at which station may be set as appropriate and is not particularly limited. Also, the order of the processes may be changed as appropriate as much as possible. Furthermore, the processing device 200 does not have to be installed in one place and may be divided and installed in a plurality of places. As will be described later, the devices for transporting the multi-core shielded cable 1 are different between the second station St2 to the sixth station St6 and the seventh station St7 and later. Therefore, for example, the processing device 200 may be divided into a device including the first station St1 to the sixth station St6 and a device including the seventh station St7 to the tenth station St10.

[0015] At each of the first station St1 to the tenth station St10, a device for performing the process at each station is installed. At the first station St1, a feeding device 11 for transporting the multi-core shielded cable 1, a length measuring device 12 for measuring the length of the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a cutting device 13 for cutting the multi-core shielded cable 1 to a predetermined length are provided.

[0016] Downstream of the first station St1, a conveying device 110 is provided for conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1 after cutting to the devices of the second station St2 to the sixth station St6. Specifically, the conveying device 110 conveys the multi-core shielded cable 1 to the cutting device 21, sheath semi-stripping device 22, drain wire detection device 31, sheath stripping device 32, core wire separation device 33, drain wire correction device 41, insulation treatment device 51, bending return device 61, and alignment device 62, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, before conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1 to the second station St2, the conveying device 110 performs a process of bending the multi-core shielded cable 1 into a U shape. Hereinafter, the function of the conveying device 110 that bends the multi-core shielded cable 1 into a U shape is also referred to as the bending device 110A. As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-core shielded cable 1 is bent so that both ends are aligned in the arrangement direction of the first station St1 to the ninth station St9 (the left-right direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2). Thereby, both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 face the direction of the stations St1 to St9 (in FIG. 2, the upward direction on the paper surface). The conveying device 110 includes a pair of conveying clamps 111 that grip both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent into a U shape, and a clamp moving device 112 that moves the conveying clamps 111 in the arrangement direction of the first station St1 to the ninth station St9 (the left-right direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2). The second station St2 to the sixth station St6 are arranged along the moving path of the conveying clamps 111 by the clamp moving device 112. The processing device 200 is a device that performs processing on both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1. The device provided at one station (for example, the second station St2) processes the other end while the device provided at another processing station (for example, the third station St3) processes one end of the multi-core shielded cable 1. Thereby, the cycle time of processing the multi-core shielded cable 1 is shortened. Further, here, a plurality of pairs of conveying clamps 111 are provided so that the multi-core shielded cable 1 can be continuously processed.

[0017] At the entrances of the second station St2 to the sixth station St6, fixed clamps 130 are provided that grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 and rotate it in the circumferential direction. Each fixed clamp 130 is also composed of a pair and grips both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent in a U shape. The fixed clamp 130 of each station receives and grips the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the transport clamp 111 of the transport device 110 at the entrance of the station. When the processing at each station is completed, the fixed clamp 130 of each station delivers the multi-core shielded cable 1 to the transport clamp 111. Note that the function of the fixed clamp 130 of each station may be borne by the transport clamp 111 with a configuration added to rotate the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0018] The second station St2 is provided with a cutting device 21 for making a cut in the sheath 2 and a sheath semi-stripping device 22 for semi-stripping the sheath 2. The third station St3 is provided with a drain wire detection device 31 for detecting the circumferential position of the drain wire 3, a sheath stripping device 32 for fully stripping the sheath 2, and a core wire separation device 33 for separating the core wires 4. The circumferential alignment of the drain wire 3 is performed by the sheath stripping device 32 and the fixed clamp 130 based on the detection by the drain wire detection device 31. Note that the sheath semi-stripping device 22 and the sheath stripping device 32 may be one device provided at the same station. The pulling device for pulling out the sheath 2 may be divided into a plurality as in this embodiment or may be integrated into one. For example, in this embodiment, the semi-stripping of the sheath 2 involves the rotation of the multi-core shielded cable 1 in the circumferential direction, and the rotation of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is performed by the fixed clamp 130. The pulling device is divided into the sheath semi-stripping device 22, the sheath stripping device 32, and two fixed clamps 130. The same applies to other devices, and the devices for performing one process may be divided into a plurality, or the devices for performing a plurality of processes may be integrated into one.

[0019] At the fourth station St4, a drain line correction device 41 for correcting the drain line 3 is provided. The drain line correction device 41, the sheath semi-stripping device 22, and the sheath stripping device 32 may be a single device provided at the same station. The above devices may be divided into a plurality as in this embodiment, or may be integrated into one. At the fifth station St5, an insulation treatment device 51 is provided. The insulation treatment device 51 includes a tube reel 52 around which a reel of the heat shrinkable tube 6 is wound, a tube mounting device 53 that cuts the heat shrinkable tube 6 to a predetermined length and inserts the drain line 3 into the heat shrinkable tube 6, and a heating device 54 that heats and shrinks the heat shrinkable tube 6.

[0020] At the sixth station St6, a bending-back device 61 for realigning the drain line 3 separated by the core wire separation device 33 and the plurality of core wires 4, and an alignment device 62 for aligning the drain line 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are provided. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, the bending-back device 61 and the alignment device 62 share a part of the configuration and are integrated. However, the bending-back device 61 and the alignment device 62 may be configured separately. Before the bending-back process, the multi-core shield cable 1 is rotated in the circumferential direction so that the drain line 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are arranged along the horizontal plane. This rotation process is performed by the fixed clamp 130.

[0021] Downstream of the sixth station St6, there are provided a shuttle 120 that individually grips the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 of the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a shuttle transfer device 121 that transfers the shuttle 120 to the seventh station St7 to the tenth station St10. Between the sixth station St6 and the seventh station St7, the multi-core shielded cable 1 is transferred from the transfer device 110 to the shuttle 120. The seventh station St7 to the tenth station St10 are arranged along the transfer path of the shuttle 120 by the shuttle transfer device 121. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of shuttles (not shown), and they circulate along a loop-shaped movement path. The shuttle 120 includes a plurality of individual clamps 120a that individually grip the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, and a loading device 120b that individually brings the plurality of individual clamps 120a close to the crimping devices 91, 92, etc.

[0022] A rubber stopper mounting device 71 is provided at the seventh station St7. A core wire stripping device 81 is provided at the eighth station St8. At the ninth station St9, a right crimping device 91 and a left crimping device 92 are provided. Since different terminals 8 may be crimped to both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent in a U shape, a right crimping device 91 and a left crimping device 92 are provided at the ninth station St9. At the tenth station St10, a discharge tray 101 for good products and a discharge tray 102 for defective products are provided. The shuttle 120 releases the good multi-core shielded cable 1 on the discharge tray 101 for good products and drops the good multi-core shielded cable 1 onto the discharge tray 101 for good products. The shuttle 120 releases the defective multi-core shielded cable 1 on the discharge tray 102 for defective products and drops the defective multi-core shielded cable 1 onto the discharge tray 102 for defective products. The determination of whether it is a good product or a defective product is made here at the seventh station St7 to the ninth station St9, respectively. The multi-core shielded cable 1 determined to be a defective product is discharged to the discharge tray 102 for defective products without proceeding to the next process.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the processing apparatus 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the processing apparatus 200 includes a control device 150. The operations of each part of the processing apparatus 200 are controlled by the control device 150. The control device 150 is connected to a feeding device 11, a length measuring device 12, a cutting device 13, a cutting-in device 21, a sheath semi-stripping device 22, a drain wire detecting device 31, a sheath stripping device 32, a core wire separating device 33, a drain wire correcting device 41, a tube mounting device 53, a heating device 54, a bending-back device 61, an aligning device 62, a rubber stopper mounting device 71, a core wire stripping device 81, a right crimping device 91, a left crimping device 92, a conveying clamp 111 and a clamp moving device 112 of a conveying device 110, a loading device 120b of a shuttle 120, a shuttle conveying device 121, and a plurality of fixed clamps 130 (only one is shown in the figure), and controls their operations. The configuration of the control device 150 is not particularly limited. The control device 150 may include, for example, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a ROM in which programs executed by the CPU and the like are stored, and a RAM. Each part of the control device 150 may be configured by software or by hardware. Further, each part may be a processor or a circuit. The control device 150 may be, for example, a programmable controller or a computer.

[0024] [Details of the process] Hereinafter, the details of the processes performed at each station will be described. In the following description, the direction of stations St1 to St9 as viewed from the conveying device 110 or the shuttle 120 is called the front and is represented by the symbol F. The left and right directions are the left and right directions as viewed toward the front. In the drawings, F, Rr, L, R, U, and D represent the front, rear, left, right, up, and down, respectively. However, these directions are for convenience of explanation and do not limit the installation mode of the processing apparatus 200 in any way. For example, since the movement path of the conveying device 110 or the shuttle 120 may not be a straight line, the front may change depending on the station. Note that the description of the processes performed at the first station St1 and the tenth station St10 will be omitted.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the second station St2. As shown in FIG. 4, the second station St2 includes a cutting device 21 provided forward of the fixed clamp 130 and a sheath semi-stripping device 22 provided further forward of the cutting device 21. The fixed clamp 130 holds the multi-core shielded cable 1 substantially horizontally. The cutting device 21 forms a cut in the sheath 2 along the circumferential direction. The cutting device 21 includes two or more cutting blades 21a disposed around the multi-core shielded cable 1. The cutting device 21 is configured to rotate the cutting blades 21a around the multi-core shielded cable 1. The cutting device 21 forms a cut in the sheath 2 by bringing the cutting blades 21a closer and rotating while sandwiching the multi-core shielded cable 1 with the cutting blades 21a.

[0026] The sheath semi-stripping device 22 moves the sheath 2 on the tip side of the multi-core shielded cable 1 relative to the sheath 2 on the root side toward the tip side, exposing the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The semi-stripping of the sheath 2 is a process of pulling out the sheath 2 on the tip side so that a part of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 is exposed and the sheath 2 on the tip side remains on the other part (here, the tip part) of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The semi-stripping is performed before the detection of the drain wire 3 by the drain wire detection device 31. Note that the full stripping is performed after the detection of the drain wire 3 by the drain wire detection device 31.

[0027] The fixed clamp 130 and the sheath semi-stripping device 22 move the tip-side sheath 2 toward the tip side of the multi-core shielded cable 1 while rotating the tip-side sheath 2 circumferentially with respect to the base-side sheath 2 in the semi-stripping process. Here, the multi-core shielded cable 1 including the base-side sheath 2 is gripped and rotated by the fixed clamp 130, and the tip-side sheath 2 is moved toward the tip side by the sheath semi-stripping device 22. The fixed clamp 130 and the sheath semi-stripping device 22 are configured to untwist the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 in this way. The sheath semi-stripping device 22 includes a clamp 22a that grips the tip-side sheath 2 and a clamp moving device 22b that moves the clamp 22a in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0028] In the semi-stripping process, the clamp 22a grips the sheath 2 on the tip side of the cut. Next, the fixed clamp 130 rotates in a direction to untwist the core wire, and the clamp 22a moves toward the tip side of the multi-core shielded cable 1. As a result, the tip-side sheath 2 comes off, and the twist of the core wire is untwisted. By untwisting the core wire, the detection of the position of the drain wire 3 in the subsequent process can be easily carried out. Also, in the present embodiment, the cycle time of processing the multi-core shielded cable 1 is shortened by simultaneously pulling out the sheath 2 and untwisting the core wire. The movement of the clamp 22a is stopped before the tip-side sheath 2 is completely detached from the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. As a result, the semi-stripping including the untwisting of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 is completed.

[0029] However, in semi-stripping and untwisting, the members that move in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core shield cable 1 and the members that rotate in the circumferential direction of the multi-core shield cable 1 are not limited to the above. In semi-stripping, at least one of the tip-side sheath 2 and the root-side sheath 2 may be moved to separate the tip-side sheath 2 and the root-side sheath 2 in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core shield cable 1. At this time, the root-side sheath 2 may be moved, or both the tip-side sheath 2 and the root-side sheath 2 may be moved. "Pulling out the tip-side sheath 2" means such relative movement between the tip-side sheath 2 and the root-side sheath 2. In untwisting, the tip-side sheath 2 may be pulled out while rotating at least one of the tip-side sheath 2 and the root-side sheath 2 so that the tip-side sheath 2 rotates in the circumferential direction with respect to the root-side sheath 2. Thereby, the twists of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are released. The same applies to the movement and rotation in other devices, and the moving or rotating member may be the member on the opposite side of the described member, or both.

[0030] The cutting and semi-stripping of the sheath 2 are first performed on the front end (here, the left end) in the conveying direction of the multi-core shield cable 1 bent in a U shape. Thereafter, the multi-core shield cable 1 is moved to the left, and the cutting and semi-stripping of the sheath 2 are performed on the right end of the multi-core shield cable 1. When the cutting and semi-stripping of the sheath 2 are being performed on the right end of the multi-core shield cable 1, the processing at the third station St3 may be performed on the left end of the multi-core shield cable 1. This is the same for other processes performed at the third station St3 to the sixth station St6 unless otherwise specified.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the third station St3. As shown in FIG. 5, a drain wire detection device 31 equipped with a camera 31a is provided at the third station St3. The drain wire detection device 31 detects the exposed drain wire 3 and detects the position of the drain wire 3 in the circumferential direction of the multi-core shield cable 1. Here, the drain wire detection device 31 images the exposed drain wire 3 and a plurality of core wires 4 with the camera 31a. The drain wire 3 is composed of conductor strands and has a metallic luster. The plurality of core wires 4 are covered with a coating 4b. Therefore, the drain wire detection device 31 can distinguish between the drain wire 3 and the core wires 4.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the sheath stripping device 32 of the third station St3 has a rotary clamp 32a and a clamp moving device 32b that moves the rotary clamp 32a in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core shield cable 1. The rotary clamp 32a grips the tip-side sheath 2 (the sheath 2 that has not been completely removed from the multi-core shield cable 1). When the circumferential position of the drain wire 3 is detected by the drain wire detection device 31, the fixed clamp 130 and the rotary clamp 32a of the sheath stripping device 32 rotate synchronously to direct the drain wire 3 in the 0 o'clock direction in the front-rear view. When the drain wire detection device 31 detects that the drain wire 3 is at the 0 o'clock position, the rotation of the fixed clamp 130 and the rotary clamp 32a of the sheath stripping device 32 stops. Thereafter, the sheath stripping device 32 performs a full strip that further moves the tip-side sheath 2 to the tip side of the multi-core shield cable 1 and separates it from the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The full strip is performed after the detection of the drain wire 3 by the drain wire detection device 31. This is to prevent the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 from spreading apart and becoming difficult to detect when the drain wire 3 is detected by the drain wire detection device 31. Since the sheath 2 remains at the tip portions of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are suppressed from spreading apart.

[0033] Note that the detection method of the drain wire 3 is not limited to the method of imaging the drain wire 3 by the camera 31a. The position of the drain wire 3 may be detected, for example, by a probe that passes an electric current through the drain wire 3.

[0034] The core wire separator 33 of the third station St3 separates the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 based on the circumferential position of the drain wire 3 detected by the drain wire detector 31. By separating the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, the processing of the drain wire 3 in the subsequent process becomes easier. Here, the core wire separator 33 separates the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 by urging the plurality of core wires 4 downward. As a result, the plurality of core wires 4 are bent downward and separated from the drain wire 3. The reason for urging the plurality of core wires 4 is that since the core wires 4 are covered with the coating 4b, the conductor strands can be bent without coming apart. However, the separator for the core wire 4 and the drain wire 3 only needs to be configured to separate the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 by urging at least one of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, and is not limited to the embodiment as described. The separator may separate the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, for example, by urging the drain wire 3 or both the core wire 4 and the drain wire 3. Further, the separator may plastically bend the plurality of core wires 4 (or the drain wire 3) as in the present embodiment, or may elastically bend the plurality of core wires 4 (or the drain wire 3) so as to return when the urging is stopped.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the third station St3, showing the state where the core wires 4 are separated. As shown in FIG. 6, the core wire separating device 33 includes a pair of left and right hooks 33a, a hook opening / closing device 33b, and a hook moving device 33c. The pair of hooks 33a open and close by moving in the left-right direction so as to move away from or approach each other. The hook opening / closing device 33b is a driving unit that opens and closes the pair of hooks 33a. The hook moving device 33c is a driving unit that moves the pair of hooks 33a in the vertical direction. When the pair of hooks 33a close, the pair of hooks 33a surround the multi-core shield cable 1 except in the 0 o'clock direction in the front-rear direction view. In this state, when the pair of hooks 33a are moved downward by the hook moving device 33c, the plurality of core wires 4 are hooked by the pair of hooks 33a and bent downward. The drain wire 3 is not hooked by the pair of hooks 33a and is left behind. Thereby, the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are separated. Note that the circumferential position where the drain wire 3 is positioned is not limited to the 0 o'clock direction, and the bending direction of the core wires 4 is not limited to downward.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the fourth station St4. Before the insulation treatment, a drain line correction device 41 for correcting the separated drain line 3 is provided at the fourth station St4. The drain line correction device 41 corrects the separated drain line 3 by applying a tensile tension while twisting the separated drain line 3 in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the drain line correction device 41 has a rotary clamp 41a and a clamp moving device 41b that moves the rotary clamp 41a in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core shield cable 1. In the correction of the drain line 3, the vicinity of the root of the exposed portion of the drain line 3 is gripped by the rotary clamp 41a. At this time, the rotary clamp 41a grips the exposed portion of the drain line 3 with a weak gripping force such that the gripping portion slips when the rotary clamp 41a is moved forward. The drain line correction device 41 rotates the rotary clamp 41a and moves it forward while the drain line 3 is gripped by the rotary clamp 41a with the above-mentioned weak gripping force. When the rotary clamp 41a moves to the vicinity of the tip of the drain line 3, the drain line correction device 41 strengthens the gripping force of the rotary clamp 41a and firmly twists the drain line 3. As a result, the drain line 3 is firmly twisted and corrected to a straight shape. When the drain line 3 is corrected, the insulation treatment of the drain line 3 becomes easier.

[0037] However, the drain line correction device 41 only needs to be configured to apply a tensile tension while twisting the drain line 3 in the circumferential direction, and its operation is not limited to the above. For example, the drain line correction device 41 may be configured to initially strongly grip the vicinity of the tip of the drain line 3 and twist the drain line 3 while applying a tensile tension.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the fifth station St5. As shown in FIG. 8, the fifth station St5 is provided with an insulation treatment device 51 for insulating the separated drain line 3. Here, the insulation treatment device 51 includes a tube reel 52 around which the heat shrinkable tube 6 before cutting is wound, a tube mounting device 53 for inserting the separated drain line 3 into the heat shrinkable tube 6, and a heating device 54 for heating the heat shrinkable tube 6 with the drain line 3 inserted therein. In the insulation treatment process, the heat shrinkable tube 6 is pulled out from the reel by the tube mounting device 53 and cut to a predetermined length by a tube cutter 53a of the tube mounting device 53. Here, the tube mounting device 53 moves a holding portion 53b that holds the heat shrinkable tube 6 after cutting backward (toward the fixed clamp 130). The tube mounting device 53 includes a holding portion moving device 53c that moves the holding portion 53b in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the drain line 3 is inserted into the heat shrinkable tube 6. In that state, the heating device 54 blows hot air into the holding portion 53b. Thereby, the heat shrinkable tube 6 shrinks thermally, and the drain line 3 is insulated.

[0039] The method of insulating the drain line 3 is not limited to the method of covering the drain line 3 with the heat shrinkable tube 6. The insulation treatment of the drain line 3 may be performed, for example, by winding an insulating tape around the drain line 3. However, the method of covering the drain line 3 with the heat shrinkable tube 6 has the advantage of being easy to implement by an automatic machine.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the sixth station St6. As shown in FIG. 9, the sixth station St6 is provided with a straightening device 61 for straightening a plurality of core wires 4 bent in the separation process, and an aligning device 62 for aligning the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The straightening device 61 is an example of a return device that realigns the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 separated in the separation process. Here, the plurality of core wires 4 bent in the separation process are straightened to realign the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. However, in the case where only the plurality of core wires 4 (or the drain wire 3) are elastically deformed in the separation process, the return device may be a device that releases the biasing force of the plurality of core wires 4 (or the drain wire 3). As described above, in the present embodiment, the straightening device 61 and the aligning device 62 share a part of the configuration and are integrated.

[0041] At the sixth station St6, before the straightening process and the aligning process, a rotation process is performed to rotate the multi-core shield cable 1 in the circumferential direction so that the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction, here the left-right direction. In the rotation process, the fixed clamp 130 rotates the multi-core shield cable 1 in the circumferential direction and positions the drain wire 3 at a predetermined rotation position, here the 3 o'clock direction in a front view. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the drain wire 3 moves to the leftmost among the plurality of core wires. The fixed clamp 130 rotates the multi-core shield cable 1 by 90 degrees here. After the rotation process, the plurality of core wires 4 are located to the right of the drain wire 3. Note that the drain wire 3 may be positioned at the right end in the rotation process. Although details will be described later, by determining the position of the drain wire 3 at the left end or the right end, subsequent processes can be easily performed.

[0042] The bending-back device 61 performs bending-back to bend back the one (here, the core wire 4) that has been bent by the core wire separating device 33 among the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. As shown in FIG. 9, the bending-back device 61 includes a pair of upper and lower rollers 61a (only the lower roller 61a is shown in the figure), an opening / closing device for the roller 61a (not shown), and a roller moving device 61b. In the bending-back operation, first, the bending-back device 61 drives the opening / closing device to sandwich the exposed drain wire 3 and the root portions of the plurality of core wires 4 (near the remaining sheath 2) with the pair of rollers 61a. The rollers 61a are configured to rotate in the front-rear direction. The rollers 61a are provided with a plurality of grooves corresponding to the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, respectively. The plurality of grooves are formed along the outer peripheral surface of the rollers 61a. The bending-back device 61 drives the roller moving device 61b with the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 sandwiched by the pair of rollers 61a to move the pair of rollers 61a forward. As a result, the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 (particularly the plurality of core wires 4 bent in the separation step) are straightened straight in the front-rear direction along the grooves of the rollers 61a. However, the method of bending back the core wire 4 is not limited to the method using the rollers as described above.

[0043] The alignment device 62 is configured to arrange the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 at a predetermined interval in the left - right direction. The alignment of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 is performed after the bending - back process. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the sixth station St6, showing a state in which the drain wire 3 and the core wires 4 are aligned. As shown in FIG. 10, the alignment device 62 includes an alignment member 62a for aligning the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, and a moving device 62b for approaching the alignment member 62a to the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The alignment member 62a is a flat - plate - shaped member extending in the left - right direction and the up - down direction, and has a plurality of comb teeth 62a1 arranged in the left - right direction. Between the comb teeth 62a1, a plurality of gaps 62a2 corresponding to the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are provided. The moving device 62b moves the alignment member 62a in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the core wires, here the up - down direction, and inserts the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 into the plurality of gaps 62a2 of the alignment member 62a respectively. Note that the moving device 62b may move the multi - core shielded cable 1, or may move both the alignment member 62a and the multi - core shielded cable 1. The moving device 62b only needs to be configured to move at least one of the alignment member 62a and the multi - core shielded cable 1. In the alignment member 62a, the plurality of gaps 62a2 are formed so as to be farther apart from each other toward the front in the moving direction (here, upward, which is the rear in the moving direction of the alignment member 62a) when the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are inserted. The plurality of gaps 62a2 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left - right direction at the front end in the moving direction of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 (that is, the abutment of the gaps 62a2). As shown in FIG. 10, when the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are inserted up to the abutment of the gaps 62a2, the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the left - right direction. By this alignment, the left - right positions of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are specified, and subsequent processes, for example, the process of delivering the multi - core shielded cable 1 to the shuttle 120 can be performed smoothly.

[0044] After the alignment process, the multi-core shielded cable 1 is transferred from the conveying device 110 to the shuttle 120. As shown in, for example, FIG. 11, the shuttle 120 includes a plurality of individual clamps 120a arranged at substantially the same intervals as the aligned drain wires 3 and the plurality of core wires 4. The plurality of individual clamps 120a grip the insulated drain wires 3 and the plurality of core wires 4, respectively. Here, each individual clamp 120a is configured to sandwich the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 with an elastic force. The drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are pushed into the plurality of individual clamps 120a by, for example, another comb tooth (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of individual clamps 120a include an upstream group 120R that grips the plurality of core wires 3, 4 exposed at the upstream end of the bent multi-core shielded cable 1, and is disposed downstream in the conveying direction from the upstream group 120R, and a downstream group 120L that grips the plurality of core wires 3, 4 exposed at the downstream end of the bent multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the seventh station St7. As shown in FIG. 11, the seventh station St7 is configured such that the tip of the core wire 4 is loaded, and a rubber plug mounting device 71 for mounting a rubber plug 7 on the loaded core wire 4 is provided. In the present embodiment, the rubber plug mounting device 71 includes a rubber plug supply device 71a and a rubber plug clamp 71b. The rubber plug supply device 71a supplies the rubber plug 7 into the rubber plug clamp 71b by, for example, compressed air or the like. The rubber plug clamp 71b grips the rubber plug 7 from the outside in the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the shuttle 120 includes a loading device 120b that individually moves a plurality of individual clamps 120a in the front-rear direction. The loading device 120b individually moves the plurality of individual clamps 120a before the covering of the tip of the core wire 4 is peeled off, and individually loads the core wire 4 gripped by the individual clamps 120a into the rubber plug mounting device 71. The core wire 4 is inserted into the rubber plug 7 by moving forward together with the individual clamp 120a. In the present embodiment, while the shuttle 120 intermittently moves to the left, rubber plugs 7 are sequentially mounted on eight ends of the four core wires 4. Such intermittent movement of the shuttle 120 is the same in the core wire stripping process except that the drain wire 3 is also a processing target. Further, such intermittent movement of the shuttle 120 is the same in the crimping process except that the drain wire 3 is also a processing target and the left and right ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 are processed by different crimping devices 91 and 92.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the eighth station St8. As shown in FIG. 12, the eighth station St8 is configured such that the tip of the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 is loaded, and a core wire stripping device 81 for peeling the covering of the tip of the loaded drain wire 3 or core wire 4 is provided. The loading device 120b of the shuttle 120 individually moves a plurality of individual clamps 120a and individually loads the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 gripped by the individual clamps 120a into the core wire stripping device 81. The core wire stripping device 81 includes a pair of stripping blades 81a.

[0047] The drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 with stripped tips are trimmed by a cutter (not shown) of the core wire stripping device 81 so that the tip positions are aligned. By the trimming process, the tip positions of the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 are specified. As a result, the crimping process can be performed smoothly.

[0048] FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of the ninth station St9. As shown in FIG. 13, the ninth station St9 is configured to load the tip portions of the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4, and a right crimping device 91 for crimping the terminal 8 to the tip portion of the loaded drain wire 3 or core wire 4 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the ninth station St9 is also provided with a left crimping device 92. The loading device 120b of the shuttle 120 individually moves a plurality of individual clamps 120a, and the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 held by the individual clamps 120a and with the coating at the tip portion peeled off is individually loaded into the crimping device 91 or 92. Since the configuration of the right crimping device 91 and the configuration of the left crimping device 92 are the same, only the configuration of the right crimping device 91 will be described below.

[0049] The right crimping device 91 includes an applicator 91a, a press (not shown) for pressing the applicator 91a, and a terminal reel 91b. The applicator 91a includes a crimper (not shown), which is a die for forming the terminal 8, and an anvil 91a1. The crimper and the anvil 91a1 face each other in the vertical direction. When the terminal 8 is supplied from the terminal reel 91b between the crimper and the anvil 91a1 and the press is driven with the tip portion of the core wire of the multi-core shield cable 1 inserted between the crimper and the anvil 91a1, the crimper and the anvil 91a1 approach each other, and the terminal 8 is crimped to the tip portion of the core wire of the multi-core shield cable 1.

[0050] For quality control, it is preferable to perform the attachment of the rubber stopper 7, the stripping of the core wire, and the crimping of the terminal 8 on each core wire one by one. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 is loaded one by one into the rubber stopper attachment device 71, the core wire stripping device 81, the right crimping device 91, or the left crimping device 92 by the loading device 120b. In this embodiment, since the left - right position of the core wire is specified by the alignment process, the attachment of the rubber stopper 7, the stripping of the core wire, and the crimping of the terminal 8 can be reliably performed. Also, since the drain wire 3 is arranged at the left end in the rotation process, in the subsequent process, the position of the drain wire 3 is also specified (that is, it is known that the core wire at the left end is the drain wire 3). Therefore, in the subsequent process, it is possible to easily determine whether it is the turn to process the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4. For example, when using a terminal 8 for the drain wire 3 different from that for the core wire 4 in the crimping process, it is necessary to specify the position of the drain wire 3.

[0051] Note that the attachment of the rubber stopper 7, the stripping of the core wires 3 and 4, and the crimping of the terminal 8 do not necessarily need to be performed on all the core wires 3 and 4 (in the case of attaching the rubber stopper 7, all the core wires 4). These processes do not necessarily need to be performed on the drain wire 3, nor do they need to be performed on some of the core wires 4. The exposed portions of the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 on which these processes are not performed may be cut off before these processes.

[0052] [Conveying device] The conveying device of the multi - core shielded cable 1 in the processing device 200 may be configured in detail as follows. However, the configuration of the conveying device is not limited to the following.

[0053] FIG. 14 is a rear view of the conveying device for the multi-core shielded cable 1. As shown in FIG. 14, according to one preferred embodiment, the conveying device for the multi-core shielded cable 1 includes a cutting device 21, a sheath semi-stripping device 22, a drain wire detection device 31, a sheath stripping device 32 (including a rotary clamp 32a as a rotating device for rotating the multi-core shielded cable 1 based on the circumferential position of the drain wire 3 detected by the drain wire detection device 31 and positioning the drain wire 3 at a predetermined rotational position (here, the position at 0 o'clock)), a core wire separation device 33, a drain wire correction device 41, an insulation treatment device 51, a bending return device 61, and an alignment device 62, a conveying device 110 (an upstream conveying device, hereinafter also referred to as the first conveying device 110) for conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a second conveying device 119 (a downstream conveying device) for conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1 to a rubber plug mounting device 71, a core wire stripping device 81, a right crimping device 91, and a left crimping device 92. The second conveying device 119 includes a shuttle 120 having a plurality of individual clamps 120a for respectively gripping a plurality of core wires 3, 4 of the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a shuttle conveying device 121 for moving the shuttle 120. Here, the second conveying device 119 includes a plurality of shuttles 120.

[0054] The first conveying device 110 is provided so as to face a plurality of processing stations St2 to St6 respectively, and includes a plurality of fixed clamps 130 for gripping the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a plurality of conveying clamps 111 configured to grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 respectively and reciprocating between two adjacent fixed clamps 130 among the plurality of fixed clamps 130. The fixed clamp 130 is an example of a fixed gripping device for gripping the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0055] The plurality of conveying clamps 111 of the first conveying device 110 are arranged at the same pitch in the conveying direction of the multi-core shielded cable 1 and reciprocate in the conveying direction. The clamp moving device 112 of the first conveying device 110 includes a slide rail 112a that extends in the conveying direction and with which the plurality of conveying clamps 111 are engaged, and a driving unit 112b that moves the plurality of conveying clamps 111 along the slide rail 112a. The plurality of fixed clamps 130 as the fixed gripping device are arranged so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction with each of the conveying clamps 111 at the stop position. The pitch of the plurality of fixed clamps 130 is the same as the pitch of the plurality of conveying clamps 111 and is constant.

[0056] The two conveying clamps 111 on the most upstream side in the conveying direction grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent in a U shape at two locations and move it to a position facing the second station St2. The two fixed clamps 130 arranged behind the second station St2 grip the conveyed multi-core shielded cable 1 at two locations. Thereafter, the conveying clamp 111 returns behind the first station St1 and grips the next multi-core shielded cable 1. The other conveying clamps 111 and the other fixed clamps 130 also operate in the same manner as these. Thereby, the plurality of multi-core shielded cables 1 are sequentially conveyed downstream in the conveying direction.

[0057] The shuttle conveying device 121 of the second conveying device 119 moves the shuttle 120 between a picking-up position P0 where the multi-core shielded cable 1 is picked up, a first opposing position P1 facing the core wire stripping device 81, a second opposing position P2 facing the crimping devices (right crimping device 91 and left crimping device 92), a third opposing position P3 facing the rubber plug mounting device 71 in the case of the processing device 200 equipped with the rubber plug mounting device 71, and a release position P4 where the multi-core shielded cable 1 after the terminals 8 are crimped is released. Here, the shuttle conveying device 121 circulates a plurality of shuttles 120. However, the shuttle conveying device 121 may reciprocate or circulate one shuttle 120.

[0058] In this embodiment, since the multi-core shielded cable 1 is bent in a U shape, the first facing position P1 includes an upstream first facing position where the downstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 faces the core wire stripping device 81, and a downstream first facing position where the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 faces the core wire stripping device 81. The same applies to the third facing position P3. The second facing position P2 includes an upstream second facing position where the downstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 faces the right crimping device 91, and a downstream second facing position where the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 faces the left crimping device 92. In this embodiment, the devices provided at each processing station St7 to St9 are configured to process the downstream end when the device provided at the processing station adjacent to the upstream side processes the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1. For example, the right crimping device 91 crimps the terminal 8 to the downstream end when the core wire stripping device 81 strips the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, the downstream first facing position and the upstream second facing position are the same position. Thus, the take-up position P0, the third facing position P3, the first facing position P1, the second facing position P2, and the release position P4 may partially overlap.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 14, the shuttle transfer device 121 includes a circulation member 121a on which a plurality of shuttles 120 are fixed and which travels in a loop shape, and a drive unit 121b that circulates the circulation member 121a. The circulation member 121a is, for example, an endless belt or chain. In the present embodiment, the circulation member 121a is configured to draw a loop in a front-rear direction view. In the present embodiment, the circulation movement of the shuttle 120 includes a lateral movement between the pick-up position P0, the third facing position P3, the first facing position P1, and the second facing position P2, and a vertical movement between the pick-up position P0, the third facing position P3, the first facing position P1, and the second facing position P2 and a position below them. The release position P4 is set here at the upper stage of the loop side by side with the pick-up position P0, the third facing position P3, the first facing position P1, and the second facing position P2, but may be set at the lower stage of the loop or between the upper and lower stages. However, the circulation member 121a may be arranged, for example, along a horizontal plane and configured to draw a loop in a plan view.

[0060] The plurality of individual clamps 120a of the shuttle 120 grip the plurality of core wires 3 and 4 when the shuttle 120 moves from a position below the pick-up position P0 to the pick-up position P0. The individual clamp 120a has an upwardly open U-shape and holds the drain wire 3 or the core wire 4 inside the U. The individual clamp 120a is elastic so that the core wires 3 and 4 can be inserted inside the U and held after insertion. By the upward movement of the shuttle 120 toward the pick-up position P0 and the action of the pressing member of the aligning device 62 that covers and presses the core wires 3 and 4 from above, the core wires 3 and 4 are pushed into the individual clamp 120a.

[0061] As described above, the processing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment includes a cutting device 21, a sheath semi-stripping device 22, a drain wire detection device 31, a sheath stripping device 32 (including a rotary clamp 32a), a core wire separation device 33, a drain wire correction device 41, an insulation treatment device 51, a bending back device 61, and an alignment device 62, and a first transfer device 110 that transfers the multi-core shielded cable 1 thereto; a rubber plug mounting device 71, a core wire stripping device 81, and a crimping device 91, 92, and a second transfer device 119 that transfers the multi-core shielded cable 1 thereto. The second transfer device 119 includes a shuttle 120 provided with a plurality of individual clamps 120a that respectively grip a plurality of core wires 3, 4, and a shuttle transfer device 121 that moves the shuttle 120. The shuttle transfer device 121 moves the shuttle 120 between a take-up position P0 that takes up the multi-core shielded cable 1, a third opposing position P3 that faces the rubber plug mounting device 71, a first opposing position P1 that faces the core wire stripping device 81, a second opposing position P2 that faces the crimping devices 91, 92, and a release position P4 that releases the multi-core shielded cable 1 after the terminals 8 are crimped. According to such a processing apparatus 200, the multi-core shielded cable 1 can be transferred without re-grasping the core wires 3, 4 during the mounting of the rubber plug 7, the stripping of the core wires 3, 4, and the crimping of the terminals 8. Therefore, there is no possibility that the positions of the core wires 3, 4 will change due to re-grasping, and they are stabilized. As a result, the mounting of the rubber plug 7, the stripping of the core wires 3, 4, and the crimping of the terminals 8 can be performed with high quality.

[0062] In the present embodiment, the shuttle transfer device 121 circulates and moves a plurality of shuttles 120. Thereby, the shuttle 120 can be returned from the release position P4 to the take-up position P0, and the transfer of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is continuously performed. Moreover, since a plurality of shuttles 120 circulate, productivity can be improved.

[0063] In this embodiment, the circulating movement of the shuttle 120 is a circulating movement including lateral movement between the picking-up position P0, the third opposing position P3, the first opposing position P1, and the second opposing position P2, and vertical movement between the picking-up position P0, the third opposing position P3, the first opposing position P1, and the second opposing position P2 and a position below them. The plurality of individual clamps 120a of the shuttle 120 grip the plurality of core wires 3 and 4 when the shuttle 120 moves from a position below the picking-up position P0 to the picking-up position P0. According to such a configuration, since the core wires 3 and 4 can be gripped by utilizing the vertical movement during the circulating movement of the shuttle 120, the process time can be shortened.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first transfer device 110 is provided so as to face a plurality of processing stations St2 to St6 respectively, and includes a plurality of fixed clamps 130 that grip the multi-core shielded cable 1, and a plurality of transfer clamps 111 that are each configured to grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 and reciprocate between two adjacent fixed clamps 130 among the plurality of fixed clamps 130. Note that depending on the number of the fixed clamps 130, there may be one transfer clamp 111. According to such a processing device 200, in a process that does not require high-precision positioning for the transfer of the multi-core shielded cable 1 (here, the process of making a cut in the sheath 2 to the alignment of the core wires 3 and 4), while the transfer clamp 111 reciprocates, the multi-core shielded cable 1 is re-gripped. Thereby, the configuration of the transfer device (the first transfer device 110) of the multi-core shielded cable 1 in such a process is simplified.

[0065] In this embodiment, in a process that does not require high-precision positioning for the transfer of the multi-core shielded cable 1, the multi-core shielded cable 1 is re-gripped to simplify the first transfer device 110, and in a process that requires the positional accuracy of each core wire 3 and 4 (here, the mounting of the rubber plug 7 to the crimping of the terminal 8), the multi-core shielded cable 1 is not re-gripped, and the shuttle 120 in a state of gripping the core wires 3 and 4 is moved. Thereby, the entire processing device 200 is simplified, and the processing quality of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is improved.

[0066] In this embodiment, the plurality of processing stations St2 to St6 are arranged in a line in the conveying direction of the multi-core shielded cable 1 by the conveying clamp 111. The processing device 200 is arranged upstream in the conveying direction from the plurality of processing stations St2 to St6, and includes a bending device 110A (here, the bending function of the conveying device 110, but a dedicated bending device may also be used) that bends the multi-core shielded cable 1 into a substantially U shape so that both ends are arranged in the conveying direction. The plurality of fixed clamps 130 are each configured to grip one end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent by the bending device 110A. The devices provided at each of the processing stations St2 to St6 process the downstream end while the device provided at the processing station adjacent upstream processes the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1 that has been bent. According to such a configuration, since the processing of both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 can be performed simultaneously, the productivity can be improved.

[0067] In this embodiment, the plurality of individual clamps 120a of the shuttle 120 include an upstream group 120R that grips the plurality of core wires 3 and 4 exposed at the upstream end of the bent multi-core shielded cable 1, and a downstream group 120L that is arranged downstream in the conveying direction from the upstream group 120R and grips the plurality of core wires 3 and 4 exposed at the downstream end of the bent multi-core shielded cable 1. According to such a configuration, even in the process of conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1 by the shuttle 120, both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 bent into a U shape can be gripped. In addition, even in the process of conveying the multi-core shielded cable 1 by the shuttle 120, the devices provided at each of the processing stations St7 to St9 process the downstream end while the device provided at the processing station adjacent upstream processes the upstream end of the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0068] [Another Embodiment of the Conveying Device] FIG. 15 is a rear view of a conveying device for a multi-core shielded cable 1 according to another embodiment. In the following description of other embodiments, members having the same functions as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 15, the conveying device for the multi-core shielded cable 1 may include a transfer device 140 that receives the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the first conveying device 110 and delivers the multi-core shielded cable 1 to the second conveying device 119. By providing the transfer device 140, direct transfer of the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the first conveying device 110 to the second conveying device 119 is eliminated. Therefore, the waiting times of the first conveying device 110 and the second conveying device 119 can be reduced. In this embodiment, the transfer device 140 is disposed between the fifth station St5 and the sixth station St6. The first conveying device 110 conveys the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the second station St2 through the fifth station St5 to the transfer device 140. The second conveying device 119 picks up the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the transfer device 140 at the pickup position P0 and conveys it to the tenth station St10.

[0069] In this embodiment, the plurality of individual clamps 120a of the second conveying device 119 grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 such that the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is narrower than that when the multi-core shielded cable 1 is gripped by the plurality of fixed clamps 130 of the first conveying device 110. Thereby, the length of the processing device 200 in the conveying direction can be shortened. Also, the width of the shuttle 120 in the conveying direction can be narrowed. On the other hand, at stations St2 to St5 where the first conveying device 110 conveys the multi-core shielded cable 1, since the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is wide, freedom and margin are created in the arrangement of the devices. Correspondingly, the transfer device 140 is configured to reduce the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 after receiving the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the first conveying device 110 and before delivering it to the second conveying device 119. In this embodiment, by providing the transfer device 140 with a function of narrowing the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1, the device for narrowing the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 and the transfer device 140 are made common.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 15, the transfer device 140 includes a pair of clamps 141 that respectively grip both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1, a drive device 142 that moves the pair of clamps 141 closer or farther apart, a moving body 143 that supports the clamps 141 and the drive device 142, a lifting device 144 that moves the moving body 143 in the vertical direction, and a slide device 145 that moves the moving body 143 in the conveying direction. When taking the multi-core shielded cable 1 from the first conveying device 110, the transfer device 140 moves the moving body 143 above the most downstream conveying clamp 111 (in the state of being moved downstream) by the slide device 145. Further, the transfer device 140 lowers the moving body 143 by the lifting device 144 until the vertical position of the clamp 141 reaches the same position as the multi-core shielded cable 1. In that state, the pair of clamps 141 grip both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1. At this time, the distance between the pair of clamps 141 corresponds to the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 when it is gripped by the first conveying device 110.

[0071] When the pair of clamps 141 of the transfer device 140 grip the multi-core shielded cable 1, the transfer device 140 raises the moving body 143. Further, the transfer device 140 moves the moving body 143 downstream in the conveying direction and moves it above the shuttle 120 at the pickup position P0. During this time, the drive device 142 moves the pair of clamps 141 closer and makes the distance between the pair of clamps 141 correspond to the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 when it is gripped by the second conveying device 119. The drive device 142 is configured to move the pair of clamps 141 closer or farther apart and make the distance between the pair of clamps 141 correspond to the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 when it is gripped by the first conveying device 110, or correspond to the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 when it is gripped by the second conveying device 119. The transfer device 140 then descends and delivers the multi-core shielded cable 1 to the shuttle 120 at the pickup position P0.

[0072] In this embodiment, the driving device 142 changes the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 by rotating a pair of clamps 141 around a rotating shaft arranged at a position different from the axis of the gripped multi-core shielded cable 1. As shown in FIG. 15, when the driving device 142 shortens the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1, the upstream clamp 141R is rotated 90 degrees downstream around the rotating shaft Ar. Further, the driving device 142 rotates the downstream clamp 141L 90 degrees upstream around the rotating shaft Al. Thereby, the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 becomes smaller. In this embodiment, instead of the fixed clamp 130, both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 are rotated by the driving device 142, and the plurality of core wires 3 and 4 are aligned in the conveying direction. Thereby, it becomes possible to bend back the core wire 4 by the bending-back device 61 and the aligning device 62, and to align the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4.

[0073] However, the configuration of the delivery device 140 is not limited to the above. For example, the configuration in which the delivery device 140 changes the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is not limited to the configuration of rotating the clamp 141. The delivery device 140 may be configured to change the distance between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 by sliding one or both of the pair of clamps 141 in the conveying direction. The delivery device 140 does not have to raise and lower the multi-core shielded cable 1.

[0074] In this embodiment, the plurality of individual clamps 120a of the second conveying device 119 grip the multi-core shielded cable 1 such that the interval between both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 is narrower than that gripped by the plurality of fixed clamps 130 of the first conveying device 110, but both ends of the multi-core shielded cable 1 may be gripped at the same interval as that gripped by the fixed clamp 130.

[0075] [Other Embodiments] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the above embodiments are merely examples, and various other embodiments are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiments, after performing the semi-stripping process of the sheath 2, the position of the drain wire 3 is detected, and then the full stripping process of the sheath 2 is performed. However, for example, when the strip length of the sheath 2 is short and the risk of the core wires coming apart is small, the position of the drain wire 3 may be detected after performing the full stripping process of the sheath 2. Also, when the strip length of the sheath 2 is short and the twisting of the core wires is not a problem, the untwisting of the core wires in the stripping of the sheath 2 may not be performed. Furthermore, when the strip length of the sheath 2 is short and the exposed drain wire 3 is short, the correction process of the drain wire 3 may not be performed.

[0076] In the above-described embodiments, the multi-core shield cable 1 including the drain wire 3 and the plurality of core wires 4 was processed. However, the cable to be processed may be a multi-core cable that does not include a drain wire. The processing apparatus for the multi-core cable may be an apparatus that processes a multi-core cable having a sheath and a plurality of core wires inserted through the sheath. The processing apparatus for the multi-core cable may include a cutting device that forms a cut along the circumferential direction in the sheath, and a pulling-out device that moves at least one of the sheath on the tip side and the sheath on the root side of the multi-core cable with respect to the cut in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core cable to expose the plurality of core wires. The processing apparatus for the multi-core cable may further include a detection device that detects the position of a specific core wire among the plurality of core wires with respect to the circumferential direction of the multi-core cable, and a rotating device that rotates the multi-core cable based on the detected circumferential position of the specific core wire and moves the specific core wire to a predetermined circumferential position. The specific core wire may be a drain wire, but may also be another core wire.

[0077] According to the processing device for such a multi-core cable, the multi-core cable can be rotated based on the circumferential position of a specific core wire detected by the detection device, and the position of the specific core wire can be set to a predetermined circumferential position. Accordingly, the positions of the plurality of core wires are determined. Thereby, the position of each core wire of the multi-core cable can be specified.

[0078] The details of each process and the configuration of each device are not particularly limited as long as they do not conflict with the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, unless otherwise particularly mentioned, the above-described embodiments do not limit the present invention.

[0079] [Other inventions] In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation of bending the drain wire to separate it from the core wire and inserting the drain wire into the heat shrinkable tube is performed manually. Thus, the processing of each core wire of the multi-core cable may not be automated, and one of the reasons therefor is that the positions of the plurality of core wires of the multi-core cable are not specified. Here, in order to facilitate processing of the plurality of core wires of the multi-core cable, a processing device for a multi-core cable capable of specifying the positions of the plurality of core wires of the multi-core cable is proposed.

[0080] A first processing device for a multi-core cable is a device for processing a multi-core cable having a sheath and a plurality of core wires inserted into the sheath, and includes a cutting device that forms a cut along the circumferential direction in the sheath, a pulling device that moves at least one of the sheath on the tip side and the sheath on the root side of the multi-core cable in the longitudinal direction of the multi-core cable from the cut to expose the plurality of core wires, a detection device that detects the position of a specific core wire among the plurality of core wires with respect to the circumferential direction of the multi-core cable, and a rotation device that rotates the multi-core cable based on the detected circumferential position of the specific core wire and moves the specific core wire to a predetermined circumferential position.

[0081] According to the processing device for the first multi-core cable, the multi-core cable can be rotated based on the circumferential position of a specific core wire detected by the detection device, and the position of the specific core wire can be set to a predetermined circumferential position. Thereby, the positions of a plurality of core wires of the multi-core cable can be specified.

[0082] The processing device for the second multi-core cable is an aspect of the processing device for the first multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the second multi-core cable, the plurality of core wires are composed of a drain wire and a plurality of core wires, and the specific core wire is the drain wire. The processing device for the second multi-core cable further includes a separating device that separates the drain wire and the plurality of core wires by urging at least one of the drain wire and the plurality of core wires based on the circumferential position of the detected drain wire, an insulating treatment device that performs an insulating treatment on the separated drain wire, and a first conveying device that conveys the multi-core cable to the cutting device, the pulling-out device, the detection device, the rotating device, the separating device, and the insulating treatment device.

[0083] According to the processing device for the second multi-core cable, when the multi-core cable is a multi-core shielded cable having a drain wire, the processing of the multi-core shielded cable up to the insulating treatment of the drain wire can be automatically performed.

[0084] The processing device for the third multi-core cable is an aspect of the processing device for the second multi-core cable, and further includes a correcting device that corrects the separated drain wire by applying a pulling tension while twisting it in the circumferential direction before the insulating treatment.

[0085] According to the processing device for the third multi-core cable, by correcting the drain wire, the insulating treatment of the drain wire can be easily performed.

[0086] The processing device for the fourth multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the second or third multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the fourth multi-core cable, the insulation treatment device includes an insertion device for inserting the separated drain wire into a heat shrinkable tube, and a heating device for heating the heat shrinkable tube with the drain wire inserted therein.

[0087] According to the processing device for the fourth multi-core cable, insulation treatment is performed by inserting a drain wire into a heat shrinkable tube and heat shrinking the heat shrinkable tube. Therefore, compared with other methods, such as the method of winding an insulating tape around the drain wire, it is easier to perform insulation treatment by an automatic machine.

[0088] The processing device for the fifth multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for any one of the first to fourth multi-core cables. According to the processing device for the fifth multi-core cable, the pulling device is configured to pull out the tip-side sheath while rotating at least one of the tip-side sheath and the root-side sheath so that the tip-side sheath rotates in the circumferential direction with respect to the root-side sheath, and to unwind the twist of the plurality of core wires.

[0089] According to the processing device for the fifth multi-core cable, by unwinding the twist of the plurality of core wires, it is possible to easily detect the position of a specific core wire by a detection device.

[0090] The processing device for the sixth multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for any one of the first to fifth multi-core cables. According to the processing device for the sixth multi-core cable, the pulling device is configured to perform a semi-strip for pulling out the tip-side sheath so that a part of the plurality of core wires is exposed and the tip-side sheath remains on another part of the plurality of core wires before the detection of the specific core wire by the detection device. The pulling device is configured to perform a full strip for separating the tip-side sheath from the plurality of core wires after the detection of the specific core wire by the detection device.

[0091] According to the sixth multi-core cable processing device, when detecting the position of a specific core wire by the detection device, it is possible to prevent the core wires from being scattered and difficult to detect.

[0092] The seventh multi-core cable processing device is an embodiment of any one of the first to sixth multi-core cable processing devices, and further includes an alignment device for arranging the plurality of core wires at a predetermined interval. The alignment device includes an alignment member and a moving device. The alignment member has a plurality of comb teeth, and a plurality of gaps corresponding to the plurality of core wires are provided between the comb teeth. The moving device moves at least one of the alignment member and the multi-core cable, and inserts the plurality of core wires into the plurality of gaps of the alignment member respectively. The plurality of gaps are formed so as to be farther apart from each other toward the front in the moving direction when the plurality of core wires are inserted, and are arranged at the predetermined interval at the front end in the moving direction.

[0093] According to the seventh multi-core cable processing device, a plurality of core wires are aligned at a predetermined interval and their respective positions are specified. As a result, the processing of the plurality of core wires in the subsequent process becomes easy.

[0094] The eighth multi-core cable processing device is an embodiment of any one of the first to seventh multi-core cable processing devices, and further includes a plurality of gripping members capable of gripping each one of the core wires, a stripping device configured to strip the coating of the tip of the core wire loaded therein, and a loading device that individually moves the plurality of gripping members and loads the core wires gripped by the gripping members into the stripping device individually.

[0095] The stripping of the core wires of the multi-core cable is preferably performed one by one for quality control. According to the eighth multi-core cable processing device, the plurality of core wires are loaded into the stripping device one by one by the loading device. Therefore, the quality of the stripping of the core wires can be ensured.

[0096] The processing device for the ninth multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the eighth multi-core cable, and is configured such that the tip of the core wire is loaded, and further includes a crimping device that crimps a terminal to the tip of the loaded core wire. The loading device is configured to individually move the plurality of gripping members and individually load the core wires, which are gripped by the gripping members and have the covering at the tip removed, into the crimping device.

[0097] Terminal crimping to the core wire is also preferably performed one by one for each core wire in terms of quality control. Therefore, according to the processing device for the ninth multi-core cable, the quality of terminal crimping to the core wire can be ensured.

[0098] The processing device for the tenth multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the eighth or ninth multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the tenth multi-core cable, the plurality of core wires include a plurality of core strands. The processing device for the multi-core cable is configured such that the tip of the core strand is loaded, and further includes a rubber plug mounting device that mounts a waterproof rubber plug to the loaded core strand. The loading device is configured to individually move the plurality of gripping members before the covering at the tip of the core strand is removed and individually load the core strands gripped by the gripping members into the rubber plug mounting device.

[0099] Mounting of the waterproof rubber plug to the core strand is also preferably performed one by one for each core strand in terms of quality control. Therefore, according to the processing device for the tenth multi-core cable, the quality of mounting the waterproof rubber to the core strand can be ensured.

[0100] The processing apparatus for the 11th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing apparatus for any one of the 1st to 10th multi-core cables, and includes a processing station provided with at least one of the cutting device, the pulling-out device, the detection device, and the rotating device, and another processing station arranged side by side with the processing station in a predetermined direction and provided with at least one of the other cutting device, the pulling-out device, the detection device, and the rotating device, and a first conveying device for conveying the multi-core cable to the cutting device, the pulling-out device, the detection device, and the rotating device. The first conveying device includes a gripping device for gripping the multi-core cable bent so that one end and the other end are aligned in the predetermined direction, and a gripping device moving device for moving the gripping device in the predetermined direction. The device provided in the other processing station processes the other end while the device provided in the processing station processes the one end of the multi-core cable.

[0101] According to the processing apparatus for the 11th multi-core cable, one end and the other end of the multi-core cable can be processed simultaneously. Therefore, the cycle time for processing the multi-core cable can be shortened.

[0102] The processing device for the 12th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for any one of the 1st to 11th multi-core cables. The processing device further includes a first conveying device for conveying the multi-core cable to the cutting device, the pulling-out device, the detecting device, and the rotating device, a stripping device configured to load the tip of the core wire and strip the coating of the loaded tip of the core wire, a crimping device configured to load the tip of the core wire and crimp a terminal to the tip of the core wire whose coating has been stripped by the stripping device, and a second conveying device for conveying the multi-core cable to the stripping device and the crimping device. The second conveying device includes a carrier having a plurality of gripping members capable of gripping each core wire, and a carrier moving device for moving the carrier. The carrier moving device moves the carrier between a picking-up position for picking up the multi-core cable, a first opposing position facing the stripping device, a second opposing position facing the crimping device, and a release position for releasing the multi-core cable after the terminal has been crimped.

[0103] According to the processing device for the 12th multi-core cable, the multi-core cable can be conveyed without re-gripping the core wire during stripping of the core wire and crimping of the terminal. Therefore, there is no risk of the position of the core wire changing due to re-gripping, and it is stable. As a result, stripping of the core wire and crimping of the terminal can be performed with high quality.

[0104] The processing device for the 13th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 12th multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the 13th multi-core cable, the second conveying device includes a plurality of carriers. The carrier moving device circulates the plurality of carriers.

[0105] According to the processing device for the 13th multi-core cable, since the carrier can be returned from the release position to the picking-up position, the conveyance of the multi-core cable can be continuously performed. Moreover, since a plurality of carriers circulate, productivity can be improved.

[0106] The processing device for the 14th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 13th multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the 14th multi-core cable, the circulating movement of the carrier is a circulating movement including a lateral movement between the take-up position, the first opposing position, and the second opposing position, and a vertical movement between the take-up position, the first opposing position, and the second opposing position and a position below them. The plurality of gripping members of the carrier grip the plurality of core wires when the carrier moves from a position below the take-up position to the take-up position.

[0107] According to the processing device for the 14th multi-core cable, since the core wires can be gripped by utilizing the vertical movement during the circulating movement of the carrier, the process time can be shortened.

[0108] The processing device for the 15th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for any one of the 12th to 14th multi-core cables, and includes a plurality of processing stations provided with one or more of the cutting device, the drawing device, the detection device, and the rotating device. The first transfer device is provided so as to face each of the plurality of processing stations, and includes a plurality of fixed gripping devices that grip the multi-core cable, and one or more moving gripping devices configured to grip the multi-core cable and reciprocate between two adjacent fixed gripping devices among the plurality of fixed gripping devices.

[0109] According to the processing device for the 15th multi-core cable, for the cutting device, the drawing device, the detection device, and the rotating device that do not require high positioning regarding the conveyance of the multi-core shield cable, the first transfer device conveys the multi-core cable. Since the first transfer device grabs and switches the multi-core cable between the moving gripping device and the fixed gripping device, it is difficult to achieve high positional accuracy for each core wire, but the configuration is simple. On the other hand, for the stripping device and the crimping device that require positional accuracy for each core wire, the second transfer device that does not grab and switch the multi-core cable conveys the multi-core cable. Therefore, according to the above processing device for the multi-core cable, while simplifying the entire processing device, the processing quality of the multi-core cable can be improved.

[0110] The processing device for the 16th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 15th multi-core cable, and further includes a transfer device that receives the multi-core cable from the first transfer device and delivers the multi-core cable to the second transfer device.

[0111] According to the processing device for the 16th multi-core cable, since there is no direct transfer of the multi-core cable from the first transfer device to the second transfer device, the waiting time of the first transfer device and the second transfer device can be reduced. Therefore, the transfer of the multi-core cable from the first transfer device to the second transfer device can be performed smoothly.

[0112] The processing device for the 17th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for either the 15th or the 16th multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the 17th multi-core cable, the plurality of processing stations are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the multi-core cable by the moving gripping device. The processing device for the multi-core cable further includes a bending device that is arranged upstream of the plurality of processing stations in the conveying direction and bends the multi-core cable into a substantially U shape so that both ends are arranged side by side in the conveying direction. Each of the plurality of fixed gripping devices is configured to grip one end of the multi-core cable bent by the bending device. The devices provided at each processing station process the downstream end while the devices provided at the processing station adjacent to the upstream side process the upstream end of the bent multi-core cable.

[0113] According to the processing device for the 17th multi-core cable, one end and the other end of the multi-core cable can be processed simultaneously. Therefore, the cycle time of processing the multi-core cable can be shortened.

[0114] The processing device for the 18th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 17th multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the 18th multi-core cable, the plurality of gripping members of the carrier include an upstream group that grips the plurality of core wires exposed at the upstream end of the bent multi-core cable, and a downstream group that is disposed downstream of the upstream group in the conveying direction and grips the plurality of core wires exposed at the downstream end of the bent multi-core cable.

[0115] According to the processing device for the 18th multi-core cable, the second conveying device can also grip both ends of the multi-core cable bent in a substantially U shape.

[0116] The processing device for the 19th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 18th multi-core cable. According to the processing device for the 19th multi-core cable, the plurality of gripping members grip the multi-core cable such that the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable is narrower than that gripped by the plurality of fixed gripping devices.

[0117] According to the processing device for the 19th multi-core cable, in the processing station where the first conveying device conveys the multi-core cable, freedom in the arrangement of the device is created, and in the second conveying device, the length of the processing device in the conveying direction can be shortened because the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable is narrowed.

[0118] The processing device for the 20th multi-core cable is an embodiment of the processing device for the 19th multi-core cable, and further includes a transfer device that receives the multi-core cable from the first conveying device and delivers the multi-core cable to the second conveying device. The transfer device includes a pair of gripping members that respectively grip both ends of the multi-core cable, and a driving device. The driving device moves the pair of gripping members closer or farther apart, and makes the distance between the pair of gripping members correspond to the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable when it is gripped by the first conveying device, or correspond to the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable when it is gripped by the second conveying device.

[0119] According to the processing device for the 20th multi-core cable, the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable is narrowed by a delivery device that delivers the multi-core cable from the first conveying device to the second conveying device. Therefore, the device for narrowing the distance between both ends of the multi-core cable and the delivery device can be made common.

[0120] [Effects of Other Inventions] According to the processing device for the multi-core cable according to another invention, the positions of a plurality of core wires of the multi-core cable can be specified.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0121] 1 Multi-core shield cable (multi-core cable, cable) 2 Sheath 3 Drain wire (core wire) 4 Core wire (core wire) 6 Heat shrinkable tube 7 Rubber plug (waterproof rubber plug) 8 Terminal 21 Cutting device 22 Sheath semi-stripping device (pulling-out device) 31 Drain wire detection device (detection device) 32 Sheath stripping device (pulling-out device) 32a Rotating clamp (rotating device) 33 Core wire separation device (separation device) 41 Drain wire correction device (correction device) 51 Insulation treatment device 53 Tube mounting device (inserting device) 54 Heating device 61 Bending return device 62 Alignment device 62a Alignment member 62b Moving device 71 Rubber plug mounting device 81 Core wire stripping device (stripping device) 91 Right side crimping device (crimping device) 92 Left side crimping device (crimping device) 110 Conveying device (first conveying device) 110A Bending device 111 Transfer clamp (holding device, moving holding device) 112 Clamp moving device (holding device moving device) 119 Second transfer device 120 Shuttle (carrier) 120a Individual clamp (holding member) 121 Shuttle transfer device (carrier moving device) 120b Loading device 130 Fixed clamp (fixed holding device) 140 Delivery device 141 Clamp (holding member) 142 Driving device 150 Control device 200 Processing device St2~St6 Stations (processing stations, first station) St7~St9 Stations (other processing stations, second station)

Claims

1. A first station having a plurality of processing stations arranged in a line, each configured to process a tip portion of a cable; A second station having another plurality of processing stations arranged in a line, each configured to process the tip portion of the cable; A first transfer device configured to transfer the cable to the plurality of processing stations of the first station; A second transfer device configured to transfer the cable to the other plurality of processing stations of the second station, the second station being arranged downstream of the first station in a conveyance path of the cable, and the second transfer device including: A carrier capable of gripping the cable; A carrier moving device configured to move the carrier, the carrier moving device moving the carrier between a take-up position where the cable is taken up, a plurality of opposing positions each opposing one of the other plurality of processing stations of the second station, and a release position where the cable after processing is released. A cable processing apparatus.

2. The cable is a multi-core cable having a sheath and a plurality of core wires inserted into the sheath, the first station being configured to process the sheath of the cable, and the second station being configured to process the plurality of core wires of the cable. The cable processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The second transfer device includes a plurality of the carriers, and the carrier moving device is configured to circulate and move the plurality of carriers. The cable processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The cable processing apparatus further includes a transfer device configured to receive the cable from the first transfer device and transfer the cable to the second transfer device. The cable processing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The first transfer device includes: A moving gripper configured to grip the cable bent such that one end and the other end are aligned in a line direction of the plurality of processing stations; A gripper moving device configured to move the moving gripper in the line direction of the plurality of processing stations, and one of the plurality of processing stations processes the one end while the other processing stations process the other end of the cable. The cable processing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The cable is a multi-core cable having a sheath and a plurality of core wires inserted through the sheath, The carrier includes a plurality of gripping members each capable of gripping one core wire. The cable processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The second conveying device includes a plurality of the carriers. The carrier moving device circulates and moves the plurality of carriers. The circulating movement of the carrier is a circulating movement including a lateral movement between the take-up position and the plurality of opposing positions, and a vertical movement between the take-up position and a position lower than the plurality of opposing positions. The plurality of gripping members of the carrier grip the plurality of core wires when the carrier moves from a position lower than the take-up position to the take-up position. The cable processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The first conveying device includes a plurality of fixed gripping devices provided so as to face the plurality of processing stations respectively and gripping the cable, and one or more moving gripping devices configured to grip the cable respectively and reciprocating between two adjacent fixed gripping devices among the plurality of fixed gripping devices. The cable processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. further includes a bending device disposed upstream of the plurality of processing stations of the first station and bending the cable into a substantially U shape such that both ends are arranged in the arrangement direction of the plurality of processing stations. The plurality of fixed gripping devices are each configured to grip one end of the cable bent by the bending device. Each of the processing stations of the first station processes the downstream end when the upstream adjacent processing station processes the upstream end of the bent cable. The cable processing apparatus according to claim 8.

10. The cable is a multi-core cable having a sheath and a plurality of core wires inserted through the sheath, The carrier includes a plurality of gripping members each capable of gripping one core wire, The plurality of gripping members include an upstream group gripping the plurality of core wires exposed at the upstream end of the bent cable, and a downstream group disposed downstream of the upstream group and gripping the plurality of core wires exposed at the downstream end of the bent cable. The cable processing apparatus according to claim 9.

11. The plurality of gripping members grip the cable such that the distance between both ends of the cable becomes narrower than that when the cable is gripped by the plurality of fixed gripping devices. The cable processing apparatus according to claim 10.

12. The cable processing apparatus further comprises a transfer device that receives the cable from the first transfer device and delivers the cable to the second transfer device. The transfer device comprises a pair of gripping members that respectively grip both ends of the cable, and a driving device that moves the pair of gripping members closer to or away from each other to make the distance between the pair of gripping members correspond to the distance between both ends of the cable when the cable is gripped by the first transfer device or to the distance between both ends of the cable when the cable is gripped by the second transfer device. The cable processing apparatus according to claim 11.

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