Workpiece locator and crimping tool, pressing tool, or coating removal tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a workpiece locator having a support that can fasten the workpiece locator to a tool head 3. [Solution] The workpiece locator 10 has a holder 12 that is movable with rotational degrees of freedom 15 relative to the support 11. Furthermore, the workpiece locator 10 includes a positioning body 14 having a receiving portion 56 for the workpiece to be machined. The positioning body 14 is movable with another rotational degree of freedom 20 relative to the holder 12. In this case, the operation of the workpiece locator 10 can be simplified and / or a multifunctional workpiece locator 10 can be provided. At least two degrees of freedom 17, 18 can be provided between the support 11 and the holder 12.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece locator used for a tool or as a component of a tool. Using the tool, the workpiece is processed by a processing body. The tool may be configured as a crimping tool in which the processing body forms a pair of crimping die halves. Using such a crimping tool, the workpiece can be crimped, and the connector can be crimped by a conductor. For example, so-called insulation crimping and / or conductor crimping can be performed. Similarly, it is also possible for the tool to be a pressing tool. In this case, the processing body has a pressing die half. Using such a pressing tool, in particular, a joint can be pressed with a pipe. It is also possible for the tool to be a coating removal tool. In this case, the processing body has a coating removal blade. Using such a coating removal tool, in particular, the coating at the end of the conductor can be removed. The tool can also be, for example, a multifunctional tool that can be used for both coating removal and crimping.

Background Art

[0002] The tool can be configured as a manually operated hand tool or hand pliers, as a pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically operated hand tool, or as a pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically operated stationary machine.

[0003] In tools of the described type, a workpiece locator, sometimes referred to as a workpiece holding device, is used. Using the workpiece locator, before the workpieces are moved towards each other over the working stroke, resulting in a machining operation in which the workpiece is machined by pressing, crimping, or cutting, the workpiece is arranged in a predetermined relative position and / or orientation with respect to the tool and the processing body. Alternatively or cumulatively, the workpiece locator can hold or fasten the workpiece in a predetermined position and / or orientation with respect to the tool during the working stroke and in response to the force applied to the workpiece by the processing body.

[0004] A workpiece locator may have, for example, a stopper that determines the insertion depth of the workpiece into the tool. Alternatively or cumulatively, a workpiece locator may include a receiving portion into which a workpiece can be inserted, which can be embodied as a recess, and which can surround or support the workpiece along its entire circumference or only over a portion of its circumference. The bottom or shoulder of the receiving portion may also determine the position of the workpiece by determining the insertion depth of the workpiece into the receiving portion of the workpiece locator. The receiving portion may also determine the orientation of the workpiece.

[0005] Patent Document 1 (DE102008017366A1) discloses a workpiece locator for crimping pliers. The workpiece locator is openable and closable about a bending axis oriented parallel to the plane of the pliers head and perpendicular to the crimping axis between the insertion position and the working position. In the insertion position, the receiving portion is bent away from the plane of the pliers head, as a result of enabling easy insertion of the workpiece into the receiving portion of the workpiece locator. In contrast, in the working position, the workpiece locator is bent toward the plane of the pliers head. In the working position, the receiving portion, which houses the workpiece, is positioned directly adjacent to the workpiece, and the receiving portion axis (and therefore the workpiece placed inside the receiving portion) is coaxial with the die axis of the crimping die formed together by the two workpieces.

[0006] Patent Document 2 (EP3300187B1) discloses a workpiece locator for crimping pliers having corresponding degrees of bending freedom. In this case, the workpiece locator includes a latching device that enables latching or clamping of a workpiece within the receiving portion of the workpiece locator. The working body of the crimping pliers has a plurality of pairs of crimping die halves arranged adjacent to each other, which together form a plurality of crimping dies. The crimping dies have different die contours so that different types of workpieces and / or geometric shapes of workpieces can be crimped by those crimping dies. Thus, the workpiece locator has a plurality of receiving portions for workpieces arranged adjacent to each other at corresponding intervals.

[0007] Patent Document 3 (EP2463969B1) similarly discloses crimping pliers in which the workpiece has a plurality of pairs of crimping die halves arranged side by side. Here, the workpiece locator has only one receiving portion for the workpiece. However, in this case, the positioning body of the workpiece locator forming the receiving portion is movably held on a support of the workpiece locator attached to the pliers head, so that at different operating positions of the positioning body relative to the support, the receiving portion can be positioned behind one of the pair of crimping die halves in each case. The movement of the positioning body relative to the support is performed along degrees of freedom oriented parallel to the plane of the pliers head and perpendicular to the crimping axis. The operating positions of the positioning body can be fastened by a latch mechanism, which is a catch mechanism or a locking mechanism, respectively. Patent Document 3 (EP2463969B1) discloses a further embodiment in which the positioning body is not translationally movable relative to the support, but rather is a rotating wheel rotatable at different operating positions about a rotation axis positioned perpendicular to the plane of the pliers head. On the side facing the pliers head, the rotating wheel has receiving parts that are distributed circumferentially at equal distances from the axis of rotation. At each operating position brought about by the rotation, one receiving part is positioned behind the pair of crimping die halves in each case.

[0008] Patent Document 4 (EP3312949B1), on the one hand, corresponds to Patent Document 3 and describes crimping pliers in which the positioning body of the workpiece locator is rotatable about a rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the plane of the pliers head. Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses an embodiment in which the workpiece locator is bendable between a working position and an insertion position, and the opening and closing is performed about a bending axis that is parallel to the plane of the pliers head and oriented parallel to the crimping axis.

[0009] Patent document 5 (WO2019 / 013687A1) discloses a workpiece locator having a plate-shaped positioning body having multiple receiving portions for workpieces arranged adjacent to each other in a narrow lateral region. The positioning body forms a kind of slide that is guided by the workpiece locator with translational degrees of freedom, mounted on the plier head plane of crimping pliers to which the workpiece locator is fixed. To set a desired relative position with respect to the plier head, the precise movement of the positioning body, which is configured as a slide along the degrees of freedom, can be brought about by operating the spindle drive unit of the workpiece locator using a hex wrench. The output motion of the spindle drive unit is converted into motion of the positioning body along the degrees of freedom by the relative motion of the wedge surface of the spindle nut of the spindle drive unit with respect to the wedge surface of the positioning body.

[0010] The publications Patent Documents 6 (DE9213529U1), 7 (DE202010008988U1), 8 (DE29812631U1), 9 (DE202006012869 U1), 10 (US5924322A), 11 (DE2718165A1), 12 (DE19832884C1), 13 (US4982594A), 14 (US3710611A), 15 (US3457764A), and 16 (JP2010009768A) disclose further embodiments of workpiece locators in which the positioning body is provided with degrees of freedom. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102008017366 Specification [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 3330187 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 2463969 [Patent Document 4] European Patent No. 3312949 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2019 / 013687 [Patent Document 6] German Utility Model No. 9213529 Specification [Patent Document 7] German Utility Model No. 202010008988 Specification [Patent Document 8] German Utility Model No. 29812631 Specification [Patent Document 9] German Utility Model Specification No. 202006012869 [Patent Document 10] U.S. Patent No. 5924322 [Patent Document 11] German Patent Application Publication No. 2718165 [Patent Document 12] German Patent No. 19832884 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Patent No. 4982594 [Patent Document 14] U.S. Patent No. 3710611 [Patent Document 15] U.S. Patent No. 3457764 [Patent Document 16] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-009768 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The object of the present invention is to propose a workpiece locator that is multifunctional, provides an extended option for positioning a workpiece relative to a tool, and / or is improved with respect to operation, and a tool having such a workpiece locator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] According to the present invention, the object of the present invention is solved by the features of the independent claims. Further preferred embodiments of the present invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0014] The present invention proposes a workpiece locator that can be fixed to a tool (which may be a crimping tool, a pressing tool, and / or a coating removal tool) or can form a part thereof. The workpiece locator has a support that is part of the tool or has an attachment area for fixing to the tool. For example, the support of the workpiece locator can be flanged to or formed by a tool, particularly a tool head, a frame of the tool head, or a movable or fixed machining body.

[0015] In the workpiece locator according to the present invention, the holder is movable relative to the support in a first degree of freedom, and the holder is attached directly or indirectly to the support while ensuring this first degree of freedom.

[0016] Furthermore, the workpiece locator according to the present invention has a receiving part into which the workpiece can be inserted or a positioning body having a stopper for the workpiece. The positioning body is movable relative to the holder in a second degree of freedom different from the first degree of freedom, and for this purpose, the positioning body is attached directly or indirectly on the holder while ensuring this second degree of freedom.

[0017] The first degree of freedom and the second degree of freedom may be any degree of freedom as long as they are different from each other. Therefore, The first and second degrees of freedom may each be rotational and / or folding degrees of freedom or degrees of freedom around different rotational and / or folding axes. or The first and second degrees of freedom may each be translational (straight or curved) degrees of freedom having at least partial sections with different directions. or One of the degrees of freedom is rotational or bending freedom, while the other is translational freedom.

[0018] On the other hand, according to the prior art, the positioning body has only one degree of freedom relative to the support, whereas according to the present invention, the positioning body has two degrees of freedom relative to the support. This increases design flexibility in terms of influencing the relative position of the positioning body with respect to the support and therefore to the workpiece. By using different degrees of freedom, either alternatively or cumulatively, improved handling is possible for the user, for example, when inserting a workpiece into a workpiece locator and / or removing a workpiece from a workpiece locator. Alternatively or cumulatively, - Depending on the operating position of the positioning body along at least one of the degrees of freedom, different functional elements held on the workpiece locator can be used. and / or - The number of receiving parts or stoppers positioned on the positioning body can be increased, and different receiving parts or stoppers can be positioned in an operating position aligned with the coating removal blade, crimping die, or pressing die of the workpiece, depending on the operating position along at least one of the degrees of freedom. In this regard, multiple degrees of freedom can be used so that the workpiece locator is multifunctional or has extended functionality.

[0019] In one proposed version of the present invention, the first degree of freedom of the holder is rotational freedom about a rotation axis perpendicular to the plane over which the workpiece of the tool (which holds a workpiece locator) moves (particularly by pivoting, translating, or curving) over the working stroke of the tool. Preferably, the plane over which the rotation axis is perpendicularly oriented is the tool head plane of the tool. In this embodiment, the holder is configured, for example, as a type of revolving nosepiece that is rotatable with respect to the tool with the first degree of freedom. In this case, the rotation of the holder depends on the rotational position of the holder. - Different parts of the front surface of the positioning body and receiving parts or stoppers in these different positional parts, or - Different positioning bodies are distributed around the outer circumference of the holder, This has the effect of allowing the workpiece to be positioned at an operating location aligned with the workpiece.

[0020] Preferably in this embodiment, at least two positioning bodies are arranged on the holder, and these holders are distributed around the outer circumference of the holder. Depending on the rotational position of the holder, one of the positioning bodies can be selectively performed. Here, each positioning body may be movable with a second degree of freedom relative to the holder, which creates further possibilities.

[0021] If the first degree of freedom is rotational, then the second degree of freedom of the positioning body relative to the holder is also rotational, and the axis of rotation of this rotational degree of freedom can be oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first degree of freedom. In this case, the positioning body has at least two receiving parts or stoppers distributed around the outer circumference of the positioning body. Depending on the rotational position of the positioning body with respect to its rotational degree of freedom, the receiving parts or stoppers distributed around the outer circumference of the positioning body can be positioned in an operating position aligned with the workpiece, in each case.

[0022] When a rotational degree of freedom is used for the first degree of freedom of the holder as described above, and a rotational degree of freedom is used for the second degree of freedom of the positioning body (when positioning bodies are distributed around the outer circumference of the holder), for example, each positioning body may be provided with X receiving parts or stoppers that can be brought to the operating position by rotation around the second rotational degree of freedom, and Y positioning bodies may be distributed around the outer circumference of the holder, and in each case they can be aligned with the workpiece and brought to the operating position by rotation around the first rotational degree of freedom. In this case, the use of X × Y receiving parts or stoppers can be provided by a workpiece locator. However, when multiple positioning bodies are used, it is also possible that the positioning bodies have different numbers of receiving parts or stoppers.

[0023] Further suggestions indicate that the positioning body is movable relative to the holder with a degree of freedom that is translational (curved or linear) movement. This movement degree of freedom may be a second degree of freedom. However, the second degree of freedom may also be, for example, a rotational degree of freedom as described above, and as a result, the movement degree of freedom described above is an additional third degree of freedom. This degree of freedom preferably allows for changing the distance of the positioning body, and therefore the distance of at least one receiving portion, or at least one stopper, with respect to the workpiece and the tool head plane. This change in distance can be used to set a predetermined distance or position of the workpiece relative to the workpiece, or to allow adaptation of different types of workpieces and / or workpieces having different dies or decoupling blades. Similarly, this movement degree of freedom can be used to improve insertion of the workpiece into and / or removal of the workpiece from the receiving portion.

[0024] Degrees of freedom of movement can be provided by any direct or indirect mounting between the positioning body and the holder, or by a suitable guide device. In one proposal, translational degrees of freedom, i.e., second or third degrees of freedom, are provided by a slide. Here, the degrees of freedom of movement can also be latched by a latch device, thereby allowing the operating position brought about by the movement to be locked. The latch device is any device that can fix the degrees of freedom of movement. The latch device can be configured, for example, as a snap or lock device, can be configured using a fastening pin, or may be a screw or clamp device. In the simplest case, the degrees of freedom of movement can be embodied by a suitable guide groove in the holder or positioning body, and at least one nut on the holder and the other positioning body is guided to slide.

[0025] The translational degrees of freedom of the slide are of any length, i.e., any slide path can be provided to guarantee different operating positions of the slide as needed. In certain proposals, the slide path is sized such that the movement of the slide allows the positioning body to be inserted between the open workpieces of the tool. The slide path can even be sized such that the front surface of the positioning body (and therefore the receiving surface for the workpiece at this front surface) can push the positioning body through the intermediate space between the workpieces such that it protrudes at least slightly from the open workpiece of the tool on the side opposite to the side of the tool where the holder is located. On the other hand, according to the prior art, the insertion of the workpiece is performed on the side where the holder is located, and for the purpose of determining the dimensions of the slide path as described above, it is also possible to allow the insertion of the workpiece to be performed from the other side, thereby simplifying the insertion (especially with respect to very small workpieces).

[0026] In a further proposal, the slide is guided within a T-groove of a holder [or positioning body]. In this case, the slide may have at least one T-nut. In the assembled position, the T-nut may be insertable into the opening of the T-groove from above, but away from this opening, the T-nut can be guided within the T-groove with translational degrees of freedom, i.e., a second or third degree of freedom. This embodiment allows for easy assembly and, where appropriate, the slide can be disassembled from the holder or positioning body, thereby allowing different slides to be used with the holder or positioning body depending on the application.

[0027] In one embodiment, the slide forms a stopper for the workpiece. In its simplest form, the slide is L-shaped (to the first approximation), with one leg of the L oriented in the direction of the translational degrees of freedom, providing a degree of movement, and in one embodiment carrying a T-nut, the other leg of the L then forming a stop for the workpiece.

[0028] Embodiments are also proposed in which the positioning body is attached to the holder with a degree of bending freedom, allowing the positioning body to be opened and closed relative to the holder (i.e., bent toward the tool head plane and bent away from the tool head plane). This bending degree of freedom can be a second degree of freedom. However, this bending degree of freedom can also be provided as an additional fourth degree of freedom for the positioning body. For example, the holder may have a first degree of rotational freedom, a plurality of positioning bodies may be arranged around the outer circumference of the holder with a second degree of rotational freedom, and at least one of the positioning bodies may be movable relative to the holder with a fourth degree of bending freedom. Optionally, a degree of movement freedom may also be additionally present.

[0029] In certain embodiments, a bending axis can be provided for opening and closing the degree of freedom of bending by a T-nut positioned within the T-groove. In this case, the intersecting legs of the T-nut, guided by the undercut of the T-groove, can form a pivot pin that determines the bending axis.

[0030] In the embodiments described above, at least one of the degrees of freedom (at least one of rotational and / or kinetic and / or bending degrees of freedom) can be latched by a latching device. There are many possibilities within the scope of the present invention regarding the configuration of the latching device.

[0031] In one proposal, the first degree of freedom, which is a rotational degree of freedom, is latched and released such that the retainer is movable between a latched position and a released position in the direction of the rotation axis of the first degree of freedom by the action of a latch spring and against the action of the latch spring. Here, in the latched position, the first degree of freedom is latched by positioning a latch projection of the support [or retainer] in a latch recess of the retainer [or support]. In contrast, in the released position, the first degree of freedom is released by positioning the latch projection of the support [or retainer] outside the latch recess of the retainer [or support]. Preferably, in this case, the support and / or retainer have a plurality of latch projections or latch recesses that can be engaged with different rotational positions as operating positions.

[0032] The second degree of freedom in this case is rotational freedom, and the positioning body can be latched and released between the latched position and the unlocked position, in such a way that it can move in the direction of the rotation axis of the second rotational freedom relative to the holder, by the action of the latch spring and against it. In the latched position, the latch projection of the positioning body [or holder] is positioned in the latch recess of the holder [or positioning body], thereby preventing the second rotational freedom. Conversely, in the unlocked position, the latch projection of the positioning body [or holder] is positioned outside the latch recess of the holder [or positioning body], thereby releasing the second rotational freedom. Similarly, in this case as well, multiple latch projections and / or latch recesses can be provided on the positioning body and / or holder to ensure different operating positions of the positioning body relative to the holder.

[0033] As described, multiple containers or stoppers can be distributed around the outer circumference of the positioning body, allowing for alignment with the workpiece at different operating positions of the positioning body. Here, each receiving portion can be positioned in one of the multiple front surfaces of the positioning body. In this embodiment, the workpiece can also be inserted into a receiving portion that rotates away from a pair of workpieces. The receiving portion is then rotated to an operating position where it is aligned with the workpiece and positioned directly adjacent to it, or within the plane of the tool head, before the tool's working stroke is performed. In this way, the insertion of the workpiece into the receiving portion can be simplified.

[0034] A further proposal involves arranging multiple receiving parts or stoppers side by side on the front surface of one of the positioning bodies. This is particularly advantageous when the workpiece has multiple workstations, i.e., multiple decoupling blades, multiple crimping dies, or multiple pressing dies, which are similarly arranged adjacent to one another. Multiple receiving parts or stoppers on one front surface of the positioning body can each be used for positioning and aligning workpieces with different workstations.

[0035] A further solution to the fundamental objectives of the present invention is a crimping tool, pressing tool, and / or decoupling tool equipped with a workpiece locator as described in one of the claims of the present invention, where the workpiece locator may be attached to the tool as an additional assembly or flanged to the tool together with a support. However, it is also possible that the workpiece locator, or at least the support of the workpiece locator, is an integral part of the crimping tool, pressing tool, and / or decoupling tool. As stated earlier, the crimping tool, pressing tool, or decoupling tool may be a hand tool operated manually or by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive, or it may be a machine tool.

[0036] Advantageous developments of the present invention can be derived from the claims, specification and drawings.

[0037] The advantages of the features and combinations of features mentioned in the specification are merely illustrative and may be influenced by alternative or cumulative effects without necessarily having to be achieved by the embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] The following applies to the original application documents and the disclosures of the patent (not the scope of protection): Further features can be derived from the drawings, in particular from the illustrated geometric shapes and relative dimensions of the components, as well as their relative arrangement and operational connections. Combinations of features of different embodiments of the invention or combinations of features of different claims are also possible and proposed, deviating from the selected references (quotes) of the claims. This also applies to such features shown in separate drawings or referred to in their descriptions. These features can also be combined with features of different claims. Similarly, features described in the claims may be omitted for further embodiments of the invention, but this does not apply to the independent claims of the granted patent.

[0039] Features mentioned in the claims and specification should be understood to exist in the same number or more as mentioned, without requiring the explicit use of the adverb “at least.” Therefore, for example, if one element is mentioned, this should be understood to mean that there is exactly one element, two elements, or more elements. Features described in the claims may be supplemented by other features, or they may consist only of the features contained in each claim.

[0040] The reference numbers included in the claims do not limit the scope of the subject matter protected by the claims. They are merely there to facilitate the understanding of the claims.

[0041] The present invention will be further described below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0042] [Figure 1] The tool head of the crimping pliers to which the workpiece locator is fixed is shown in a spatial diagram. [Figure 2] The workpiece locator shown in Figure 1 is illustrated in a spatial diagram. [Figure 3] Figures 1 and 2 show the workpiece locator in a spatially exploded view. [Figure 4] Figures 1 to 3 show a spatial diagram of the pliers head of a crimping tool to which a workpiece locator is fixed, illustrating that the workpiece locator is in different operating positions with respect to its degrees of freedom. [Figure 5] Figures 1 to 3 show a spatial diagram of the pliers head of a crimping tool to which a workpiece locator is fixed, demonstrating that the workpiece locator is in different operating positions with respect to its degrees of freedom. [Figure 6] Figures 1 to 3 show a spatial diagram of the pliers head of a crimping tool to which a workpiece locator is fixed, demonstrating that the workpiece locator is in different operating positions with respect to its degrees of freedom. [Figure 7] A spatial diagram shows a further embodiment of a workpiece locator in which a slide moves to transport a positioning body along a measuring scale. [Figure 8] A schematic cross-sectional view shows a workpiece locator located at the latch position of a latching device that latches the rotational degrees of freedom of a holder to a support. [Figure 9] An embodiment of a workpiece locator having a positioning body with different external geometric shapes and front surfaces, and different integrated receiving parts within the positioning body, is shown in a spatial diagram. [Figure 10] An embodiment of a workpiece locator having a positioning body with different external geometric shapes and front surfaces, and different integrated receiving parts within the positioning body, is shown in a spatial diagram. [Figure 11] A schematic cross-sectional view shows the slide assembly that transports the positioning body via the T-groove of the retainer in different assembly steps. [Figure 12] A schematic cross-sectional view shows the slide assembly that transports the positioning body via the T-groove of the retainer in different assembly steps. [Figure 13] Figures 11 and 12 show schematic cross-sectional views of the workpiece locator after it has been assembled to different operating positions of the slide, which has a positioning body relative to a holder along the translational degrees of freedom of the slide. [Figure 14] Figures 11 and 12 show schematic cross-sectional views of the workpiece locator after it has been assembled to different operating positions of the slide, which has a positioning body relative to a holder along the translational degrees of freedom of the slide. [Figure 15] The workpiece locator is shown in a spatial diagram with a fixed pliers head, illustrating that the positioning body moves from one side of the pliers head to the other side by sliding through the open workpiece of the tool head. [Figure 16] A spatial diagram shows one embodiment of a workpiece locator in which a positioning body is formed by a slide equipped with a stopper for the workpiece. [Figure 17] A spatial diagram shows one embodiment of a workpiece locator in which a positioning body is formed by a slide equipped with a stopper for the workpiece. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0043] In the following description of the drawings, the same reference numbers are used in part for corresponding or similar components or features with respect to design and / or function, and these components or features are distinguished from one another by the additional letters a, b or the additional digits "-1", "-2", etc. References to these components or features may also be made by reference number without using the additional letters or additional digits that represent one or any number of these components or features.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a portion of the tool 1 (manually operated crimping pliers 2) in the area of ​​the crimping pliers head or tool head 3. The tool head 3 has a frame 4 on which a workpiece 5 is fixed, and another workpiece 6 is movable over a working stroke in the machining direction 7. The workpieces 5 and 6 have a pair of crimping die halves 8a, 9a; 8b, 9b arranged adjacent to each other in a direction transverse to the machining direction 7, and any pair of these crimping die halves 8a, 9a; 8b, 9b each forms a crimping die, thereby enabling the crimping of a connector.

[0045] The tool head 3 determines a tool head plane that extends parallel to the plane extending along the axes y, y in Figure 1. The machining direction 7 extends parallel to this tool head plane and also extends in the Y-axis direction. Instead, the pair of crimping die halves 8, 9 are positioned apart from each other in the direction of the x-axis.

[0046] The workpiece locator 10 is fixed to the tool head 3, and the workpiece locator 10 is shown in Figure 2 without the tool head 3, and in an exploded view in Figure 3.

[0047] According to Figure 3, the workpiece locator 10 comprises a support 11, a holder 12, a slide 13, and a positioning body 14. Appropriate bearings and / or guides provide the following degrees of freedom for the components of the workpiece locator 10. - The holder 12 can rotate relative to the support 11 by rotational degrees of freedom 15 about the rotation axis 16. The rotation axis 16 is oriented perpendicular to the tool head plane 3. - The slide 13 can move relative to the holder 12 along the translational degrees of freedom 17. The translational degrees of freedom 17 are oriented parallel to the axis of rotation 16. - The positioning body 14 is movable relative to the slide 13 by bending degrees of freedom 18 centered on the bending axis 19. The bending axis 19 is oriented parallel to the tool head plane and perpendicular to the machining direction 7 (at the operating position shown in Figure 1). - The positioning body 14 is rotatable relative to the slide 13 by a rotational degree of freedom 20 about the rotation axis 21. The rotation axis 21 is oriented parallel to the tool head plane at the operating position shown in Figure 1, and also parallel to the machining direction 7 (at the operating position shown in Figure 1).

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotational degree of freedom 15 forms the first degree of freedom 22, the rotational degree of freedom 20 forms the second degree of freedom 23, the movement degree of freedom 17 forms the third degree of freedom 24, and the bending degree of freedom 18 forms the fourth degree of freedom 25, along which the positioning body 14 is movable relative to the holder 12. However, embodiments are also possible in which any one or any two of the degrees of freedom mentioned are omitted. For example, the workpiece locator 10 can be configured without the slide 13, and without the movement degree of freedom 17, and / or without the bending degree of freedom 18, resulting in only rotation of the holder 12 relative to the support 11 along the first degree of freedom 22, and rotation of the positioning body 14 relative to the holder 12 along the second degree of freedom 23. Thus, the third and / or fourth degrees of freedom 24, 25 are simply optional.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the support 11 has a plate-shaped base 26, the back of which abuts against the relevant components of the tool head 3 (in particular, the frame 4 or the workpiece 6). The base 26 is fixed to the mounting area 67 of this component of the tool head 3 by screw connections or flange connections (not shown).

[0050] On the side facing the retainer 12, the support 11 is provided with a latch projection 27, which in this case is configured as a latch pin 28. Furthermore, on this side, the support 11 is provided with a bearing sleeve 29 having a cylindrical outer bearing surface and an inner screw hole 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch projection 27 and the bearing sleeve 29 are integrally formed with the base body 26 and extend parallel to the axis of rotation 16.

[0051] The holder 12 is configured in a first approximate shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, or a cubic shape. On the rear front (the side facing the support 11), which is not shown in Figure 3, the holder 12 has a latch recess 31, which is configured as a latch hole 32 (see Figure 8). The latch hole 32 has a depth and diameter such that a latch pin 28 can be received therein to latch the rotational degrees of freedom 15. Here, the four latch holes 32 are arranged distributed around the axis of rotation 16, so that in each case, after the holder 12 has rotated 90° around the axis of rotation 16, the latch pin 28 can enter one of the latch holes 32.

[0052] The retainer 12 has a stepped through-hole 33. On the side facing the support 11, the through-hole has an enlarged inner cylindrical bearing surface, thereby allowing the retainer 12 to rotatably mount to the cylindrical bearing surface of the bearing sleeve 29 of the support 11.

[0053] The bearing and / or fixing bolt 34 are screwed into the threaded hole 30 of the bearing sleeve 29 of the support 11 through the through hole 33. The retainer 12 is captured with play between the head 35 of the bearing and / or fixing bolt 34 and the base body 26 of the support 11. The latch spring 36 is supported at one spring base by the head 35 of the bearing and / or fixing bolt 34, and at the other spring base of the latch spring 36 is supported on the front surface of the retainer 12 or on the stepped portion of the through hole 33, facing away from the support 11. The latch spring 36 is preloaded so that the latch pin 28 is pressed into the latch hole 32 by this preload force, which biases the retainer 12 toward the support 11. When a manual tensile force is applied to the holder 12, and as a result the load on the latch spring 36 increases, the holder 12 is pulled away from the support 11, and therefore the latch hole 32 is pulled away from the latch pin 28, the latching can be released, and the holder 12 can be manually rotated around the rotation axis 16.

[0054] The rectangular parallelepiped holder 12 has four sides 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d. A T-groove 38 is introduced into one of the sides 37, which is continuous and therefore has an open end. The T-groove 38 extends parallel to the axis of rotation 16 along the side 37.

[0055] In the end region away from the support 11, the undercut of the T-groove can be closed, thereby providing a stopper that restricts the movement of the T-nut 51 in the T-groove 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the undercut in the outer end region has holes 40, 41 that house pins 42, 43 and provide these stoppers.

[0056] Near the center, the T-groove 38 has an opening 39, and there are no undercuts formed by the T-groove 38 in the region of this opening. In the region of the opening 39, screw holes 44 extending from adjacent side surfaces 37 open into the T-groove 38, and a latch element 45 (in this case, a set screw 46) can be screwed into the groove, and the latch device 69 formed thereby can latch the degrees of freedom of movement 17.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the slide 13 has a plate-shaped base 47, the geometric shape of which is mainly square or rectangular in the extending plane, corresponding to the geometric shape of the assigned side surface 37. On the side facing away from the holder 12, the base 47 has latch projections 48a, 48b, 48c, and 48d in the corner region. Furthermore, on the side of the base 47 facing away from the holder 12, the base 47 has a central bearing sleeve 49, the outer circumferential surface of which forms a cylindrical bearing surface and has an inner screw hole 50.

[0058] On the side facing the retainer 12, the slide 13 has two T-nuts 51a and 51b (see also Figures 11-14). Here, the T-nut 51a, as seen in Figure 3, is located in the end region of the base 47 facing away from the support 11, and the other T-nut 51b is located at a distance from the T-nut 51a that correlates with the distance of the opening 39 from the stopper formed by the pins 42 and 43.

[0059] In the orientation of the base 47 inclined at an acute angle with respect to the side surface 37a (see Figure 11), the T-nut 51a can be inserted into the T-groove 38a through the opening 39a and move toward the stopper formed by the pins 42 and 43 (see Figure 12). At the end position determined by the stopper, the base 47 can be bent toward the side surface 37a with a decrease in the acute angle, thereby allowing the T-nut 51b to also enter the T-groove 38a through the opening 39a (see Figure 13).

[0060] Next, when the slide 13 moves away from the stopper in the direction of the support 11 (see Figure 14), both T-nuts 51a and 51b are captured within the T-groove 38a, but are movable in the direction of the degrees of freedom 17. Along the slide path, the T-nuts 51a and 51b are positioned within the T-groove 38a at a position away from the opening 39a so that they cannot exit the T-groove 38a.

[0061] In contrast, when the T-nut 51b is positioned below the opening 39a (preferably, when the other T-nut 51a abuts against a stopper provided by pins 42, 43), the slide 13 can pivot around a pivot pin formed by the intersecting legs 52 of the T-nut 51a in the T-groove 38a, thereby providing a degree of freedom 18 for bending around the bending axis 19. Thus, the degree of freedom 18 for bending exists only in predetermined positions, particularly at the end positions determined by the stopper, but depending on the dimensions of the larger-than-usual extension of the opening 39a in the direction of the degree of freedom 17 for movement, the degree of freedom 18 can also be provided in a portion of the degree of freedom 17 for movement.

[0062] The positioning body 14 has a base body 53 which is basically a rectangular base surface and is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped. The base body 53 has four front surfaces 54a, 54b, 54c, and 54d which are oriented orthogonally to each other. Sets of multiple receiving halves 55-1, 55-2, and 55-3 are introduced adjacent to each other within the front surface 54. Each receiving halve 55 is closed by the base body 47 of the slide 13 to form a receiving section 56 whose cross section is closed when the positioning body 14 is in the latching position on the slide 13.

[0063] At the corners, the base body 53 has latch recesses 57a, 57b, 57c, and 57d.

[0064] A knurled wheel 58 extends from the base body 53 on the side facing away from the slide 13. A through hole 59 extends through the knurled wheel 58 and the base body 53 to the center. A bearing and / or fixing bolt 60 extends through the through hole 59, and the end region of the bearing and / or fixing bolt 60 opposite the head 61 is screwed into a threaded hole 50 in the slide 13. The positioning body 14 is captured between the head 61 and the base body 47 of the slide 13 with axial play. A preloaded latch spring 62 is supported at one spring base of the head 61, and the other spring base abuts against a step in the through hole 59. The latch spring 62 presses the positioning body 14 toward the slide 13. In the latched position, the latch projection 48 of the slide 13 is received within the latch recess 57 of the positioning body 14, thereby providing a latching of the positioning body 14 with rotational degrees of freedom 20 relative to the slide 13 around the axis of rotation 21. When a user manually applies tensile force to the knurled wheel 58 to pull the positioning body 14 away from the slide 13 against the load of the latch spring 62, the latch projection 48 exits the latch recess 57, thereby allowing the rotation of the positioning body 14 relative to the slide 13 around the axis of rotation 21 via the knurled wheel 58 until the latch recess 57 can engage with the previously adjacent latch projection 48.

[0065] For simplicity and clarity in the drawing, only one T-groove 38a is shown in the figure, which includes the slide 13 and positioning body 14. One, two, or all of the additional T-grooves 38 may also include the slide 13 and positioning body 14.

[0066] Figure 4 shows a tool head 3 with a workpiece locator 10, where the holder 12 is in a latched position relative to the support 11. In contrast, the positioning body 14 located in the T-groove 38a positioned at the top is not in a latched position relative to the slide 13. Therefore, none of the receiving portions 56 of the positioning body are aligned with the workpieces 5, 6, or in this case, the pair of die halves 8, 9. Rather, for this purpose, the rotation of the positioning body 14 by rotational degrees of freedom 20 about the rotation axis 21 must continue until the positioning body 14 latches to the slide 13, which can also be sensed by the user based on the snap-fitting of the latch projection 48 into the latch recess 57 as a result of the action of the latch spring 62. In the operating positions rotated 90° around the rotation axis 21, the different receiving portions 56 of the front surfaces 54a, 54b, 54c, and 54d of the positioning body 14 can be positioned to align with the workpieces 5, 6 or the die halves 8, 9, in their respective cases.

[0067] As shown in Figure 5, by pulling the holder 12 away from the support 11 in response to the load from the latch spring 36, the engagement of the latch projection 27 in the latch recess 31 is released, thereby enabling and achieving rotation of the holder 12 around the rotation axis 16.

[0068] As shown in Figure 6, the T-nut 51a is moved to its end position, thereby positioning the other T-nut 51b directly below the opening 39 of the T-groove 38. In this operating position of the slide 13, the bending degrees of freedom 18 are released, and the slide 13 (together with the positioning body 14) is bent around the bending axis 19.

[0069] Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the workpiece locator 10. In a design that is essentially the same as the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, the holder 12 here has a measuring scale 63 in the area of ​​the side surface 37a. Based on the measuring scale 63, the user can determine which operating position the slide 13 (and thus the positioning body 14) has adopted relative to the holder 12 along the degrees of freedom of movement 17.

[0070] The screw hole 64 can extend through the slide 13 in the direction of the 17 degrees of freedom of movement. A spindle, not shown here, can extend through the screw hole 64 attached to the holder 12 so as to be rotatable without axial degrees of freedom. Manual rotation of the spindle makes it possible to adjust and fasten the position of the slide 13 particularly sensitively along the 17 degrees of freedom of movement.

[0071] As shown in Figure 7, the retainer 12 may have only one T-groove 38a in the region of its side surface 37a. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, at least one front surface 54b of the positioning body 14 does not have a receiving half 55.

[0072] Figures 9 and 10 show different configurations of the base body 53 of the positioning body 14, as well as examples of arrangements (sets) of the receiving halves 55 or receiving halves 56 on the positioning body 14. According to Figure 9, the base body 53 has a cylindrical circumferential surface. In each case, multiple sets of receiving halves 55 or receiving halves 56 assigned to pairs of die halves 8, 9 are distributed around the outer circumference of the base body 53.

[0073] According to Figure 10, the base 53 has a hexagonal geometric shape, thereby forming six front surfaces 54, in which an assigned set of receiving halves 55 or receiving halves 56 can be arranged.

[0074] Figure 11 shows the slide 13, which has a T-nut 51a, being inserted into the T-groove 38 through the opening 39 with the slide 13 slightly tilted. The slide 13 can then move relative to the holder 12 along the degrees of freedom 17 toward the stopper formed by the pins 42, 43 (while maintaining the tilt), thereby causing the T-nut 51a to slide within the T-groove 38, while the T-nut 51b approaches the opening 39 on the outside of the T-groove 38. At the terminal position shown in Figure 12, where the T-nut 51a abuts against the pins 42, 43, the slide 13 can be bent toward the holder 12, thereby causing the T-nut 51b to enter the T-groove 38 through the opening (transition from Figure 12 to Figure 13). Here, the slide 13 can move again toward the tool head 3, i.e., toward the support 11, and both T-nuts 51a and 51b are guided to slide within the T-groove 38. At the end position shown in Figure 14, the motion may be performed such that the front surface 54 located at the operating position, or the receiving half (or multiple receiving half) 55, or the receiving (or multiple receiving) 56 located at the operating position, protrudes beyond the holder 12 by a distance of 65.

[0075] As shown in Figure 15, this protruding position can be used so that the positioning body 14 passes through the open workpieces 5 and 6. As a result, the receiving half 55 and receiving 56 are positioned and accessible on the side of the tool head 3 where the support 11 and holder 12 are not located, and as a result, the workpiece can be inserted from this side.

[0076] Figures 16 and 17 show another embodiment of the workpiece locator 10 in which the slide 13 is used directly as a positioning body 14. In this embodiment, the slide 13 is folded open about a folding axis 19 such that the lower surface 66 of the slide 13 is oriented parallel to the tool head plane. In this case, the lower surface 66 forms a stopper 68 for the workpiece to be machined. Preferably, the folding angle of the slide 13 with respect to the side surface 37 of the holder 12 is 90°. The folded position is then fastened by a latching device 69, particularly by a latching element 45 in the form of a set screw 46.

[0077] The workpiece locator 10 can be used only in this embodiment shown in Figures 16 and 17. Similarly, the workpiece locator 10 can also be used for the first application in this embodiment, where the slide 13 forms the positioning body 14. For another application, the positioning body according to the above embodiment can then be attached to the slide 13, and the positioning body preferably has rotational degrees of freedom 20 relative to the slide 13.

[0078] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, using the slide 13 as a positioning body 14 can be particularly useful in providing a stopper 68 for a workpiece configured as an angle connector having two orthogonal legs, one of which may have a sleeve pressed by a cable, and the other leg having a hole for fixing to a support contact element. In this case, the position of the angle connector can be determined by the latter leg, which abuts against the lower surface 66 of the slide 13.

[0079] In the illustrated embodiment, the T-groove 38 is formed by the retainer 12, while the slide 13 has a T-nut 51. In kinematic reversal, the slide 13 can also form the T-groove 38, in which case the T-nut 51 can be formed by the positioning body 14.

[0080] The above-mentioned components, particularly the support 11, the holder 12, the slide 13, and the positioning body 14, can be integrated components or assemblies of at least two components.

[0081] As explained above, individual degrees of freedom or multiple degrees of freedom can be omitted. For example, the slide 13 can directly form the positioning body 14, in which case the rotational degree of freedom 20 and / or the bending degree of freedom 18 may not exist. In this case, the rotational degree of freedom 15 is the first degree of freedom 22, and the movement degree of freedom 17 is the second degree of freedom 23.

[0082] The 17 degrees of freedom of movement can be omitted, in which case the 18 degrees of freedom of bending or the 20 degrees of freedom of rotation can be made into a second degree of freedom 23.

[0083] The first degree of freedom 22 is provided by the first connecting mechanism 70. The second degree of freedom 23 is provided by the second connecting mechanism 71. The first and second connecting mechanisms 70 and 71 are, - Translational degrees of freedom (covering degrees of freedom for straight lines or curves) or - Rotational degrees of freedom or bending degrees of freedom, It can have any design to provide it.

[0084] The third and / or fourth degrees of freedom 24, 25 may be provided by the first and / or second coupling mechanisms 70, 71, or by at least one additional coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism may be provided by pivot bearings or any linear guides, slides, slotted links, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 tool 2 Crimping pliers 3 Tool heads 4 frames 5 Processed body 6 Processed body 7 Processing direction 8 Crimping die half 9 Crimping die half 10 Workpiece Locators 11 Support 12 Holder 13 slides 14 Positioning body 15 degrees of freedom 16 Rotation axis 17 degrees of freedom of movement 18 degrees of freedom for bending 19. Folding axis 20 degrees of freedom 21 Rotation axis 22. First degree of freedom 23. The second degree of freedom 24. The third degree of freedom 25. The fourth degree of freedom 26 Base 27 Latch projection 28 Latch pins 29 Bearing sleeve 30 screw holes 31 Latch recess 32 Latch hole 33 Through hole 34 Bearings and / or fixing bolts 35 heads 36 Latch spring 37 Side view 38 T groove 39 Aperture 40 holes 41 holes 42 pins 43 pins 44 screw holes 45 Latch elements 46 Set screws 47 Substrate 48 Latch projection 49 Bearing sleeve 50 screw holes 51 T-nut 52 Crossed Leg Section 53 Base 54 Front 55 Receiving half 56 Receiving part 57 Latch recess 58 knurled wheels 59 Through hole 60 Bearings and / or fixing bolts 61 heads 62 Latch spring 63 Measuring scale 64 Through holes 65 distance 66 Bottom side 67 Mounting area 68 Stopper 69 Latching device 70 First coupling mechanism 71 Second coupling mechanism

Claims

1. A workpiece locator (10) for a tool (1) which is a crimping tool, pressing tool, or coating removal tool, The workpiece locator (10) is (a) A support (11) which is part of the tool (1) or has a mounting area (67) for attaching the workpiece locator (10) to the tool (1), (b) A holder (12) connected to the support (11) by a first connecting mechanism (70), wherein the first connecting mechanism (70) provides a first degree of freedom (22) for moving the support (11) relative to the support (11), (c) A positioning body (14) having a workpiece receiving portion (56) or stopper (68) for positioning and / or aligning the workpiece to be processed by the tool (1), Equipped with, (d) The positioning body is connected to the holder (11) by a second connecting mechanism (71) which provides a second degree of freedom (23) for moving the positioning body (14) relative to the holder (12). Workpiece locator (10).

2. The first degree of freedom (22) of the first coupling mechanism (70) is a rotational degree of freedom (15) about a rotation axis (16) that is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the tool head (3) of the tool (1). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1.

3. The holder (12) comprises at least two positioning bodies (14) that are distributed around the outer circumference of the holder (12). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 2.

4. (a) The second degree of freedom (23) of the second coupling mechanism (71) is a rotational degree of freedom (20) about the axis of rotation (21), (b) The positioning body (14) has at least two of the receiving portions (56) or stoppers (68) that are distributed around the outer circumference of the positioning body (14), The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1.

5. The second coupling mechanism (71) includes a third degree of freedom (24) for moving the positioning body (14) relative to the holder (12), wherein the third degree of freedom (23; 24) is a translational degree of freedom (17). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1.

6. The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 5, wherein the translational degrees of freedom (17) are provided by a slide (13).

7. The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a latching device configured to latch the first degree of freedom of the first coupling mechanism (70) or the second degree of freedom of the second coupling mechanism (71).

8. The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 6, further comprising a latching device (69) configured to latch the translational degrees of freedom (17) of the slide (13).

9. The translational degrees of freedom (17) of the slide (13) determine a dimensionally defined and restricted slide path so that the positioning body (14) can be introduced between the open workpieces (5, 6) of the tool (1). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 6.

10. The defined and restricted sliding path allows the tool (1) to push the positioning body (14) from one side of the tool head to the other side of the tool head through the open workpiece (5, 6). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 9.

11. The slide (13) is guided into a T-groove (38) of the holder (12) or the positioning body (14), and the slide (13) is provided with at least one T-nut (51) positioned in the T-groove of the holder (12). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 6.

12. The T-groove (38) is provided with an opening (39), and the T-nut (51) is insertable into the T-groove (38) through the opening (39) and is guided by the T-groove (38) over a sliding path in at least one sliding path section located away from the opening (39). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 11.

13. The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 6, wherein the slide (13) forms a stopper (68) for the workpiece.

14. The second degree of freedom of the second connecting mechanism (71) is a bending degree of freedom (18), thereby the positioning body (14) can be bent relative to the holding body (12) about the bending axis (19). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1.

15. The positioning body (14) is movable relative to the holder (12) with a fourth degree of freedom (25), and the fourth degree of freedom (23; 25) is a bending degree of freedom (18), thereby the positioning body (14) is bendable relative to the holder (12) about the bending axis (19). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1.

16. (a) The positioning body (14) is movable relative to the holder (12) with a fourth degree of freedom (25), the fourth degree of freedom (23; 25) is a bending degree of freedom (18), thereby the positioning body (14) is bendable relative to the holder (12) about the bending axis (19), (b) The T-nut (51) positioned in the T-groove (38) is provided with a bending axis (19) for the degree of freedom of bending (18), The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 11.

17. (a) The retainer (12) is movable from the latched position to the unlocked position in the direction of the rotation axis (16) of the first degree of freedom (22) away from the support (11) with respect to the load of the latch spring (36), and the retainer (12) is movable from the unlocked position to the latched position in the direction of the support (11) due to the load of the latch spring (36), in such a way that the first degree of freedom (22) is latchable and unlockable. (aa) In the latch position, the latch projection (27) of the support (11) or the holder (12) is positioned in the latch recess (31) of the holder (12) or the support (11), thereby latching the first degree of freedom (22), and (ab) In the latch release position, the latch projection (27) of the support (11) or the retainer (12) is positioned outside the latch recess (31) of the retainer (12) or the support (11), thereby releasing the first degree of freedom (22). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 2.

18. (a) The second degree of freedom (23) is latchable and unlatched such that the positioning body (14) is movable by and against the load of the latch spring (62) in the direction of the rotation axis (21) of the second degree of freedom (23) between the latched position and the unlocked position. (aa) In the latch position, the latch projection (48) of the positioning body (14), the retaining body (12), or the slide (13) is positioned in the latch recess (57) of the retaining body (12), the slide (13), or the positioning body (14), thereby latching the second degree of freedom (23). (ab) In the latch release position, the latch projection (48) of the positioning body (14), the retaining body (12), or the slide (13) is positioned outside the latch recess (57) of the retaining body (12), the slide (13), or the positioning body (14), thereby releasing the second degree of freedom (23). The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 4.

19. The workpiece locator (10) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of receiving portions (56) or stoppers (68) are arranged side by side on the front surface (54) of the positioning body (14).

20. A crimping tool, pressing tool, and / or coating removal tool comprising a workpiece locator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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