Automatic cutting machine

Abstract

An automatic cutting machine is disclosed having a multiple feed designed to feed different cable cross sections or cable types, the multiple feed having multiple tubes, each associated with a cable cross section / cable type, tiltably mounted on an adjustment slide.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to an automatic cutting machine as defined in the preamble of patent claim 1. Such an automatic cutting machine can be incorporated, for example, into a modular cable processing center (WPC) for the assembly of cables. [Background technology]

[0002] The WPC may be used to provide a line for the assembly of cables, control cabinets, cutting to length, marking and crimping with contact elements such as wire end sleeves. The assembled cables are then bundled in the usual way and stored in storage devices. Such a center is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,363. The actual assembly of the cables is carried out by units configured as special machines and enabling the above-mentioned work steps. Such units have a very complex structure and cannot be adapted to different production tasks without great effort. Furthermore, such special machines are relatively expensive and require a large installation space in the production line.

[0003] A more flexible solution would be to provide instead of special machines modular units, on which the individual process steps (cutting to length, marking, stripping, crimping, bundling) are carried out by an operator. Crimping is carried out in a crimping machine, as is known for example from the applicant's patent specification DE 10 20 06 23 A1, which is used for example to crimp wire end sleeves with stripped cable ends. In the known solution, these wire end sleeves are wound up as belts on a drum magazine, from which they are transported via a transport unit to the crimping head. Alternatively, the wire end sleeves or contact elements can also be held individually in a storage and then transported to the crimping head in a defined position via a suitable feeding device. Such a feeding device is described for example in DE 10 20 06 23 A1.

[0004] In known solutions, the wire end sleeves to be crimped are placed on the stripped cable ends via a holding device and then crimped via a crimping head. The cable ends can be stripped either externally or via a stripping head integrated into the crimping machine.

[0005] The construction of a conveying unit for conveying wire end sleeves or other electrical components arranged on a belt is described, for example, in the applicant's US Pat. No. 5,399,433. A similar conveying unit is also disclosed in the applicant's US Pat. No. 5,399,433.

[0006] In series production, it is necessary to press different cable cross sections and / or electrical components / contact elements together and then install them during a subsequent installation process, e.g. during the installation of a control cabinet. In principle, there are two options for this: either to adapt the crimping machine to press the different cable cross sections and / or contact elements (wire end sleeves) together, or to have several crimping machines to process the different cable cross sections / contact elements. The first solution requires long set-up times and considerable manpower. This drawback is overcome in the latter solution with a large number of crimping machines, but the investment costs are considerable.

[0007] In the patent application US 2005 / 0133636 A1 a machine (configured as a stripper or crimper) is disclosed which is able to process different cable cross sections and wire end sleeves. For each type of wire end sleeve a drum magazine and associated crimping devices are provided, which are assigned a common drive and can be selectively operatively engaged with one of the crimping devices. This type of solution requires a great deal of effort in terms of equipment, since a large number of crimping units must be provided and controlled.

[0008] In the applicant's patent application DE 10 04 06 53 A1 a crimping machine is shown in which the above mentioned drawbacks are eliminated, as the crimping machine is provided with a storage system with a plurality of drum magazines to which a common transport unit and a common crimping head are assigned, so that the equipment-related labor is significantly reduced compared to the above mentioned solutions.

[0009] In the applicant's subsequent published patent application DE 10 04 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 a crimping machine is disclosed in which the contact elements to be crimped are guided directly into the effective area of ​​the stripping or crimping head, without any intervening feeding device or the like. In this known solution, the contact elements are preferably stored in a drum magazine, so that the crimping machine is configured accordingly with a separation device.

[0010] The same applicant's US Pat. No. 5,399,633 shows a crimping machine in which the different wire end sleeves are stored in a storage system with several drum magazines. Each of these drum magazines is assigned a transport unit, via which the respective preselected wire end sleeve is transported to a transport position. There, the cut wire end sleeves are fed via a shuttle to a common crimping head.

[0011] This crimping machine is characterized by its high productivity, but has the disadvantages of a relatively complicated shuttle shape, a large installation space, and the inability to perform stripping. The applicant is a 0.08 to 10 mm 2 In this known solution, the cable to be cut to length is conveyed through a conveying device with two frictionally engaged driven rollers and then cut by a cutting device according to a specified target length. The cable is fed by an operator from a cable storage, e.g. a cable reel. The operator places the cut length of the cable / line in a buffer store, from where he removes the cut length and feeds it to a crimping machine, where the end portion of the cable is stripped and crimped with a contact element, e.g. a wire end sleeve.

[0012] Due to the high proportion of manual work, the demands on personnel during assembly, and in particular during the subsequent laying of the cables in the control cabinets, are relatively high, where errors cannot be ruled out. The applicant's patent application DE 10 02 04 053 A1 describes an automatic cutting machine whose feed is designed as a multiple infeed unit for a plurality of cable cross sections or cable types, the cables to be processed being directed to the feed or to the conveying device of the automatic cutting machine via a control device, the multiple infeed unit being configured with an adjustment slide which is movable, for example transversely to the conveying direction of the cable, in order to direct the respective cable to the conveying device / cutting device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8,442,664 [Patent Document 2] German Patent No. 4440835 [Patent Document 3] DE 19831588 A1 [Patent Document 4] German Utility Model No. DE9308266 [Patent Document 5] German Patent No. 19714964 [Patent Document 6] German Patent No. 102004057818 [Patent Document 7] DE 102015119217 [Patent Document 8] German Patent Invention No. 102017118968 [Patent Document 9] DE 102015102060 [Patent Document 10] German Patent No. 102018131444 Summary of the Invention

[0014] One problem with such a solution is the precise orientation of each cable relative to the conveying / cutting device. In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of creating an automatic cutting machine which allows reliable cable feeding with little equipment-related effort.

[0015] This object is solved by an automatic cutting machine having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The automatic cutting machine according to the invention has multiple infeed units for several cable cross sections or cable types, which are assigned a conveying device for feeding the cable according to a predetermined cable length and a cutting device for cutting the cable to length. The multiple infeed units are preferably arranged on an adjustment slide which is movable transversely to the feeding direction of the cable, and the cable to be processed is directed towards the conveying device or the cutting device.

[0016] According to the invention, the multiple feeding unit has a number of tubes, or "pipes", tiltably mounted on an adjustment slide, each assigned to a cable cross section and / or cable type, in which a respective cable or a respective line is guided, which are mounted on the adjustment slide in a manner that allows them to be selectively adjusted or tilted from a base position via an actuating device to a working position in which the cable guided in the tube is directed towards a conveying device or a cutting device.

[0017] Thus, at least a selected one of the tubes is positionable relative to the conveying or cutting device to allow operative engagement of the cables guided therein with the conveying or cutting device, while the other, non-operated tubes remain positioned so as not to allow such operative engagement of their cables. In this way, the tubes and their selectable actuation into an operative position ensure reliable guidance of the respective cables to the conveying / cutting device, so that malfunctions due to inaccurate relative alignment of the cables to be cut are excluded.

[0018] As a preferred development, the tubes can only be selectively actuated individually by the actuator. In a possible alternative, at least two of the tubes can be selectively actuated simultaneously by the actuator.

[0019] As a further development, reliable guidance of the respective cables to the conveying / cutting device is ensured in particular by a parallel arrangement of the tubes, like organ pipes, so that malfunctions due to incorrect relative positions of the cables to be cut are eliminated.

[0020] The tubes can have an open or closed shape, preferably tubes with a circular cross section (also called guide tubes). In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubes are mounted on a common tilt axis.

[0021] Tilting / pivoting is particularly easy if the working part of the tube remote from the conveying or cutting device extends beyond the tilt axis, which is then engaged by an actuating device for tilting the respective tube.

[0022] In one possible embodiment, the actuating device is configured as a lifting cylinder, in particular an electro-pneumatic lifting cylinder, one lifting cylinder being assigned to every tube. Alternatively, the actuator may be configured as an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, in which case the motor is again assigned to all tubes.

[0023] Regardless of the type of actuator, the tube, or "pipe", to be actuated is positioned within the working range of the actuator by moving an adjustment slide. In particular, for movement purposes, an actuator, a linear actuator or a linear drive is provided.

[0024] Actuation of the tubes or "pipes" via the actuator is optional. In particular, the actuator is fixed in position or within the housing. As a further development, the automatic cut-off machine can be constructed to be particularly short if the tube in the base position projects at least partially beyond the conveying device in the feed direction.

[0025] In order to be able to tilt the tube guiding the cable to be cut into the working position without collision, as a further development the transport device has a concave free entry area, in which in the working position the tube, in particular the opening of the tube from which the cable to be cut emerges, then projects into the entry area.

[0026] In a preferred further development, the inlet area is bounded on both sides by the peripheral surfaces of rotatable feed rollers of the conveying device. The peripheral surfaces are preferably provided with a structuring, e.g. ribs, corrugations, knobs, etc. extending transversely to the feeding direction, in order to improve the operational engagement and clamping of the cable. The peripheral surfaces may be simply cylindrical or may be concave in order to improve the guiding of the cable.

[0027] The conveying of the cable to the conveying device is particularly simple if it consists of two feed rollers which can be moved apart and the cable is positioned specifically in the inlet area by tilting the respective tube / "pipe". Alternatively, one of the feed rollers is stationary and only the other feed roller can be moved away from it.

[0028] Preferably, both feed rollers are rotatable, in particular drivable in rotation. As a further development of the first option, both supply rollers for clamping the cable can be moved in opposite directions, i.e. towards each other, in particular transversely or perpendicularly to the supply direction, while in the case of the second option this is only one of the supply rollers.

[0029] In order to be able to feed the cable to be cut to the cutting device in a rapid and controlled manner, in one further development a guide device is provided which extends in the form of a tube, channel or tunnel between the opening of the conveying device and the cutting zone of the cutting device.

[0030] As a further development, the feed roller of the conveying device can be driven in rotation in a direction opposite to the feeding direction in order to remove the cable feed of the last cable cut to length from the cutting zone of the cutting device and release it for cutting another cable to length.

[0031] Removal of the cut lengths of cable is particularly easy if a transport chute is assigned to the cutting device. As a further development, the multiple infeed units, the conveying device and / or the cutting device are covered by a common or respective cover. In this way, interruptions of the cutting process due to falling objects or inadvertent interference are prevented and in particular the operating personnel are protected against injuries. The cover is preferably transparent and made of a particularly debris-free material. In this way, the cut-to-length process can be monitored automatically or by an operator and, in the event of defects, a first visual inspection can be carried out without removing the cover.

[0032] As a further development, the automatic cutting machine is provided with an optical monitoring unit which has a view at least to the multiple infeed units, the conveying device, the cutting device and / or the conveying chute. In order to thread each cable through its associated tube, as a further development, the cover of the multiple feed unit has a respective through passage for each tube, preferably formed as an elongated hole to simplify threading.

[0033] In order to allow a standardized process with reliable threading, it is preferably always carried out in the same position of the adjustment slide, preferably in the stop or end position of the adjustment slide relative to the adjustment direction.

[0034] As a further development, the through passage is thus arranged in that part of the cover of the lower multiple feed unit in which the stop position or end position of the adjustment slide lies relative to its adjustment direction.

[0035] As a further development, the multiple infeed unit with or without the actuation device is arranged as a module detachable from the conveying device and the cutting device or as a separate module. Either detachable or separable, this offers the possibility of easily exchanging different multiple infeed units in a modular manner, e.g. in terms of the number and / or diameter of the tubes. This means that different combinations of cables can be cut to length using the same conveying device and cutting device, and only the modularly exchangeable multiple infeed unit needs to be exchanged.

[0036] As a possible further development, at least one fastening means for a single, detachably designed feed unit is formed or arranged in the spatial part of the automatic cutting machine containing the working position, in particular in the above-mentioned inlet area. If necessary, in particular in the case of multiple, modularly and detachably designed feed units, this means that the machine can be quickly returned to the single feed unit.

[0037] As a further development, the automatic cutting machine thus has a separate single feed unit for removably mounting in the space and on the at least one fastening means. Preferably, the modularly detachable multiple infeed units are preassembled and the single feed unit is included in the scope of delivery of the automatic cutting machine.

[0038] A method of cutting a cable to a predetermined length with an automatic cutting machine configured according to at least one aspect of the above description, according to the present invention, comprises at least selecting a cable to be cut by adjusting an adjustment slide so that a tube associated with the cable is orientable relative to a conveying device or cutting device; and orienting the tube by tilting the tube from its base position to its working position via an actuator device.

[0039] For cutting, the method comprises the steps of transporting a cable portion of a predetermined length via a conveying device to a cutting device, cutting the cable portion via the cutting device, and in particular discharging the cable portion via a conveying chute.

[0040] This procedure can be repeated for the same or variable predetermined lengths. If another cable is to be cut or if the neutral starting position of the automatic cutting machine is simply to be restored, the method comprises the steps of retracting the last cut cable relative to the feed direction, in particular via the conveying device, and tilting the associated tube from the working position to the base position via the actuating device.

[0041] If another cable is disconnected, the steps described above from selection to removal are followed for this cable. The Applicant reserves the right to direct to an independent claim a method according to the invention which comprises at least the above-mentioned steps of selecting the cable to be cut to a length so that a tube associated with the cable can be directed relative to a conveying or cutting device; and a step of orienting the tube by tilting it from its base position to its working position.

[0042] Preferably, the above mentioned automatic cutting machine comprises a control unit in which the method according to the invention is stored for execution. In a simplified embodiment, in contrast to the one presented here, an automatic cutting machine with a feed device with only one tube / pipe which can be actuated from a base position to a working position by an actuation device is also possible. The applicant reserves the right to separately claim such an automatic cutting machine. The tiltable support of the only one tube / pipe according to the invention in this case does not necessarily have to be arranged on an adjustment slide of the automatic cutting machine described above, but may for example be fixedly arranged on the housing.

[0043] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a first configuration example of an automatic cutting machine according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the automatic cutting machine of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the automatic cutting machine according to FIGS. 1 and 2; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of multiple infeed units according to the present invention; [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the automatic cutting machine according to FIGS. 1 to 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of the automatic cutting machine according to FIGS. 1 to 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view showing a second configuration example of the automatic cutting machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the second configuration example of the automatic cutting machine according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the multiple infeed unit of the automatic cutter according to FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of an automatic cutting machine that can be used in a Wire Processing Center (WPC), which is described in the prior art mentioned at the beginning. In the illustration according to FIG. 1, the automatic cutting machine 1 is only partially shown with the housing elements removed. The automatic cutting machine 1 thus has, for example, a panel 2 on which a display 4 is arranged, on which the necessary processing parameters are displayed. The automatic cutting machine 1 is driven, for example, by an IPC equipped with suitable software for controlling the automatic cutting machine 1 and other components of the WPC. According to the representation of FIG. 1, the automatic cutting machine 1 further has a multiple infeed unit (feed unit) 6, via which different cable cross sections / cable types can be fed. Not shown are cable reels on which the respective cables are arranged and oriented relative to the multiple infeed unit 6. The cables are conveyed via a conveying device 8, via which the respective cables to be cut are fed to a cutting device 10. The conveying device 8 is driven such that the respective cables are cut to a predetermined cable length. In the concept according to the invention, the cut cable lengths are then fed along a slide 12 to a next processing step, for example to a crimping machine. The conveying device 8 may be configured to be drivable in the direction of supply and in a direction counter to the direction of supply.

[0046] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the functional components of the automatic cutting machine 1 according to Figure 1. In this representation, it can be seen that the multiple infeed unit 6 is formed of several tubes 14 arranged parallel to one another, the cross section of which is adapted to the respective cable cross section or the respective cable type. The tubes 14 have the same length and are tiltably mounted on a tilting axis 16. In the illustrated configuration example, each tube 14 has a solid actuating part 18 which is mounted on the tilting axis 16 and which, in the representation according to Figure 2, extends to the left beyond the tilting axis 16. The free end portions of the tubes 14 point towards the cutting device 10. The actuating parts 18 of the tubes 14 are arranged to bias these tubes 14, for example by the weight of the actuating part 18, into the illustrated basic position, in which the end portions facing the cutting device 10 point upwards. However, the actuation towards the basic position can also be effected by a spring arrangement, a lever arrangement, a control element, etc. From this basic position, one of the tubes 14 can be tilted via a lifting cylinder 20 in such a way that the respective opening of the tube 14 is tilted downwards and the cable guided in said tube 14 is oriented accordingly with respect to the cutting device 10. The relative lateral positioning of the respective tube 14 (transverse to the conveying direction) is carried out via a linear actuator or linear drive 22, which will be described in detail below. Said actuator engages an adjustment slide 24, on which the tube 14 is mounted with the tilt axis 16. In the illustrated configuration example, the multiple infeed unit is configured for 13 cable cross sections / cable types and accordingly also has 13 tubes 14. Of course, the number of tubes 14 is not limited to 13, but as many tubes 14 as are required for the respective application may be provided.

[0047] In the illustrated configuration, a tilt lever 26 is also assigned to each tube 14 and is parallel and spaced apart from the respective tube 14 . The conveying device 8 may, for example, be configured with two feed rollers 28 which can be moved apart to insert the respective cables and then moved together to operatively engage the respective cables.

[0048] Via this conveying device 8, each cable having a defined cable length is unwound from the reel and then cut off via a cutting device 10, which is configured in a known manner with two cutting blades which can be moved towards each other.

[0049] Figure 3 is a view corresponding to figure 2, in which the linear drive 22 with the adjusting slide 24 (see figure 2) is covered by a housing cover 36 so that only the end part of the tilting lever 26 is visible. In this representation it can be seen that one of the tubes 14 is tilted out of the row into its working position, with its opening directed towards the two feed rollers 28 of the transport device 8.

[0050] In the representation according to FIGS. 1 to 3 the covers 30, 32 of the slide 12 and the cover of the guide 34 between the cutting device 10 and the transport device 8 are also shown. 4 is a schematic representation of a multiple infeed unit 6 with a total of thirteen tubes 14, one of which 14' is - as already mentioned - tilted downwards into the working position. It can also be clearly seen that the tubes 14 are configured with different cross sections in order to be able to guide different cable types / cable cross sections accordingly. In this representation it is also clearly visible that the tilt lever 26 is tilted downwards with the tube 14' in the working position.

[0051] Of course, the number of tubes or pipes may be different from 13, for example 12 or 14, but can be adapted in particular to the particular application. 5 shows a linear drive 22. The linear drive 22 has a drive motor 38, which is in particular configured as an electric motor, which is connected via a belt drive 40 to a spindle 42, on which a spindle nut 44 is guided and which is operatively connected to the adjustment slide 24. The stroke of the spindle nut 44 is therefore directly transmitted to the adjustment slide 24. In the illustrated configuration, a support spring 46 is assigned to each actuating part 18 of the tube 14. According to FIG. 5, in order to tilt the tube 14 shown in the middle into the working position, the rear actuating part extending beyond the tilt axis 16 (sixth position from the left according to FIG. 5) is swung upwards via a lifting cylinder 20.

[0052] Finally, Figure 6 shows a view from below of the console 48 housing the multiple infeed unit 6, the conveying device 8 and the cutting device 10 (see Figure 2). In this representation, the rotary drive 50 for the two feed rollers 28 of the conveying device 8 and the drive 52 for the cutting device 10 are visible.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the modular automatic cutting machine 101. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, only the differences from the first configuration example will be described. The modular multiple feed unit 106 is provided so as to be easily detachably fixed to the base 7 of the automatic cutting machine 101 on which the conveying and cutting devices 8, 10 are mounted. FIG. 7 shows the disassembled state of the multiple feed unit 106 away from the base 7. In order to fasten the modular multiple feed unit 106 to the console 48, two screw holes 54 are provided at the end of the latter. Through holes 56 are provided in the mounting flange 58 of the multiple feed unit 106 so that the mounting flange 58 can be fastened to the console 48 by means of fastening screws (not shown).

[0054] In addition to the first configuration example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the configuration example configured as a rigid guide tube, a single feeding unit 60 is preassembled removably to the console 48. It should be noted that this represents an optional conversion of a multiple feeding unit according to the invention into a rigid single feeding unit. As with the tube 14' of the multiple feeding unit 6;106 tilted into the working position, the single feeding unit 60 opens into the inlet area 62 of the conveying device 8, which is laterally delimited by the circumferential surface of the rotatably drivable feeding roller 28. By loosening the two screws 66 and the bridge 68 held thereby, the single feeding unit 60 is removable and the installation space is freed up for the assembly of the multiple feeding unit 106, which is simply described above.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the multiple feed unit 106 of the automatic cutting machine 101 according to FIG. 7. The adjustment slide 24 is in a central position with respect to its adjustment area. It can be seen that the housing cover 136 is transparent, unlike the first embodiment. However, in the area of ​​the housing cover 136 which corresponds to one of the possible end positions of the adjustment slide 24 in the adjustment direction, slot-shaped through-passages 64 are formed, each of which is assigned to one of the tubes 14 located there in an end position. In this way, it is possible to pass the respective cable through the associated tube 14 via the through-passages 64. The spindle 42 of the linear drive for adjusting the adjustment slide 24 is also clearly visible.

[0056] An automatic cutting machine is disclosed having multiple infeed units configured to feed different cable cross sections or cable types, the multiple infeed units having multiple tubes, each assigned to a cable cross section / cable type, tiltably mounted on an adjustment slide.

Claims

1. 1. An automatic cutting machine with a feed (6; 106) for a cable, a conveying device (8) for feeding a cable according to a predetermined cable length and a cutting device (10) for cutting the cable to a predetermined length, the feed being configured as a multiple infeed unit (6; 106) for a plurality of cable cross sections and / or cable types, the multiple infeed unit (6; 106) having an adjusting slide (24) movable transversely to the direction of the feed, the multiple infeed unit (6; 106) having a plurality of tubes (14) tiltably mounted on the adjusting slide (24), each of the tubes (14) assigned to a cable cross section or respectively a cable type and tiltable via an actuating device (20) from a base position to a working position in which the associated cable is directed towards the conveying device (8) or towards the cutting device (10), characterized in that the tubes (14') in the working position protrude towards an inlet area (62) of the conveying device (8).

2. 2. The automatic cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the tubes (14) are mounted in a parallel arrangement on an inclined shaft (16).

3. 2. The automatic cutting machine of claim 1, wherein an actuating portion (18) of the tube (14) remote from the conveying device (8) extends beyond the tilt axis (16) and the actuating device (20) engages the actuating portion (18) of the tube (14).

4. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device comprises a lifting cylinder (20), an electro-pneumatic lifting cylinder (20), or comprises an electric motor, a stepping motor.

5. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tube (14) in the base position protrudes beyond the conveying device (8) in the direction of feeding, and the conveying device (8) is configured to be able to tilt the tube (14) into a working position without collision.

6. 6. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 5, wherein the inlet area (62) is bounded on both sides by the peripheral surfaces of rotatable feed rollers (28) of the conveying device (8).

7. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device (8) is configured to have two feed rollers (28) that are movable apart, or to have one stationary feed roller and one feed roller that is movable apart from the said feed roller.

8. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device (8) is drivable in the direction of feeding and in a direction counter to the direction of feeding.

9. 2. An automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a conveying chute (12) for cut lengths of cable is arranged downstream of the cutting device (10).

10. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the multiple infeed units (6; 106), the conveying device (8) and / or the cutting device (10) are covered by a common cover or by respective covers (36; 136).

11. 11. The automatic cutting machine of claim 10, wherein the cover (136) of the multiple infeed unit (106) has a through passage (64) for each tube (14) located thereunder.

12. 12. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 11, wherein the through passages (64) are arranged on the cover (136) depending on the end position of the adjustment slide (24).

13. 2. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the multiple infeed unit (106) is arranged together with the actuating device as a module detachable or separated from the conveying device (8) and the cutting device (10).

14. 14. The automatic cutting machine according to claim 13, wherein at least one fastening means for a single feed unit (60) designed to be detachable is formed in the space portion including the working position.

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