Cable tie orthodontic device

Abstract

To provide a binding system that can process a loosened cable tie and is highly reliable in spite of that.SOLUTION: A cable tie correction device 3 includes: a receiving unit 3a for receiving a cable tie 7; a feeding unit 3b for moving at least the head of the cable tie, from the receiving unit to the inside of a correction unit 3c, the head of the cable tie pointing in the movement direction; the correction unit for correcting a strap of the cable tie, the correction unit configured to receive the cable tie, guide the strap of the cable tie through a guiding element 3c', correct it, and move the cable tie to the inside of a discharge unit 3d with the leading end of the strap of the cable tie pointing in the movement direction; and the discharge unit that can process the cable tie and is used for discharging the cable tie.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable tie correction device suitable for use in a bundling system for a bundling material to be bundled by a cable tie.

Background Art

[0002] A portable tool for a bundling material, abbreviated as a cable tie tool, for bundling by a cable tie, such as a cable harness, is suitable for automatic or semi-automatic bundling of materials for bundling using a cable tie frequently, and is known from the prior art, for example, Patent Document 1. In this case, the most reliable operating system is a system that operates with the entire chain or drum magazine of cable ties arranged parallel to each other. In this case, such a chain or drum magazine usually has 50 to 3500 cable ties. The disadvantage here is the increase in the production cost of the cable tie magazine or cable tie chain, which is reflected in the increase in the operating cost associated with the use of known loose cable ties.

[0003] Patent Document 2 also discloses a bundling system that can also operate using loose cable ties. In this case, the loose cable ties are put into the vibrating container of the circular vibration classification unit, cross the classification obstacle, so-called skeins, from there, and move into or onto the linear vibration classification unit that arranges the loose cable ties parallel to each other. Then, the parallel cable ties are individually pushed into the supply or conveyance hose, and thereby are pneumatically guided to the cable tie tool, where they are used. However, stoppages occur repeatedly here because an obstacle occurs when introducing the cable ties into the conveyance hose or the linear vibration classification unit does not arrange the cable ties correctly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102013222924 Specification [Patent Document 2] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 104150006 Specification [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to enable a fastening system that can handle loose cable ties and is still highly reliable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This objective is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims, specification, and drawings.

[0007] One embodiment relates to a cable-tie straightening device (CTS) suitable for a bundling system in which bundling materials can be bundled using cable ties in a partially or fully automated manner. In this case, the CTS has a receiving unit for receiving loose cable ties at predetermined positions determined, for example, by a prior classification device of the bundling system. Furthermore, the CTS has a feeding unit for moving the cable ties received by the receiving unit from the receiving unit into a straightening unit, so that the cable ties are moved by the feeding unit, at least by their heads (from the heads) into the straightening unit. The head of the cable tie, located on the strap of the cable tie, at the end of the cable tie strap opposite the tip of the cable tie strap, is in this case facing the direction of movement. Thus, the feeding unit can transport, in particular, push the cable tie into the straightening unit, at least partially, i.e., partially or entirely. The predetermined position in this case identifies a predetermined state and / or predetermined orientation of the corresponding material, in this case the cable tie. The receiving unit and the feeding unit thus serve the predetermined reception and placement of the cable tie within the straightening unit.

[0008] The CTS further includes the straightening unit for straightening the straps of the cable ties. In this case, the straightening unit is configured to receive the cable ties, in particular to receive them completely, and to guide the straps of the cable ties by lateral guide elements during and / or with and / or after receiving, and thus straighten them. To receive the cable ties, the straightening unit may have a corresponding receiving space for the cable ties. The receiving may also be, or include, an active receiving in which the cable ties are actively transported into the straightening unit using appropriate technology, for example, a pneumatic system as described later.

[0009] In the context of this specification, “straightening” is preferably understood to mean making the strap of a cable tie into a straight shape. However, a given shape does not necessarily have to be straight in the sense of being (perfectly) straight, and may be understood more generally, in particular, as a uniform shape that is as straight as possible. In background, it is possible that a very large proportion of failures in the prior art are caused by the fact that loose cable ties do not have the same shape due to the effects during transport, for example, they are bent during transport. Therefore, most cable ties have identical, mostly straight cable tie straps, but a small number of cable ties are deformed, resulting in differently formed, mostly curved cable ties. Variability in shape, in general, deviations from the straight shape of the cable tie strap, then cause failures in known systems. Even when a straight shape is the most appropriate shape for further use of the cable tie, there are still some advantages to using a uniform but not straight cable tie, and therefore such cable ties should also be understood as straightened cable ties in the context of this specification. Therefore, in the context of this specification, "correction" may also be understood to mean "to align" or "to make things even."

[0010] Furthermore, the straightening unit is configured to move the cable tie into the discharge unit, with the strap end of the cable tie facing in the direction of movement into the discharge unit. Thus, the cable tie is introduced from the head into the straightening unit, and moves away from the straightening unit in the opposite direction with its strap end facing forward, thereby being discharged and supplied for further use by the discharge unit, which can be connected, for example, to a transport hose for cable ties in a bundling system. Discharge of the cable tie using the discharge unit at a predetermined position of the cable tie with its strap end facing forward makes it possible to connect most of the processing of cable ties with their ends facing forward to known bundling systems in which such processing is established.

[0011] The described method has the advantage of (later) improving the reliability of known and already provided tying systems for loose cable ties, in that, by a (potentially improved) straightening unit, all cable ties are ensured to have the same ideally straight shape and therefore their strap ends forward with high reliability before being discharged into a subsequent unit such as a transport hose, and can be fed, for example, into a corresponding transport hose. The receiving unit, and the CTS, can be easily connected to known classification devices, in particular, vibration classification devices. The use of two different active units for moving the cable ties within the CTS, feeding unit, and straightening unit has also proven to be very advantageous, as different transport techniques, each with its own specific advantages, can be used. Various techniques for moving the cable ties in each case are preferably used within the feeding unit and the straightening unit. For example, as described later, the mechanical pushing of the feeding unit can be combined with pneumatic suction and the pushing and releasing of the straightening unit. The CTS described is also capable of operating at extremely high speeds, achieving binding cycles of 1 second or even faster, for example, as fast as 0.6 seconds.

[0012] In one advantageous embodiment, a cable tie straightening device is provided in which the straightening unit is positioned to be at least partially movable relative to the discharge unit and / or feeding unit and / or receiving unit and / or housing. In this case, it is particularly preferable that the receiving unit, feeding unit and discharge unit are fixedly positioned relative to the housing, and that the straightening unit is movable as a whole or at least partially relative to the composite unit thus formed. Thus, the proposed reversal of the direction of movement of the cable ties can be achieved with the smallest possible moving mass in a particularly simple design-related manner.

[0013] In a more advantageous embodiment, a straightening unit is provided that is configured to receive cable ties in a receiving position and to move the cable ties into a discharge unit, into a distributor position different from the receiving position. In particular, the straightening unit may be configured to move the cable ties from a receiving position into one of several different distributor positions, the distributor position for each cable tie can be individually determined, for example, by a corresponding control command. Thus, a particular cable tie received at a receiving position may be associated with a different distributor position and moved to them. Thus, the straightening unit functions as a collection of some kind of points for cable ties. This is advantageous when several different continuous units, such as different transport hoses for cable ties and, accordingly, several cable tie tools are connected to a discharge unit, and these tools can supply each cable tie according to demand. This is particularly advantageous because a single sorting device with the described CTS can supply multiple tie tools along with cable ties. In this case, established techniques can be used, and this only requires the described cable tie straightening device to be supplemented. Because the receiving position and the distributor position are different, reversing the direction of movement can be combined with the further use of cable ties in a particularly efficient and easy manner.

[0014] In this case, a straightening unit may be provided that moves each cable tie from a receiving position to a desired distributor position each time, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the straightened cable tie, by the linear motion of the straightening unit or a part of the straightening unit. The straightening unit can move from the receiving position to one or more distributor positions, similar to a lift. This mode of operation corresponds to the mode of a rod magazine. Accordingly, the straightening unit may be configured to move the cable ties from the receiving position to each distributor position by their respective rotational translational motions. In this case, the straightening unit may have a drum magazine for the cable ties, using a rotating device, as known in the principle described in Patent Document 1 at the beginning of this specification. In this case, the axis of rotational translational motion extends along the longitudinal direction of the cable tie. However, the axis of rotational translational motion may also extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable tie. This may be achieved, for example, using a rod magazine in which the cable ties are arranged in a star shape. Thus, the rod magazine may also be configured for only one cable tie. Therefore, the tunnels or tunnel elements described in the following paragraphs may be combined, for example, with a hinge that defines an axis of rotational translational motion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable tie. Each such tunnel or tunnel element may be considered a rod magazine for only one cable tie. The states of the straightening unit corresponding to each receiving position and distributor position of the cable tie may be referred to as the receiving state and distributor state, respectively. All methods have the advantage that the reversal of the aforementioned direction can be combined with the established transport direction of the cable tie in the bundling system with a small moving mass and therefore quickly and reliably.

[0015] In a more advantageous embodiment, a guide element of the straightening unit is provided, which is a tunnel or a wall of a tunnel element, or has such a wall. The corresponding cable tie can then be received, in particular, completely received, within this tunnel or tunnel element. Thus, the aforementioned receiving space of the straightening unit can be formed inside the tunnel. Here, for example, a simple rectangular outline is suitable as the tunnel or tunnel element, in which the cable tie is guided laterally, i.e., along its strap, by opposing tunnel walls acting as lateral guide elements. Alternatively, further guide elements, such as active guide elements, such as opposing synchronous belt conveying elements that receive the cable tie between them, are also conceivable. These embodiments also include, or facilitate, a simple and reliable implementation of the straightening function.

[0016] In another advantageous embodiment, a straightening unit is provided that is configured to receive and / or move cable ties into a discharge unit by air pressure, i.e., by corresponding negative or overpressure. In particular, the cable ties can be received by negative pressure in the straightening unit, picked up by suction, moved by overpressure, pushed or ejected, and moved into the discharge unit. In particular, in this case, the receiving space for cable ties in the straightening unit and the corresponding receiving space for cable ties in the discharge unit, which can be fluidly coupled to the transport hose already described when used as intended, can be configured to be isolated from a common environment. As a result, the cable ties can be moved particularly quickly, efficiently, and in a defined manner, i.e., with high processing reliability. Furthermore, the same drive unit, i.e., the pneumatic system or corresponding pump equipment, can be used to move the cable ties into and out of the straightening unit, thereby further increasing the reliability of the device.

[0017] In a more advantageous embodiment, a feeding unit is provided configured to push cable ties into a straightening unit by mechanical elements, particularly by pin elements or mandrel elements. In particular, here the pushing may occur over a distance of 15 mm ± 10 mm, preferably 15 mm ± 5 mm, and especially preferably 15 mm ± 2 mm. More precisely, mechanical feeding is advantageous here in combination with the aforementioned pneumatic movement within the straightening unit, as the cable ties can be easily brought into a position suitable for the pneumatic system. The distances mentioned above are particularly advantageous here in combination with the cable ties, as it is advantageous to keep the distance the cable ties travel with the mechanical elements as short as possible, but they must be large enough to allow for a secure connection with the movement within the straightening unit.

[0018] Further embodiments relate to a corresponding cable tie straightening device according to one or more of the embodiments described, in particular, in combination with a prior classification device for classifying loose cable ties, which comprises a circular vibration classification unit for classifying loose cable ties and / or a linear vibration classification unit for arranging loose cable ties, each having a vibrating vessel.

[0019] Another further embodiment relates to one of the cable tie straightening devices described in combination with one or more portable cable tie tools coupled to the cable tie straightening device by a transport or supply hose for transporting or supplying cable ties, wherein the tool in particular has an integrated cable tie reservoir. Further devices, such as a heating device for preheating the cable ties, may also be combined with the CTS. The use of cable tie tools with an integrated cable tie reservoir is particularly advantageous when using the cable tie straightening device with multiple cable tie tools, as it can make variations in the coupling rate of each cable tie tool more uniform.

[0020] Another embodiment relates to a bundling system comprising one of the cable tie straightening devices described, a prior sorting device for sorting loose cable ties, and at least one, i.e., one or more portable cable tie tools coupled to the cable tie straightening device by a transport hose for transporting cable ties, wherein the tools preferably have an integrated cable tie reservoir. The prior sorting device may have the circular vibration sorting unit and / or the linear vibration sorting unit described.

[0021] A further embodiment relates to a method for straightening one cable tie or multiple cable ties. In this case, the method includes a series of method steps: receiving the cable tie at a predetermined position; moving the received cable tie into a straightening unit along a first direction; straightening the cable tie within the straightening unit; and moving the straightened cable tie out of the straightening unit into a discharge unit along a second direction opposite to the first direction, followed by discharging the cable tie at a predetermined position. The method is compatible with further automatic or semi-automatic methods already used in known tying systems, provided that the received or discharged cable ties are in a predetermined position, i.e., a predetermined state and / or predetermined orientation in each case.

[0022] The advantages and advantageous embodiments of this method correspond in this case to the advantages and advantageous embodiments of the cable tie straightening device or the cable tie system described.

[0023] The features and combinations of features described above in this specification and also in the introductory part, as well as the features and combinations of features described hereinafter in the description of the drawings and / or shown only in the drawings, can be used not only in the combinations shown in each case, but also in other combinations without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments in the present invention that are not explicitly shown or described in the drawings but are produced and can be produced by separate combinations of features from the described embodiments are also included and should be regarded as disclosed. Embodiments and combinations of features that do not have all of the features of the originally formulated independent claims should also be regarded as disclosed. Furthermore, embodiments and combinations of features that go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features described in the cross-references of the claims, especially those resulting from the previously described embodiments, should be regarded as disclosed.

[0024] Regarding the object of the present invention, without intending to be limited to the specific embodiments shown in this specification, it will be examined in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams shown in the following figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a diagram of a bundling system provided with a cable tie correction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram of a cable tie correction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] In the different figures described above, in this case, the same or functionally identical elements are given the same reference numerals.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a cable tie straightening device tying system 0 of an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the tying system 0 of this embodiment first has a circular vibration sorting unit 1 having a vibrating container 1a into which loose cable ties 7 (Figure 2) can be placed. As is generally known, when the circular vibration unit 1 is operating, the cable ties are sorted by a chicane 1b in or on a linear vibration unit 2. Thereon or in the cable ties are then lined up parallel to each other and supplied to a cable tie straightening device 3. Once each cable tie has been straightened there or it has been ensured that they are straight, they are transported, or generally "launched," i.e., passed through the transport hose 5 by air pressure, to a portable cable tying tool 6 by a transport, guide, or supply hose 5.

[0028] During the operation of the bundling system 0, when the cable tie tool 6 is activated or after activation via the corresponding communication channel 4, which is embodied here as a cable link, the corresponding replenishment of cable ties, i.e., the supply or transport of new cable ties via the supply hose 5, is triggered by the cable tie straightening device 3.

[0029] When multiple different portable cable tie tools 6 are connected to the cable tie straightening device 3, replenishment can be adjusted by their respective control signals. That is, it can be ensured that the cable tie tools 6 are also supplied with a corresponding amount of cable ties as needed.

[0030] Figure 2 shows in detail an embodiment of the cable tie straightening device 3 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the cable tie straightening device 3 is connected to both the preceding linear vibration unit 2 and the following guide hose 5. The cable tie straightening device 3 has a receiving unit 3a for receiving each cable tie 7 in a predetermined position, in which case the longitudinal direction of the cable tie extends parallel to the X-axis, the cable tie head is oriented in the negative X-direction, and the cable tie tip is oriented in the positive X-direction.

[0031] The feeding unit 3b helps to move the cable tie 7, at least the head of the cable tie 7, from the receiving unit 3a into the straightening unit 3c. Since the movement into the straightening unit 3c proceeds in the negative X direction in this case, the cable tie 7 arrives into the straightening unit 3c from its head. In this illustrated example, the cable tie 7 is displaced by a distance of, for example, 15 mm at its head using the mechanical element 3b', which in this case is a pin element.

[0032] When the cable tie 7 is then partially, in particular, received within the straightening unit 3c, the cable tie 7 is drawn into the straightening unit 3c by negative pressure, where it is guided laterally and thus straightened by the corresponding guide element 3c'. Here, it should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the straightening unit 3c is movably positioned relative to the receiving unit 3a and the supply unit 3b, and therefore, when used as intended in this embodiment, it moves at least partially back and forth between different settings, namely the receiving setting for the cable tie and the distributor setting for the cable tie. In this case, the straightening unit 3c is shown in the distributor setting shown above in the illustrated embodiment, i.e., shifted in translation in the positive Y direction relative to the receiving setting. The straightening unit 3c is displaced in the Y direction between the receiving setting or position and the distributor setting or position when the illustrated cable tie straightening device 3 is used as intended. When the straightening unit 3c receives and straightens the cable tie 7, the straightening unit 3c is displaced in the positive Y direction, and as a result, the opening of the receiving space of the straightening unit is aligned with the corresponding opening of the discharge unit 3d, and the cable tie can be discharged from the discharge unit 3d of the cable tie straightening device 3 into the guide hose 5.

[0033] Overall, secure screwing of the cable tie into the guide hose with the cable strap tip facing forward can be achieved by the cable tie straightening device 3 described. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 0 Binding System 1. Circular oscillation classification unit 1a Vibrating vessel 1b Chicane 2 Linear vibration unit, Linear vibration classification unit 3. Cable tie orthodontic device 3a Receptor unit 3b Feeding unit 3b′ Mechanical elements 3c orthodontic unit 3c' Guidance element 3D discharge unit 4 Communication Channels 5. Conveyor hoses, supply hoses, guide hoses 6 Portable Cable Tie Tool, Portable Cable Tie Tool, Cable Tie Tool 7 Cable ties X-axis, positive direction, negative direction Y direction

Claims

1. In the cable tie orthodontic device (3), A receiving unit (3a) for receiving the cable tie (7), A feeding unit (3b) for moving the cable tie (7) from the receiving unit (3a) to the straightening unit (3c), wherein the head of the cable tie (7) is oriented in the direction of movement toward the straightening unit (3c), The straightening unit (3c) for straightening the strap of the cable tie (7) is configured to receive the cable tie (7) and guide the strap of the cable tie (7) through a guide element (3c') to straighten the strap of the cable tie (7), and to move the cable tie (7) into the discharge unit (3d) with the tip of the strap of the cable tie (7) facing the direction of movement toward the discharge unit (3d), The discharge unit (3d) is configured to discharge the cable tie (7), A cable tie straightening device (3) characterized by having the following features.

2. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the straightening unit (3c) is arranged to be at least partially movable with respect to the discharge unit (3d) and / or the feeding unit (3b) and / or the receiving unit (3a) and / or the housing of the cable tie straightening device (3).

3. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the straightening unit (3c) is configured to receive the cable tie (7) at a receiving position, and to move the cable tie (7) to the discharge unit (3d) at a distributor position different from the receiving position.

4. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the straightening unit (3c) is configured to move the cable tie (7) by a linear motion from the receiving position to the distributor position.

5. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide element (3c') of the straightening unit (3c) is the wall of the tunnel into which the cable tie is received, or has the wall of the tunnel.

6. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the straightening unit (3c) is configured to receive the cable tie (7) by air pressure and / or move the cable tie (7) to the discharge unit (3d) while the receiving space for the cable tie (7) of the straightening unit (3c) and the corresponding receiving space for the cable tie (7) of the discharge unit (3d) are both isolated from the environment.

7. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feeding unit (3b) is configured to push the cable tie (7) into the straightening unit (3c) by a mechanical element (3b') at a distance of 15 mm ± 10 mm.

8. A kit comprising the cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, A pre-classification device for classifying loose cable ties, comprising a circular vibration classification unit (1) for classifying the loose cable ties (7) and / or a linear vibration classification device (2) for arranging the loose cable ties (7), A cable tie tool (6) is connected to the cable tie straightening device (3) by a transport hose (5) for transporting the cable tie (7), and the cable tie tool (6) has an integrated cable tie reservoir, A kit characterized by containing at least one of the following.

9. The cable tie straightening device (3) according to claim 1 or 2, A pre-classification device for classifying loose cable ties (7), A cable tie tool (6) is connected to the cable tie straightening device (3) by a transport hose (5) for transporting the cable tie (7) which has an integrated cable tie reservoir, A binding system (0) characterized by having the following features.

10. In a method for straightening a cable tie (7), The steps include receiving the cable tie (7), The steps include moving the cable tie (7) received in the first direction to the straightening unit (3c), The steps include straightening the cable tie (7) in the straightening unit (3c), The steps include: removing the cable tie (7), which has been straightened in a second direction which is the opposite direction to the first direction, from the straightening unit (3c) and moving it to the discharge unit (3d); The steps include: discharging the cable tie (7), A method characterized by having

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