Automated Cable-End Tape Wrapping With Roller Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency and high costs associated with manually wrapping cable ends with adhesive tape during cable assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for automatically applying single-sided adhesive tape to cable ends, involving mechanical gripping, cutting, and rolling to ensure precise and efficient application, utilizing a passive reel, gripping unit, storage device, and pressing tool to handle the tape without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If adhesive tape is wound tightly on a reel to save space, then storage efficiency is improved, but the tape end becomes difficult to grasp and unwind
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape reel is divided into two functional zones: a tightly wound storage section for efficient space utilization, and a loosely wound unwinding section at the end that allows easy grasping and controlled unwinding. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing both tight storage and easy operation in different parts of the same reel structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive tape is made stiff to prevent fraying, then tape integrity is improved, but the tape becomes difficult to conform to cable surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape is designed with locally differentiated properties: the edges are reinforced or treated to prevent fraying and maintain integrity, while the central portion remains flexible and soft to allow easy conforming to cable surfaces. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between stiffness for integrity and flexibility for adaptability.
3Device complexity
If manual wrapping is used to maintain simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and cost-effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape reel is designed to be self-servicing through its controlled unwinding mechanism. The loose winding at the tape end allows the tape to unwind automatically under its own tension when grasped, eliminating the need for complex motorized feed mechanisms while maintaining high wrapping speed and consistency. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction between simplicity and productivity.
4Manufacturing precision
If adhesive tape is cut to precise lengths for different cable diameters, then application precision is improved, but the complexity of adjusting cut lengths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Adhesive tape reels are pre-manufactured with specific unwinding characteristics and tape lengths suited for different cable diameter ranges. This preliminary preparation allows the automated wrapping device to simply select from pre-configured reels rather than dynamically adjusting cut lengths, resolving the contradiction between precision and adjustment complexity by shifting the precision requirement to the reel manufacturing stage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Automates the production and application of adhesive tape strips, significantly reducing time and costs by enabling machine handling of adhesive tape, even for cable ends with varying diameters, while preventing tape fraying and ensuring reliable fixation.
Implementation Method 1
By means of a roller, the adhesive tape cut-out is picked up at the adhesive side and positioned next to a guide gap
Implementation Method 2
The excess length is then pressed against the cable section to be covered by a pressing tool
Implementation Method 3
the roller is moved around the cable area to be taped in such a way that the adhesive tape is pressed onto the cable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for automatically applying a single-sided adhesive tape (2) to a cable (51). A free end of the adhesive tape is grasped and pulled mechanically, so that a piece of the tape is positioned, at least partially, on a storage device (5) with the adhesive side of the tape (2) facing upwards. A cut is then made between the area where the tape (2) is clamped and the storage device (5), so that a strip of tape (20) is provided on the storage device (5), with its adhesive side facing upwards. The strip of tape is picked up by a roller at the adhesive side and positioned next to a guide slot (56) in which the cable section (55) to be covered is located. The excess tape (22) is then pressed against the cable section (55) to be covered by a pressing tool (54).In addition, the roller (101) is moved around the cable area (55) to be covered in such a way that the adhesive tape (2) is pressed onto the cable (51).