Cable Shielding Foil Removal Using Controlled Perforation Depth

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual removal of shielding films from electrical cables is inefficient and prone to damage, leading to inconsistent quality and increased costs due to the complexity of cutting thin, double-layered aluminum foils without causing harm to the braided shielding.

Innovation Solution

A method using a rotary stripping machine with a radially adjustable perforation tool to create a predetermined breaking point in the shielding film, allowing for automated and reproducible removal while minimizing damage to the metallic braided shield, utilizing contact detection to ensure precise depth and avoiding damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If manual removal of shielding foil is used, then damage to braided shield is reduced, but processing time increases and quality consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage to braided shieldVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by creating a predetermined breaking point in the shielding foil before removal. The perforation tool creates a controlled weakness at a specific location, allowing the foil to be torn off cleanly without requiring manual pulling that could damage the braided shield. This preliminary preparation enables automated high-speed processing while protecting the underlying shield structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding foil removal process is segmented into distinct steps: creating an incision in the insulating sheath, creating a predetermined breaking point in the foil, tearing the foil at the breaking point, and pulling off the foil. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently, with automated tools performing precise actions that maintain quality consistency while increasing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If automated rotary cutting is used on shielding foil, then processing speed increases, but damage to braided shield increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoiddamage to braided shield
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful cutting action from the shielding foil removal process. Instead of using rotary cutters that contact and potentially damage the foil and underlying braid, the invention uses a perforation tool that creates a breaking point without full cutting. The foil is then torn off at this predetermined point, extracting the damaging mechanical cutting action while maintaining automated processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The predetermined breaking point acts as an intermediary mechanism between the automated processing system and the shielding foil. Rather than directly cutting the foil with rotary blades, the system creates a controlled weakness point that mediates the removal process, allowing the foil to be separated cleanly without transmitting damaging forces to the braided shield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If perforation tool advances deeper to ensure complete penetration, then breaking point creation is more reliable, but risk of damaging inner conductor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking point creationVSAvoiddamage to inner conductor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by detecting when the perforation tool has created sufficient penetration depth. The system monitors the perforation process and automatically stops advancement when the predetermined breaking point is achieved, preventing over-penetration that could damage the inner conductor. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable breaking point creation while protecting sensitive internal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The perforation tool's advancement is made dynamic rather than static. The tool advances radially until contact detection confirms sufficient penetration, then automatically stops. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to variations in foil thickness and tension, ensuring reliable breaking point creation without applying excessive force that could damage the inner conductor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables efficient, automated, and reproducible removal of shielding films with reduced risk of damaging the braided shield, improving processing speed and quality consistency.

Implementation Method 1

the perforation tool is connected to means for detecting contact with an electrically conductive object, and wherein the perforation tool is advanced radially further in the direction of the inner conductor of the electrical cable by a predetermined value after detection of contact with the shielding foil or with the shielding braid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction detection: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3895267B1Method for removing a shielding foil of an electrical cable by means of a rotary stripping machine, and device for supporting the removal of a shielding foil of an electrical cable
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 SCHLEUNIGER AG
  • EP3895267B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3895267B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3895267B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for removing a shielding foil (K2) of an electrical cable (Ka) with a longitudinal axis (L), which has, starting from the longitudinal axis and going outwards, an inner conductor (K5), a dielectric (K4), the shielding foil (K2) and an insulating casing (K1), said method comprising the following steps: a. creating an incision (EK) of a first depth (T) in the insulating casing (K1) of the electrical cable (Ka), e.g. using a rotary blade (23) of a rotary stripping device, wherein the first depth (T1) is less than or equal to the thickness of the insulating casing (K1); b. generating a target break point (S) in the shielding foil (K2) by pushing in at least one radially adjustable perforation tool through the incision (EK) created in step a. until the perforation tool has reached a second depth (T2), wherein the second depth (T2) corresponds with at least the thickness of the insulating casing (K2) plus at least half the thickness of the shielding foil (K2); c. tearing through the shielding foil at the target break point (S); and d. pulling off the shielding foil (K2). The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method according to the invention.