Cable Loop Processing Guide Body for Snag Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for processing long cables struggle to prevent open cable loops from getting caught, leading to difficulties in removing partial cable harnesses, especially when equipping connector housings with a large number of contacts, resulting in production disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that involves pulling a cable loop over a guide body on a loop laying surface, controlling its length using a driven driver, and depositing it onto a loop storage area, with guide bodies and a driver designed to manage cable direction and reduce friction, preventing snagging and entanglement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cable loops are processed on one side only, then connector housings with large number of contacts can be equipped, but cable loops get caught and entangled making removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to equip connector housings with large number of contactsVSAvoidease of removing partial cable harnesses
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide body acts as an intermediary element between the cable loop and the processing machine. By guiding the cable loop over the guide body during deposition, the cable's direction of movement is controlled and restricted, preventing it from shifting in the opposite direction and getting entangled with adjacent loops. This intermediary structure solves the contradiction by enabling high-productivity single-sided processing while maintaining ease of removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If cable loops are pulled to predetermined length using driven driver, then processing precision is improved, but cable loops may get caught and snagged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable loop length precisionVSAvoidcable entanglement prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide body is positioned on the loop depositing surface before the cable loop is deposited. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the cable loop is pulled to predetermined length and deposited, it automatically follows the guide body's path, preventing entanglement before it can occur. The guide body pre-establishes the correct cable trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide body serves as a mediator that controls cable movement during the precision pulling process. By providing a fixed reference path, it ensures the cable reaches the predetermined length without getting caught, maintaining both manufacturing precision and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If adjacent cable loops are pulled first, then cable processing efficiency is improved, but loose ends move in opposite direction causing loops and snagging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable processing efficiencyVSAvoidcable entanglement and snagging
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide body is positioned to counteract the harmful effect of cable entanglement before it occurs. By providing a fixed guiding path, it prevents the loose ends from moving in the opposite direction and forming loops, thereby eliminating the root cause of snagging while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3410547B1Method and device for processing a cable
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 KOMAX HOLDING
  • EP3410547B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3410547B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3410547B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for processing a cable (102), wherein the method comprises a winding step and a laying step. In the winding step, a loop (110) of the cable (102) is wound over a guide body (106) arranged on a loop support surface (104). The loop (110) is wound up to a predetermined length using a driven driver (108). In the laying step, the loop (110) is laid down by the driver (108) onto the loop support surface (104). The loop (110) is laid down over the guide body (106).