Cable Processing Device With Lateral Guide Block
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable processing devices face issues such as cable bending during transport, difficulty in processing cables of varying diameters, and limited ability to handle short or thick cables due to design constraints, leading to inefficiencies and potential jamming.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a motor-driven pair of belt conveyors or rollers with a cable guide that ensures reliable transport and positioning of cables, allowing for deflection and processing of both ends, and features a switch with multiple guides and a controller to adapt to different cable diameters and lengths, enabling partial or full stripping and ferrule attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cable piece is deflected by the feed path to feed both ends to the same processing unit, then both ends can be processed by one unit, but the cable piece becomes bent and may not run within the feed path during further transport
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate processing units: a cutting device for cutting cable pieces and a processing unit for stripping and ferrule attachment. The cutting device remains in the feed path while the processing unit is positioned laterally, eliminating cable bending during transport to the processing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit is positioned in a different spatial dimension (laterally adjacent to the feed path) rather than within the feed path itself. A guide block directs cable pieces laterally from the feed path to the processing unit, enabling access without compromising feed path integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the processing unit is fixed to a specific cable diameter, then processing precision is improved, but conversion measures are required for different cable diameters increasing setup times
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block is designed to be displaceable along the feed path and laterally, allowing it to be repositioned for different cable diameters. The processing unit can also be laterally displaced to accommodate varying cable sizes, enabling quick adaptation without full conversion measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit is designed with universal capabilities to handle different cable diameters through lateral displacement and adjustable positioning mechanisms. The guide block can be repositioned to accommodate various cable sizes, making the system multi-functional without requiring complete reconfiguration.
3Ease of operation
If the processing unit is positioned directly in the work area of the cutting device, then access to both ends is improved, but direct access to the cutting device becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional zones: the cutting device remains in the feed path with clear access from the front, while the processing unit is positioned laterally. The guide block acts as an intermediary that directs cable pieces from the feed path to the lateral processing unit, allowing both units to operate independently without blocking each other's access.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a switch with multiple guides is used to deflect cable pieces, then versatility in feeding different ends is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-guide switch mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler lateral guide block that directs cable pieces to a single laterally positioned processing unit. The guide block can be displaced laterally and along the feed path but eliminates the need for multiple fixed guides, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for processing cables (1), comprising a feed device (3) for transporting and positioning the cable (1) along a feed path. A cutting device (6) is also provided for cutting a cable segment (100) from the cable (1) such that the cable segment (100) has two ends (100a, 100b). Furthermore, a processing unit (7) is provided for processing at least one end (100a, 100b) of the cable segment (100). Furthermore, a switch (8) with a plurality of guides (9) is provided and a control (10) to position the switch (8) in the feed path such that the cable piece (100) can be inserted into one of the guides (9), wherein at least one guide (9) is designed to deflect the cable piece (100) from the feed path in order to supply one end (100a,100b) of the cable piece (100) to the at least one processing unit (7).The feed device (3) is provided to comprise at least one motor-driven belt conveyor pair (4), wherein the cable section (100) can be passed between the two belt conveyors (4a) of the belt conveyor pair (4), and/or the feed device (3) has at least one motor-driven roller pair (5), wherein the cable section (100) can be passed between the rollers (5a) of the roller pair (5), and wherein, in addition to the roller pair (5), a cable guide (12) is provided which can be positioned in the feed path of the cable section (100) between the two rollers (5a). The cable guide (12) has a recess (13) for each of the rollers (5a) such that the rollers (5a) can engage in the cable guide (12) to transport the cable section (100).