Cable Infeed and Outfeed Handling for Rigid Cable Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable editing systems struggle with efficiently processing heavy, relatively bending tire cables due to their stiffness and rigidity, which often leads to manual handling errors and requires continuous worker presence.
Innovation Solution
A cable editing system with a machine control for automatic processing of cable ends, featuring a frame-based cable editing machine, a cable transport device with a gripper, and a multiple memory system for storing and managing cables, allowing for automated processing and handling of cable ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling of heavy rigid cables is used, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but labor cost and error rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cable support elements as intermediaries between the rigid cables and the processing system. These support elements (forks, clamps, or grippers) adapt to the cable's rigid nature and provide a standardized interface for automated handling, enabling both efficient automation and gentle cable treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the cable handling process into discrete steps: storage in cable magazines, retrieval by support elements, transport to processing stations, and positioning. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently for both automation and cable protection
2Productivity
If automated robotic systems are used for cable handling, then labor cost decreases, but reliability and precision deteriorate due to cable rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the handling approach by using support elements that can adjust their geometry and gripping force. This allows automated systems to handle rigid cables reliably by adapting to each cable's specific dimensions and stiffness characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The cable support elements are designed to automatically adapt to the cable being handled, with features like spring-loaded clamps or adjustable forks that self-adjust to the cable's position and rigidity, reducing the complexity of automated control while improving reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual loading is used, then adaptability to cable behavior is maintained, but manufacturing precision and reproducibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with automated mechanical systems that use standardized support elements. These elements provide consistent, repeatable positioning and handling of cables, ensuring manufacturing precision while maintaining adaptability through programmable control
4Ease of operation
If continuous worker presence is required, then cable handling flexibility is maintained, but productivity and operational cost decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves self-service through automated cable magazines that store multiple cables and automatically supply them to processing stations. The support elements and transfer mechanisms operate autonomously, eliminating the need for continuous worker presence while maintaining full cable handling capability
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 1e~1f
AI summary
The invention relates to a cable-processing system comprising a cable-processing machine, especially for automatically processing cable ends of heavy, relatively flexurally rigid cables, but preferably also of light, thin cables, as well as long or short cables, preferably in the same cable-processing machine. This cable-processing machine has: an input side for receiving the cables; a plurality of cable-processing stations; a cable transport device for transporting at least one cable with at least one movable gripper; and an output side for discharging a processed cable. According to the invention, the cable transport device is equipped with a cable conveying device which is designed as a multiple-store device and has a plurality of cable holders, and wherein the multiple-store device is designed as an autonomous or guided transporter. At least one of the grippers is designed as a transfer gripper in order to remove one of the cables after the other from the cable holder and to feed it to at least one of the cable-processing stations and/or to at least one further gripper acting as a transfer gripper, which further gripper is designed such that it can be moved using a frame-supported transfer mechanism in order to transfer the cable to one of the cable-processing stations.