A wire feeder device for feeding a welding wire in a feeding direction is disclosed. The wire feeder device includes one or more roller chains and a plurality of first and second gripper members. The gripper members are movable from an open position to a closed position to contact and grip the welding wire. In use, the first and second gripper members are longitudinally movable with the roller chain(s) so that the welding wire is pulled along a substantially linear path. The first and second gripper members may be orientated in a vertical (i.e., coplanar) orientation or a horizontal, lateral orientation. The gripper members may include a built-in centering function to center a position of the welding wire.

The invention relates to a cable-processing system comprising: a cable-processing machine (90), especially for automatically processing cable ends of long and/or heavy, relatively flexurally rigid pre-cut cables (80) in at least one cable-processing station (70a, 70b) of the cable-processing machine (90); and a cable transport device (10). The cable transport device (10) is designed with: a cable conveying device (320a, 320b) for transporting at least one of the cable ends (81) of the cable (80) into the at least one cable-processing station (70a, 70b); and a suspension transport device (50) which is designed to transport a cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) of the cable (80). This cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) is transported in a suspended manner, for example as a suspended cable wrap (80c). According to the invention, the suspension transport device (50) has at least one guide (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) and a plurality of suspension transport units (53). These suspension transport units (53) can be displaced in the guide (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) and are designed as suspensions for the cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2). The suspension transport units (53) are designed in such a way that a cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) suspended therefrom can be rotated about a vertical axis with or on the suspension transport unit (53).

The invention relates to a cable-processing system comprising: a cable-processing machine (90), especially for automatically processing cable ends of long and/or heavy, relatively flexurally rigid pre-cut cables (80) in at least one cable-processing station (70a, 70b) of the cable-processing machine (90); and a cable transport device (10). The cable transport device (10) is designed with: a cable conveying device (320a, 320b) for transporting at least one of the cable ends (81) of the cable (80) into the at least one cable-processing station (70a, 70b); and a suspension transport device (50) which is designed to transport a cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) of the cable (80). This cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) is transported in a suspended manner, for example as a suspended cable wrap (80c). According to the invention, the suspension transport device (50) has at least one guide (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) and a plurality of suspension transport units (53). These suspension transport units (53) can be displaced in the guide (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) and are designed as suspensions for the cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2). The suspension transport units (53) are designed in such a way that a cable offcut (80c, 80c1, 80c2) suspended therefrom can be rotated about a vertical axis with or on the suspension transport unit (53).

A clamp for inserting an elastic strand into an opening of a receptacle. The clamp includes a longitudinal housing capable of housing a segment of the strand and through which the strand may slide. The clamp further includes: a blocking element including a first portion of the housing, the blocking element deforming a first portion of the housed segment when an external pressure is applied to the blocking element, the elastic force of the strand returning the first portion of the segment to its initial shape when the external pressure is no longer applied, the sliding of the strand being blocked by the bending deformation of the first portion of the housed segment; a guide including a second portion of the housing, the guide at least partially surrounding a second portion of the housed segment, and configured to guide the clamp in the direction of the opening in the receptacle.

A wire feeder device and method for feeding a welding wire includes a plurality of first and second gripper members movable from an open position to a closed position to engage on another and the welding wire along an engagement path. A projection from each gripping member is received in a recess defined in its engaged gripping member such that the welding wire is contacted on opposite sides in notches defined at the distal edges of respective projections. The gripper members may include a built-in centering function to center a position of the welding wire, may be made at least partially of material that conforms to the welding wire, and may be biased toward one another to firmly grip the welding wire.

A wire feeder device for feeding a welding wire in a feeding direction is disclosed. The wire feeder device includes one or more roller chains and a plurality of first and second gripper members. The gripper members are movable from an open position to a closed position to contact and grip the welding wire. In use, the first and second gripper members are longitudinally movable with the roller chain(s) so that the welding wire is pulled along a substantially linear path. The first and second gripper members may be orientated in a vertical (i.e., coplanar) orientation or a horizontal, lateral orientation. The gripper members may include a built-in centering function to center a position of the welding wire.

Methods and apparatus for extending lines for carrying fluids or signals are provided. The lines may be used to deliver fluids, signals and/or power. A wide range of applications include fighting wildfires, fire prevention, providing telecommunications and providing power. The apparatus for deploying a line can include an elongated carried part and a plurality of ground contacting parts that are coupled to and movable relative to the carried part. A plurality of actuators distributed along a length of the carried part are operable to move the ground contacting parts relative to one another and/or move the carried part relative to the ground contacting parts. The actuators are distributed over a length of the carried part. The ground contacting parts may, for example be arranged end to end or arranged in a parallel side-by side relationship.

An electric wire processing apparatus includes a gripping mechanism that grips a part of an electric wire, a driving mechanism that drives the gripping mechanism, an electric wire winding mechanism that winds the electric wire, and a rotating mechanism that rotates and drives the electric wire winding mechanism. The electric wire winding mechanism includes a winding drum, an electric wire clip provided on the winding drum to hold a leading end of the electric wire, and a holding member that holds an electric wire bundle. The driving mechanism moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip, the rotating mechanism rotates the winding drum so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum, and the holding member holds the electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in the annular shape.

A twist application device, including a feeder (1) for feeding conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) of at least two conductors (3a . . . 3c), and a rotatably mounted twist application head (4) for twisting the conductors (3a . . . 3c). The twist application device also includes a controller (7), connected with a drive (8) for first clamping jaws (5a . . . 5f) of the feeder (1), and is equipped for control of the latter. The distance (a) between clamped conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) is set at an adjustable value before the transfer of the conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) from the feed device (1) into the twist application head (4). A method of twisting at least two conductors (3a . . . 3c), in which the referred-to distance (a) is set at an adjustable value before clamping of the conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) in the second jaws (6a, 6b) of the twist application head (4).

A twist application device, including a feeder (1) for feeding conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) of at least two conductors (3a . . . 3c), and a rotatably mounted twist application head (4) for twisting the conductors (3a . . . 3c). The twist application device also includes a controller (7), connected with a drive (8) for first clamping jaws (5a . . . 5f) of the feeder (1), and is equipped for control of the latter. The distance (a) between clamped conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) is set at an adjustable value before the transfer of the conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) from the feed device (1) into the twist application head (4). A method of twisting at least two conductors (3a . . . 3c), in which the referred-to distance (a) is set at an adjustable value before clamping of the conductor ends (2a . . . 2c) in the second jaws (6a, 6b) of the twist application head (4).