Abstract
A fabrication apparatus for the fabrication or prefabrication—preferably in an automated or semi-automated manner—of individual wire sections, comprising at least one arrangement apparatus for receiving and arranging a plurality of individual wire sections, in particular prepared wire sections from the fabrication apparatus, wherein the at least one arrangement apparatus comprises a main body and an arrangement section for receiving the wire sections, wherein the arrangement section is designed to string a plurality of individual wire sections through a gap that extends along the base body and along said gap, wherein the at least one arrangement apparatus can be attached to the fabrication apparatus in a releasable manner.
Claims
1. A fabrication apparatus for fabrication or prefabrication of individual wire portions, the fabrication apparatus comprising: an organization apparatus for receiving and organizing a plurality of individual wire portions, the organization apparatus including a main body and an organization portion for receiving the individual wire portions; and a closure device arranged at at least one end of the organization portion, the closure device being configured to prevent the individual wire portions from sliding out of the organization portion, wherein the organization portion is formed as a gap extending along the main body for allowing the plurality of individual wire portions to be threaded along the gap, and the organization apparatus is releasably mountable to the fabrication apparatus.
2. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main body is formed by a rod profile member having a longitudinal axis, and the gap extends along the longitudinal axis.
3. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main body is a hollow chamber profile member.
4. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gap connects a first surface of the main body to a second surface of the main body.
5. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gap has two distal ends, wherein a first end of the gap has an insertion device for insertion of the individual wire portions, and a second end of the gap has an abutment portion for abutment engagement of the wire portions.
6. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the insertion device is a funnel-shaped mouth opening into the gap.
7. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the abutment portion is a closure of the gap and/or a fold on the main body.
8. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure device is a locking element covering at least a portion of the gap and supported moveably on the main body.
9. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main body is a square hollow profile member longitudinally slit at one side, wherein a first end of the square hollow profile member is open to allow for threading in of the individual wire portions, and a second end of the square hollow profile member is at least partially closed.
10. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of individual wire portions each having at least one wire termination arranged thereon, wherein the gap has a minimum gap width corresponding substantially to a wire diameter of each of the individual wire portions and a maximum gap width smaller than the termination diameter of the at least one wire termination of each of the wire portions.
11. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein a connection between the plurality of individual wire portions and the organization apparatus is a positively locking connection.
12. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of individual wire portions which at least partially have no insulation so as to be a stranded wire, wherein the gap has a minimum gap width substantially corresponding to a stranded wire diameter of a portion of the individual wire portions having no insulation and a maximum gap width smaller than an insulated wire diameter of a portion of the individual wire portions having insulation.
13. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a transfer device for transferring the individual wire portions from the fabrication apparatus into the organization apparatus at the fabrication apparatus.
14. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an advance device for pushing the individual wire portions along the organization apparatus, wherein the transfer device and the advance device are combined to form a single device.
15. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the organization apparatus is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the main body and the gap extending therein are inclined relative to a horizontal plane to produce gravitationally induced downward sliding movement of the wire portions along the gap.
16. The fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the longitudinal axis of the main body and the gap are inclined relative to the horizontal plane to produce gravitationally induced downward sliding movement of the wire portions along the gap to the abutment portion or to the nearest wire portion.
17. A use of a fabrication apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for orderly arrangement of the plurality of individual wire portions in the organization apparatus, wherein the plurality of individual wire portions are arranged along the organization portion of the organization apparatus in a predetermined sequence.
18. A fabrication apparatus for fabrication or prefabrication of individual wire portions, the fabrication apparatus comprising: a plurality of individual wire portions; and an organization apparatus for receiving and organizing the plurality of individual wire portions, the organization apparatus including a main body and an organization portion for receiving the individual wire portions, the organization portion being formed as a gap extending along the main body for threading the plurality of individual wire portions along the gap; a plurality of individual wire portions which at least partially have no insulation so as to be a stranded wire, wherein the gap has a minimum gap width substantially corresponding to a stranded wire diameter of a portion of the individual wire portions having no insulation, and a maximum gap width smaller than an insulated wire diameter of a portion of the individual wire portions having insulation, wherein the organization apparatus is releasably mountable to the fabrication apparatus.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further details and advantages of the present invention are described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific description with reference to the embodiments by way of example illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a fabrication apparatus with an inclined organization apparatus,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a fabrication apparatus with a straight organization apparatus,
(4) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the organization apparatus,
(5) FIGS. 4a through 4c show variants of closure devices,
(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b show a diagrammatic representation in different views of the arrangement of a fabrication apparatus and at least one organization apparatus,
(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b are different views of the gap dimensioning,
(8) FIGS. 7a through 7c show different variants of wire terminations arranged in a gap,
(9) FIG. 8 shows a wire termination provided by transport securing means,
(10) FIGS. 9a and 9b show partial stripping of a wire portion,
(11) FIGS. 10a through 12b show different main body variants,
(12) FIGS. 13a through 14c show different gap variants, and
(13) FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of an organization apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(14) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatically illustrated fabrication apparatus 100. Disposed at the fabrication apparatus 100 is a diagrammatically illustrated transfer device 101 which for example can also be in the form of a robot arm. The individual prefabricated wire portions 10 with the wire terminations 11 arranged thereon pass from one or more fabrication apparatuses 100 through the transfer device 101 to the first end E1 of the organization apparatus 1 and are there fitted into the gap 4 (not visible in FIG. 1) of the organization portion 3 (shown in FIG. 3). By virtue of the inclined positioning of the organization apparatus 1 the wire portion 10, by virtue of the protrusion formed by the wire termination 11, slides along a longitudinal extent (longitudinal axis) LE of the organization apparatus 1 until reaching the abutment portion 5 or the next wire portion 10. In that case the abutment portion 5 is disposed at the second end E2 of the organization apparatus 1. The organization apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 having a rectangular cross-section and formed of a hollow profile member. It can be seen that the wire terminations 11 at the upper end of the wire portions 10 are protected by the closed shape of the organization apparatus 1. The wires are also prevented from sliding out upwardly by virtue of the closed structure of the main body 2. This therefore ensures that all wire portions 10, after fitment to the organization apparatus 1, are retained in their sequence and in the number thereof in the organization apparatus 1.
(15) FIG. 2 shows a further variant of a diagrammatically illustrated fabrication apparatus 100, but there can also be provided a plurality of fabrication apparatuses 100. The transfer device 101 removes the respective wire portions 10 and inserts them at the first end E1 of the organization apparatus 1. An advance device 102 provides for the necessary advance movement along the longitudinal extent LE of the organization apparatus 1 towards the abutment portion 5 at the second end E2 or to the next wire portion 10 which was previously inserted. It can naturally also be provided that the transfer device 101 and the advance device 102 are formed by only one device. That could be for example a robot having a gripper. The angle at which the organization apparatus 1 is disposed in that case relative to the fabrication apparatus 100 is not crucial in terms of the function of introducing the individual wire portions 10 as the advance movement of the individual wire portions 10 is effected by the advance device 102 and not by gravity. Accordingly the organization apparatus 1 can be arranged for example facing inclinedly upwardly, oriented horizontally, facing inclinedly downwardly or at any other angle.
(16) FIG. 3 shows the organization apparatus 1 with its longitudinal extent LE, along which the organization portion 3 is provided. Disposed at the second end E2 is the abutment portion 5 while disposed at the first end E1 is the funnel-shaped insertion portion 6. The insertion portion 6 opens into the gap 4. That facilitates insertion of the wire portions 10 with the wire terminations 11 mounted thereto. The main body 2 forms an inside I and an outside A. A part of the main body 2 above or in opposite relationship to the gap 4 was opened up to simplify insertion of the wire portions 10, that opened-up configuration being provided by the cut-out recess 9. The main body 2 is preferably formed by a metal profile member. That stable configuration permits multiple use of the organization apparatus 1. Instead of automated wire fabrication it is also possible to implement manual fabrication, in that case transfer to the organization apparatuses 1 is also effected for example manually or by a transfer device 101.
(17) FIG. 4a shows a closure device 7 formed by a locking element 8. That is arranged rotatably on the main body 2 and engages into a locking pin. After the organization apparatus 1 is filled that locking element 8 can be closed to prevent the individual wire portions 10 from falling out.
(18) FIG. 4b shows another variant of a locking element 8 which is used as a closure device 7. In this case an elastic band, preferably a rubber ring, is pushed on to the main body 2. Recesses on the main body 2 can additionally secure the position of the locking element 8. The rubber band engages for example into slots in order to be able to prevent the rubber ring from accidentally slipping off.
(19) FIG. 4c shows a further variant of the locking element 8 which serves as a closure device 7 for the gap 4. That can be a shaped portion, for example in the form of a plug or something similar, which is connected in positively locking relationship to the gap 4 or the insertion portion 6.
(20) FIG. 5a shows a plan view of a diagrammatically illustrated fabrication apparatus 100 comprising a feed portion 103 which transfers the wire portion 10 or the wire terminations 11 to be fitted to the wire portion 10 to a preparation portion 104. The processing portion 105 fabricates the wire portions 10. For that purpose for example the wire is cut to length, stripped of insulation, partially stripped, crimped to wire portions 11, or pressed, soldered, glued or shrunk. The prefabricated wire portions 10 pass by way of the transfer device 101 into the organization apparatuses 1 provided for same or into the organization apparatus 1 provided for same. They are disposed in the removal portion 106 on the fabrication apparatus 100.
(21) FIG. 5b shows the diagrammatic structure as a side view. In that respect it can be seen that the plurality of organization systems 1 or a single organization system 1 are oriented inclinedly relative to the horizontal axis to cause the wire portions 10 to slide along under the force of gravity. The angle between the longitudinal extent LE and the horizontal axis is in a range of between 0° and 90°, particularly preferably between 10° and 80°.
(22) FIG. 6a shows the dimensioning of the gap width SB in relation to the dimensioning of the wire diameter KD of the individual wire portions 10. The figure also shows how the wire terminations 11 are prevented from slipping through the gap 12 by virtue of the protrusion thereof beyond the gap width SB. The wire terminations 11 rest in positively locking relationship at a first surface EO or also the inside I of the main body 2. At the oppositely disposed second surface ZO or also the outside A the wire portions 10 project from the gap 4. The gap width SB substantially corresponds to the diameter KD of the individual wire portions 10. For simplification and improvement of the sliding properties along the gap 4 however it is provided that a certain oversize in wire diameter at the gap width SB is afforded. The gap width SB however does not exceed the value of the diameter of the wire termination 11. Accordingly the gap width SB is equal to the wire diameter KD or less than the termination diameter AD. That is also clearly shown in FIG. 6b, showing the detail from FIG. 6a.
(23) FIGS. 7a through 7c show different variants of wire terminations 11, FIG. 7a showing cable shoes, FIG. 7b showing the female contact elements of flat plugs and FIG. 7c showing crimp contacts. Instead of such wire terminations shown on the examples in FIGS. 7a through 7c however any other elements like for example shrink hoses, cable splice joins, cable bushings or the like can serve as the wire termination 11. What is important is that the protrusion formed by the wire terminations 11 is greater than the gap width SB (see FIG. 6b).
(24) FIG. 8 shows how wire portions 10 which have only been cut to length, without wire terminations 11 arranged thereon, in the form of an end sleeve or a similar contact element, can be supported along a gap 4. For that purpose transport securing means fitted on the wires serve as the wire termination 11. After removal of the wire portions 10 the transport securing means can be removed from the wire portion 10 or are removed automatically when the wire portion 10 is pulled out of the gap 4.
(25) A further variant is shown in FIG. 9a, in this case partly stripped wire portions 10 are supported in the gap 4. That is shown in detail in FIG. 9b where the insulation of the wire portion 10 was severed, pushed along the strand core of the wire portion 10 and thus part of the core was exposed. The core diameter LD therefore serves as a reference for the gap width SB. In that case the gap width SB is either equal to the core diameter LD, but never greater than the wire diameter KD. If the wire portion 10 is required it is possible to pull on the longer piece thereof, which hangs out of the organization apparatus 1, in which case the partly detached at the short end and in the interior of the organization apparatus 1 comes off and the wire portion 10 can be used directly without being stripped. The wire portion however can be quite normally simply pushed out of the gap 4 if the partial stripping or the partial insulation is to be maintained.
(26) FIGS. 10a and 10b show different views of the main body 2. The main body 2 can be formed not only by a hollow chamber profile member or a flat profile member, but also by for example rod-shaped elements of circular cross-section, which are arranged in mutually parallel relationship.
(27) FIGS. 11a and 11b show how rectangular rod elements oriented in mutually parallel relationship form the main body 2.
(28) FIGS. 12a and 12b show the hollow profile member variants with rectangular profile bodies as the main body 2.
(29) FIGS. 13a through 13d show different variants of the gap 4 on the main body 2. They are intended to simplify the individual wire portions 10 being threaded into or threaded out of the gap 4 or influenced in some other fashion. In that respect FIG. 13a shows a main body 2 which is arched in the direction of the wire terminations 11 and at the highest point of which the gap 4 is formed. FIG. 13b shows precisely the opposite, in this case the main body 2 is cambered downwardly, and the gap 4 is at the lowest part. FIG. 13c forms a leg which faces upwardly, while in FIG. 13d the leg faces downwardly. Those different structural variants can be used for example in relation to wire terminations 11 of different kinds in order to be able to protect them or embrace them according to the shape thereof.
(30) FIGS. 14a through 14c show different geometries of the gap 4. By way of example FIG. 14a shows the cross-section of the main body 2, through which the gap 4 extends. The transition from the main body 2 into the gap 4 can be formed in that case at the transitional portion 12 by a bevel F while FIG. 14b shows how the transitional portion 12 is formed by a radius r. FIG. 14c shows how the gap 4 connects both sides of the main body 2 by a rounded configuration of a radius R.
(31) FIG. 15 shows a further variant of the organization apparatus 1. It includes at both ends E1 and E2 an insertion portion 6 and a respective locking element 8. That provides that in use of the organization apparatus 1 at the fabrication apparatus 100 it is not necessary to pay attention to the direction of insertion and thus the organization apparatus 1 can be filled from both ends E1 and E2 and subsequently can also be locked by the locking element 8. By virtue of this variant it is also possible to select from which of the two ends E1, E2 the wire portions 10 are removed, which can have an effect on the sequence thereof. Thus, when fitting the wire portions to the organization apparatus 1 it is possible to establish whether for example the first wire portion 10 introduced is also the first wire portion 10 to be removed, being required in the assembly procedure, or the last. In the situation where the first inserted wire portion 10 is also the first wire portion 10 to be installed and same was introduced at the end E1 then it also has to be removed at the end E1. If the sequence is different and the first inserted wire portion 10 is the wire portion 10 which is to be installed last, it has to be removed at the opposite end E2. In this variant the locking elements 8 at the same time form the abutment portion 5. Instead of the locking elements 8, as are shown in FIG. 15, it is also possible to use another locking element 8, for example a rubber band or a closure plug, as already shown in the preceding Figures.
