Abstract
The present invention relates to a set of interchangeable crimp units for a crimping machine. According to the invention each crimp unit comprises an integrated sensor for measuring a crimping force or a crimping displacement during the crimping process.
Claims
1. A set of interchangeable crimp units for a crimping machine, said crimp units each comprising two die holders and two coupling regions for releasably coupling said die holders with the crimping machine, wherein said crimp units each comprise a sensor for at least one of sensing a crimping force or a crimping distance, and an independent control unit, wherein said control unit comprises control logic for processing a measurement signal of said sensor, wherein calibration factors or calibration curves are modelled or stored in the control unit or in a storage unit also integrated into the crimp unit, and the control unit is designed and configured such that during the use of the crimp unit in the crimping machine, the control unit determines a modified output signal under consideration of the calibration factor or calibration curve so that the crimp unit supplies an adapted or modified output signal, wherein in the modified signal, the calibration factor or calibration curve is already considered.
2. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein each of said crimp units comprises a protective cover.
3. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 2, wherein said protective cover is at least partially built by a transparent or translucent material.
4. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein a first die holder of said two die holders of each of said crimping units is guided by a second die holder of said two die holders of each of said crimping units.
5. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 4, wherein said first die holder comprises a guiding pin extending through a guiding recess of said second die holder.
6. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 5, wherein said first or second die holder comprises another guiding pin and said two guiding pins are located on opposing sides of a nest of a die being held by said die holders.
7. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 6, wherein said two guiding pins have different lengths wherein the longer guiding pin of said two guiding pins enters into a respective guiding recess before the shorter guiding pin of said two guiding pins enters into a respective guiding recess.
8. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein said sensor for at least one of sensing a crimping force or a crimping distance is located centrally behind one of said die holders when seen along a crimping axis.
9. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein said die holders are designed and configured for holding a die having a plurality of nests.
10. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein at least one of at least one interface or at least one plug is provided at each of said crimp units wherein said interface or plug supplies said sensor with electrical energy or transfers a measurement signal of said sensor.
11. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 10, wherein said crimp units have at least one of differing geometries or sensors and at least one of unique interfaces or plugs.
12. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein said crimp units have at least one of differing coupling regions, sensors, geometries, die holders, plugs and interfaces.
13. The set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1, wherein said sensors of said crimp units have differing sensitivities.
14. A crimping machine comprising a set of interchangeable crimp units of claim 1.
15. The crimping machine of claim 14, wherein said control unit is provided, said control unit comprising control logic for determining crimping forces or crimping displacements from measurement signals of said sensors of said crimp units of said set of interchangeable crimp units under consideration of calibration factors or calibration curves.
16. The crimping machine of claim 15, wherein said control logic uses at least one of differing calibration factors or calibration curves for each of said crimp units of said set of interchangeable crimp units.
17. The crimping machine of claim 16, wherein said control logic uses at least one of differing calibration factors or calibration curves for different nests of a die held by said die holders.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
(2) FIGS. 1 to 6 are rough schematic views of a crimp unit with an integrated sensor.
(3) FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of a crimping machine.
(4) FIG. 8 is a detail of a crimping machine with a crimp unit in a partial sectional front view.
(5) FIG. 9 is a detail of the crimping machine of FIG. 7 with a crimp unit in a side view (viewing direction opposite to x-axis).
(6) FIG. 10 is a sectional view x-x of a detail of the crimping machine with a crimp unit of FIG. 8.
(7) FIGS. 11 to 14 show different embodiments of crimp units without a protection cover in a three dimensional view.
(8) FIGS. 15 and 16 show crimp units of FIGS. 11 and 14 with a protective cover in a three dimensional view.
(9) FIGS. 17 and 18 show a crimp unit in a side view (viewing direction opposite to x-axis), wherein the die holders hold different dies.
(10) FIG. 19 shows a detail of a crimping machine with a crimp unit having a locator in an explosional view.
(11) FIG. 20 shows a detail of the crimping machine with crimp unit and locator according to FIG. 19 wherein the locator is located in an operational state.
(12) FIG. 21 shows a schematic block diagram of the flow of electric power and signals in a crimp unit with an integrated sensor and an integrated control unit.
(13) FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram with the flow of signals and power in a crimp unit with integrated sensor and a control unit located externally from the crimp unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(14) FIG. 1 is a rough schematic view of a crimp unit 1. The crimp unit 1 is built with die holders 2, 3 wherein one die holder 2 builds a kind of moved punch and the other die holder 3 builds a kind of fixed anvil. At the opposing faces the die holders 2, 3 each build receivers 4a, 4b designated for holding dies or die halves 5, 6 at the die holders 2, 3. Furthermore, the die holders 2, 3 comprise coupling regions located at the back faces or at the surfaces facing away from each other. The coupling regions 7a, 7b serve for coupling the die holders 2, 3 with a crimping machine 8. In the shown embodiment, only an upper part 9 and a lower part 10 (shown in dashed line) of the crimping machine 8 are shown. During the crimping process the upper part 9 is moved by any actuator (in particular a hydraulic or electric actuator) along a crimping path 12 along a crimping axis 11 towards the lower part 10. The actuator produces a crimping force 13. Along the crimping path 12 and by means of the crimping force 13 a work piece (in particular a plug with a cable located therein) is plastically deformed between the front surfaces of the die halves 5, 6.
(15) A sensor 14 is integrated into the crimp unit 1. FIGS. 1 to 6 show different types of integrations of the sensor 14 into the crimp unit 1 in schematic views:
(16) According to FIG. 1 the die holder 3 is built with die holder parts 15, 16. The sensor 14 is housed or supported between the die holder parts 15, 16. The sensor 14 comprises parallel biasing surfaces 17a, 17b. The biasing surfaces 17a, 17b are pressed against front faces of the die holder parts 15, 16 with the crimping force 13. The sensor 14 produces an output signal correlating with the crimping force 13. The output signal is transferred by a plug or an interface 18 to a control unit of the crimping machine 8. For the shown embodiment the sensor 14 is located in line in the force flow from the lower part 10 over the die holder part 16, the sensor 14, the die holder part 15, the die receiver 4b and the die half 6 to the work piece.
(17) For the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the sensor 14 is located in the region of the die receiver 4b. In this case a biasing surface 17b of the sensor 14 is supported at the die holder 3, whereas another biasing surface 17a (which is located in the region of the die receiver 4) is supported at the die half 6. Here, the sensor 14 is located in line between the die holder 3 and the die half 6. However, for a differing embodiment it is also possible that the die half 6 is (additionally to the support at the biasing surface 17a) also supported at an additional surface built by the die holder 3. This additional surface is located in the region of the die receiver 4b. The additional support provides a parallel force flow between the die half 6 and the die holder 3 for partially unloading the sensor 14.
(18) Differing from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 for the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the output signal of the sensor 14 is transferred to the crimping machine 8 by a plug or interface 18 located in the coupling region 7b. With the connecting process between the lower part 10 and the die holder 3 the plug or interface 18 establishes an electric connection with a plug or interface 75 located at the lower part 10 for transferring the output signal of the sensor 14 (in FIGS. 3 to 6 for a simplification of the representation the cable associated with the sensor 14 as well as the plug or interface 18 are not shown).
(19) According to FIG. 3 the sensor 14 is located in the coupling region 7b. In this case a biasing surface 17a of the sensor 14 is supported at the die holder 3. The other biasing surface 17b is supported in the coupling region 7b at the lower part 10. Here, the force flow passes in line from the lower part 10 over the sensor 14 to the die holder 3. However, as shown schematically in FIG. 3 there might also be a parallel force flow via a path over the sensor 14 to additional contact surfaces between the die holder 3 and the lower part 10.
(20) For the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the die holder 3 comprises a recess 19. The sensor 14 is located in the recess 19. For this embodiment, the bias of the sensor 14 requires an elastic deformation of the die holder 3 due to the crimping force 13 in deformation regions 20a, 20b. The deformation regions 20a, 20b are preferably located laterally from the sensor 14. A component of the crimping force 13 biases the deformation regions 20a, 20b, whereas the other component of the crimping force 13 biases the sensor 14.
(21) According to FIG. 5 the sensor is located parallel to the force flow between the die halves 5, 6. For this embodiment, the sensor 14 is both supported by the die holder 2 as well as by the die holder 3 with its biasing surfaces 17a, 17b. The biasing surfaces 17a, 17b might be biased in the region of the die receivers 4a, 4b or remote from the die receivers 4a, 4b. For this embodiment, the sensor 14 comprises a deformation region 21 for providing the crimping displacement 12. For the shown embodiment, the sensor 14 is biased over the whole crimping displacement 12. However, for a modified embodiment it is possible that the sensor is located with a kind of play between the die holders 2, 3 such that the sensor 14 is only biased at the end of the crimping path 12. In this case the sensor 14 is only in one direction fixed at one of the die holders 2, 3 having a spacing to the other die holder. For this embodiment, the sensor 14 establishes a contact with the other die holder 3, 2 after closing the spacing. However, it is also possible that a part of the sensor 14 is fixed at the die holder 2 whereas the other part of the sensor 14 is fixed at the die holder 3. The two parts of the sensors 14 interact with each other after overcoming the spacing.
(22) FIG. 6 schematically shows a sensor 14 being fixed both at the die holder 2 and at the die holder 3. The sensor 14 might be a force sensor of any type. However, it is also possible that according to FIG. 6 the sensor senses the relative movement of two sensor parts each being held by one of the die holders 2, 3 so that the sensor 14 measures the relative crimping displacement. For another embodiment, the crimp unit 1 comprises both a displacement sensor and a force sensor.
(23) FIG. 7 more detailed shows a possible embodiment of a crimping machine 8. A crimp unit 1 is interposed between the lower part 10 and the (here covered) upper part 9. In the coordinate system in the following figures axis z denotes a crimping axis being slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction to the rear side, axis y denotes a longitudinal extension of the die halves 5, 6 and a direction for inserting die holders 2, 3 into the coupling regions 7a, 7b (see also the following description) axis x denotes a transverse axis of the die halves 5, 6 which in particular corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the plug and the cable when inserted into the crimp unit 1.
(24) FIG. 7 shows the coupling region 7b at a front face. The coupling region 7a is covered by a cover plate 22 which in a closed state is held at the crimping machine 8 by a securing screw. In the shown state, the cover plate 22 blocks a movement of die holder 3 out of the coupling region 7aa removal of die holder 3 from the crimping machine 8 is only possible when disassembling the cover plate 22.
(25) FIG. 8 shows the mounting of the crimp unit 1 by the die holders 2, 3 at the upper and lower parts 9, 10 of the crimping machine. According to FIG. 8 the coupling regions 7a, 7b of the die holders 2, 3 comprise T-shaped extension 23 cooperating with corresponding coupling regions 24a, 24b of the upper part 9 and the lower part 10. For the shown embodiment, the coupling regions 24a, 24b are built by T-shaped grooves 25, 26. The longitudinal axes of the T-shaped grooves 25, 26 have an orientation parallel to the y-axis. For the shown embodiment the T-shaped grooves are built by holding elements 27 being fixed at the base body of the upper and lower part 9, 10. In FIG. 8 also a locator 28 is shown. The locator 28 serves for introducing a work piece (in particular a plug with a cable) in a predetermined relative position and orientation between the die halves 5, 6 and/or for holding the work piece in this position and orientation before and/or during the crimping process. The locator 28 comprises a pivoting bolt 29 defining a pivoting axis 30. Furthermore, the locator 28 comprises a latching unit located in an upper end region of the pivoting bolt 29. Furthermore, the locator 28 comprises a holding unit 23 which is pivotable around a pivoting axis 32. The pivoting axis has an orientation parallel to the y-axis. A pivoting movement of the holding unit 33 biases a spring. For the shown embodiment the holding unit 33 is built by an angled holding metal sheet which serves for fixing the work piece at the locator 28.
(26) FIGS. 8 and 9 show handling means 34 being fixed at the die holder 3. The handling means extend parallel to the x-axis. For the shown embodiment, the handling means 34 are built by rotatable bolts or sleeves. The handling means 34 serve for holding the crimp unit 1 or die holder 3 with the fingers of the operator. Furthermore, the handling means 34 might be used for guiding the crimp unit 1 during the coupling process via the coupling regions 7. According to FIG. 9 the die halves 5, 6 are held at the die receivers 4a, 4b of the die holders 2, 3. The die halves 5, 6 have a longitudinal extension parallel to the y-axis. Furthermore, FIG. 9 shows two guiding bolts 35, 36 located in both sides of the die halves 5, 6 and being held by die holder 3. The guiding bolts 35, 36 enter into guiding recesses 37, 38 of die holder 2 for providing a guidance for the die holders 2, 3 during the crimping process.
(27) As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 10 the guiding bolt 35 being located closer to the operator of the crimping machine 8 is shorter than the other guiding bolt 36. The guiding bolts 35, 36 are received with a close fit in corresponding bores of the die holder 3 wherein the bores have an orientation parallel to the z-axis. The die holder 2 comprises the guiding recesses 37, 38 wherein the guiding recesses 37, 38 are aligned with the guiding bolts 35, 36. The guiding recesses 37, 38 are here built by bores wherein the diameter of the bores builds a loose fit with the diameter of the guiding bolts 35, 36. Due to the different lengths of the guiding bolts 35, 36 the front guiding bolt 35 only enters into the related guiding recess at the end of the crimping process, in particular after finishing any empty stroke. If the die holders 2, 3 are wide opened, the guiding bolt 35 is located distant from the die holder 2. This distant location of the guiding bolt 35 from the die holder 2 provides a kind of window for the operator at the front side for inspecting the interior of the crimp unit 1 and for inspecting the die halves 5, 6 as well as for monitoring the insertion and positioning process of the plug and the cable into the die halves 5, 6.
(28) FIGS. 9 and 10 show one example for the design of the coupling of the die halves 5, 6 with the die holders 2, 3 at the die receivers 4a, 4b. The die halves 5, 6 have a generally plate like design. The die halves 5, 6 are insertable into a corresponding slot, a recess or groove 39, 40 of the die holders 2, 3. Supporting and centering bolts 41 extend transverse to the plate like base body of the die halves 5, 6. The supporting and centering bolts 41 have an orientation parallel to the x-axis. In the sectional view of FIG. 10 the centering bolts 41 are located at the corners of a rectangle. Two of the supporting and centering bolts 41 are each located at the die holders 2, 3. The supporting and centering bolts 41 are positioned in half-shell shaped receivers 42 on both sides of the slots, grooves or recesses 39, 40 of the die receivers 4a, 4b. This design guarantees an exact positioning of the die halves 5, 6. On the other hand the supporting and centering bolts 41 serve for supporting the crimping forces 13 between the die halves 5, 6 and the die holders 2, 3. Additionally, the die halves 5, 6 are each fixed at the die holders 2, 3 by a screw 43. The screws 43 extend parallel to the x-axis. Furthermore, FIG. 10 shows a securing bolt 44 which is movable along the z-axis in a bore of the lower part 10. The securing bolt 44 is biased by a spring (not shown) into the state shown in FIG. 10. In this state the securing bolt 44 extends through a recess 45 of die holder 3 for building a positive lock that avoids that the die holder 3 exits in FIG. 10 to the left from the T-groove 26. Due to the coupling of the die holders 2, 3 by guiding bolts 35, 36 the securing bolt 44 indirectly also serves for securing the die holder 2. The die holder 2 is additionally secured by the cover plate 22 as described above. For removing the crimp unit 1 from the crimping machine 8 it is necessary to actuate the securing bolt 44 manually in downward direction which might be done by actuating the actuating means 46 as shown in FIG. 7.
(29) For the shown embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 the coupling regions 7a, 7b are built by T-shaped extensions 23 and the recess 45 and contact surfaces of the die holder 2 with the cover plate 22. This design provides an exchangeable coupling of the crimp unit 1 with the crimping machine 8 as well as a fixation in the assembled state. The die receivers 4a, 4b of the crimp unit 1 are in the shown embodiment built by slots, recesses or grooves 39, 40, the receivers 42 and the bore or thread for the screw 43 for a releasable fixation of the die halves 5, 6 at the die holders 2, 3.
(30) FIGS. 11 to 14 show a set of crimp units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d as being offered and sold by the manufacturer or a company for the use of different die halves 5, 6 and/or for the coupling with different crimping machines 8. The crimp units 1 of FIGS. 11 to 14 have identical coupling regions 7a, 7b so that these crimp units 1 are designated for use in a particular crimping machine 8 or different crimping machines comprising corresponding coupling regions.
(31) As shown in FIG. 11 the coupling regions 7a, 7b comprise (additionally to the extensions 23) guiding grooves 47 being engaged by corresponding protrusions of the upper and lower parts 9, 10. FIG. 11 shows the crimp unit 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 wherein the die receivers 4a, 4b are built with the receiver 42 and a bore 48 for the screw 43.
(32) FIG. 12 shows a crimp unit 1b with a differing design of the die receiver 4a, 4b: Here, the die receivers 4a, 4b have a protrusion or rip 49 extending along the y-axis. The protrusion or rip 49 has a generally rectangular cross section in the y-z-plane. The rectangular cross section does not change along the y-axis. The die receivers 4a, 4b are designated for die halves 5, 6 having slots, grooves or recesses at the side facing towards the die receivers 4a, 4b. The slots, grooves or recesses have a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the protrusion or rip 49. For the assembled state of the die halves 5, 6 in the die receivers 4a, 4b the die halves 5, 6 embrace the protrusions or rips 49a, 49b in a U-like fashion. Additionally the protrusions or rips 49 comprise a transverse thread extending parallel to the x-axis. A mounting screw 43 is screwed into this transverse thread. Accordingly, the die receivers 4a, 4b are in this case built by the combination of the protrusions or rips 49 with the screws 43 or a bore or a thread for the screws 43. Additionally, the die halves 5, 6 might contact with their front surface at contact or guiding surfaces 50 of the die holders 2, 3 for guiding purposes.
(33) For the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 the die receivers 4a, 4b are built with slots, recesses or grooves 51 extending parallel to the y-axis. Protrusions or rips formed by the die halves 5, 6 enter into these slots, recesses or grooves 51. The die halves 5, 6 are supported at a step or contact surface at the upper surface of the die receivers 4a, 4b. It is also possible that the die halves 5, 6 have a plate-like design with a geometry appropriate for introducing the die halves 5, 6 into the slots 51. For a fixation of the die halves 5, 6 in the die receivers 4a, 4b the die receivers 4a, 4b comprise through bores 52 extending parallel to the y-axis. It is possible to insert a pin or screw into these through bores 52. The pin or screw also extends through a corresponding through bore of the die halves 5, 6. Accordingly, in the crimp unit 1c the die receivers 4a, 4b are built with the slots, grooves or recesses 51 and the through bores 52.
(34) The crimp unit 1d according to FIG. 14 comprises significantly increased dimensions in the y-direction so that this crimp unit 1d might be used for holding die halves 5, 6 with increased dimensions. For the crimp unit 1d the die receivers 4a, 4b are in a first approximation built by a block-like receiving space 53. The receiving spaces 53 are each open in the direction of the x-axis. The walls opposite to the opening comprise recesses or grooves 54. The recesses or grooves 54 receive protrusions or rips being formed at the front surface of the die halves 5, 6. Preferably the die halves 5, 6 are held by frictional lock between the protrusions or rips and the recesses or grooves 54 in the die receivers 4a, 4b. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 the die holders 2, 3 are built by two parts with a base body 55 and a holding body 56. The receiving spaces 53a, 53b are limited by the base body 55 and by the holding body 56 (wherein the transition from the base body 55 to the holding body 56 is located approximately in the middle of the receiving spaces 53a, 53b). The surfaces limiting the groove 54 and having a normal vector with an orientation parallel to the x-axis are limited both by the base body 55 and the holding body 56. When inserting the holding body 56 into the base body 55 and pressing the holding body 56 towards the base body 55 (e.g. by screwing a screw) the lateral limiting surfaces of the grooves 54a, 54b of the holding body 56 are pressed towards the opposing limiting surfaces of the grooves 54a, 54b being built by the base body 55a, 55b. This leads to a clamping of the protrusions or rips of the die halves 5, 6 in the grooves 54. In the region of the holding body 56 limiting the receiving spaces 53 the holding body 56 has a U-shape in a section in the x-y-plane. The ends of the parallel side legs of the U limits the grooves 54a, 54b. It is also possible that the transverse leg of the U also extends beyond the side legs for providing a fixation region for a screw between the base body 55 and the holding body 56 (screw not shown in FIG. 14).
(35) FIG. 15 shows a crimp unit 1a of FIG. 11 with an additional protective cover 57a. The protective cover 57a is in a first approximation a hollow block with constant wall thickness. The hollow block is open at the bottom and ceiling so that the die holders 2, 3 might enter from the upper side and from the lower side into the protective cover 57a. By the handling means 34 extending through bores of the protective cover 57a the protective cover 57a is fixed at the die holder 3 whereas during the crimping process a relative movement of the die holder 2 with respect to the protective cover 57 is allowed. The protective cover 57a might also have plates 58 extending along the x-y-axis. The plates 58 build handling surfaces. The protective cover 57a comprises approximately rectangular recesses 59 in the walls extending in the y-z-plane. It is possible that during the crimping process a work piece (in particular the plug with the cable) extends through these recesses 59 into the crimp unit. The protective cover 57a is built by a transparent plastic material so that it is possible that before, during and/or after the crimping process the operator inspects the die halves 5, 6 and the work piece through the transparent material of the protective cover 57a with a viewing direction parallel to the y-axis.
(36) The protective covers 57 might differ in their design for the different crimp units 1a-1d. As an example FIG. 16 shows a protective cover 57d usable for the crimp unit 1d according to FIG. 14. The size of the hollow block of the protective cover 57d is adapted to the increased dimension of the crimp unit 1d along the x-axis. Instead of two rectangular recesses 59 as shown in FIG. 15 only one single recess 59 is provided. The recess 59 is in this case built by two circular recesses 60 of the walls having an extension in the y-z-plane. The two circular recesses 60 are linked by a slot 61 extending in an x-y-axis along the circumference of the protective cover 57d.
(37) According to FIG. 17 the die halves 5, 6 used in a crimp unit 1 might comprise a plurality of nests 62a-d located one besides another along the y-axis. The nests 62a-d might e.g. differ in size, contour or geometry. In FIG. 17 the sensor 14 is indicated by a symbol. The sensor 14 is located centrally to the die halves 5, 6 when seen along the crimping axis 11. In case that a work piece is crimped in the central nest 62c, the sensor 14 is located centrally and behind the crimping nest 62c when seen along the crimping axis 11. Accordingly, a major part of the crimp force 13 passes the sensor 14. The die holders 2, 3 as well as the sensor 14 are biased by symmetrical forces and tensions. Instead, when using the nests 62a, 62b, 62d the die holders 2, 3 are biased by asymmetric forces and tensions. Only a reduced component of the crimping force passes the sensor. This reduced component might be considered by a modified calibration factor.
(38) FIG. 18 shows the use of the crimp unit 1a with different die halves 5, 6. In these die halves 5, 6 only three nests 62a-c are provided having different die contours.
(39) According to FIGS. 19 and 20 the crimp unit 1 might (permanently or optionally) be provided with a locator. The base design, degrees of freedom and function as well as the interaction of the locator with the work piece and the fixation of the locator at the die holders is e.g. described in the patent application DE 10 2010 061 148 A1 and further documents cited in this patent application. As an example FIGS. 19 and 20 show a locator 28 in a type of explosional view. A base body 63 is fixed at the die holder 3. A pivoting body 64 is held by a pivoting bolt 29 at the base body 63. The pivoting bolt 29 defines the pivoting axis 30. The pivoting body 64 comprises a bore. The pivoting bolt 29 in the assembled state extends through this bore.
(40) In the state shown in FIG. 20 the holding unit 33 is closed so that the work piece is held and fixed in the locator with a predetermined position and orientation. Furthermore, the pivoting body 64 is pivoted around the pivoting axis 32 from an open state into a closed state. By means of this pivoting movement the work piece is brought into a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the die halves 5, 6. The pivoting state of the pivoting body is secured by one, preferably two redundant fixation devices. According to the shown embodiment the base body 63 and the pivoting body 64 comprise magnetic elements 65, 66 building the fixation device. The magnetic elements 65, 66 hold the pivoting body in the state shown in FIG. 20. Preferably the magnetic elements 65, 66 contact each other in the pivoting state according to FIG. 20. Furthermore, a securing element 67 for a redundant fixation might be provided.
(41) FIG. 21 schematically shows the flow of energy and signals in the crimp unit 1. The sensor 14 is provided with electrical energy via a plug or an interface 18. The output signal 68 of the sensor 14 correlating with a predetermined characteristic or dependency on the crimping force 13 is supplied or fed to a control unit 69 integrated into the crimp unit 1. In the control unit 69 a modified output signal 70 is determined which is then supplied to the plug or interface 18. The modified output signal 70 might be calculated from the output signal 68 by a constant calibration factor or a calibration curve (or on the basis of any different dependency). The calibration factor 72 or calibration curve 73 might be stored in a storage unit 71. The control unit 69 reads the calibration factor 72 or calibration curve 73 from the storage unit 71. The calibration factor 72 or the calibration curve 73 might be stored in the storage unit 71 at the manufacturer. However, it is also possible that the calibration factor 72 or the calibration curve 73 is considered and programmed in the control logic of the control unit 69. It is also possible that with the startup of the crimping machine 8 an individual calibration process is run for determining and storing the calibration factor 72, the calibration curve 73 or any other dependency which is then stored in the storage unit 71. Furthermore, it is possible that different calibration factors 72 or calibration curves 73 are used for operating the nests 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d. Also for different crimp units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d different calibration factors 72, calibration curve 73 or other dependencies might be used. The modified output signal 70 is then transmitted to a respective interface 75 of an adjacent element via the plug or interface 18 for further processing and/or for documentation purposes. In particular the adjacent element builds a part of the crimping machine 8.
(42) For a modified embodiment shown in FIG. 22 the control unit 69 and the storage unit 71 are built externally from the crimp unit 1. These elements might be located at any position of the crimping machine 8. Preferably the storage unit 71 and the control unit 69 build a singular unit with one housing or with at least two modules. According to FIG. 22 it is possible to transfer the output signal 68 of the sensor directly to a plug or a interface 18. The plug or interface 18 cooperates with a respective plug or interface 75 for transferring the output signal 68 to the control unit 69. In the control unit 69 the output signal 68 is processed to a modified output signal 70 under use of the calibration factor 72, the calibration curve 73 or any other dependency.
(43) In the specification related with the figures the letter a is added to the reference numerals to denote crimp units 1 of differing design, in particular with respect to the design of the die receivers 4 and/or the coupling regions 7. In other cases the letters a and b have been used in order to distinguish constructive elements having corresponding functions, wherein constructive elements associated with the die holder 2 are denoted with the letter a, whereas constructive elements associated with the die holder 3 are denoted with the letter b.
(44) A set of interchangeable crimp units means at least two crimp units designated for one and the same crimping machine. It is possible to disassemble a first one of the crimp units of the set from the crimping machine and to replace the first crimp unit with a second one of the crimp units of the set.
(45) Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.
