WIRE PROCESSING DEVICE

Abstract

A wire processing device including a wire processing mechanism for processing a wire, and a wire handling device for transferring the wire to the wire processing mechanism. The wire processing device has a carrying device, and a holding device for holding the at least one wire can be releasably arranged on the carrying device. The wire processing device includes an acquisition device for acquiring data stored on the holding device.

Claims

1. A wire processing device, in particular a wire finishing machine, comprising: at least one wire processing mechanism for processing at least one wire, at least one wire handling device for transferring the at least one wire to the at least one wire processing mechanism, wherein the wire processing device has at least one carrying device, wherein at least one holding device for holding the at least one wire can be releasably arranged on the at least one carrying device, wherein the wire processing device comprises at least one acquisition device for acquiring data stored on the at least one holding device.

2. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carrying device is arranged on the wire processing device movable relative to the wire handling device, preferably displaceable translationally back and forth along a movement direction.

3. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the wire processing device comprises at least one guide device, wherein the at least one carrying device is mounted on the at least one guide device movable translationally along the at least one guide device.

4. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carrying device has at least one connection device for connecting the at least one carrying device to the at least one holding device.

5. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein wire processing device comprises a locking device for locking the at least one holding device on the at least one carrying device and for releasing the at least one holding device from the at least one carrying device.

6. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein at least two holding devices can be arranged on the at least one carrying device, preferably one behind another along a longitudinal extent of the at least one carrying device.

7. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the wire processing device comprises at least one holding device for holding the at least one wire, wherein the at least one holding device is releasably arranged on the at least one carrying device.

8. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding device comprises an encoder, wherein preferably data can be and/or are stored in the encoder.

9. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding device has at least one connection mechanism for connecting the at least one holding device to the carrying device.

10. The wire processing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding device comprises at least one holding mechanism for holding the at least one wire.

11. The wire processing device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one holding mechanism comprises at least one locking mechanism for locking and releasing the at least one wire.

12. The wire processing device according to claim 10, wherein at least one tube guide is arranged between the at least one holding mechanism and at least one wire store, wherein the at least one holding mechanism is preferably connected to the at least one tube guide.

13. The wire processing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one tube guide comprises a, preferably flexible, tube.

14. The wire processing device according to claim 13, wherein the tube has a friction-reducing coating, preferably a Teflon coating, on an inner surface of the tube.

15. A wire processing system comprising the wire processing device according to claim 1, at least one storage device comprising at least one wire store for providing at least one wire, at least one holding device for holding the at least one wire, wherein the at least one wire of the at least one wire store is guided to the at least one holding device and held by the at least one holding device, wherein the at least one holding device can be or is releasably arranged on the at least one carrying device of the wire processing device.

16. The wire processing system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one wire is guided between the wire store providing the at least one wire and the at least one holding device at least in sections inside a tube guide comprising a, preferably flexible, tube.

17. The wire processing system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one holding device comprises an encoder, wherein data can be and/or are stored in the encoder, wherein the wire processing device comprises at least one acquisition device for acquiring data stored in the encoder.

18. The wire processing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one storage device is formed mobile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained with the aid of the following description of the figures, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a wire processing device in a schematic representation according to the state of the art,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a proposed wire processing device in a schematic representation,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing device in a schematic representation,

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing device in a schematic representation,

[0038] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a proposed wire processing system in a schematic representation,

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a holding device according to FIG. 5 in an enlarged view,

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing system in a perspective view, and

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a detail representation from FIG. 7 in an enlarged view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a wire processing device 1 in a schematic representation according to the state of the art. The wire processing device 1 shown is a wire finishing machine which comprises a wire processing mechanism 2 for processing a wire 3. For this purpose, several wires 3 are provided on a terminal block 21 arranged stationary on the wire processing device 1. A wire 3 to be processed is guided by a wire handling device 4 from the terminal block 21 to the wire processing mechanism 2.

[0043] The wires 3 provided originate from a storage device 20 comprising several wire stores 16, for example in the form of wire drums or other wire containers, in which a respective wire 3 is present e.g. in wound form. The individual wires 3 from the respective wire stores 16 are guided further to the terminal block 21 locally brought together via a collection mechanism 22 on the storage device 20. The storage device 20 can be a free holding area or for example also be formed like shelves and is arranged locally spaced apart next to the wire processing device 1.

[0044] The terminal block 21 clamps the individual wires 3. The respectively required wire 3, which is to be passed on to the wire processing mechanism 2, is freed from the terminal block 21 and can be passed on to the wire processing mechanism 2 by the wire handling device 4. The clamping or freeing of the individual wires 3 in the terminal block 21 can be carried out mechanically, electrically, pneumatically or also hydraulically and is preferably controlled by a control device of the wire processing device 1, which is not represented here.

[0045] If the quantity of the wire 3 in a wire store 16 is coming to an end, the wire store 16 can be replacedthe wire 3 located therein is threaded through the collection device 22 and passed on to the terminal block 21 for further removal.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a proposed wire processing device 1 in a schematic representation. In order to reduce the manipulation cost for changing the wire population compared with previous wire processing devices 1, the proposed wire processing device 1 comprises a carrying device 5, on which at least one holding device 6 (see e.g. FIG. 3 to FIG. 8) for holding the at least one wire 3 can be releasably arranged. Here, the wires 3 to be processed no longer need to be guided to a terminal block 21 arranged directly stationary on the wire processing device 1 and attached there, but rather a holding device 6 can be populated with the desired wires 3 and the holding device 6 prepared in such a way can be releasably arranged as a unit on the carrying device 5 of the wire processing device 1 and equally easily removed again. In particular, the attachment of the holding device 6 to the carrying device 5 and the release of a holding device 6 arranged on the carrying device 5 can be effected toollessly and thus particularly easily and quickly.

[0047] To connect the carrying device 5 to a holding device 6, the carrying device 5 has connection devices 9. In the example shown, the connection devices 9 comprise two profiled rails which are arranged spaced apart from each other and onto which a holding device 6 can be fitted in a positive-locking manner, for example by bringing connection mechanisms 12, formed corresponding to the profiled rails, on the holding device 6 into engagement with the profiled rails (see e.g. FIG. 3).

[0048] To lock a holding device 6 arranged on the carrying device 5 and to release a holding device 6 arranged on the carrying device 5 from the carrying device 5, the wire processing device 1 shown comprises a locking device 10, which is arranged on the carrying device 5 here in the area of one of the connection devices 9. With the locking device 10, a holding device 6 fitted onto the carrying device 5 can be locked stationary on the carrying device 5 and also released again so that it can be removed from the carrying device 5 again. The locking device can be for example a device known per se such as a clamping lever or a locking pin.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing device 1 in a schematic representation. The wire processing device 1 shown here corresponds to the wire processing device 1 shown in FIG. 2, on the carrying device 5 of which a holding device 6 in the form of a wire cassette for nine wires 3 is releasably arranged. On its underside the holding device 6 comprises two connection mechanisms 12indicated dashed herefor connecting the holding device 6 to the carrying device 5. The holding device 6 was populated with nine wires 3 and arranged on the carrying device 5 by being pushed onto the connection devices 9 with the connection mechanisms 12 which correspond to the connection devices 9 of the carrying device in terms of design. The holding device 6 was then locked relative to the carrying device 5 by means of a locking device not visible in this view, of the wire processing device 1.

[0050] The holding device 6 represented here comprises an encoder 11 in the form of an RFID transponder, in the memory of which data relating to the wire population of the holding device 6 are stored. To read the data stored in the encoder 11 of the holding device 6, the wire processing device 1 comprises an acquisition device 7 in the form of an RFID read head. The latter can read the stored data and transmit them to a control device 28 of the wire processing device 1 (see e.g. FIG. 7), with the result that the read information can be incorporated in a wire processing process running in an automated manner. In the illustration represented, one of the wires 3 provided by the holding device 6 has been taken by the wire handling device 4 and transferred to the wire processing mechanism 2 for end processing of the wire 3.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing device 1 in a schematic representation. The wire processing device 1 shown here comprises a carrying device 5, which is arranged on the wire processing device 1 movable relative to the wire handling device 4. Specifically, the carrying device 5 is displaceable translationally back and forth along a movement direction B. For this purpose, the wire processing device 1 comprises a guide device 8. The carrying device 5 is mounted on the guide device 8 movable translationally along the guide device 8. The carrying device 5 has a longitudinal extent L. Two holding devices 6 are arranged on the carrying device 5 one behind the other along the longitudinal extent L of the carrying device 5. Through the movability of the carrying device 5 along the movement direction B, the wires 3 of both holding devices 6 arranged on the carrying device 5 can be brought into the effective range of the wire handling device 4. The respective wire population of the two holding devices 6 is stored in encoders 11 of the holding devices 6 and can be read by an acquisition device 7 of the wire processing device 1.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a proposed wire processing system 19 in a schematic representation. The wire processing system 19 shown comprises a wire processing device 1 which is formed according to the wire processing device 1 of FIG. 4.

[0053] The wire processing system 19 moreover comprises two storage devices 20. The two storage devices 20 comprise in each case four wire stores 16 in the form of wire drums. Each wire store 16 provides a wire 3 with a particular diameter and with a particular sheathing. The wires 3 of the wire stores 16 of a storage device 20 are guided to a collection mechanism 22 on the storage device 20, in which they are brought together locally and starting from which they are guided further to a respective holding device 6. The wires 3 of the wire stores 16 of a storage device 20 are thus guided to a holding device 6 and are held by the holding device 6. The two populated holding devices 6 are releasably arranged on the carrying device 5 of the wire processing device 1. The wires 3 are guided between the collection mechanism 22 and the holding device 6 inside tube guides 15. The tube guides 15 protect the wires 3 from external influences.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a holding device 6 according to FIG. 5 in an enlarged view. The holding device 6 comprises four holding mechanisms 13, arranged next to each other or one behind another in a longitudinal extent direction of the holding device 6, for holding one wire 3 in each case. The holding mechanisms 13 can be formed for example as channel-like openings, into which one wire 3 can be inserted in each case. Wire ends of the wires 3 protrude beyond the holding device 6, with the result that the wire ends can be easily gripped by the wire handling device 4.

[0055] To lock and release the wires 3, the holding mechanisms 13 in each case comprise a locking mechanism 14. The wires 3 can be fixed relative to the holding device 6 and also freed again by means of the locking mechanisms 14. The locking mechanisms 14 can be for example spring-actuated clamping mechanisms, in which a wire clamping is effected in each case by the spring force of a spring acting on a clamping element, wherein the spring-actuated clamping element clamps the respective wire 3 between clamping element and a stationary counter element. Due to the clamping element moving away against the spring force, the wire clamping can be released and the wire 3 can thus be freed for further processing. Data about the wire population of the holding device 6 are stored in an encoder 11, which is arranged on the holding device 6.

[0056] Each of the four holding mechanisms 13 is connected to a tube guide 15, which is arranged between the holding mechanism 13 and the wire store 16 providing the wire 3. In other words, the end of each tube guide 15 opens into one of the holding mechanisms 13, with the result that a respective wire 3 is guided directly into the holding mechanism 13 by the tube guide 15. A tube guide 15 in each case comprises a flexible tube 17, which has a friction-reducing coating, preferably a Teflon coating, on an inner surface 18 of the tube 17. The feeding of the wire 3 to the holding mechanism 13 inside the tube guide 15 is thereby made significantly easier, as only small friction forces work against the wire 3 while it slides along the inner surface 18 of the tube 17.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a proposed wire processing system 19 in a perspective view, and FIG. 8 shows a detail representation from FIG. 7 in an enlarged view.

[0058] The wire processing system 19 comprises one wire processing device 1 and two storage devices 20. For improved clarity, wire processing mechanism 2, wire handling device 4 and a control device 28 of the wire processing device 1 are only represented schematically. To make a program-controlled wire processing process possible, the wire processing mechanism 2, the wire handling device 4, an acquisition device 7 and an actuation mechanism 26 are signal-connected (e.g. via wired or wireless signal lines) to the control device 28 (these communication connections are indicated dashed).

[0059] The two storage devices 20 are formed mobile, by wheels 24 being arranged on the undersides of the storage devices 20. The wheels 24 are arranged on the storage devices 20 pivotable about vertical axes, in order to be able to move the storage devices 20 in any desired directions. In each case at least one wheel 24 of a storage device 20 is equipped with a fixing device 25 in the form of a wheel brake known per se, in order to be able to fix the storage devices 20 in the desired location.

[0060] Each storage device 20 comprises in each case six wire stores 16 in the form of wire drums, which are placed on a respective storage floor 23 of the storage device 20. Each wire store 16 provides a wire 3 with a particular diameter and with a particular sheathing. The wires 3 of the wire stores 16 of a storage device 20 are guided to a collection mechanism 22 (e.g. wire guides arranged next to each other), not visible in more detail in this view, on the storage device 20, in which they are brought together locally and starting from which they are guided further to a respective holding device 6. A wire diversion in the form of a tube guide 15 is arranged between a respective wire store 16 and the collection mechanism 22. The wires 3 are guided to the collection mechanism 22 by the tube guides 15, and from there the wires 3 run further to a holding device 6.

[0061] The holding device 6 of one of the two storage devices 20 represented is, for the time being, releasably attached to the storage device 20 itself and thus in standby position. The holding device 6 of the other storage device 20 represented is releasably arranged on the carrying device 5 of the wire processing device 1.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows the holding device 6 arranged on the carrying device 5 of the wire processing device 1 in an enlarged representation and from a different perspective compared with FIG. 7. To hold the wires 3, the holding device 6 comprises one holding mechanism 13 per wire 3. Each holding mechanism 13 comprises a wire channel, through which a respective wire 3 is guided. The holding device 6 shown here comprises an upstream frame 27, through which a respective wire channel runs likewise in its elongation. This results in a viewing window, which allows a visual check of the wires 3 held by the holding mechanisms 13, in the area of the upstream frame 27. Wire ends of the wires 3 protrude beyond the frame 27 of the holding device 6, with the result that the wire ends can be easily gripped by the wire handling device 4, not shown here for reasons of clarity.

[0063] To lock and release the wires 3, the holding mechanisms 13 in each case comprise a locking mechanism 14 in the form of a spring-actuated clamping mechanism. The wires 3 can be fixed relative to the holding device 6 and also freed again by means of the locking mechanisms 14.

[0064] To actuate the locking mechanisms 14, the wire processing device 1 comprises an actuation mechanism 26, connected to the control device 28 of the wire processing device 1, in the form of a release mechanism for the spring-actuated clamping mechanisms. The actuation mechanism 26 can be controlled by the control device 28, with the result that, corresponding to a program sequence running in an automated manner, a wire 3 to be processed in each case by the wire processing mechanism 2 can be freed by release of the respective locking mechanism 14, gripped by the wire handling device 4 and fed to the wire processing mechanism 2 for processing.

[0065] The holding device 6 comprises an encoder 11 in the form of an RFID chip, arranged on the underside of the holding device 6 and therefore not directly visible in FIG. 8, in which data about the wire population of the holding device 6 are stored. To read these data, the wire processing device 1 comprises an acquisition device 7 in the form of an RFID read head. The data read by the acquisition device 7 can be transmitted to the control device 28 of the wire processing device 1, with the result that this information can be incorporated in a wire processing process running in an automated manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0066] 1 wire processing device [0067] 2 wire processing mechanism [0068] 3 wire [0069] 4 wire handling device [0070] 5 carrying device [0071] 6 holding device [0072] 7 acquisition device [0073] 8 guide device [0074] 9 connection device [0075] 10 locking device [0076] 11 encoder [0077] 12 connection mechanism [0078] 13 holding mechanism [0079] 14 locking mechanism [0080] 15 tube guide [0081] 16 wire store [0082] 17 tube [0083] 18 inner surface [0084] 19 wire processing system [0085] 20 storage device [0086] 21 terminal block [0087] 22 collection mechanism [0088] 23 storage floor [0089] 24 wheel [0090] 25 fixing device [0091] 26 actuation mechanism [0092] 27 frame [0093] 28 control device [0094] B movement direction [0095] L longitudinal extent