Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Loop forming
Patent
1994-06-10
1996-04-09
Jillions, John M.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Loop forming
242418, 242560, 2425644, 226109, 83650, B65H 5104, B65H 5910, B21C 4722
Patent
active
055053980
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a device for supplying and changing plural cables.
2. State of the Art
A device for supplying and changing cables is known from DE-A-37 03 011. In this state of the art device the cable change and supply unit and a routing tool are combined in one unit which is positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit, configured as an industrial robot. The combination of a change and supply unit and a routing tool, in an industrial robot has a relatively large weight. An expensive industrial robot is required for positioning. Moreover, movement by this state of the art device is encumbered because all of the cables always run continually from the cable storage to the hand of the robot. In this way, by way of illustration, the industrial robot cannot execute 360.degree. rotations as this would cause undesirable twisting and tangling of the cables.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,165 discloses a so-called "capstan" drive which is provided with a drive reel connected to a drive engine which may be disconnected. The weight and size of this device is even greater than that disclosed in DE-A-37 03 011.
DE-AS 1 299 366 discloses a device in which a feed is provided for each cable. Consequently, this device is not suited for operation with an industrial robot. It is provided with a two-axes positioning unit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables, which can be employed in conjunction with a relatively small and therefore economic positioning unit.
An essential element of the present invention is that it is not necessary to position the cable changing and supply unit in conjunction with the actual routing tool by means of a multi-axial positioning unit. An element of the present invention is the stationary placement of the cable changing and supply unit and only positioning the routing tool. In order to ensure the cable is fed to the routing tool in an orderly manner by the cable changing and supply unit following termination of the routing procedure, in any position of both parts of the invention, the cable changing and supply unit is connected to the routing tool via a flexible tube through which a cable is fed to the routing tool from the changing and supply unit and returned. In order not to have to transfer the returned cable back into the cable storage which, by way of example, can be a conventional commercial cable reel, an intermediate storage for the cables cut in the routing tool which are returned to the cable changing unit by means of the drive reel is provided between the cable storage and the cable change unit.
The invention permits trouble-free supplying, routing and subsequently changing of cables.
It is advantageous that the flexible tube connecting the cable changing and supply unit to the actual routing tool is a hose which is flexible enough for varying diameters of cables being fed. In this manner cables with different diameters can be routed with the invention without any danger of a cut cable end being retained in the connecting tube.
Another embodiment of the invention is that the intermediate storage is a coiled stock storage in which, by way of example, the returned cable is free and slack.
A further improvement according to the invention has a straightening unit located between the cable storage and the cable changing and supply unit which has the advantage that when the cable is unrolled from a cable reel it can be fed through the flexible tube without any difficulty.
It is desirable in accordance with the invention that if a monitor unit is provided for monitoring the cable fed in the cable changing and supply unit that the monitor unit measure the feeding of the cable, by way of illustration in a state of the art manner, by determining the number of revolutions turned by the drive or counter reel. Moreover, it is desirable in accordance with the invention that the monitor unit is provided with two spaced light barriers which check whether a ca
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Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung
Jillions John M.
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