Method and machine for stripping electric cables

ABSTRACT

A method of stripping electric cables (C) is disclosed comprising the following steps: arranging the end (EE) of a cable (C) to be stripped inside a stripping unit (); cutting circumferentially the sheath (CC) covering the end (EE) of the cable (C) for at least a portion of the thickness and at least a portion of the perimeter of the sheath (CC); separating the sheath (C, C) covering the end (EE) of the cable (C). The circumferential cut of the sheath (CC) is carried out by combining an action of incision of the sheath (CC) with an action of rotation of the cable (C).

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The machine of the invention is a shearing-stripping machine shown in FIG. 1 where it is indicated generally with character M and is provided with a stripping unit generally indicated with reference numeral .

The machine comprises a casing supporting the stripping unit to be generally seen also in FIG. 2; driving means generally indicated with numeral that can be seen besides FIGS. 1 and 2 also in FIGS. 10 to , adapted to advance the cable C along a longitudinal direction X; and a control and actuation microprocessor unit generally indicated with numeral .

Preferably but not necessarily the shearing-stripping machine of the invention is also provided with an alignment and stripping unit generally indicated with numeral for the wires F constituting the cable C, shown in detail in FIGS. 16 and 17.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, one can see that the driving means comprise a first driving unit generally indicated with numeral , introducing the cable C to the stripping unit and a second driving unit generally indicated with numeral , extracting said cable C from the stripping unit .

The shearing-stripping machine M comprises also a cable guide roller inlet followed by a gauging unit and a cable guiding inlet enhancing grip of cable C by the first driving unit .

Downstream the first driving unit there is an intermediate cable guide comprising a tubular member having an end pivoted though a pin to the movable member of a first actuator fixed to the casing of the machine; a second actuator also fixed to the casing of the machine, having the movable member pivoted in an intermediate position to the tubular member

Through said actuators, the tubular member therefore may be translated horizontally and rotated around the pin

According to the invention the stripping unit comprises a cutting unit for incision of said sheath covering at least an end E, E of said cable C; a rotation unit receiving said at least an end E, E of said cable C and putting it into rotation around the longitudinal axis X that said cable C defines when it is arranged in a rectilinear position.

As to the cutting unit , one can see in FIG. 2 that it comprises first blades , to be seen in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9 and comprising a couple of plates , with planar surfaces , juxtaposed one close to the other, each plate being provided with cutting edges , having a V shaped profile with sharp edge , .

It is to be pointed out that the first blades may have also a shape different from that described and illustrated in the drawings.

The cutting unit comprises also first driving and moving means to be seen in FIG. 7 adapted to move said blades , in opposite vertical directions relative to the cable C arranged therebetween.

More particularly the driving and moving means comprise a motor putting in rotation a nut screw having right-hand and left-hand threads and respectively, connected to corresponding nut screws and that through blade holders , support the first blades and respectively. In this way, rotation of the motor moves the first blades and to or away one another and the cable C whether the rotation occurs clockwise or anti-clockwise.

The rotation unit generally indicated with numeral shown in FIG. and in detail in FIGS. 3 to , comprises a rotary chuck generally indicated with , whose body is supported by a flange connected to an actuator .

The actuator has the body pivoted to the casing of the machine while its rod has the end pivoted to said flange so that movement of the rod generates rotation of the rotary chuck .

This chuck, more particularly, comprises a couple of jaws , between which the cable C is blocked, each jaw being supported by a slide, a second slide and a first slide respectively, sliding in the body of the chuck and provided with a rack , .

The racks and are facing each other and mesh with a pinion gear while as shown in FIGS. 6and , the jaws , have a profile in the form of a V shaped like a comb , for a better adhesion to the cable C.

One of the slides, more particularly the first slide , is connected to the rod of a first pneumatic actuator and when the actuator is fed with pressurized air, the movement of its rod causes the mutual movement of the jaws , to and away each other and therefore blocking or release of the cable C whether the movement of the rod is in the direction of the arrow or in the opposite direction of the arrow

Indeed, interposition of the pinion gear between the racks , allows to obtain always opposed movement of the jaws , .

A second actuator generally indicated with numeral and supported by the body of the rotary chuck , has also a rod co-operating with a screw coupled in a nut screw fixed to the second slide .

The screw can be manually manipulated by the operator through a handle and adjusting the contrast against the rod of the second actuator it is possible to adjust the opening position of the jaws , at will of the user.

As already mentioned, part of the shearing-stripping machine M of the invention is preferably but not necessarily also an alignment unit for the wires F constituting the cable C, generally indicated with numeral and arranged upstream the stripping unit as shown in FIG. and also in FIG. .

The alignment unit is adapted to arrange the wires F of the cable C aligned on a generally horizontal plane juxtaposed one to the other before their stripping as shown in FIGS. 15 to .

More particularly, the alignment and stripping unit according to a preferred embodiment comprises a couple of aligning jaws generally indicated with and consisting of two opposed jaws , actuated by an actuator and a couple of second opposed stripping blades , that are moved one against the other by actuators , respectively.

To proceed to strip the cable C, the method of the invention provides for the following steps: arranging the end of the cable C to be stripped inside the stripping unit ; cutting circumferentially the sheath covering said end of said cable C for at least a portion of the thickness and at least a portion of the perimeter of said sheath; separating said sheath covering said end from said cable where the circumferential cut of said sheath is carried out combining at least an action of incision of the sheath with at least an action of rotation of the cable.

For this purpose, first of all, it is necessary to introduce the cable C into the cable guide roller inlet and then through the cable guide inlet engaging the cable in the first driving unit causing it to advance up to the position shown in FIG. .

In this position the front end E of the cable C is arranged in the stripping unit inside the rotary chuck where it is arranged between the jaws , .

At this point the stripping method provides for two different operative modes whether the cable is rigid so as to withstand rotation without twisting or is of soft material.

When the cable is of the rigid type, the stripping method provides for the following steps: clamping the end E of the cable C between the jaws , of the rotary chuck by actuating the first actuator ; lowering the first blades , until the sheath C of the cable C is incised at four zones Z opposite two-by-two indicated in FIGS. 3and ; lifting the belts forming the first driving unit so as to release the cable C upstream the end E; actuating the actuator so as to rotate the rotary chuck from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 3 to cause through the first blades , the circumferential incision of the sheath C shown in FIG. 3; lowering again the belts of the driving unit so as to clamp again the cable C; rotating the belts of the driving unit in the directions indicated by arrows of FIG. 11 so as to move the cable C away from the stripping unit along the direction indicated by the arrow V to allow unthreading of the section C of the cable sheath; actuating the actuator to return the rotary chuck in the configuration of FIG. 4; and opening the jaws , as shown in FIG. 6 up to the maximum opening of FIG. 6to allow the discharge by gravity of the sheath section C.

As shown in FIG. 3, rotation of the rotary chuck occurs for an angle preferably but not necessarily of 45 degrees which is sufficient to carry out cut of the sheath along its entire perimeter.

More particularly, in said FIGS. 6 and 6one can see that the piloted movement of the rod of the second actuator in contrast against the previously adjusted screw , allows to adjust the opening degree of the jaws , of the rotary chuck .

On the contrary, if the cable C is made of soft material and therefore hardly adapted to withstand a cutting action by rotation as subject to twisting, the method provides for the following steps: clamping the end E of the cable C between the jaws , of the rotary chuck by actuating the first actuator ; lowering the first blades , up to incision of the sheath C of the cable C at four zones Z opposite two-by-two indicated in FIGS. 3and ; lifting the first blades , from the contact with the sheath C and also the belts constituting the first driving unit from the contact with cable C; rotating the end E of cable C through rotation of the rotary chuck which is arranged in the configuration of FIG. 3; lowering again the first blades , so as to incise the sheath C of cable C in four further zones Z obtaining a generally octagonal cut shown in FIG. 3; lowering again the belts of the driving unit so as to block again the cable C; rotating the belts of the driving unit in the directions indicated by the arrows of FIG. 11 to move the cable C away from the stripping unit along the direction indicated by arrow V and allow unthreading of the stretch C of the sheath of cable C; returning the rotary chuck to the configuration of FIG. 4; and opening the jaws , arranging them again in the final configuration shown in FIGS. 6to allow discharge by gravity of the sheath C.

With this second method twisting of the cable is avoided but separation of the sheath C occurs in an easy way just as in the preceding case in which the sheath is cut circumferentially. Indeed, the eight incisions Z and Z to be seen in FIG. 3that are made in two subsequent moments by the blades , circumferentially on the cable C, carry out cut of the sheath substantially along its entire periphery.

In order to avoid overlapping of the cutting zones Z and Z it is advisable that the rotary chuck does not rotate for more that 45 degrees.

In order to strip also the rear end E of cable C, first of all it is necessary to shear to size the cable C obtaining a section of the desired length.

This is obtained as shown in FIG. 12, by advancing the cable C in the direction indicated by arrow V though the first driving unit and the second driving unit and then lowering the first blades , , the cable is shorn so as to obtain the section of the desired length.

The section is then retracted through the second driving unit in the direction of arrow V until it is arranged in the position shown in FIG. 13 with the rear end E in position in the stripping unit .

Before the section of the cable shorn to size is retracted in the direction of the arrow V, by acting on the intermediate cable guide , the tubular member is lifted so as to release the stripping zone of the rear end E.

For the incision of the sheath section C, one proceeds in either of the previously described two operative modes according to the nature of the cable, taking into account that the section of cable C according to the need, must be blocked or made free to rotate by either lifting or lowering the belts of the second driving unit .

After having cut the sheath section C, keeping the first blades , lowered in the cut made in the sheath, the cable section is advanced again in the direction indicated by arrow V as shown in FIG. 14, so as to unthread the sheath section C from the cable C and releasing the wires F.

Therefore, these wires may in turn be stripped by intervention of the alignment and stripping unit and more particularly of the second blades , after alignment of the wires by closing the jaws , of the alignment chuck as shown in FIGS. 15 to .

Obviously, the described stripping method may start from stripping the rear end E of the section shorn to size and then proceed to stripping the front end E.

In view of the foregoing one can understand that the method and the stripping unit of the invention attain the intended objects.

As already mentioned the stripping unit of the invention may constitute an autonomous stripping unit of the ends of sections already shorn to size or may be applied to a shearing-stripping machine of any kind available on the market.

Possible constructional versions that should be made to the stripping unit of the invention should be intended covered by the present patent when falling in the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing objects and advantages will be better understood by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention and of the stripping unit to carry out the method, by making reference to the accompanying sheets of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a general front view of the stripping machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-show further details of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to show details of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10 to show different operative positions of the machine of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 16and show further details of the arrangement of FIG. .

FIGS. 16 and 17 show details of FIG. .

CLAIMS

1. A method for stripping a sheath covering from the end of an electric cable comprising the steps of: arranging the end of the cable to stripped inside a stripping unit having an automatic cutter; arranging an automatic driving mechanism both upstream and downstream of the stripping unit; advancing the cable longitudinally within each driving mechanism; circumferentially cutting the sheath covering of said cable end with the cutter for at least a portion of the thickness and at least a portion of the perimeter of the sheath; separating the sheath covering from said cable end, wherein said circumferential cutting comprises rotating and incising the cable at the same time including the steps of: performing a first incision on the sheath, rotating the cable and performing a second incision of the sheath, wherein said first incision occurs first in time and said second incision occurs second in time and rotation of the cable occurs after said first incision begins and before the second incision is completed.

2. A stripping machine for stripping the sheath covering from the end of an electric cable having a longitudinal axis, said stripping machine for incising the sheath and rotating the cable comprising: a casing; a stripping unit on the casing; driving means for advancing the cable arranged upstream and downstream of said stripping unit; a control and actuation microprocessor unit for controlling the stripping machine, wherein said stripping unit includes a rotating unit and a cutting unit, said rotating unit for rotating the cable around the longitudinal axis and the cutting unit for incising the sheath covering before and after commencement and termination of cable rotation.

3. The stripping machine according to claim 2 wherein said rotation unit comprises a rotary chuck for blocking said end of said cable, said rotary chuck being arranged coaxially outside said cable and being coupled to driving means adapted to put it into rotation around said longitudinal axis defined by said cable.

4. The stripping machine according to claim 3 wherein said rotary chuck comprises a couple of opposite jaws between which said end of said cable to be blocked and rotated is arranged, said jaws being each fixed to a corresponding slide sliding inside the body of said rotary chuck, at least a first of said slides being associated to driving means adapted to mutually move said slides and at least a second of said slides being associated to means adjusting the opening of said jaws.

5. The stripping machine according to claim 4 wherein said driving means comprise: a couple of racks associated to said slides and facing each other; a pinion gear arranged between said rack and meshing therewith; a first actuator supported by the body of said rotary chuck, having a movable member fixed to a first of said slides adapted to move it along a rectilinear direction.

6. The stripping machine according to claim 4 wherein said means adjusting the opening of said jaws comprise a second actuator supported by the body of said rotary chuck having the movable member co-operating with a screw coupled in a nut screw fixed to said second of said slides.

7. The stripping machine according to claim 4 wherein each of said jaws has at least a profile in the form of a V shaped like a comb.

8. The stripping machine according to claim 2 wherein said cutting unit comprises at least a couple of first blades associated to driving and moving means adapted to put them in motion along opposed directions orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said cable.

9. The stripping machine according to claim 8 wherein said first blades have opposite cutting edges in the form of a V.

10. The stripping machine according to claim 2 wherein it comprises an aligning and stripping unit for said wires constituting said cable, arranged upstream said stripping unit for said cable.

11. The stripping machine according to claim 4 wherein said rotary chuck makes a rotation of 45°.

12. The stripping machine according to claim 2 wherein said driving means comprises: a first driving unit located upstream of said stripping unit for introducing said cable into said stripping unit, and a second driving unit located downstream of said stripping unit for extracting said cable from said stripping unit.

13. The stripping machine according to claim 12 further comprising an intermediate cable guide comprising a tubular member for holding said cable located between said first driving unit and said stripping unit; and actuating means for translating and rotating said cable.

14. A stripping machine for stripping the sheath covering from the end of an electric cable having a longitudinal axis, said stripping machine for incising the sheath and rotating the cable comprising: a casing; a stripping unit on the casing; driving means for advancing the cable arranged upstream and downstream of said stripping unit; a control and actuation microprocessor unit for controlling the stripping machine, wherein said stripping unit includes a rotating unit and a cutting unit, said rotating unit for rotating the cable around the longitudinal axis and the cutting unit for incising the sheath covering before and after commencement and termination of cable rotation; said stripping machine adapted to carry out a method comprising the steps of: arranging the end of the cable to be stripped inside the stripping unit; arranging the driving unit upstream and downstream of the stripping unit; advancing the cable longitudinally in the driving unit; circumferentially cutting the sheath covering of said cable end for at least a portion of the thickness and at least a portion of the perimeter of said sheath; separating the sheath covering from said cable end, wherein said circumferential cutting comprises rotating and incising the cable at the same time including the steps of: performing the first incision of the sheath, rotating the cable and performing the second incision of the sheath, wherein said first incision occurs first in time and said second incision occurs second in time and rotation of the cable occurs after said first incision begins and before the second incision is completed.

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