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DE-102024132674-A1 - Test device for a contact of an electrical line and method for operating a test device

DE102024132674A1DE 102024132674 A1DE102024132674 A1DE 102024132674A1DE-102024132674-A1

Abstract

A test device for electrical contacts and a method for operating such a test device are disclosed. The test device comprises an electrical test module (1) and an optical test module (3), wherein the optical test module (3) includes a camera (4) and preferably a lighting unit (2). The contact is movable along a feed axis (6) to a test position (10), in particular by means of a line clamp movable along the feed axis (6). The test device has a contact centering device (8) by means of which the contact can be fixed and held in the test position (10), while at least components (2) of the two test modules (1, 3) can be moved successively into a respective working position in which the respective test module is in operative connection with the contact at rest in the test position (10). In a particularly preferred embodiment, in the case of the electrical test module (1) this is completely movable into its working position and in the case of the optical test module (only) its illumination unit (2) is movable into a working position, while the camera (4) is stationary.

Inventors

  • Christoph Riegl
  • Thomas Kleindienst
  • Roman Reberger
  • Henry Zirm

Assignees

  • MD ELEKTRONIK GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241108

Claims (10)

  1. Test device for an electrical contact of an electrical conductor to be tested, wherein the test device comprises an electrical test module (1) and an optical test module (3), wherein the optical test module (3) comprises a stationary camera (4), wherein the electrical contact to be tested is movable along a feed axis (6) to a stationary test position (10), characterized in that the test device has a contact centering (8) by means of which the electrical contact to be tested is held stationary in the test position (10), and that the test position (10) is in focus of the camera (4), while at least components (1, 2) of the two test modules (1, 3) are successively movable into a respective working position in which the respective test module (1, 3) is in operative connection with the electrical contact to be tested which is held stationary in the test position (10).
  2. Test device according to Claim 1 with an electronic control unit, characterized in that a light barrier or light curtain (12) is arranged along the delivery axis (6) adjacent to the contact centering on a side facing away from the working positions of the test modules (1, 3) or the components (2), and that the control unit is designed and configured to move the contact from the activation of the light barrier or light curtain (12) by a predetermined delivery path along the delivery axis (6) to the test position (10).
  3. Test device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact centering (8) has two clamping jaws which are movable on both sides transversely to the feed axis (6) to the stationary test position (10) of the contact or to the contact.
  4. Test device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working position of the electrical test module (1) is arranged on the feed axis (6), and that the electrical test module (1) is movable into a waiting position which is also arranged on the feed axis (6), wherein the working position is arranged between the stationary test position (10) of the contact and the waiting position.
  5. Test device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the electrical test module (1) can be moved into an escape position which is arranged at the location of the waiting position laterally or transversely spaced from the delivery axis (6).
  6. Test device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera (4) is stationary on the feed axis (6), and that an optical axis (6) of the camera (4) is directed along the feed axis (6) towards the test position (10), and that the test position (10) is spaced away from the camera (4) such that the contact is in focus of the camera (4).
  7. Test device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical test module (3) has a lighting unit (2) which forms the component (2) of the optical test module (3) that can be moved to the working position.
  8. Test device according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the lighting unit (2) has an inner passage recess surrounded by light sources, wherein in the working position of the lighting unit (2) the passage recess is arranged on the delivery axis (Y).
  9. Test device according to Claim 7 or 8 , characterized in that the lighting unit (2) and the electrical test module (1) are mechanically coupled to each other in such a way that the lighting unit (2) is in its working position when the electrical test module (1) is in its fallback position, and that the lighting unit is arranged in a fallback position laterally or transversely spaced from the delivery axis (6) when the electrical test module (1) is in its standby position.
  10. Method for operating a test device preferably according to Claim 2 , comprising the following steps: - Moving a contact along a feed axis (6) towards a photoelectric sensor or light curtain (12) (S1); - Detecting the activation of the photoelectric sensor or light curtain (12) (S2); - Moving the contact further along the feed axis (6) by a predetermined feed distance (S3); - Actuating a contact centering mechanism and holding the contact in a fixed position (S4); - Moving an electrical test module (1) along the feed axis (6) from a waiting position to a working position (S5); - Performing an electrical test (S6); - Retracting the electrical test module (1) along the feed axis (6) to the waiting position (S7); - Moving the electrical test module (1) from the waiting position of an alternate position laterally or transversely to the delivery axis (6) and simultaneously moving a lighting unit (2) of an optical test module (3) from an alternate position to a working position transversely to the delivery axis (6) (S8); - Performing an optical test (S9).

Description

Technical field The present disclosure relates to a test device for an electrical contact of an electrical line to be tested, wherein the test device comprises an electrical test module and an optical test module, wherein the optical test module comprises a stationary camera, and wherein the electrical contact to be tested is movable along a delivery axis to a stationary test position. Background of the Revelation In cable assembly, contacts are attached to electrical conductors, for example, by crimping. It is well known that these contacts must be tested. This involves, firstly, fundamentally physical aspects, namely whether the correct contact is attached and whether it is undamaged. Specifically, it is important to check whether the contact tip of an inner conductor contact is correctly positioned relative to the outer conductor contact. Within the outer conductor's sleeve, the inner conductor contact should be aligned essentially along the sleeve's axis, in a straight line, and at a defined distance from the sleeve's edge. Secondly, it is essential to verify that the various sub-contacts of the connector are correctly and electrically connected to the corresponding conductors of the cable. State of the art It is known from the prior art to optically detect and inspect both ends of an electrical cable clamped in a respective cable clamp. It is also known to determine electrical characteristics, such as the breakdown voltage between the inner and outer conductor contacts. The writing JP S57144474 A This describes a testing device for the interface between a contact and an electrical conductor, in which a high voltage is applied via an electrode to detect a breakdown voltage. Prior to this, an optical inspection is performed using a light source and a photodetector. The Chinese utility model CN 209487915 U This describes a precise testing device for a coaxial connector for a car camera, in which the test device includes a rotary table on which the cable to be tested is placed. A CCD camera performs an optical inspection after an electrical parameter has been measured. A disadvantage of electrical and optical testing devices is that the equipment engineering effort is very high and that the cycle time required for this test of a contact is long. Brief description of the Revelation The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical and optical testing device whose technical complexity is reduced while simultaneously shortening the cycle time required for testing a contact. This problem is solved with regard to the test device with the combination of features of claim 1 and with regard to the method with the combination of features of claim 10. In a device of this type, this problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the test device has a contact centering mechanism by means of which the electrical contact to be tested is held in a fixed position in the test position, and that the test position is in focus of the camera, while at least components of the two test modules can be moved successively into a respective working position in which the respective test module is in operative connection with the electrical contact to be tested which is held in a fixed position in the test position. The test device according to the disclosure is designed and configured for testing an electrical contact, e.g., a plug with multiple partial contacts at the end section of an electrical conductor. For this purpose, the test device comprises an electrical test module and an optical test module, the optical test module comprising a stationary camera and preferably a lighting unit. The contact is movable along a feed axis to a stationary test position, in particular by means of a cable clamp movable along the feed axis. The test device has a contact centering mechanism by means of which the contact can be fixed in the stationary test position, while at least components of the two test modules can be moved successively into a respective working position. The respective working position is characterized by the fact that the respective test module is in operative connection with the contact, which is at rest in the test position. In a particularly preferred embodiment, in the case of the electrical test module, this module is completely movable into its working position, and in the case of the optical test module, (only) its lighting unit is movable into its working position, while its camera remains at rest. The stationary test position is the focus of the stationary camera. The term "stationary" means "immovably attached to a frame or stand of the test device" and can also be described as "stationary." This reduces the equipment complexity while simultaneously shortening the cycle time. Preferably, a light barrier or light curtain is arranged along the feed axis adjacent to the contact centering mechanism on a side of the contact centering mechanism facing away from the working positions of the t