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US-12623867-B2 - Cable stacker, cable-processing apparatus comprising a cable stacker, and method for safely conveying a cable

US12623867B2US 12623867 B2US12623867 B2US 12623867B2US-12623867-B2

Abstract

A cable stacker ( 20 ) having a first belt conveyor ( 21 ) for conveying the cable along a conveying direction X, the first belt conveyor ( 21 ) being designed to receive a belt, and the first belt conveyor ( 21 ) having a conveyor path with an input path portion and an output path portion. A main frame ( 23 ) is provided on which the first belt conveyor ( 21 ) is arranged, a counter barrier ( 40 a ) being provided for guiding the cable. In the region of the input path portion, the first belt conveyor ( 21 ) has a first drop barrier ( 31 a ) for preventing uncontrolled slipping of the cable from the conveyor path ( 22 ), the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) being movable relative to the counter barrier ( 40 a ) at least into an active position.

Inventors

  • Roland Kampmann
  • Manuel BÜGLER
  • Michael Böhm

Assignees

  • SCHLEUNIGER AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210309

Claims (17)

  1. 1 . A cable stacker ( 20 ) having a first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) for conveying a cable ( 80 ) along a conveying direction (X), wherein the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) has a conveyor path ( 22 ) with an input path portion ( 221 ) and an output path portion ( 222 ) and a main frame ( 23 ) is provided, on which the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) is arranged, wherein a counter barrier ( 40 a ) is provided on a first side of the first belt conveyor for guiding the cable ( 80 ) along the conveyor path ( 22 ), a first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is arranged on the main frame ( 23 ) in a region of the input path portion ( 221 ) of the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ), positioned on a second side of the first conveyor belt opposite the first side, to prevent uncontrolled slipping of a leading end of the cable ( 80 ) from the conveyor path ( 22 ) into a collection area ( 24 ) for collecting the cables ( 80 ), and wherein the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is movable relative to the counter barrier ( 40 ; 40 a ) into an active position for preventing during dropping of the leading end of the cable the uncontrolled slipping of the leading end of the cable ( 80 ), and wherein the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is movable orthogonally to the conveying direction (X) of the conveyor path ( 22 ) from the active position into an inactive position below the conveyor path ( 22 ) allowing slipping of the cable ( 80 ) into the collecting area ( 24 ) and/or movable along the conveying direction (x) of the conveyor path ( 22 ).
  2. 2 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is mechanically connected to a drive device ( 32 a ) having at least one drive for moving the first drop barrier ( 31 a ).
  3. 3 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 2 , wherein this drive device ( 32 a ) is a pneumatic drive device which has at least a pneumatic cylinder ( 321 a , 321 b , 321 c ) and a valve ( 322 ).
  4. 4 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a sensor device ( 33 ) is provided by means of which at least the inactive position and/or the active position of the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is detectable.
  5. 5 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the counter barrier ( 40 a ) is movably arranged on the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ).
  6. 6 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) is arranged on the main frame ( 23 ) tilted relative to the horizontal, wherein the tilt (a) is between 1 degree and 15 degrees.
  7. 7 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the tilt (a) is 6 degrees.
  8. 8 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) is arranged adjacent to the collection area ( 24 ) and the collection area ( 24 ) is designed as a movable collecting trough ( 241 ).
  9. 9 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one fixing device ( 35 ) is provided for fixing at least the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) in the active position.
  10. 10 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) comprises a plurality of module frames ( 212 ) which are connectable to the main frame ( 23 ), wherein the module frames ( 212 ) are arranged to be separable from one another and/or from the main frame ( 23 ).
  11. 11 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one guide element ( 50 ) is provided and in the region of the guide element ( 50 ) a sensor device ( 52 ) with at least one sensor for determining a first position of the guide element ( 50 ) is provided, wherein the sensor device ( 52 ) is electrically connected to a control device ( 29 , 99 ) of the cable stacker or to a central control ( 99 ) of a cable processing apparatus ( 90 ) and/or a drive device ( 51 ) for moving the first guide element ( 50 ) is connected to the first guide element ( 50 ).
  12. 12 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the counter barrier ( 40 a ) is movable relative to the conveying direction (X) in order to set a gap (SY, SZ) to the conveying path of the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ).
  13. 13 . The cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the counter barrier is movable perpendicularly to the conveying direction, in order to vertically set a horizontal gap (SZ) between the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) and the counter barrier ( 40 a ).
  14. 14 . A method for safely conveying a cable ( 80 ) on a cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 as part of a cable processing device ( 90 ), wherein the cable stacker ( 20 ) has at least the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) and the first drop barrier ( 31 a ), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) selecting at least one cable parameter, wherein the at least one cable parameter is retrieved from a database b1) transferring the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) into an active position relative to a counter barrier ( 40 ) b2) dropping a leading end of the cable ( 80 ) on an input path portion ( 221 ) of the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ) c) conveying the cable ( 80 ) on the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ).
  15. 15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the steps takes place after step c): d) transferring the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) into an inactive position e) dropping the cable ( 80 ) with a dropping device ( 60 ).
  16. 16 . A cable processing apparatus ( 90 ) comprising at least one cable processing station ( 70 , 71 ) with at least one cable processing tool for processing the cable ( 80 ) and a cable stacker ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a dropping device ( 60 ) is provided for dropping the cable ( 80 ) from the first belt conveyor ( 21 a , 21 b , 21 c ) arranged on the cable processing device ( 90 ) or for dropping the cable ( 80 ) on the cable stacker ( 20 ), which dropping device is connected to a control device ( 29 ) of the cable stacker ( 20 ) for the exchange of control data or the dropping device is electrically connected to a central controller ( 99 ) of the cable processing device ( 90 ) for the exchange of control data.
  17. 17 . A method for safely conveying a cable ( 80 ) onto a cable stacker ( 20 ) as part of a cable processing apparatus ( 90 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) selecting at least one cable parameter, wherein the at least one cable parameter is retrieved from a database b) transferring the first drop barrier ( 31 a ) into an active position relative to a counter barrier ( 40 ) c) conveying the cable ( 80 ) on the first belt conveyor ( 21 a ).

Description

The invention relates to cable stackers, cable processing apparatus comprising a cable stacker and a method for safely conveying a cable according to the independent claims. Cable stackers are typically stand-alone devices and are typically arranged on cable processing devices. Cable stackers of this type have a belt conveyor with a first conveyor roller and at least one further conveyor roller, wherein at least one of the two conveyor rollers is driven by a conveyor drive device. A belt is typically disposed on the conveyor rollers and moves a processed cable along a conveyor path when the belt conveyor is activated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,759 A discloses a cable stacker having a first belt conveyor for conveying the cable along a conveying direction, wherein the first belt conveyor has a conveyor path with an input path portion and an output path portion. A base frame is provided on which the first belt conveyor is arranged, wherein a counter barrier is provided for guiding the cable. A disadvantage of this known solution is that such a mechanism for dropping the cable from the conveyor path is error-prone in a cable processing process with a high production frequency. DE 10 2017 202 502 A1 relates to a conveying device for cables, which includes a conveyor belt for conveying a piece of cable. The conveyor comprises a profile element which can be moved transversely to the conveying direction over the conveyor belt in order to convey the piece of cable controlled by the conveyor belt into a collecting flap. A disadvantage of this known solution is that such a mechanism for dropping the cable from the conveyor belt is too slow in a cable processing process with a high production frequency. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved cable stacker which, in particular, does not have at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages. In particular, a cable stacker is modified into a high-capacity cable stacker because the depositing speed is increased and misplacement can be reduced. The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are presented in the figures and in the dependent claims. A cable stacker according to the invention comprises a first belt conveyor for conveying the cable along a conveying direction, wherein the first belt conveyor is suitable for receiving a belt and the first belt conveyor has a conveyor path with an input path portion and an output path portion. Furthermore, a main frame is provided on which the first belt conveyor is arranged, wherein a counter barrier is provided for guiding the cable. In the area of the entry path portion, the first belt conveyor has a first drop barrier to prevent the cable from slipping from the conveyor path in an uncontrolled manner, wherein the first drop barrier can be moved at least into an active position relative to the counter barrier. The first drop barrier can be moved vertically to the counter barrier and/or horizontally to the counter barrier. When the first drop barrier in its active position, it serves as an obstacle for the leading end of a cable. In addition to guiding the cable, a counter barrier is also suitable for preventing the cable from slipping off the conveyor path in an uncontrolled manner. The leading end of the cable cannot surmount the drop barrier in the conveying process along the conveying direction when the drop barrier is in its active position. Uncontrolled slipping of the cable from the conveyor path can be avoided in this way, so that the depositing speed can be increased and incorrect deposits can be reduced at the same time. For example, the first drop barrier is arranged adjacent to a first conveyor roller of the belt conveyor. A further conveyor roller can be arranged in the area of the output web portion, which can be actively driven or moved by a conveyor drive device. The counter barrier is preferably arranged in the input path portion of the conveyor path so that it is arranged at least opposite the first drop barrier on the cable stacker. Thus, the guiding of the cable is further improved. The first drop barrier can preferably be moved orthogonally to the conveying direction from the active position into an inactive position. The first drop barrier can be moved towards the conveyor path or away from the conveyor path, for example lowered or raised (vertically). The first drop barrier does not cross the conveyor path of the belt conveyor, so that the processed cable can be conveyed unhindered onto the conveyor path. Alternatively or in addition, the first drop barrier can be moved along the conveying direction of the conveyor path. The first drop barrier can have a small and compact structure. Depending on the cable length and/or cable type the first drop barrier can be positioned along the conveying direction of the conveyor path on the cable stacker. Preferably, the first drop barrier with a drive device is mechanically connected to at least one dri