Abstract:
An adapter plate alignment gauge system includes an adapter plate for holding a crimping tool in different positions and an alignment gauge for aligning the crimping tool in a predetermined set crimping tool position relative to the alignment gauge. The adapter plate is immovably arrangeable in a predetermined set adapter plate position in a crimping press which, in order to create a crimp connection, connects one conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact. The alignment gauge can be fastened to the adapter plate whereby the alignment gauge is arranged in a predetermined set alignment gauge position relative to the adapter plate.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an adapter plate alignment gauge system and to a method for aligning a crimping tool for a crimping press. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is important for the quality of a crimp connection that the cable tip be aligned precisely relative to the crimp contact during the crimping process or crimping procedure. In this regard, it is primarily the position of the cable tip in the longitudinal direction that is important, with a tolerance of the so-called insertion depth of 0.1 mm or less being demanded in some cases. Conventionally, the crimping tool is inserted by hand, but the position is generally not identical after each tool change, since the tool holder does not reproducibly fix the crimping tool in the same position. As a result, in crimp connection with a small tolerance for the insertion depth, the cable tip must generally be realigned after every tool change. 
         [0003]    After a crimping tool that is installed in a crimping press is changed for another crimping tool, the cable or cable tip must typically be realigned again relative to the crimping tool. As a rule, this leads to longer interruptions of the operation of the crimping press. This results in elevated costs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    One object on which the present invention is based is therefore to provide a system and a method by means of which a crimping tool can be arranged such that, after the installation of the crimping tool in the crimping press, no alignment of the cable or cable tip in relation to the crimping tool is necessary. 
         [0005]    In particular, the object is achieved by an adapter plate alignment gauge system comprising an adapter plate for holding a crimping tool in different positions and an alignment gauge for aligning the crimping tool in a predetermined set crimping tool position relative to the alignment gauge, with the adapter plate being immovably arrangeable in a predetermined set adapter plate position in a crimping press which, in order to create a crimp connection, connects one conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, with the alignment gauge and the adapter plate being embodied such that the alignment gauge can be fastened to the adapter plate in such a way that the alignment gauge is arranged in a predetermined set alignment gauge position relative to the adapter plate. 
         [0006]    One advantage of this is that the crimping tool can usually be fastened to the adapter plate also or even already outside of the crimping press such that, after the installation of the adapter plate with the crimping tool in the crimping press, the crimping tool is always arranged in the same position relative to the crimping press and hence relative to the cable. As a result of this, a realignment or repositioning of the cable or of the conductor end of the cable in relation to the crimping tool after the crimping tool is changed is typically not necessary. This saves time and reduces costs. In addition, crimping tools that are used and installed in different crimping presses, can generally always be immovably arranged or fixed in the same position relative to the crimping press and/or to the conductor end of the cable or crimp contact. A realignment or repositioning of the cable or conductor end of the cable after the insertion of the crimping tool into different crimping presses is therefore typically not necessary. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, at least a portion of the alignment gauge is designed so as to be height-adjustable and lockable at different distances to the adapter plate. This enables a finger or projection of the alignment gauge, for example, to be typically first left in an upper height position while the crimping tool is roughly positioned in the crimping tool position and to then be moved into a lower height position only when the crimping tool has been positioned roughly in the correct position. The crimping tool can then usually be positioned precisely in the crimping tool position. This typically reduces the time required for the aligning of the crimping tool on the adapter plate. 
         [0008]    The adapter plate can be designed to receive the crimping tool, and the crimping tool can be detachably and immovably fastenable to the adapter plate in several different positions, particularly steplessly. In this way, it is ensured that the crimping tool can be typically arranged and fastened in a technically simple and precise manner in the crimping tool position. Stepless means that the various positions of the crimping tool are distributed continuously over the adapter plate; that is, the crimping tool is not displaceable in fixed increments and fastenable only in certain positions on the adapter plate, but rather the crimping tool can be displaced freely in increments of any size and fastened in any position on the adapter plate after the crimping tool is displaced relative to the adapter plate. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the adapter plate has an adapter plate frame and a receiving plate, with the receiving plate being displaceable relative to the adapter plate frame and the receiving plate being immovably fastenable in different positions on the adapter plate frame, and with the receiving plate being embodied such that the crimping tool can be fastened to the receiving plate in a detachable and immovable manner. This enables the crimping tool to be fastened in a technically simple manner to the adapter plate. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the adapter plate alignment gauge system further comprises a base plate, with the alignment gauge and the base plate being embodied such that the alignment gauge can be fastened in the alignment gauge position on the base plate, and with the base plate being fastenable in an immovable and detachable manner in the predefined alignment gauge position on the crimping press such that the alignment gauge is located in a position relative to the crimping press that corresponds to the position of the alignment gauge when the alignment gauge is fastened in the alignment gauge position on the adapter plate and the adapter plate is immovably arranged in the adapter plate position in the crimping press. As a result, it is possible to use a base plate that can be manufactured in a technically simpler and more cost-effective manner than the adapter plate in order to position the cable relative to the crimping press and the crimp contacts such that the conductor end of the cable is aligned in relation to the crimping tool, which, in turn, is aligned relative to the alignment gauge. If the cable on whose conductor end the crimp contact is to be mounted is aligned with the alignment gauge fastened to the base plate and the crimping tool is aligned with the alignment gauge fastened to the adapter plate, the crimping tool is typically aligned with the conductor end of the cable after the installation of the adapter plate with the crimping tool in the crimping press, so that the crimping procedure can be readily carried out and the crimping press operated after the installation of the adapter plate with the crimping tool in the crimping press. 
         [0011]    The alignment gauge can have a tapering projection. One advantage of this is that the crimping tool can generally be aligned even more precisely in the crimping tool position. 
         [0012]    In particular, the object is also achieved by a method for aligning a crimping tool for a crimping press, which is designed to create a crimp connection by means of a crimping tool that connects a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, relative to an adapter plate, with the crimping tool being fastenable in a detachable and immovable manner to the adapter plate, and with the method comprising the following steps: fastening of the alignment gauge to the adapter plate such that the alignment gauge is arranged in a predetermined set alignment gauge position relative to the adapter plate, displacement of the crimping tool relative to the adapter plate until the crimping tool is located in a predetermined set crimping tool position relative to the alignment gauge, and fastening of the crimping tool to the adapter plate, so that the crimping tool is detachably fastened so as to be immovable relative to the adapter plate. 
         [0013]    One advantage of this is that the crimping tool can typically also be fastened to the adapter plate outside of the crimping press such that, after the installation of the adapter plate with the crimping tool in the crimping press, the crimping tool is always arranged in the same position relative to the crimping press and/or to the conductor end of the cable and/or to the crimp contact. As a result, a realignment or repositioning of the crimping tool in relation to the crimping press and/or the cable and/or the crimp contact after the crimping tool is changed is typically not necessary. This saves time and reduces costs. In addition, crimping tools that are used in different crimping presses can generally always be arranged and/or fixed in the same position relative to the crimping press and/or to the crimp contact. A realignment or repositioning of the crimping tool after the installation thereof in different crimping presses is therefore typically not necessary. 
         [0014]    The method can further comprise the step of the aligning of the conductor end of the cable relative to the alignment gauge, whereas the adapter plate is arranged with the alignment gauge in an immovable, detachable manner in the crimping press. One advantage of this is that it is typically ensured that the crimping tool is arranged in the process position during the arrangement in the crimping tool position in relation to the conductor end of the cable. 
         [0015]    The step of the aligning of the cable relative to the alignment gauge can be carried out while the alignment gauge is fastened to the adapter plate without a crimping tool or to a base plate that is immovably arranged in the crimping press such that the alignment gauge is located in a position relative to the crimping press that corresponds to the position of the alignment gauge when the alignment gauge is fastened in the alignment gauge position to the adapter plate and the adapter plate is immovably arranged in the adapter plate position in the crimping press. It is possible to use a base plate that can be manufactured in a technically simpler and more cost-effective manner than the adapter plate in order to position the cable relative to the crimping press and the crimp contacts such that the conductor end of the cable is aligned in relation to the crimping tool, which, in turn, is aligned relative to the alignment gauge. This typically reduces costs and simplifies handling. 
         [0016]    The displacement of the crimping tool relative to the adapter plate until the crimping tool is located in the defined crimping tool position relative to the alignment gauge can be performed by aligning the crimping tool roughly in the crimping tool position while a height-adjustable portion of the alignment gauge is located at a first distance to the adapter plate and the crimping tool is aligned precisely in the crimping tool position while the height-adjustable portion is located at a second distance to the adapter plate, with the second distance being shorter than the first distance. This generally reduces the time required for the aligning of the crimping tool on the adapter plate, since the position of the crimping tool is better visible during alignment. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the method can additionally comprise a step of the immovable fastening of the crimping tool to a receiving plate, with the adapter plate having an adapter plate frame and the receiving plate. In this step of the displacement of the crimping tool relative to the adapter plate frame until the crimping tool is located in the predetermined set crimping tool position relative to the alignment gauge, the crimping tool is displaced together with the receiving plate relative to the adapter plate frame, and in the step of the fastening of the crimping tool to the receiving plate, so that the crimping tool is detachably fastened so as to be immovable relative to the receiving plate, the receiving plate is fastened in a detachable and immovable manner to the adapter plate frame. This enables the crimping tool to be aligned in a technically simple manner. 
         [0018]    It should be noted that several of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments. A person skilled in the art understands that the features can be appropriately combined, adapted, or exchanged in order to arrive at additional embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the enclosed drawings, but neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as restricting the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first inventive embodiment of an adapter plate of the adapter plate alignment gauge system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the adapter plate from  FIG. 1  with installed crimping tool; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an additional perspective view of the adapter plate from  FIG. 1  with installed crimping tool; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the adapter plate alignment gauge system with installed crimping tool; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a base plate with alignment gauge; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an adapter plate with alignment gauge, with the adapter plate being immovably arranged in a crimping press. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    The figures are merely schematic and not true to scale. Same reference symbols in the figures designate features in the figures that are the same or have a similar effect. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first inventive embodiment of an adapter plate  80  of the adapter plate alignment gauge system.  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the adapter plate  80  from  FIG. 1  with installed crimping tool  50 .  FIG. 3  shows an additional perspective view of the adapter plate  80  from  FIG. 1  with installed crimping tool  50 . 
         [0028]    The adapter plate alignment gauge system comprises an adapter plate  80  and an alignment gauge  90  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The adapter plate  80  has an adapter plate frame  82  and a receiving plate  84 . The receiving plate  84  can be fixed or immovably fastened to the adapter plate frame  82 . The receiving plate  84  has three catches  87 ,  87 ′,  88 . Two of the hook-shaped catches  87 ,  87 ′ are rigidly fastened to the receiving plate  84 . The third hook-shaped catch  88  can be arranged in a movable manner on the receiving plate  84 . The three catches  87 ,  87 ′,  88  serve the function of clamping the crimping tool  50  and fastening the crimping tool  50  to the receiving plate  84 . The unit of receiving plate  84  and crimping tool  50  fastened thereto can be displaced relative to the adapter plate frame  82 . The three screws  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″, which are accessible even when the crimping tool  50  is set in place, are used to tighten and fix the receiving plate  84  on the adapter plate frame  82  after the crimping tool  50  (together with the receiving plate  84 ) has been aligned and positioned by means of the alignment gauge  90 . 
         [0029]    The receiving plate  84  can be fixed on or detachably and immovably fastened to the adapter plate  80  by means of the three screws  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″. Detachably immovable means that no relative movement between adapter plate frame  82  and receiving plate  84  is possible in the fastened state, but the fastened state can be undone, thereby enabling a relative movement between adapter plate frame  82  and receiving plate  84 . 
         [0030]    The crimping tool  50  is immovably connected to the receiving plate  84 , for example by means of a form fit. The adapter plate  80  can hold different crimping tools. Since the adapter plate  80  is always fixed or held or immovably arranged in the crimping press  10  or in different crimping presses in the same adapter plate position relative to the crimping press  10 , the crimping tool  50  is always located in the same position relative to the crimping press  10  (when the adapter plate  80  is immovably arranged in the crimping press  10 ). Firmly or immovably arranged in the crimping press  10  means in particular that the crimping tool  50  is arranged so as to not be movable between (moving in the vertical direction) the upper tool holder  11  and the lower tool holder  12 . The adapter plate  80  on which the crimping tool is immovably fastened can be fastened for this purpose directly or immediately to the crimping press  10 , or the adapter plate  80  is fastened to or fixed on another device that is arranged so as to be immovable in relation to the crimping press  10 . 
         [0031]    Even after the crimping tool  50  is connected to the receiving plate  84 , the three screws  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″ are accessible for fastening the receiving plate  84  to the adapter plate frame  82 . 
         [0032]    The adapter plate position is a predetermined set position of the adapter plate  80  in relation to the crimping press  10 . In the adapter plate position, the edge or edges of the adapter plate  80  has or have a defined spacing in relation to the upper tool holder  11  of the crimping press  10  and to the lower tool holder  12  of the crimping press  10 , for example. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the adapter plate alignment gauge system with installed crimping tool  50 . The adapter plate  80  has an alignment gauge connecting device  99  (e.g., in the form of several recesses into which the alignment gauge  90  engages). The alignment gauge  90  is detachably fastened in a rigid, that is, immovable, manner by means of the alignment gauge connecting device  99  to the adapter plate  80  in the alignment gauge position. The alignment gauge position is clear; that is, when the alignment gauge  90  is fastened to the adapter plate  80 , the alignment gauge  90  (particularly the alignment gauge holder  105  of the alignment gauge  90 ) is always located in the alignment gauge position. The finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90  is height-adjustable. Therefore, the position of the finger  85  is set only on a plane parallel to the upper surface of the adapter plate  80 . The finger  85  is substantially plate-shaped, with the thickness and height of the finger  85  decreasing as the distance from the alignment gauge holder  105  increases. 
         [0034]    The alignment gauge  90  comprises an alignment gauge holder  105  on which a finger  85  is arranged in the form of a tapering projection. The finger  85  is designed so as to be height-adjustable relative to the alignment gauge holder  105 . The finger  85  can thus be arranged at different distances to the adapter plate  80 . The alignment gauge  90  also comprises a knurled screw  100 . Using the knurled screw  100 , the finger  85  can be fixed and locked at different heights and different distances to the adapter plate  80  and then released. 
         [0035]    The alignment gauge  90  can be fastened in exactly one position (namely the alignment gauge position) on the adapter plate  80  or on the adapter plate frame  82  of the adapter plate  80 . The crimping tool  50  is aligned on the adapter plate  80  such that an edge  89  of the finger of the alignment gauge  90  is flush with an anvil  60  of the crimping tool  80  (e.g., with the center of the anvil  60 ). When the alignment gauge  90  (or a structurally identical alignment gauge) is fastened in the alignment gauge position on another adapter plate  80  that has the same construction as the adapter plate  80  shown in  FIG. 4 , the other crimping tool  50  can be positioned and fixed on this other adapter plate  80  in a crimping tool position relative to the finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90 . As a result, the other crimping tool  50  is fixed in the same position in relation to the other adapter plate  80  as the crimping tool  50  shown in  FIG. 4  in relation to the adapter plate  80  shown in  FIG. 4 . It is thus ensured that, when a first crimping tool  50  that is fixed on a first adapter plate  80  in a crimping tool position and arranged in a process position in a crimping press  10  is changed out for a second crimping tool  50  that is fixed on a second adapter plate  80  in a crimping tool position, the second crimping tool  50  is arranged precisely in the process position in the crimping press  10 . In this way, it is achieved that the second crimping tool  50  need not be set up again or aligned in relation to the crimping press  10  or the cable  140  or vice versa (see also  FIG. 6 ). This reduces the time during which the operation of the crimping press  10  is interrupted during the changing or exchanging of the crimping tool  50  for another crimping tool. 
         [0036]    The crimping tool position is reached when a defined portion of the crimping tool  50  (e.g., the anvil  60 , particularly the center of the anvil  60 ) is located beneath the finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90 . When this condition is met, the crimping tool  50  is located in the crimping tool position relative to or in relation to the alignment gauge  90  and consequently relative to the adapter plate  80 . It can also be expedient to determine the crimping tool position by aligning a crimp contact of the crimping tool  50  with the finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90 . For example, the finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90  is to be at a predetermined distance (e.g., the projecting length of the cable over the crimp contact) from the end or one end of the crimp contact. This position or this point need not be the rear end of the anvil  60 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a base plate  120  with alignment gauge  90 . 
         [0038]    The base plate  120  has the same outer dimensions as the adapter plate  80  and has a structurally identical alignment gauge connecting device  99 . However, the base plate  120  is suitable for fixing a crimping tool  50  on the base plate  120 . The base plate  120  is used to align the conductor end of the cable  140  in relation to or relative to the crimping press  10 . 
         [0039]    Since the base plate  120  has the same outer dimensions as the adapter plate  80  and the alignment gauge  90  is fastened in the same alignment gauge position on the base plate  120  as on the adapter plate  80 , the alignment gauge  90  is located in the same position in relation to the crimping press  10  when the base plate  120  is arranged immovably in the crimping press  10  in the adapter plate position. The base plate  120  is used to set up the process position. In particular, the base plate  120  is used to set up and align the position of the conductor end of the cable  140 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an adapter plate  80  with alignment gauge  90 , with the adapter plate  80  being immovably arranged in a crimping press  10 . 
         [0041]    The adapter plate  80  is fixed by means of guide rails  130  of the crimping press  10 , which engage over the adapter plate frame  82 , and a stop member  135 . The adapter plate  80  is pressed by an engaging member (not shown) against the stop member  135 . The conductor end of the cable  140  that is to be connected to the crimp contact  70  is now aligned in relation to the alignment gauge  90 . This means that the cable  140  is moved until the conductor end of the cable  140  is located at the edge  89  of the finger  85 . 
         [0042]    To set the process position, the crimping press  10  or cable processing machine has a program function that makes it possible to take a stripped cable  140  with the swivel unit  150  to the processing station, displace the cable tip by means of manual inputs in the direction of the cable and transversely thereto, and store the process position set in this way. This is substantially easier to achieve with the alignment gauge  90  than with a crimping tool  50 , since the edge  89  of the finger  85  of the alignment gauge  90  has an ideal degree of visibility. The feature of the vertical or height-adjustability of the finger  85  is advantageous, since the cable  140  is lowered during crimping and consequently projects over the crimp contact  70  during setup. 
         [0043]    If the process position is set with the aid of an alignment gauge that is geometrically identical or structurally identical to the alignment gauge  90  used to position the crimping tool  50  on the adapter plate  80 , then it is ensured that the position of the cable tip is correct after any crimping tool is changed; that is, the conductor end of the cable  140  lies over the anvil  60 , so that the crimping process can be carried out without further alignment. 
         [0044]    It should be noted in conclusion that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. Reference symbols in the claims shall not be regarded as constituting limitations. 
         [0045]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.