Electrical wire processing device

An electrical wire processing device (1) includes a pair of cutting blades (40A, 40B) capable of cutting an electrical wire (5) and circumferentially notching a covering (5b), a slit blade (43A, 43B) disposed farther in one side in a longitudinal direction (CL) of the electrical wire (5) than the cutting blades (40A, 40B) and capable of slitting the covering (5b) in the longitudinal direction (CL) of the electrical wire (5), and a slit blade actuator (35A, 35B) that moves the slit blade (43A, 43B) between a slit position in which the slit blade (43A, 43B) comes closer to the electrical wire (5) than the cutting blades (40A, 40B) and a retraction position in which the slit blade (43A, 43B) goes farther from the electrical wire (5) than the cutting blades (40A, 40B).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical wire processing device that can cut an electrical wire and strip a covering.

Background Art

Conventionally, electrical wire processing devices that perform a process of cutting an electrical wire and a process of stripping a covering of a middle portion of the electrical wire have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

An electrical wire processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of upper and lower cutting and notch cutters and a pair of upper and lower slit cutters disposed on right of the cutting and notch cutters. In the electrical wire processing device, in stripping a covering of a middle portion of an electrical wire, first, a first position in the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire is circumferentially notched by the cutting and notch cutters. Next, the electrical wire is moved to right to be disposed between the pair of upper and lower slit cutters. Then, the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire is slitted from the first position to a second position along a longitudinal direction of the electrical wire by the slit cutters. Thereafter, the electrical wire is moved to left to be disposed between the pair of upper and lower cutting and notch cutters again. Then, the second position in the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire is circumferentially notched by the cutting and notch cutters. Thus, the covering of the middle portion is stripped.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by Invention

In the electrical wire processing device described above, using the cutting and notch cutters that perform a process of cutting the electrical wire, a part of a process of stripping the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire (that is, a process of circumferentially notching the covering) can be performed. However, in performing the process of stripping the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire, the electrical wire needs to be moved to left and right. Therefore, there is a problem in which an effort and a time are required for performing the process of stripping the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been devised and it is therefore an object of the present invention to, in an electrical wire processing device that can perform a process of cutting an electrical wire and a process of stripping a covering of a middle portion of the electrical wire, enable performing these processes quickly and efficiently.

Solution to Problem

An electrical wire processing device according to the present invention is an electrical wire processing device that processes an electrical wire having a core wire and a covering that covers a periphery of the core wire and includes a pair of cutting blades capable of cutting the electrical wire and circumferentially notching the covering, a slit blade disposed farther in one side in a longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of slitting the covering in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire, and a slit blade actuator that moves the slit blade between a slit position in which the slit blade comes closer to the electrical wire than the cutting blades and a retraction position in which the slit blade goes farther from the electrical wire than the cutting blades.

According to the above-described electrical wire processing device, a process of cutting the electrical wire by moving the pair of cutting blades in a direction in which the cutting blades come closer to each other (which will be hereinafter referred to as a cutting process) while the slit blade is held in the retraction position can be performed.

After moving the slit blade to the slit position and moving the slit blade toward the electrical wire to notch the covering, the covering of a middle portion of the electrical wire can be slitted along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire by relatively moving the slit blade and the electrical wire such that the slit blade relatively moves along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. Both sides of a slitted portion of the covering can be circumferentially notched by moving the pair of cutting blades closer to each other while the slit blade is held in the retraction position. Thus, a process of stripping the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire (which will be hereinafter referred to as a middle portion stripping process) can be performed.

According to the electrical wire processing device, the cutting blades and the slit blade are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. Therefore, in the middle portion stripping process, an operation of moving the electrical wire in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is not needed. Accordingly, the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently. According to the electrical wire processing device, the cutting process, and the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a clamp member that is disposed farther in the one side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the slit blade and holds the electrical wire, and a clamp actuator that relatively moves the clamp member and the slit blade along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire.

According to the above-described aspect, the clamping member can hold the electrical wire. The clamping member and the slit blade can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire while the clamping member holds the electrical wire. Therefore, the cutting process and the middle portion stripping process can be favorably performed.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a main actuator that drives the pair of cutting blades such that the cutting blades come closer to each other and separate from each other and a controller that controls the slit blade actuator, the clamp actuator, and the main actuator. The controller includes a first position notching control section that circumferentially notches a first position in a middle portion of the covering of the electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, a first slit blade control section that notches the covering by driving the slit blade actuator to move the slit blade to the slit position and moving the slit blade toward the electrical wire, a second slit blade control section that relatively moves the slit blade with respect to the covering between the first position and a second position by driving the clamp actuator, and a second position notching control section that moves the slit blade to the retraction position by driving the slit blade actuator and circumferentially notches the second position of the covering by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire.

According to the above-described aspect, the middle portion stripping process is automatically executed by the controller.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a slit blade supporting member that supports the slit blade such that the slit blade is movable between the slit position and the retraction position and is joined to a corresponding one of the cutting blades to move with the cutting blade to come closer to and separate from the electrical wire. The first slit blade control section is configured to move the slit blade toward the electrical wire to notch the covering by driving the main actuator.

According to the above-described aspect, the slit blade can be moved toward the electrical wire to notch the covering by the main actuator that drives the cutting blades. Therefore, a dedicated actuator for moving the slit blade toward the electrical wire to notch the covering is not needed. Accordingly, the number of actuators can be reduced, and a cost and a size of the electrical wire processing device can be reduced.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a pair of stripping blades disposed farther in one side or the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of circumferentially notching the covering.

According to the above-described aspect, the covering of the end portion of the cut electrical wire can be circumferentially notched by moving the pair of stripping blades in a direction in which the stripping blades come closer to each other while the slit blade is held in the retraction position. Then, by relatively moving the stripping blades and the electrical wire such that the stripping blades relatively move to a tip end of the electrical wire, a process of stripping the covering of the end portion of the electrical wire (which will be hereinafter referred to as an end portion stripping process) can be performed. According to the above-described aspect, the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a pair of stripping blades disposed farther in one side or the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of circumferentially notching the covering. Each of the stripping blades is joined to a corresponding one of the cutting blades to move with the cutting blade to come closer to and separate from the electrical wire. The clamp actuator is configured to relatively move the clamp member and the stripping blades along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. The controller includes a cutting control section that cuts the electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, a stripping blade notching control section that circumferentially notches an end portion of the covering of the electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the stripping blades move toward the end portion of the cut electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, and a stripping control section that relatively moves the clamp member and the stripping blades in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire by driving the clamp actuator in a state where the end portion of the covering of the electrical wire is being notched by the stripping blades while holding the slit blade in the retraction position.

According to the above-described aspect, the cutting process and the end portion stripping process can be automatically executed by the controller.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the slit blade is disposed farther in the one side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the stripping blades.

According to the above-described aspect, the slit blade is disposed in a side opposite to a side in which the cutting blades are provided with respect to the stripping blades. A margin in space is relatively large in the side of the stripping blades opposite to the side thereof in which the cutting blades are provided, and therefore, setting of the slit blades is facilitated.

Another electrical wire processing device according to the present invention is an electrical wire processing device that processes an electric wire having a core wire and a covering that covers a periphery of the core wire and includes a pair of cutting blades capable of cutting the electrical wire and circumferentially notching the covering, a pair of first stripping blades disposed farther in one side in a longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of circumferentially notching the covering, a pair of second stripping blades disposed farther in the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of circumferentially notching the covering, a slit blade disposed farther in the one side or the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the cutting blades and capable of slitting the covering in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire, and a slit blade actuator that moves the slit blade between a slit position in which the slit blade comes closer to the electrical wire than the cutting blades, the first stripping blades, and the second stripping blades and a retraction position in which the slit blade goes farther from the electrical wire than the cutting blades, the first stripping blades, and the second stripping blades.

According to the electrical wire processing device, the cutting process can be performed by moving the pair of cutting blades in the direction in which the cutting blades come closer to each other while the slit blade is held in the retraction position.

Also, by moving the pair of first stripping blades and the pair of the second stripping blades in a direction in which the pair of first stripping blades come closer to each other and the pair of the second stripping blades come closer to each other while the slit blade is held in the retraction position, the coverings of the end portions of the cut electrical wire in one side and the other side can be circumferentially notched. Then, by relatively moving the first and second stripping blades such that each of the first and second stripping blades relatively moves to a corresponding tip end of the covering, the end stripping process for both the end portions of the electrical wire can be performed.

Furthermore, by, after moving the slit blade to the slit position and moving the slit blade in a direction in which the slit blade comes closer to the electrical wire to notch the covering, relatively moving the stripping blades and the electrical wire such that the slit blade relatively moves along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire, the covering of the middle portion of the electrical wire can be slitted along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. Also, by moving the pair of cutting blades in the direction in which the cutting blades come closer to each other while the slit blade is held in the retraction position, both sides of the slitted portion of the covering can be circumferentially notched. Thus, the middle portion stripping process can be performed.

According to the electrical wire processing device, the cutting blades, the first stripping blades, the second stripping blades, and the slit blade are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. Therefore, in the middle portion stripping process, an operation of moving the electrical wire in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is not needed. Accordingly, the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently. Also, when one of the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the middle portion stripping process is shifted to another one of the processes, the operation of moving the electrical wire in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is not needed. Therefore, according to the electrical wire processing device, the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a first clamp member that is disposed farther in the one side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the first stripping blades and the slit blade and holds the electrical wire, a second clamp member that is disposed farther in the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the second stripping blades and the slit blade and holds the electrical wire, a first clamp actuator that relatively moves the first clamp member and the slit blade along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire, and a second clamp actuator that relatively moves the second clamp member and the slit blade along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire.

According to the above-described aspect, the first and second clamp members can hold the electrical wire. Also, while the electrical wire is held, the first clamp member and the slit blade can be relatively moved along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire and the second clamp member and the slit blade can be relatively moved along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. Therefore, the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the middle portion stripping process can be favorably performed.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a main actuator that drives the pair of cutting blades such that the cutting blades come closer to each other and separate from each other, and a controller that controls the slit blade actuator, the first clamp actuator, the second clamp actuator, and the main actuator. The controller includes a first position notching control section that circumferentially notches a first position in a middle portion of the covering of the electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, a first slit blade control section that notches the covering by driving the slit blade actuator to move the slit blade to the slit position and moving the slit blade toward the electrical wire, a second slit blade control section that relatively moves the slit blade with respect to the covering between the first position and a second position by driving the first clamp actuator or the second clamp actuator, and a second position notching control section that moves the slit blade to the retraction position by driving the slit blade actuator and circumferentially notches the second position of the covering by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire.

According to the above-described aspect, the middle portion stripping process can be automatically executed by the controller.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrical wire processing device further includes a slit blade supporting member that supports the slit blade such that the slit blade is movable between the slit position and the retraction position and is joined to a corresponding one of the cutting blades to move with the cutting blade to come closer to and separate from the electrical wire. The first slit blade control section is configured to move the slit blade toward the electrical wire to notch the covering by driving the main actuator.

According to the above-described aspect, the slit blade can be moved toward the electrical wire by the main actuator that drives the cutting blades to notch the covering. Therefore, a dedicated actuator for moving the slit blade toward the electrical wire to notch the covering is not needed. Accordingly, the number of actuators can be reduced and a cost and a size of the electrical wire processing device can be reduced.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, each of the first stripping blades and each of the second stripping blades are joined to a corresponding one of the cutting blades to move with the cutting blade to come closer to and separate from the electrical wire. The first clamp actuator is configured to relatively move the first clamp member and the first stripping blades along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. The second clamp actuator is configured to relatively move the second clamp member and the second stripping blades along the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire. The controller includes a cutting control section that cuts and divides the electrical wire into a first electrical wire in the one side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire and a second electrical wire in the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the cutting blades move toward the electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, a stripping blade notching control section that circumferentially notches end portions of the coverings of the first electrical wire and the second electrical wire by driving the main actuator such that the first stripping blades move toward the end portion of the divided first electrical wire and the second stripping blades move toward the end portion of the divided second electrical wire while holding the slit blade in the retraction position, and a stripping control section that relatively moves the first clamp member and the first stripping blades in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical wire and relatively moves the second clamp member and the second stripping blades in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical wire by driving the first clamp actuator and the second clamp actuator in a state where the end portion of the covering of the first electrical wire is being notched by the first stripping blades and the end portion of the covering of the second electrical wire is being notched by the second stripping blades while holding the slit blade in the retraction position.

According to the above-described aspect, the cutting process and the end portion stripping process for the end portions of both the electrical wires are automatically executed by the controller.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the slit blade is disposed farther in the one side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the first stripping blades or is disposed farther in the other side in the longitudinal direction of the electrical wire than the second stripping blades.

According to the above-described aspect, the slit blade is disposed in a side opposite to a side in which the cutting blades are provided with respect to the first stripping blades or in a side opposite to a side in which the cutting blades are provided with respect to the second stripping blades. A margin in space is relatively large in the side of the first stripping blades opposite to the side thereof in which the cutting blades are provided and in the side of the second stripping blades opposite to the side thereof in which the cutting blades are provided, and therefore, setting of the slit blades is facilitated.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, in an electrical wire processing device that can perform a process of cutting an electrical wire and a process of stripping a covering of a middle portion of the electrical wire, these processes can be performed quickly and efficiently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.FIG.1is a plan view schematically illustrating a configuration of an electrical wire processing device1according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, assume that a right side and a left side inFIG.1are a front side and a rear side, respectively. Assume that an upper side and a lower side inFIG.1are a left side and a right side, respectively. Reference symbols F and R in the drawings indicate front and rear, respectively. However, these directions are used in the following description merely for convenience of description and do not limit the present invention.

The electrical wire processing device1includes a wire drawing machine25, a feeder20for feeding an electrical wire5, electrical wire clamp devices30F and30R, a cutter device10, crimping machines13F and13R, a controller9, and a tray8. As illustrated inFIG.2, the electrical wire5is a so-called covered electrical wire, and includes a core wire5aformed of a conductor and a covering5bcovering a periphery of the core wire5aand formed of an insulator.

The wire drawing machine25removes a curl of the electrical wire5and corrects the electrical wire5such that the electrical wire5becomes straight. The wire drawing machine25includes a plurality of rollers disposed in a staggered manner.

The feeder20includes a pair of left and right driving rollers21a, a pair of left and right driven rollers21b, and a pair of left and right conveyance belts22each of which is wound around a corresponding one of the driving rollers21aand a corresponding one of the driven rollers21b. By causing the conveyance belts22to run by the driving rollers21a, the electrical wire5sandwiched between the left and right conveyance belts22is sent forward. However, the feeder20may be a device that can send the electrical wire5and there is no limitation on a specific configuration thereof.

Each of the electrical wire clamp devices30F and30R can hold the electrical wire5, move along a longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5(see an arrow A), and turn around a corresponding one of vertical lines30cF and30cR (see an arrow B). The electrical wire clamp device30F includes a first clamp member31F that holds the electrical wire5, a first clamp actuator32F that moves the first clamp member31F in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5(a front-rear direction in this embodiment), and a first turning actuator36F (seeFIG.4) that turns the first clamp member31F around the vertical line30cF. The electrical wire clamp device30R includes a second clamp member31R that holds the electrical wire5, a second clamp actuator32R that moves the second clamp member31R in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, and a second turning actuator36R (seeFIG.4) that turns the second clamp member31R around the vertical line30cR.

The cutter device10can cut the electrical wire5, strip the covering5bof an end portion of the electrical wire5, and strip the covering5bof a middle portion of the electrical wire5. A specific configuration of the cutter device10will be described later.

The crimping machines13F and13R crimp a terminal7to end portions of the electrical wire5. As described above, each of the electrical wire clamp devices30F and30R is configured to turn around a corresponding one of the vertical lines30cF and30cR. The crimping machine13F is configured to crimp the terminal7to a front end portion of the electrical wire5held by the electrical wire clamp device30F. The crimping machine13R is configured to crimp the terminal7to a rear end portion of the electrical wire5held by the electrical wire clamp device30R.

The tray8is a box body in which the electrical wire5after processing is collected. The tray8houses the electrical wire5to which the terminal7is crimped in both sides, the electrical wire5from which the covering5bof the middle portion has been stripped, or the like.

Next, a detailed configuration of the cutter device10will be described.FIG.3is a right side view of the cutter device10. The cutter device10incudes a pair of upper and lower cutting blades40A and40B, a pair of upper and lower first stripping blades41A and41B disposed rearward of the cutting blades40A and40B, a pair of upper and lower second stripping blades42A and42B disposed forward of the cutting blades40A and40B, and a pair of upper and lower slit blades43A and43B disposed rearward of the first stripping blades41A and41B. The cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, the second stripping blades42A and42B, and the slit blades43A and43B are disposed along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5. Specifically, the upper cutting blade40A, the upper first stripping blade41A, the upper second stripping blade42A, and the upper slit blade43A are disposed in line in the front-rear direction, and the lower cutting blade40B, the lower first stripping blade41B, the lower second stripping blade42B, and the lower slit blade43B are disposed in line in the front-rear direction. The cutter device10includes a frame31, a guide15provided in the frame31and extending up and down, an upper block33A and a lower block33B engaged with the guide15so as to be slidable up and down, and a main actuator32driving the upper block33A and the lower block33B up and down such that the upper block33A and the lower block33B come closer to each other or separate from each other.

The upper cutting blade40A, the upper first stripping blade41A, and the upper second stripping blade42A are supported by the upper block33A. Note that, in this specification, the expression “being supported” indicates both a case of being directly supported and a case of being indirectly supported via some other member, unless otherwise noted. In this embodiment, the upper cutting blade40A, the upper first stripping blade41A, and the upper second stripping blade42A are indirectly supported by the upper block33A and are configured to move up and down with the upper block33A. The upper stripping blades41A and42A are indirectly joined to the upper cutting blade40A to move up and down with the upper cutting blade40A. The lower cutting blade40B, the lower first stripping blade41B, and the lower second stripping blade42B are supported by the lower block33B and are configured to move up and down with the lower block33B. The lower first stripping blades41B and the lower second stripping blade42B are indirectly joined to the lower cutting blade40B to move up and down with the lower cutting blade40B.

The main actuator32may be an actuator that can drive the upper block33A and the lower block33B up and down, and there is no limitation on a type of the main actuator32. In this embodiment, the main actuator32is constituted by a servo motor. The main actuator32is configured to cause the upper block33A and the lower block33B to come closer to each other and separate from each other. When the upper block33A and the lower block33B move to come closer to each other, the upper cutting blade40A and the lower cutting blade40B come closer to each other, the upper first stripping blade41A and the lower first stripping blade41B come closer to each other, and the upper second stripping blade42A and the lower second stripping blade42B come closer to each other. That is, when the upper block33A and the lower block33B move to come closer to each other, the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, and the second stripping blades42A and42B move toward the electrical wire5. On the other hand, when the upper block33A and the lower block33B move to separate from each other, the upper cutting blade40A and the lower cutting blade40B separate from each other, the upper first stripping blade41A and the lower first stripping blade41B separate from each other, and the upper second stripping blade42A and the lower second stripping blade42B separate from each other. That is, when the upper block33A and the lower block33B move to separate from each other, the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, and the second stripping blades42A and42B move to separate from the electrical wire5.

An upper slit blade supporting member34A is fixed to the upper block33A. The upper slit blade supporting member34A is configured to move up and down with the upper block33A. The upper slit blade43A is supported so as to be movable up and down by the upper slit blade supporting member34A. The upper slit blade43A is movable up and down between a slit position in which the upper slit blade43A is closer to the electrical wire5than the upper cutting blade40A and the upper stripping blades41A and42A and a retraction position in which the upper slit blade43A goes farther from the electrical wire5than the upper cutting blade40A and the upper stripping blades41A and42A. A slit blade actuator35A that drives the upper slit blade43A up and down is fixed to the upper slit blade supporting member34A.

A lower slit blade supporting member34B is fixed to the lower block33B. The lower slit blade supporting member34B is configured to move up and down with the lower block33B. The lower slit blade43B is fixed to the lower slit blade supporting member34B so as to be movable up and down. The lower slit blade43B is movable up and down between a slit position in which the lower slit blade43B comes closer to the electrical wire5than the lower cutting blade40B and the lower stripping blades41B and42B and the retraction position in which the lower slit blade43B goes farther from the electrical wire5than the lower cutting blade40B and the lower stripping blades41B and42B. A slit blade actuator35B that drives the lower slit blade43B up and down is fixed to the lower slit blade supporting member34B.

Each of the slit blade actuators35A and35B can move a corresponding one of the upper and lower slit blades43A and43B to the slit position and the retraction position. In this embodiment, each of the slit blade actuators35A and35B is constituted by an air cylinder. However, each of the slit blade actuators35A and35B may be an actuator capable of moving a corresponding one of the slit blades43A and43B to the slit position and the retraction position and is not limited to the air cylinder. Each of the slit blade actuator35A and35B may be constituted by, for example, a solenoid or a motor.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the controller9is communicably coupled to the wire drawing machine25, the feeder20, the electrical wire clamp devices30F and30R, the cutter device10, and the crimping machines13F and13R and controls operations thereof. The controller9may be a dedicated computer for the electrical wire processing device1and may be a general purpose computer, such as a personal computer or the like. The controller9includes a cutting control section91, a stripping blade notching control section92, a stripping control section93, a first position notching control section94, a second position notching control section95, a first slit blade control section96, and a second slit blade control section97. Note that a process performed by each of the sections91to97will be described later. In this embodiment, each of the above-described sections91to97is realized by executing a predetermined program by the computer.

Next, each process performed by the electrical wire processing device1will be described. As will be described below, the electrical wire processing device1can perform a process of cutting the electrical wire5(cutting process), a process of stripping the covering5bof an end portion of the cut electrical wire5(end portion stripping process), a process of crimping the terminal7to the end portion of the electrical wire5(terminal crimping process), and a process of stripping the covering5bof a middle portion of the electrical wire5(middle portion stripping process). Each process described below is executed by the controller9.

First, the cutting process will be described. In the cutting process, the cutting control section91of the controller9holds the slit blades43A and43B in the retraction position. The cutting control section91drives the main actuator32such that the electrical wire5is held by the first clamp member31F and the second clamp member31R and the cutting blades40A and40B move toward the electrical wire5. Specifically, the cutting control section91causes the cutting blades40A and40B to come closer to each other until respective edges of the cutting blades40A and40B cross each other. Thus, as illustrated inFIG.5, the electrical wire5is cut and divided into a rear electrical wire5and a front electrical wire5by the cutting blades40A and40B. The cutting process is as described above.

Subsequently, as illustrated inFIG.6, the stripping blade notching control section92of the controller9drives the main actuator32such that the first stripping blades41A and41B and the second stripping blades42A and42B move toward the electrical wire5. Thus, the covering5bof a front end portion of the rear electrical wire5is circumferentially notched by the first stripping blades41A and41B. The covering5bof a rear end portion of the front electrical wire5is circumferentially notched by the second stripping blades42A and42B. Next, as illustrated inFIG.7, the stripping control section93of the controller9moves the first clamp member31F holding the rear electrical wire5rearward and moves the second clamp member31R holding the front electrical wire5forward. Then, the rear electrical wire5is pulled rearward and the covering5bof the front end portion of the rear electrical wire5is stripped by the first stripping blades41A and41B. The front electrical wire5is pulled forward and the covering5bof the rear end portion of the front electrical wire5is stripped by the second stripping blades42A and42B. Thus, the covering5bof the end portions of both the electrical wires5after being cut is stripped. The end portion stripping process is as described above.

When the end portion stripping process ends, the controller9turns the electrical wire clamp devices30F and30R (seeFIG.1). The electrical wire clamp device30F turns leftward while holding the rear electrical wire5and guides the front end portion of the rear electrical wire5to the crimping machine13F. On the other hand, the electrical wire clamp device30R turns rightward while holding the front electrical wire5and guides the read end portion of the front electrical wire5to the crimping machine13R. Then, the terminal7is crimped to the front end portion of the rear electrical wire5and the rear end portion of the front electrical wire5by the crimping machines13F and13R. The terminal crimping process is as described above.

Thereafter, the electrical wire clamp device30F returns to an initial position (the position illustrated inFIG.1) opposed to the cutter device10while holding the rear electrical wire5, and releases holding of the electrical wire5. After releasing holding of the front electrical wire5, the electrical wire clamp device30R returns to an initial position (the position illustrated inFIG.1) opposed to the cutter device10. Note that, when the holding by the electrical wire clamp device30R is released, the front electrical wire5falls and is collected in the tray8.

Next, the middle portion stripping process will be described. First, the controller9causes the first clamp member31F and the second clamp member31R to hold the electrical wire5. Next, the first position notching control section94of the controller9drives the main actuator32such that the slit blades43A and43B are held in the retraction position and the cutting blades40A and40B move toward the electrical wire5. Specifically, the first position notching control section94causes the cutting blades40A and40B to come closer to each other such that each of the cutting blades40A and40B comes to a position just before a position in which the respective edges of the cutting blades40A and40B cross each other. Then, as illustrated inFIG.8, the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5is circumferentially notched. Note that this notching position will be hereinafter referred to as a first position P1.

Next, as illustrated inFIG.9, the controller9causes the cutting blades40A and40B to separate from each other and moves the electrical wire5rearward until the first position P1of the covering5bmatches a position between the slit blades43A and43B. That is, the controller9moves the electrical wire5rearward until the first position P1of the covering5bmatches a position directly below the upper slit blade43A and a position directly above the lower slit blade43B.

The first slit blade control section96of the controller9drives the slit blade actuators35A and35B to move the slit blades43A and43B from the retraction position to the slit position. Note that a timing of moving the slit blades43A and43B to the slit position may be before, after, and during moving the electrical wire5rearward. Next, the first slit blade control section96of the controller9drives the main actuator32such that the upper block33A and the lower block33B come closer to each other. Thus, the slit blades43A and43B move to come closer to each other. The first slit blade control section96moves the slit blades43A and43B toward the electrical wire5until the slit blades43A and43B notch the first position P1of the covering5b(seeFIG.10).

Next, the second slit blade control section97of the controller9moves the electrical wire5forward while a state where the slit blades43A and43B are notching the covering5bby driving the first clamp actuator32F and the second clamp actuator32R is kept. Then, as illustrated inFIG.11, the covering5bis slitted along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5by the slit blades43A and43B. The second slit blade control section97moves the electrical wire5forward until the slit blades43A and43B reach a preset second position P2of the covering5b. Thus, the electrical wire5is slitted from the first position P1of the covering5bto the second position P2thereof in the longitudinal direction CL.

Next, as illustrated inFIG.12, the controller9drives the main actuator32such that the upper block33A and the lower block33B separate from each other.

The second position notching control section95of the controller9drives the slit blade actuators35A and35B to move the slit blades43A and43B from the slit position to the retraction position. Note that a timing of moving the slit blades43A and43B to the retraction position may be before, after, and during causing the upper block33A and the lower block33B to separate from each other. As illustrated inFIG.13, the second position notching control section95of the controller9moves the electrical wire5forward until the second position P2of the covering5bmatches a position between the cutting blades40A and40B. That is, the second position notching control section95moves the electrical wire5forward until the second position P2of the covering5bmatches a position directly below the upper cutting blade40A and a position directly above the lower cutting blade40B. Note that a timing of moving the electrical wire5forward may be before, after, and during moving the slit blades43A and43B to the retraction position.

The second position notching control section95of the controller9drives the main actuator32such that, while the slit blades43A and43B are held in the retraction position, the cutting blades40A and40B move toward the electrical wire5. Specifically, the second position notching control section95causes the cutting blades40A and40B to come closer to each other such that each of the cutting blades40A and40B comes to a position just before a position in which the respective edges of the cutting blades40A and40B cross each other. Thus, as illustrated inFIG.14, the covering5bis circumferentially notched in the second position P2by the cutting blades40A and40B. As a result, the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5is circumferentially notched in the first position P1and the second position P2and the electrical wire5is slitted from the first position P1to the second position P2in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, and therefore, a portion of the covering5bbetween the first position P1and the second position P2is stripped. That is, the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5is stripped. The middle portion stripping process is as described above.

Note that there is no particular limitation on a timing of performing the above-described middle portion stripping process. The middle portion stripping process may be performed regardless of the end portion stripping process and the terminal crimping process. The middle portion stripping process may be performed after the cutting process and may be performed after the end portion stripping process. The middle portion stripping process may be performed after performing the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the terminal crimping process. Note that, in this case, the middle portion stripping process is performed on the rear electrical wire5.

As described above, the electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment includes the slit blade actuators35A and35B that move the slit blades43A and43B to the slit position and the retraction position. The cutting blades40A and40B and the slit blades43A and43B are disposed along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5but, by moving the slit blades43A and43B to the retraction position, the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5can be circumferentially notched by the cutting blades40A and40B without being interfered by the slit blades43A and43B. On the other hand, by moving the slit blades43A and43B to the slit position, the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5can be slitted in the longitudinal direction by the slit blades43A and43B without being interfered by the cutting blades40A and40B. Therefore, By the electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment, while the cutting blades40A and40B and the slit blades43A and43B are disposed along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, the process of stripping the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5(middle portion stripping process) can be performed. Accordingly, in the middle portion stripping process, it is sufficient to move the electrical wire5in the longitudinal direction CL (that is, the front-rear direction) and an operation of moving the electrical wire5in a direction (for example, a left-right direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction CL is not needed. An operation of moving the electrical wire5in the longitudinal direction CL can be performed quickly and efficiently, as compared to the operation of moving the electrical wire5in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction CL. Therefore, By the electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment, the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

By the electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment, the cutting process and the end portion stripping process can be performed by the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, and the second stripping blades42A and42B disposed along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5. In shifting from the cutting process to the end portion stripping process, the operation of moving the electrical wire5in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction CL is not needed. In shifting from the cutting process or the end portion stripping process to the middle portion stripping process, and in sifting from the middle portion stripping process to the cutting process or the end portion stripping process, the operation of moving the electrical wire5in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction CL is not needed. Therefore, by the electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment, the cutting process, the end portion stripping process, and the middle portion stripping process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

The electrical wire processing device1according to this embodiment includes the first clamp member31F disposed rearward of the first stripping blades41A and41B and the slit blades43A and43B, the second clamp member31R disposed forward of the second stripping blades42A and42B and the slit blades43A and43B, the first clamp actuator32F that moves the first clamp member31F in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, and the second clamp actuator32R that moves the second clamp member31R in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5. Therefore, the cutting process, the end portion stripping process for the end portions of both the electrical wires, and the middle portion stripping process can be favorably performed.

Note that different actuators may be provided for driving the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, and the second stripping blades42A and42B and for driving the slit blades43A and43B toward the electrical wire5. However, according to this embodiment, a single main actuator32serves as those actuators. By the main actuator32that drives the cutting blades40A and40B, the slit blades43A and43B can be moved toward the electrical wire5to notch the covering5b. According to this embodiment, the number of actuators can be reduced, so that a cost and a size of the electrical wire processing device1can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the slit blades43A and43B are disposed rearward of the first stripping blades41A and41B. That is, the slit blades43A and43B are disposed in a side opposite to a side in which the cutting blades40A and40B are provided with respect to the first stripping blades41A and41B. A margin in space is relatively large in the side of the first stripping blades41A and41B opposite to the side thereof in which the cutting blades40A and40B are provided. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the slit blades43A and43B can be easily set.

Note that there is no particular limitation on positions of the slit blades43A and43B. The slit blades43A and43B may be disposed forward of the second stripping blades42A and42B. That is, the slit blades43A and43B may be disposed in a side opposite to a side in which the cutting blades40A and40B are provided with respect to the second stripping blades42A and42B. Also in this case, setting of the slit blades43A and43B is facilitated.

On the other hand, in a case where there is a sufficient space between the cutting blades40A and40B and the first stripping blades41A and41B, the slit blades43A and43B may be disposed between the cutting blades40A and40B and the first stripping blades41A and41B. In a case where there is a sufficient space between the cutting blades40A and40B and the second stripping blades42A and42B, the slit blades43A and43B may be disposed between the cutting blades40A and40B and the second stripping blades42A and42B. Thus, a dimension of the cutter device10in the front-rear direction can be reduced, so that a size of the cutter device10can be reduced.

One embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the above-described embodiment is merely an example. The present invention can be implemented in various other modes. Next, examples of other embodiments will be briefly described.

In the above-described embodiment, the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, the second stripping blades42A and42B, and the slit blades43A and43B are provided in pairs of upper and lower blades. However, the blades of each of the pairs of the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, the second stripping blades42A and42B, and the slit blades43A and43B may be disposed to face each other with the electrical wire5interposed therebetween and a disposition direction of each of the pairs is not limited to an up-down direction. For example, the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, the second stripping blades42A and42B, and the slit blades43A and43B may be provided in pairs of left and right blades.

In the above-described embodiment, the electrical wire processing device1includes the first stripping blades41A and41B disposed rearward of the cutting blades40A and40B and the second stripping blades42A and42B disposed forward of the cutting blades40A and40B such that the covering5bof both end portions of the electrical wire5after being cut can be simultaneously stripped. However, the first stripping blades41A and41B disposed rearward of the cutting blades40A and40B or the second stripping blades42A and42B disposed forward of the cutting blades40A and40B may not be provided. That is, a pair of stripping blades may be provided only rearward or forward of the cutting blades40A and40B.

In the above-described embodiment, the cutter device10includes a pair of slit blades43A and43B. However, as long as the covering5bof the middle portion of the electrical wire5can be stripped, one of the slit blades43A and43B may not be provided. That is, the number of slit blades of the cutter device10may be one.

In the above-described embodiment, the first stripping blades41A and41B and the second stripping blades42A and42B are indirectly joined to the cutting blades40A and40B such that the cutting blades40A and40B, the first stripping blades41A and41B, and the second stripping blades42A and42B can be driven by the same actuator32. However, the first stripping blades41A and41B and the second stripping blades42A and42B may not be joined to the cutting blades40A and40B. Different actuators may be provided for driving the cutting blades40A and40B and for driving the first stripping blades41A and41B or the second stripping blades42A and42B.

In the above-described embodiment, the slit blades43A and43B are supported by the upper slit blade supporting member34A fixed to the upper block33A and the lower slit blade supporting member34B fixed to the lower block33B, respectively, such that the cutting blades40A and40B and the slit blades43A and43B can be driven by the same actuator32. However, the upper slit blade supporting member and the lower slit blade supporting member movably supporting the slit blades43A and43B may not be fixed to the upper block33A and the lower block33B, respectively. Different actuators may be provided for driving the cutting blades40A and40B and for driving the slit blades43A and43B.

In the above-described embodiment, in the middle portion stripping process, after the first position P1of the covering5bis circumferentially notched, the covering5bis slitted from the first position P1to the second position P2in the longitudinal direction CL, and then, the second position P2is circumferentially notched. However, in the middle portion stripping process, circumferentially notchings of the first position P1and the second position P2and slitting of the covering5bfrom the first position P1to the second position P2in the longitudinal direction CL may be eventually performed, and there is no particular limitation on an order of the notchings and the slitting. For example, after circumferentially notchings of the first position P1and the second position P2are performed, slitting of the covering5bfrom the first position P1to the second position P2may be performed. As another option, after slitting of the covering5bfrom the first position P1to the second position P2is performed, circumferentially notchings of the first position P1and the second position P2may be performed. In a case where the slit blades43A and43B are configured to slit the covering5bboth forward and rearward, a starting position of slitting of the covering5bby the slit blades43A and43B may be an arbitrary position between the first position P1and the second position P2. If the slit blades43A and43B are configured to be moved forward and rearward relative to the covering5b, the starting position of slitting of the covering5bby the slit blades43A and43B is not limited to the first position P1or the second position P2. The slit blades43A and43B may be configured to eventually slit the covering5bfrom the first position P1to the second position P2.

In the above-described embodiment, the first clamp member31F and the second clamp member31R are configured to turn for the terminal cramping process, but there is no particular limitation thereon. The first clamp member31F and the second clamp member31R may be configured to move, for example, in a left-right direction.

In a case where the end portion stripping process is not needed, the first stripping blades41A and41B and the second stripping blades42A and42B of the cutter device10may not be provided.

The first clamp actuator32F may be configured to relatively move the first clamp member31F and the cutter device10along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, and is not limited to the clamp actuator that moves the first clamp member31F. The first clamp actuator32F may be configured to move the cutter device10in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5. Similarly, the second clamp actuator32R may be configured to relatively move the second clamp member31R and the cutter device10along the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5, and is not limited to the clamp actuator that moves the second clamp member31R. The second clamp actuator32R may be configured to move the cutter device10in the longitudinal direction CL of the electrical wire5.

In the above-described embodiment, in the middle portion stripping process, in sticking the slit blades43A and43B into the covering5bof the electrical wire5, the slit blades43A and43B are first moved to the slit position by driving the slit blade actuators35A and35B, and then, the slit blades43A and43B are moved to come closer to the electrical wire5by driving the main actuator32. However, there is no particular limitation on an operation of sticking the slit blades43A and43B into the covering5bof the electrical wire5. For example, the slit blades43A and43B may be first moved to come closer to the electrical wire5by driving the main actuator32, and then, the slit blades43A and43B may be stuck into the covering5bof the electrical wire5by driving the slit blade actuators35A and35B.

The crimping machines13F and13R may not be needed. In a case where crimping of the terminal7is not needed, the crimping machines13F and13R may be omitted.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST