Abstract:
A sleeve-fitter includes a sleeve module, a fitting module, a control and a base module. The fitting module and control are part of the base module. In operation, a centering pin and a round hole cooperate when the sleeve module is in contact with the base module and the sleeve module can be separated from the base module by a lever. The sleeve module includes a sleeve container with a drum, a filling funnel with a cover, a support for accommodating sleeve-specific machine parts and/or tools, and a feeder rail arranged on a linear vibratory feeder. A drive arranged on the base module imparts rotational movement to the drum which then feeds sleeves onto the feeder rail. This sleeve-fitter results in short retooling times and therefore short downtimes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a device for fitting electric wires with bushings or sleeves comprising a base module for supporting a sleeve module and a fitting module, wherein the sleeve module feeds to the fitting module the sleeves in the correct orientation for fitting and the fitting module fits the wire with the sleeves. 
   European patent specification EP 0 626 738 B1 shows a device for fitting sleeves onto electric wires. With such devices, sleeves which are needed, for example, for the moisture proof passage of electric wires through the walls of housings of electrical apparatus, can be pushed onto the wires in an efficient manner. The device consists of a drum that can be filled with sleeves and is open on one end-face and which can be driven about an axis that runs at an angle to the horizontal. While the drum rotates, sweepers arranged inside the drum pass to a feeder rail projecting into the drum sleeves for the purpose of buffering and further conveyance with correct orientation. An ejector device with a centering spindle that can be moved up and down feeds the first sleeve in the feeder rail of a rotating device which has several spindles and can be rotated further in stepwise manner by a certain angle, in a first position of the rotating device one sleeve is pushed onto the tip of a spindle. In a second position of the rotating device, for the purpose of its expansion the sleeve is pushed by means of a pushing unit onto a part of the spindle. In a further position of the rotating device, by means of a fitting head with sleeve receptacle and sleeve expander the sleeve is pulled off the spindle and the sleeve in expanded state is pushed onto the wire. 
   A disadvantage of this known device is that, when retooling the device from one sort of sleeve to another sort of sleeve, many sleeve-specific machine parts or tools must be exchanged, which causes long changeover times. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a solution to avoiding the disadvantages of the above-described known device with a device for fitting sleeves that can be retooled easily and quickly. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that when retooling the device, sources of error are ruled out. With the device according to the present invention, it is essentially no longer individual sleeve-specific parts or tools that are exchanged but sleeve-specific modules or sub-modules. By this means, the danger of confusion when retooling is drastically reduced. Furthermore, the retooling time and therefore the downtime of the machine when changing to another sort of sleeve are significantly shortened. The sleeve module for fitting sleeves onto the next lot of wires can be completely prepared while the current lot of wires is being fitted with sleeves. With short retooling times, even small lots of wires can be produced inexpensively. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above, as well as other, advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1.1  is a perspective view of a sleeve-fitting device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 1.2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1.1  with a separated sleeve module; 
       FIG. 1.3  is a perspective view of the sleeve module of  FIG. 1.2  with an opened container cover; 
       FIG. 1.4  is a perspective view of the sleeve module of  FIG. 1.2  with a removable sleeve container removed; 
       FIG. 1.5  is a perspective view of the sleeve module of  FIG. 1.2  without the container; 
       FIG. 1.6  is perspective view of a receptacle for the sleeve module; 
       FIG. 2  is a feeder rail of the sleeve module of  FIG. 1.2 ; 
       FIGS. 3 and 3   a  are perspective views of a fitting module; and 
       FIGS. 4   a  through  4   e  are schematic illustrations of the procedure for fitting wires with sleeves according to the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1.1  shows a device for fitting sleeves according to the present invention, hereinafter referred to as the sleeve-fitter  1 , comprising a sleeve module  1 . 1 , a fitting module  1 . 2 , a control  1 . 3 , and a base module  1 . 4 . The fitting module  1 . 2  and the control  1 . 3  are part of the base module  1 . 4 . The sleeve module  1 . 1  can be separated from the base module  1 . 4  by means of a lever  1 . 41 . Also arranged on the base module  1 . 4  is an arm  1 . 42  with an operating panel  1 . 43  and an ejector device  10 . 
     FIG. 1.2  shows the sleeve-fitter  1  with the sleeve module  1 . 1  separated which, when in operation, is in contact with the base module  1 . 4  by means of a centering pin  1 . 11  serving as a guiding and holding device and which can be separated from the base module  1 . 4  by means of the lever  1 . 41 . The sleeve module  1 . 1  essentially consists of a sleeve container  2  with a rotatable drum  2 . 1 , a filling funnel  2 . 11  with a cover  2 . 12 , a support  3  to accommodate sleeve-specific machine parts  11 ,  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  41 ,  42  (shown in subsequent drawings), and/or tools and a feeder device consisting of a linear vibratory feeder  4  bearing a feeder rail  7 . A drive  5  arranged on the base module  1 . 4  sets the drum  2 . 1  in rotational motion. 
   The feeder rail  7  is sleeve-specific and fits only sleeve types of identical geometry and different colors. 
   Arranged inside the drum  2 . 1  are feeder sweepers (not shown) by means of which sleeves  17  ( FIG. 4   a ) for fitting onto electric wires can be fed to the feeder rail  7 . The feeder rail  7  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2  and projects through and into an open end-face of the sleeve container  2  at its higher end. The drum  2 . 1  is preferably made of transparent plastic so that optical inspection of the sleeve stock and of the feeding process is possible. 
     FIG. 1.3  shows the sleeve module  1 . 1  with the container cover  2 . 12  opened for charging the sleeve container  2 . Arranged below the centering pin  1 . 11  is a female plug device  1 . 12  which connects pneumatic and electric lines of the sleeve module  1 . 1  via a male plug device  1 . 16  ( FIG. 1.6 ) of the base module  1 . 4  with pneumatic and electric lines of the base module  1 . 4 . As can be seen from  FIG. 1.3 , the dram  2 . 1  is arranged on the sleeve module  1 . 1  tipped slightly down relative to The feeder rail  7 . Under the influence of gravity, the sleeves (not shown) in the drum always move toward the lower-lying end of the drum  2 . 1 , the feeder sweepers emptying the drum down to the last sleeve and feeding them to the feeder rail  7  arranged at the higher-lying end of the drum  2 . 1 . 
     FIG. 1.4  shows the sleeve module  1 . 1  with the drum  2 . 1  separated from the sleeve module  1 . 1 . The drum  2 . 1  can be placed on a drive flange  1 . 13  of the sleeve module  1 . 1  and can be locked to the drive flange  1 . 13  by means of a quick-release fastener  2 . 13 . As can be seen from  FIG. 1.4 , at the higher-lying end of the drum  2 . 1 , one end of the feeder rail  7  projects into the drum  2 . 1 . The sleeves (not shown) that are fed by means of the feeder sweepers onto the feeder rail  7  are sorted into correct orientation by a device  7 . 1 , the incorrectly oriented sleeves being removed from the feeder rail  7  by being blown off. 
     FIG. 1.5  shows the sleeve module  1 . 1  without the sleeve container  2  and filling funnel  2 . 11  placed on the base module  1 . 4 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1.5 , the drive  5  is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis  5 . 11  in the direction of an arrow P 1 , the drive  5  being capable of swiveling against a spring force in the direction of the arrow P 1 . With the spring mounting of the drive  5 , after changing the sleeve module  1 . 1  a pinion  5 . 12  engages automatically in the teeth of a gear wheel  1 . 14 , the gear wheel  1 . 14  driving the drive flange  1 . 13 . 
   The centering pin  1 . 11  ( FIG. 1.3 ), the plug device  1 . 12  ( FIG. 1.3 ), the drive flange  1 . 13 , the gear wheel  1 . 14 , the filling funnel  2 . 11  ( FIG. 1.4 ), the support  3  ( FIG. 1.4 ), and the vibratory feeder  4  ( FIG. 1.4 ) are arranged on a housing  1 . 15  ( FIG. 1.4 ) of the sleeve module  1 . 1 . The housing  1 . 15  closes the drum  2 . 1  by means of a flange; together toy form the sleeve container  2 . 
     FIG. 1.6  shows a receptacle  1 . 44  for receiving the centering pin  1 . 11 . The receptacle  1 . 44  consists essentially of a housing  1 . 45  with a round hole  1 . 46  into which the centering pin  1 . 11  fits. Provided on the centering pin  1 . 11  is an annular notch  1 . 47  which receives a movable pin  1 . 48 . The centering pin  1 . 11  is pushed into the round hole  1 . 46  until the notch  1 . 47  lies level with the pin  1 . 48 . The pin  1 . 48  is then moved by means of the lever  1 . 41  and a lever linkage  1 . 49  into the notch  1 . 47 , the releasable notch/pin connector pushing the sleeve module  1 . 1  into the correct axial position and holding it there. All electric and pneumatic lines are also connected (by means of the plug device  1 . 12 ,  1 . 16 ) when the centering pin  1 . 11  is pushed in. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , along its longitudinal axis the feeder rail  7  has a groove  16  whose cross section is approximately the same as the contour of the longitudinal section of the sleeve  17  ( FIG. 4   a - 4   e ). At a farther end  18  of the feeder rail  7 , the groove  16  is open, while at a front end  19  it is closed ( FIG. 4   a - 4   e ). The front part of the groove  16  in a direction of feed P 2  serves as a buffer  20  in which the sleeves are buffered with correct orientation and which is covered with a cover plate  21 . The cover plate  21  half covers the groove  16 , so that the buffered sleeves are visible. On the buffer run-in, the cover plate  21  has a projection  21 . 1  which completely covers the groove  16 . The front end  19  of the feeder rail  7  is covered with a plate  22  in which a round hole  23  is provided whose axis coincides with the axis of the first sleeve in the buffer  20 . Provided in the feeder rail  7  below the first sleeve in the buffer  20  is a vertical round hole  24  ( FIG. 4   a - 4   e ) whose axis also coincides with the axis of the first sleeve, and whose diameter is smaller than that of the sleeve  17 . Provided before the buffer run-in there is a sorting gate  25  with a recess  26  which interrupts the groove  16  on one side and a blowing-out nozzle that is not shown. A blowing-off nozzle before the sorting gate  25  is referenced with  28 . Connected behind the buffer run-in is a light barrier which is not shown in greater detail whose light ray is symbolized by a chain-dotted line  29 . For improved feed, the rail can be provided with several parallel round holes at an angle to the feeder device and opening into the feeder groove through which a continuously adjustable stream of air emerges. 
     FIGS. 3 and 3   a  show details of the sleeving module  1 . 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1.1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 3   a , the ejector device  10  is arranged above the feeder rail  7  in the axis of the one round hole  23  ( FIG. 2 ) and the vertical round hole  24  ( FIG. 4   a - 4   e ). The ejector device  10  has an upwardly and downwardly movable centering pin  30  which is drivable, for example, pneumatically. The rotating device  11  that is arranged below the feeder rail  7  has four spindles  31  which are offset from each other by an angle of 90°. The rotating device  11  can by rotated through a further angle of 90° by means of a stepping motor  32 . The spindles  31  have two different diameters, the diameter in the area of the tip of the spindle being smaller. The rotating device  11  is arranged in such manner that there is always one of the spindles  31  in a first position “I”  FIG. 4   a ) of the rotating device  11  that lines up flush with the vertical round hole  24  ( FIGS. 4   a - 4   e ) of the feeder rail  7 . Indicated with  33  is an advancing unit that has two die-plates  34 , in each of which one half of a round hole  35  is arranged which in a second position “II” ( FIG. 4   a ) of the rotating device  11  lines up flush with the spindle  31 . The die-plates  34  are fastened to mountings  36  that can be swiveled around hinged joints  37  and are connected in a sprung manner to a support  39  via a spring  38 . The advancing unit  33  can be pushed (for example pneumatically) in a straight line in the direction of the spindle  31 . 
   A sleeving head  40  has a sleeve receptacle  41  and an expander  42 . The sleeve receptacle  41  has two jaws  43 , each of which has half of a cylindrical recess  44  whose size is adapted to the shape of the sleeves that are to be processed. The jaws  43  are arranged on a guide support  45  so as to be movable in radially opposite directions (for example pneumatically). The expander  42  consists of two further jaws  46 , each of which has one half of a sleeve-shaped die  47  and a round hole  48  that runs through it. On the side facing away from the sleeve-shaped die  47 , the round hole  48  has a funnel-shaped expansion  49  and is so dimensioned that a wire  13  ( FIG. 4   a ) needing to be fitted with sleeves can be accepted. The further jaws  46  are arranged movably on a further guide support  50 , and are moved simultaneous with the jaws  43 , for which purpose they are mechanically connected to the jaws  43 . The sleeve receptacle  41 . and the expander  42  are arranged in such manner that in a further position “IV” ( FIG. 4   a ) of the rotating device  11  the cylindrical recess  44  and the round hole  48  line up flush with one of the spindles  31 , the further position “IV” being offset by an angle of 180° relative to the second position “II”. The sleeve receptacle  41  is arranged movably (for example pneumatically) inside  4  U-shaped recess  50 . 1  of the further guide support  50  aligned with the axis of the cylindrical recess  44 . The further guide part  50  is connected to a housing  51  which can he moved (for example also pneumatically) in the direction of the axis of the cylindrical recess  44  and the expander  42 . 
   The manner in which the wire  13  is fitted with one of the sleeves  17  is as follows: 
   After the sleeves  17  have been buffered correctly oriented on the feeder rail  7 , the first sleeve  17  in the buffter  20  is moved over the vertical round hole  24  ( FIG. 4   a ). By means of the centering pin  30  of the ejector device  10 , the first sleeve  17  is then pushed onto the tip of the spindle  31  that is in the first position “I: ( FIG. 4   a ,  4   b ). Simultaneously, a sleeve  17  resting on a spindle that is in the second position “II” is pushed by means of the advancing unit  33  onto the thicker part of the spindle  31 , as a result of which the sleeve is expanded and brought into the correct position. Since the round hole  35  is smaller than the spindle  31 , the die-plates  34  are thereby caused to be pushed apart against a spring force ( FIG. 4   a ,  4   b ). During the entire time, a sleeve  17  resting on the spindle  31  in the further position “IV” is embraced by the jaws  43  of the sleeve receptacle  41 , the further jaws  46  of the expander  42  being thereby closed ( FIG. 4   a ,  4   b ). The centering spindle  30  of the ejector device  10  is ten retracted and the sleeve receptacle  41  with the sleeve  17  pushed against the expander  42 , the sleeve-shaped die  47  of the expander  42  penetrating into she round hole of the sleeve and the sleeve  17  being further slightly expanded ( FIG. 4   c ). After this, the advancing unit  33  is pushed back, and by means of the sleeve receptacle  41  the sleeve  17  is pulled off the spindle  31  and transported in the direction of the wire  13 . The sleeve  17  at the expander  42  is thereby held in the expanded state until the correct position on the wire  13  is reached ( FIG. 4   d ). Thereupon the expander  42  is pushed relative to the sleeve receptacle  41 , the sleeve  17  being thereby swept off and firmly gripping the wire  13  ( FIG. 4   d ). The jaws  43  and  46  then open so that the sleeved wire  13  can be removed and a new wire fed ( FIG. 4   e ). At the same time, the rotating device  11  rotates through an angle of 90°, the empty spindle  31  being thereby rotated into die first position “I” and the already sleeved, spindles  31  being rotated into the second and further positions “II” and “IV” ( FIG. 4   e ). 
   The manner in which the sleeve-fitter  1  is retooled when changing sleeves (changing from one sort of sleeve to another sort of sleeve with sleeves of different colors and/or sleeve geometry) is as follows: 
   The sleeve module  1 . 1  contains all individual parts that are needed for fitting the wire  13  with sleeves of a certain sort of sleeve. The sleeve container  2  and the adjusted feeder rail  7  are premounted. The sleeve-specific machine parts  11 ,  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  41 ,  42  are arranged on the support  3 . 
   When changing the sleeve module  1 . 1 , the sleeve-specific machine parts  11 ,  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  41 ,  42  of the previous sleeve-fitting are toollessly dismounted and arranged on the support  3 . After this, by means of the lever  1 . 41  the sleeve module  1 . 1  is unlocked and pulled off toward the back. With the drum  2 . 1  facing down, it can be placed in a stable position on a flat surface. Thereupon, any sleeves  17  still remaining on the feeder rail  7  fall back into the drum  2 . 1 . 
   If, for the new sleeve-fitting lot, sleeves  17  with different sleeve geometries from the previous sleeve-fitting lot are required, a complete sleeve module  1 . 1  is placed onto the base module  1 . 4  (with corresponding sleeves and sleeve-specific machine parts as well as the feeder rail  7 ) and locked by means of the lever  1 . 41 . For this purpose, the centering pin  1 . 11  is inserted into the receptacle  1 . 44  of the base module  1 . 4 , all electric and pneumatic lines being thereby also (by means of the plug devices  1 . 12 ,  1 . 16 ) coupled. By means of the lever  1 . 41 , the sleeve module  1 . 1  is pressed into the correct axial position and held there. Engagement of the drive pinion  5 . 12  with the gearwheel  1 . 14  takes place automatically by means of the radially sprung drive  5 . Finally, the sleeve-specific machine parts  11 ,  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  41 ,  42  are toollessly mounted. 
   Should different colored sleeves  17  be required for the new sleeve-fitting lot than for the previous sleeve-fitting lot, before laying down the sleeve module  1 . 1  the quick-release fastener  2 . 13  of the drum  2 . 1  is opened. After laying it down, and when all the sleeves  17  are in the drum  2 . 1 , the sleeve module  1 . 1  (without drum) can be lifted out of the drum guide and inserted into a drum  2 . 1  with sleeves  17  of the same shape but a different color. The remainder of the mounting operation continues as described above, except that the sleeve-specific machine parts  11 ,  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  41 ,  42  are already mounted. 
   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.