Abstract:
A monitoring device for monitoring the operation of a hand-held pliers-type crimping tool, including a pair of pivotally connected handles for displacing a pair of crimping dies between open and closed crimping positions, a support seat connected with one of the handles for supporting at least one plug terminal between the crimping dies, a transport tool for transporting a plug terminal to a seated position on the support seat, and a counter arrangement on the transport tool for producing a signal that is a function of the number of displacements of the handles from the open position toward the closed position. The transport tool includes a housing, an electronic circuit including a counter mounted in the housing, a transport pin extending from the housing for insertion within one end of a hollow plug terminal, and a signal transmitting pin parallel with the transport pin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A monitoring device for monitoring the operation of a hand-held pliers-type crimping tool, including a pair of pivotally connected handles for displacing a pair of crimping dies between open and closed crimping positions, a support seat connected with one of the handles for supporting at least one plug terminal between the crimping dies, a transport tool for transporting a plug terminal to a seated position on the support seat, and a counter arrangement on the transport tool for producing a signal that is a function of the number of displacements of the handles from the open position toward the closed position. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     This invention relates to a manipulating device for a tool, in particular, a pliers-type tool for crimping a connector, terminal or the like to a conductor. Such tools are known as such, for example, from DE 198 42 122 C2 or DE 100 56 780 A1. 
     Of course, the known tools require further optimization, first of all in terms of their handling and operating safety. The purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for monitoring the operation of a hand-held pliers-type crimping tool, including a pair of pivotally connected handles for displacing a pair of crimping dies between open and closed crimping positions, a support seat connected with one of the handles for supporting at least one plug terminal between the crimping dies, a transport tool for transporting a plug terminal to a seated position on the support seat, and a counter arrangement on the transport tool for producing a signal that is a function of the number of displacements of the handles from the open position toward the closed position. 
     According to a more specific object of the invention, the transport tool includes a housing, an electronic circuit including a counter mounted in the housing, a transport pin extending from the housing for insertion within one end of a hollow plug terminal, and a signal transmitting pin parallel with the transport pin. A signal is sent to the counter via the signal pin when the lug terminal is seated on the seat, and the handles are displaced form the open position toward the closed position. 
     Created here is a manipulating device, which is so designed that by using it, one can insert the plugs into a seat of the tool and/or which is designed for the purpose of putting out an information item which is directly or indirectly related to the number of cuts that have been done with the tool. The manipulating device definitely makes it easier to insert the plug or plugs into the seat(s) intended for them, in particular, if these seats are difficult to access. 
     If an electronic counting device is provided, which either directly senses a cutting process or which from another signal—for example, from the sensing of the motion of another suitable mobile part of the manual tongs—makes it possible to draw certain or probable conclusions as to such a cutting process, then one can in a simple manner supply an information item, which permits conclusions as to the conformation of the knife views for trimming the lightwave conductors without any need for supplying a meter that is expensive in terms of design and construction and mechanical operation for the purpose of counting the number of cuts. 
     It is particularly advantageous to combine the two functions of simple and safe handling with the manipulating device used for inserting the conductors and with the counting function. 
     The invention also creates a tool with such a manipulating device. The invention furthermore creates an electronic meter integrated into the tool, which meter is designed to put out an information item that is directly or indirectly related to the number of cuts that have been done with the tool. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are left and right front perspective views of a crimping tool in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  are detailed perspective views of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ; 
         FIGS. 3   a - 3   i  are detailed perspective views of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modification of the crimping tool of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , and 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of the other side of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a detailed front perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 , and 
         FIG. 6   b  is a sectional view of the portion identified by the elliptical portion A of  FIG. 6   a ; 
         FIG. 7   a  is a detailed front perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 , and 
         FIG. 7   b  is a sectional view of the area indicated by the elliptical circle B in  FIG. 7   a ; 
         FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view of the monitoring device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8   b  illustrates the use of the monitoring apparatus of  FIG. 8   a  with the crimping tool of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the monitoring apparatus of  FIG. 8   a , with certain parts removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first more particularly to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , the pliers-type tool  1  is provided for the processing, especially packaging, of light-wave transmitting optic fiber conductors  2 , in particular, for the processing, especially packaging, of Polymer Optical Fibers (POF), which, for example, are used for the transmission of light waves. 
     The tool is particularly designed for the purpose of packaging two light-wave conductors  2  with a plug-in device (in particular, so-called POF Duplex light-wave conductors and plug-in devices), whereby one particular feature consists of the fact that the packaging with the inventive tool can be so done that, as a rule, there is no further need for any subsequent polishing of the light-wave conductor cutting surface. 
     The tool for this purpose in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  offers devices for performing the functions of “stripping the POF light-wave conductors,” “crimping the plugs upon the POF light-wave conductors,” “cutting the POF light-wave conductors to the right length” and “crimping a traction relief on the plug.” It might be noted that it is particularly advantageous to combine all of these functions in one tool. But in the context of the invention, it is not mandatory that all of these functions be integrated onto one single manual tong. 
     The tool  1 , shown in  FIG. 1   a , is fashioned as manual tongs. It has two gripper handles  3 ,  4  that can be moved with relation to each other and a pincers body  5 . The gripper handles  3 ,  4  are provided with handle shells  6 ,  7 . 
     Pincers body  5  furthermore has two mutually relatively movable, in this case, pivotable operating jaws  8 ,  9 , which can be pivoted into an open position and into a closed position and which by means of their interplay form a pliers-type tool. 
     In the present case, one of the treatment jaws  8  is coupled rigidly with one of the gripper handles  3 ; it is preferably made integrally with the latter. The other treatment jaw  9 , on the other hand, is moved pivotally on a pivot shaft  11  on the first treatment jaw  8 . 
     Gripper handles  3  are connected movably via pivot shaft  11  with the clamping jaw  13  by means of which the closing and opening movement is performed. The clamping jaw is driven by toggle joint means  12  consisting of push arm  14 , gripper handle  4 , link  13 , and clamping jaw  9 . 
     When the two gripper handles  3 ,  4  are pressed together by hand, the second gripper handle  4  acts on rotary bearing  15 , as a result of which, the toggle joint means  12 , made up of push arm  14 , gripper handle  4 , link  13 , and clamping jaw  9 , is tensioned, so that the clamping link  13  is swung around the rotary bearing  11 , as a result of which, the treatment jaws  8 ,  9  move toward each other toward the closed position. 
     Various tools are mounted in or on the treatment jaws  8 ,  9 . First, as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  3   a , these tools comprise two stripping knives  16 ,  17  which are placed laterally upon the treatment jaws  8 ,  9  and which have the corresponding cutting areas  18 ,  19 . 
     These cutting areas  18 ,  19  are so dimensioned that a cut is made in light-wave conductors  2 , which are inserted into the cutting areas  18 ,  19 , which cut makes it possible to strip an enveloping jacket off the actual interior glass fiber line of the light-wave conductors  2  (see also  FIG. 3   a ). 
     As a result of the closing of the tool head/bit of tongs, light-wave conductors  2  in the process are positioned in a correct place in guides  35 ,  36  ( FIG. 3   a ) in the upper die and in the lower die or in the treatment cheeks and are fixed in position there. 
     It is not necessary to strip the light-wave conductors  2  to a precisely measured length because the final severing of the light-wave conductors  2  takes place only during the following crimping process during which they are automatically cut to the correct length. 
     This final severing of light-wave conductors  2  takes place here advantageously during the same closing motion of the pincers head during which the crimping of the light-wave conductor ends also takes place. 
     The tools on the manual tongs furthermore comprise several crimping dies  20 ,  21  as well as  22  in the mutually facing surfaces of the treatment jaws  8 ,  9  ( FIG. 2   a ). Using the two crimping dies  20 ,  21 , the two plugs or terminals  40 ,  41  of the plug-in device (see  FIGS. 3   b  to  3   e ) are crimped upon the light-wave conductors  2 . On the other hand, the third crimping die  22  is intended for crimping a traction relief sleeve  42  upon the plug housing  43  into which the two plugs or terminals  40 ,  41  are stuck (see  FIG. 3   i ). 
     Attached upon the side surface of the treatment cheeks  8 ,  9  facing away from the stripping knives  16 ,  17 , there is furthermore made a seat area  23  to receive a plug housing that has a stop  24 . This can be seen particularly clearly in  FIG. 2   c . Stop  24  has a number of plugs  40 ,  41  and light-wave conductors  2  that are to be treated, which number corresponds to the number of passage openings  25 ,  26 . Stop  24  furthermore is so contoured that the two plugs  40 ,  41  can be inserted only in the position that they have to assume for further treatment because, after crimping, turning the plug  40 ,  41  around the light-wave conductor axis is no longer possible. 
     To fix plugs  40 ,  41  in the tool or in the crimping dies  20 ,  21 , the latter is slightly closed, whereupon the two lightwave conductors  2  are introduced into the plugs so that they will protrude out front out of the passage openings  25 ,  26 . By closing the tool, the two plugs are then crimped upon the POF light-wave conductors  2 . 
     On the side of these passage openings  25 ,  26 , which face away from stop  24 , there is furthermore fashioned a length-trimming mechanism  27 , which is used for adjusting the length of the light-wave conductors during and after the crimping with the help of the two crimping dies  20 ,  21 . 
     The length-trimming mechanism  27  comprises a pressure disk  28 , which is mounted laterally and at a distance from stop  24  and which has a slanted outer circumferential surface  31  ( FIG. 2   b ). Pressure disc  28  can be screwed upon the lower treatment jaw  9  with a screw  33  and a washer  34 . Pressure disc  28  itself can be rotatably mounted on the screw. 
     The length-trimming mechanism  27  furthermore has a rotatable blade  29 , which is rotatably positioned itself upon a lever arm  30  and which by virtue of its arrangement at the end of the pivotal lever arm  30  can be so moved longitudinally along a circle arc segment that it can be used to sever any ends of the light-wave conductors  2  that might still stick out of the passage openings  25   26  during or after the crimping. 
     By virtue of its arrangement on the lever arm  30 , revolving blade  29  can be swung in a gap area (see  FIG. 2   b ) between pressure disc  28  and stop  24 . Lever arm  30  itself is pivoted because an end of an actuating lever  32  acts upon it, which lever is firmly connected with the gripper finger and which again acts upon lever  30  during or after the crimping in the course of the pressing together of handles  3 ,  4  toward the end of the crimping process ( FIGS. 3   f, g, h ). 
     Handle  4  pivots actuating lever  32  and the latter, in turn, pivots lever  30  along with rotary blade  29 , which in this way is pressed against the ends of the light-wave conductors  2  that protrude through the passage openings  25 ,  26 , and which cuts those ends off. 
     During the insertion of the plug into stop  24 , an elastically positioned end of the plugs  40 ,  41  bumps into the revolving blade  29  so that the tolerances of the individual parts of the plugs  40 ,  41  are balanced out and so that plugs  40 ,  41  will rest upon revolving blade  29 , so to speak, without any play. 
     During the insertion of the two POF light-wave conductors  2  into plugs  40 ,  41 , the stripped light-wave conductors  2  bump into a circulating slope  31  of the pressure disc  28  ( FIG. 2   b ) and thus slide along this slope  31  so that the POF light-wave conductors are relatively easily bent for the alignment of the longitudinal axes of the conductors in the plugs  40 ,  41  in the seat area  23  ( FIG. 3   d ). 
     It is advantageous that in front of the passage openings, there be placed, so to speak, a kind of obstacle by means of the pressure disc  28 , which [obstacle] lies along the extension of the longitudinal axis of the conductors in the passage openings  25 ,  26  so that the light-wave conductors will have to be laid obliquely around that obstacle, something that causes a slight pre-stress, which in that way definitely improves the cut image. 
     Tension is applied to the light-wave conductors  2  as a result of the bending action, which, during the subsequent severing of light-wave conductors  2 , brings about an outstanding cutting surface that does not have to be touched up by further polishing. The attenuation at the cutting site is extensively reduced already merely by means of the cut. 
     The user can thus cut off the POF light-wave conductors  2  in a easily handled fashion with the same closing motion that is used to crimp the plugs  40 ,  41 . In the final analysis, the cut again runs at a right angle with respect to the light-wave conductor so that the light-wave conductor will end flush with the plug. 
     Shortly before the tool has been completely closed, the actuation lever  32  presses against lever  30 , as a result of which, revolving knife  29  will cut the protruding light-wave conductors  2  off flush on plug  40  ( FIG. 3   h ). 
     During the cutting-off process, rotary blade  29  is driven for which purpose there is provided a drive mechanism. In this case, the latter comprises at least one driving pinion gear  37  and one detent pawl  38  ( FIG. 2   b ). By means of the pinion gear  37  and the detent pawl  38 , rotary blade  29  is made to perform a rotary motion until the cut on the light-wave conductors  2  has been completed. To optimize the cutting surface on the light-wave conductors  2 , the revolving blade  29  is made to perform a rotary motion (see also in this respect  FIG. 2   c ). 
     This is done, as shown in  FIG. 2   d , by means of the pivotal motion of lever arm  30 , of the pinion gear and of the detent pawl  38  and a second detent pawl  44 . The first detent pawl  38  is firmly connected with the seat area  23 , the pinion gear  37  is firmly connected with knife  29 , and both of them together are positioned in a rotary manner on an arbor. 
     If lever arm  30  is actuated, the first detent pawl  38  exerts pressure upon the detent pawl position  37  and thus causes knife  29  to perform a rotary motion. Detent pawl  44  prevents the crown gear  37  and thus also the revolving blade  29  from a reverse rotation, which has the advantageous consequence that the knife, during each cut, is used at another point. 
     Crimping die  22  for traction relief is made or arranged up front in the bit of the jaws so that the preassembled unit with the components including plugs  40 ,  41 , housing  43 , cable traction relief sleeve  42  can in a simple manner be inserted into and taken out of crimping die  22 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment in  FIG. 4 , guide plates  61 ,  62  are arranged for the better guidance of the light-wave conductors in the skinning station and for a more uniform notching of the insulation of the light-wave conductors next to the stripping knives  16 ,  17 . During the stripping action, these guide plates  61 ,  62  are pressed against each other, all the way to recesses  63 ,  64 , which form passage openings for the light-wave conductors  2 . Guide plates  61 ,  62  improve the cutting quality during the skinning action in that they prevent any damage to the actual light-conducting fibers of the light-wave conductor. Moreover, the manual forces needed for pulling out the fiber is reduced and any damage to the fibers by the stripping knife  16 ,  17  is thus prevented. 
       FIG. 5  shows another advantageous detail of an exemplary embodiment of inventive manual pliers-type tool. This time, no pressure disc  28  is provided in order to secure the oblique position of the conductor during the cutting action. Instead, this oblique position is achieved by knife  29  and a guide  49 . These manual arms are provided with a spring  46 , which is supported on the pincer head. Here, spring  46  is a leaf spring, which is fixed on pincer head  5  with a screw  47  and a nut  48  and possibly a washer. It is arranged on the side of the pincer head  5  upon which is also arranged the length-cutting mechanism  27  for adjusting the length of the light-wave conductors  2 . Spring  46  is so designed and arranged that during the closing of the pincers, it will press plugs  40 ,  41  in the direction of an abutment. Here, this abutment is constituted by stop  24 . 
     In this way, we can make sure that the light-wave conductors  2  will have their length adjusted at the correct axial point because the plugs  41  in a defined manner come to rest against the abutment against which spring  46  presses them. Spring  46  thus has the effect of an automatic positioning aid for the plugs  41  (see also  FIG. 6   a ).  FIG. 5  also shows a protective cover  60 , especially for the revolving blade  29 . 
     According to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the modified length-cutting mechanism again has a revolving blade  29 , which is rotatably positioned and which can be driven and which, by virtue of its arrangement at the end of the pivotal lever arm  30 , can be so moved along a circular arc segment that, with its help, we can sever any ends of the light-wave conductors  2  that still protrude during or after the crimping. 
     Lever arm  30  is swung as described in connection with  FIG. 3   h . Here, we can clearly see the crown gear  37  and a detent pawl  38  that rotate or drive the revolving blade. By virtue of its arrangement on lever arm  30  in a gap area (see  FIG. 7 ) or in a recess  50 , revolving blade  29  can be swung between seat  24  and guide  49 . 
     Rotary blade  29  rests directly against pinion gear  37  and is coupled with it in a rotation-proof manner. On its side opposite the crown gear  37 , the rotary blade  29  rests against a pressure disc  128 . This pressure disc  128  preferably has a diameter that is only slightly smaller (preferably at most 20% smaller) than the diameter of cutting knife  29 . A washer  34  and a spring, in this case, a spring washer  52 , are preferably arranged between screw  33  and press-on disc  128 . Press-on disc  128  preferably has an axial shoulder or catch  53 , which serves as a contact area to the cutting knife  29 . In that way, the cutting knife, as the revolving blade  29 , is exactly guided in this area ( FIG. 6   b ) and cannot evade during the cutting of the light-wave conductors  2 . 
     The actual cutting process is illustrated in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b .  FIG. 7  shows how plugs  41 , with the light-wave guides, rest in guide  49 . Guide  49  is placed against the pincer head, preferably against the lower treatment jaw  9 , and is attached upon the latter or it is molded upon the latter. Cutting knife  29  can be moved with relation to the fixed guide  49 . For example, between stop  24  of seat area  23  and guide  49 , a recess  50  is provided into which the cutting knife  29  extends during the cutting process. Guide  49  furthermore has a number of passage openings  55 ,  56  (or blind holes), which would correspond to the number of light-wave conductors  2  that are to be cut. 
     Passage openings  55 ,  56  are preferably so shaped that they become somewhat wider in the direction toward the free ends of the light-wave conductors  2 . In that way, the actual fiber of the light-wave conductors  2  is forced a little bit obliquely upward by revolving blade  29  during the cutting process  2 . This slight slanted position prevents the uncontrolled bending of light-wave conductors  2 . In that way, again, we can facilitate easy bending under tension. The slanted position in that way, however, is nevertheless so dimensioned that the actual cut is still made precisely perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conductor. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8   a , in accordance with the present invention, a transport device is provided for placing the plugs on the seat for crimping by the crimping dies. This transport device has a housing  100  out of which protrudes one or preferably several parallel pins  101 ,  102 ,  103 . The housing can be assembled by means of two relatively flat, easily retained housing half-shells. 
     Pins  101 ,  102 ,  103  are aligned parallel to each other. Two of these pins, in this case, outer pins  101 ,  103 , are longer than the third middle pin  102 . The two outer pins are so dimensioned that in each case one of the plugs  40 ,  41  can be mounted concentrically on them ( FIG. 8   a ). This arrangement facilitates a particularly simple positioning of these plugs on seat  23 . 
     The transport device can be so shaped that it can be stored in a hollow space or in a recess of the gripper handle  107  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) if the tool is not in use. In that case, for example, it can be locked in a seat area of one gripper handle. 
     Preferably, the transport manipulating device is also designed as monitor for indicating the number of operations or cuts made by the tool. Here, it is advantageous to integrate an electronic circuit  105  into the chamber C of housing  100  and to arrange one or several display devices, such as an LED display  106 , on housing  100 . Preferably, electronic circuit  105  is so designed that as the pincers are partially displaced together to press the lugs  40  and  41  onto the seat  23 , a switch  122  is closed, for example, an electrically conducting current path  125  between middle pin  102  and one of the plugs  40 ,  41  on one of the outer pins  101 ,  103  via a part of the treatment tool, which is electrically conducting. The electronic circuit registers this closing of the current path as a signal. The registered signals are added up by the counter  124  and the sum signal is stored. The sum signal furthermore is compared with one or several boundary values. The display device is triggered as a function of this comparison. 
     The monitoring tool pins are withdrawn from the plugs, and the light-wave conductors are inserted into the lugs, whereupon the handles are pivoted together to initially effect the crimping operation, and to subsequently produce the desired cutting off of the light-conductor ends. 
     Because the pincers at any rate, as a rule, are closed only when one or several plugs  40 ,  41  were laid into the seat with the insertion aid and because the pincers head was closed for a crimping process or a length-adjustment process, the total counter signal yields an information item that precisely, or at any rate mostly precisely, corresponds to the number of cuts that were made, or at any rate approximately so, if we assume that every time a plug is inserted, a cut will also follow as a rule. 
     If the signal exceeds a stored boundary value, then a corresponding information item can be put out. For example, an LED can light up or its color can change. The LED can also change its color several times and, for example, below a first boundary value can light up green; upon attainment of a second boundary value, it can light up yellow, something that indicates that knife  29  must be exchanged soon, and when a secondary boundary value is exceeded it can flash red, indicating that knife  29  must be changed now. 
     In this way, the knife quality can be controlled in a simple manner and without having to use a rather expensive meter mechanism. The counter can be set back at zero by a RESET, for example, a switch (not shown). 
     Concerning the description of preferred exemplary embodiments, it might be noted that some preferred embodiments will hereafter also be described in detail, but that the invention is not confined to these embodiments, rather that it can be designed in any varied ways within the context of the claims. In particular, terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front” or “rear” should not be construed in any restrictive fashion, but rather refer only to the particular illustrated arrangement. Besides, when individual parts are explained, they—unless otherwise indicated—are basically also conceivable in several versions. The patent protection furthermore also covers functional reversals of the illustrated arrangements and processes as well as equivalent embodiments. While the present invention has been described in connection with light-wave conductors, the invention could be use for crimping on insulated wire conductors, as well. 
     While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without deviating from the invention described above.