Automated methods and apparatus for installing a sleeve on a cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11640862-B2
Application number	US-202117458063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2021
Priority date	Nov 19, 2018
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for processing a cable comprising:
(a) robotically picking up a sleeve, transporting the sleeve to a vicinity of first and second prongs of an extension of a funnel, and placing the sleeve on the first and second prongs;
(b) activating a cable positioning mechanism that pushes an end of a cable through the funnel, between the first and second prongs and through the sleeve until a specified portion of the cable is positioned in a heating zone separated from the ends of the first and second prongs by a distance;
(c) robotically moving the sleeve from a position in contact with the first and second prongs to a position in the heating zone whereat the sleeve surrounds the specified portion of the cable; and
(d) heating the sleeve in the heating zone while the sleeve surrounds the specified portion of the cable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises generating a heat in the heating zone until the sleeve melts on the specified portion of the cable.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein step (c) occurs after step (b).

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein step (c) occurs during step (b).

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the specified portion of the cable includes a length of exposed shield and the sleeve is a solder sleeve.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the solder sleeve comprises a solder ring and a pair of insulating rings, the method further comprising robotically gripping the solder sleeve between the solder ring and the insulating rings before robotically picking up the solder sleeve.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the funnel has an open top, the method further comprising lifting the cable up until no portion of the cable is between the first and second prongs.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein activating the cable positioning mechanism comprises rotating a pair of wheels that form a nip with a portion of the cable therein.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the funnel comprises funnel halves, the method further comprising separating the funnel halves to enable the melted sleeve to pass between the separated funnel halves.

10. A method for processing a shielded cable, the method comprising:
placing a portion of the shielded cable between a pair of wheels that form a nip;
robotically placing a sleeve on an extension of a funnel having an entry side that faces the nip;
driving rotation of the wheels in a cable pushing direction to cause an end of the shielded cable to move through the funnel until an exposed shield of the shielded cable is positioned in a heating zone at a distance from the funnel;
robotically moving the sleeve from the extension of the funnel to a position in the heating zone; and
heating the sleeve in the heating zone until material of the sleeve is melted over the exposed shield.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising driving rotation of the wheels in a cable pulling direction after the sleeve has been melted.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the funnel has an open top, the method further comprising lifting the cable up through the open top until no portion of the cable is between the first and second prongs.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the funnel comprises funnel halves, the method further comprising separating the funnel halves to enable the melted sleeve to pass between the separated funnel halves.

14. A method for automated installation of a solder sleeve on a shielded cable, the method comprising automated operations performed by an automated workstation, which automated operations comprise:
(a) placing the solder sleeve on an extension of a funnel;
(b) moving an end of the shielded cable into and through the funnel until an exposed shield of the shielded cable is positioned in a heating zone at a distance from the extension of the funnel;
(c) robotically moving the solder sleeve from the extension of the funnel to a position in the heating zone where the solder sleeve surrounds the exposed shield; and
(d) heating the solder sleeve in the heating zone until material of the solder sleeve is melted over the exposed shield of the shielded cable.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein step (c) occurs after step (b).

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein step (c) occurs during step (b).

17. The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising: (e) removing the shielded cable from the funnel subsequent to step (d).

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the funnel has an open top and step (e) comprises lifting the shielded cable up through the open top until no portion of the shielded cable is inside the funnel.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the funnel comprises funnel halves and step (e) comprises separating the funnel halves to enable the melted sleeve to pass between the separated funnel halves.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein moving the end of the shielded cable through the funnel comprises rotating a pair of wheels that form a nip with a portion of the shielded cable therein.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Duncan Grace L
• Blacken Lars E
• Cutler Keith M
• Mitchell Bradley J

Classifications

• H01R9/0512

  Connections to an additional grounding conductor · CPC title

• H01B13/0036 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• H02G1/00

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines · CPC title

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title

• H01B13/0016

  for heat treatment · CPC title