Tooling sensing and calibration apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021123773-A1
Application number	US-201916667228-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2019
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Apr 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus to verify that proper tooling has been installed in a cable preparation apparatus and/or to calibrate the tooling prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein. The method includes: inserting a reference device between blades of the cable preparation device; moving the blades inward toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device; collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device; and comparing the collected data of the blades to an expected range of data of the reference device, wherein if the collected data of the blades does not conform to the expected range of data of the reference device the tooling is not validated, and the apparatus alerts the user.

First claim

1 . A method to verify that proper tooling has been installed in a cable preparation apparatus prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein, the method comprising:
inserting a reference device between blades of the cable preparation device; moving the blades inward toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device; collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device; and comparing the collected data of the blades to an expected range of data of the reference device.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein if the collected data of the blades does not conform to the expected range of data of the reference device the tooling is not validated, and the apparatus alerts the user.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reference device is a mandrel which has a known diameter.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
inserting the mandrel through an opening in a blade control mechanism of the cable preparation apparatus.

5 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the blades are mounted on blade control arms which are mounted on the blade control mechanism of the cable preparation apparatus.

6 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the blades are braid cutting wheels.

7 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the blades are insulation cutting blades.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
monitoring the current on motors which drive the blades to detect when the blades have encountered an object wherein the collected data is the amount of current needed to move the blades, wherein as the blades contact the reference device, the current needed to move the blades is increased, allowing a controller of the cable preparation apparatus to recognize that the blades have contacted the reference device.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
monitoring the position of the blades with encoders, wherein the collected data is the position of the blades as collected by encoders, wherein as the blades contact the reference device, the encoders of the cable preparation apparatus send position data to a controller of the cable preparation apparatus.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
moving the blades under low torque toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device.

11 . A method to calibrate the positioning of tooling in a cable preparation apparatus prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein, the method comprising:
i) inserting a reference device between blades of the cable preparation device; ii) moving the blades inward toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device; iii) collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device; iv) moving the blades away from the reference device; v) repeating steps ii), iii) and iv) at least once; vi) averaging the data collected; and vii) recording the average collected data to calibrate the blades.

12 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the reference device is a mandrel which has a known diameter.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the blades are mounted on blade control arms which are mounted on the blade control mechanism of the cable preparation apparatus.

14 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the blades are braid cutting wheels.

15 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the blades are insulation cutting blades.

16 . The method as recited in claim 11 , comprising:
monitoring the current on motors which drive the blades to detect when the blades have encountered an object.

17 . The method as recited in claim 11 , comprising:
monitoring the position of the blades with encoders.

18 . The method as recited in claim 11 , comprising:
monitoring the current on motors which drive the blades to detect when the blades have encountered an object; and monitoring the position of the blades with encoders.

19 . The method as recited in claim 11 , comprising:
moving the blades under low torque toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device.

20 . A cable preparation apparatus comprising:
a blade control mechanism with a center opening; blade control arms pivotally mounted on the blade control mechanism; blades mounted to the blade control arms; a mandrel movably mounted to extend into the center opening and extend between the blades of the blade control arms; a first drive mechanism, a first drive wheel cooperates with the first drive mechanism, the first drive wheel extends between the first drive mechanism and a first drive motor; a second drive mechanism which is spaced from but in line with the first drive mechanism, a second drive wheel cooperates with the second drive mechanism, the second drive wheel extends between the second drive mechanism and a second drive motor.

21 . The cable preparation device as recited in claim 20 , wherein the blades are braid cutting wheels.

22 . The cable preparation device as recited in claim 20 , wherein the blades are insulation cutting blades.

23 . The cable preparation device as recited in claim 20 , wherein the first and second drive motors run at a reduced current, which reduces their output torque, wherein the torque can be adjusted such that blades do not damage the mandrel when the blades are moved into engagement with the mandrel.

24 . A method of developing a cable preparation sequence for a cable preparation apparatus, the method comprising:
placing a prepared cable in a first position in the cable preparation apparatus, the prepared cable being in a post-stripped condition; moving blades of the cable preparation apparatus until a first section of the prepared cable is contacted by the blades, defining a first position of the blades; recording the position of the blades when the blades are in the first position; retracting the blades from the first position; moving the prepared cable to a second position in the cable preparation apparatus; moving the blades of the cable preparation apparatus until a second section of the prepared cable is contacted by the blades, defining a second position of the blades; recording the position of the blades when the blades are in the second position; creating the cable preparation sequence for the cable preparation apparatus using the recorded first position of the blades and the recorded second position of the blades.

Assignees

• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Houser Matthew Steven
• Spade Rodney
• Deck Gary L
• Gavlak Christopher John
• Morris Michael
• Backenstoes Thomas Emery

Classifications

• H02G1/127

  Features relating to cutting elements · CPC title

• H02G1/1253

  making a transverse cut · CPC title

• Y10T83/86

  To another tool assembly · CPC title

• B26D7/2628

  Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member · CPC title

• G01D5/14 Primary

  influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage · CPC title