Cable sorter automat and a method for automatically sorting cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9522416-B2
Application number	US-201514873826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 3, 2013
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A cable sorter for a plurality of cables is provided and includes a cable receiving device and a cable assembly device. The cable receiving device includes a plurality of cable receiving grooves, while the cable assembly device includes a cable feeding passageway. The cable feeding passageway is positioned to correspond with the plurality of cable receiving grooves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable sorter for a plurality of cables, comprising:
a cable receiving device with a plurality of cable receiving grooves;
a cable assembly device with a cable feeding passageway and corresponding with the plurality of cable receiving grooves; and
a stationary retention member enclosing the plurality of cable receiving grooves that are not aligned with the cable feeding passageway.

2. The cable sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the cable feeding passageway includes a pair of positioning surfaces that face and extend parallel with respect to each other.

3. The cable sorter according to claim 2 , wherein a width of the cable feeding passageway between 100% and 200% of a diameter of the plurality of cables.

4. The cable sorter according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of cable receiving grooves includes a cable receiving passageway that aligns with the cable feeding passageway.

5. The cable sorter according to claim 4 , wherein a diameter of the plurality of cable receiving grooves is between 110% and 130% of the diameter of the plurality of cables.

6. The cable sorter according to claim 5 , wherein the cable receiving passageway is limited by a deflection surface.

7. The cable sorter according to claim 6 , wherein the deflection surface includes a vector having a first component parallel to a surface of the cable receiving device and a second component perpendicular to the surface of the cable receiving device.

8. The cable sorter according to claim 7 , wherein the deflection surface is substantially flat.

9. The cable sorter according to claim 1 , wherein further comprising a cable transfer member movable along the cable feeding passageway.

10. The cable sorter according to claim 9 , wherein the cable transfer member is aligned and corresponds with the plurality of cable receiving grooves.

11. The cable sorter according to claim 10 , wherein the cable receiving device includes a cable transfer passageway that opens towards a surface of the cable receiving device.

12. The cable sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the cable receiving device includes a cylinder revolvable around a rotational axis and the plurality of cable receiving grooves disposed along a surface thereof.

13. The cable sorter according to claim 11 , wherein the cable transfer passageway is a continuous channel.

14. A cable sorter for a plurality of cables, comprising:
a cable assembly device with a cable feeding passageway; and
a cable receiving device with a plurality of cable receiving grooves, each of the plurality of cable receiving grooves including a cable receiving passageway that aligns with the cable feeding passageway, each cable receiving passageway limited by a deflection surface which is angled with respect to the cable receiving device.

15. The cable sorter according to claim 14 , wherein an angle between the deflection surface and the surface of the cable receiving device is between 25° and 35°.

16. A cable sorter for a plurality of cables, comprising:
a cable receiving device with a plurality of cable receiving grooves;
a cable assembly device with a cable feeding passageway and corresponding with the plurality of cable receiving grooves; and
a cable transfer member movable along the cable feeding passageway.

17. The cable sorter according to claim 16 , wherein the cable transfer member is aligned and corresponds with the plurality of cable receiving grooves.

18. The cable sorter according to claim 17 , wherein the cable receiving device includes a cable transfer passageway that opens towards a surface of the cable receiving device.

19. The cable sorter according to claim 18 , wherein the cable transfer passageway is a continuous channel.

Assignees

• Te Connectivity Nederland Bv

Inventors

• Van Wuyckhuyse Louis
• Van Der Bruggen Ton

Classifications

• B07C5/38 Primary

  Collecting or arranging articles in groups · CPC title

• G02B6/4416 Primary

  Heterogeneous cables · CPC title

• H01R43/28

  for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26 · CPC title

• G02B6/3817

  containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/448

  Ribbon cables · CPC title