Crimping tool exchange device

A crimping press system comprising:

• a crimping press for producing a crimp connection between a conductor end of a cable and a crimp contact at a processing position;
• a crimping tool exchange device for exchanging a first crimping tool, the first crimping tool being arranged at a processing position in a crimping press for producing a crimp connection to connect a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, for a second crimping tool;
• the crimping tool exchange device including a first exchange unit for releasably retaining the first crimping tool and a second exchange unit for releasably retaining the second crimping tool, the first exchange unit being movable to an exchange position at which the first crimping tool can be moved in a first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the first exchange unit and moved from the first exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction, the second exchange unit being movable to the exchange position at which the second crimping tool can be moved in the first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the second exchange unit and moved from the second exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• wherein the first exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line second direction, and the second exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line third direction that is different from the straight line second direction;
• wherein the straight line second direction and the straight line third direction meet at the exchange position and the straight line second direction is at an angle of less than 150° relative to the straight line third direction;
• and
• wherein the crimping tool exchange device is rigidly connected to the crimping press to enable an exchange of the first crimping tool, arranged at the processing position in the crimping press, for the second crimping tool.

A method for exchanging a first crimping tool, arranged at a processing position in a crimping press, for a second crimping tool, the crimping press producing a crimp connection using a one of the first and second crimping tools arranged at the processing position by connecting a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing a crimping tool exchange device having a first exchange unit for releasably retaining the first crimping tool and a second exchange unit for releasably retaining the second crimping tool;
• the first exchange unit being movable to an exchange position at which the first crimping tool can be moved in a first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the first exchange unit and moved from the first exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction, the second exchange unit being movable to the exchange position at which the second crimping tool can be moved in the first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the second exchange unit and moved from the second exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• wherein the first exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line second direction, and the second exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line third direction that is different from the straight line second direction;
• wherein the straight line second direction and the straight line third direction meet at the exchange position;
• providing the second exchange unit with the second crimping tool while the second exchange unit is at a home position of the second exchange unit;
• providing the first exchange unit at the exchange position;
• moving the first crimping tool, in the first direction, from the processing position onto the first exchange unit;
• linearly moving the first exchange unit together with the first crimping tool, in the straight line second direction, away from the exchange position and into a home position of the first exchange unit;
• linearly moving the second exchange unit together with the second crimping tool, in the straight line third direction, into the exchange position;
• and
• moving the second crimping tool, in the first direction, from the second exchange unit into the processing position, wherein the straight line second direction is at an angle of less than 150° relative to the straight line third direction.

A crimping tool exchange device for exchanging a first crimping tool, the first crimping tool being arranged at a processing position in a crimping press for producing a crimp connection to connect a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, for a second crimping tool comprising:

• a first exchange unit for releasably retaining the first crimping tool and a second exchange unit for releasably retaining the second crimping tool;
• the first exchange unit being movable to an exchange position at which the first crimping tool can be moved in a first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the first exchange unit and moved from the first exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• the second exchange unit being movable to the exchange position at which the second crimping tool can be moved in the first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the second exchange unit and moved from the second exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• wherein the first exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line second direction, the second exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line third direction that is different from the second direction, and the straight line second direction is at an angle of less than 150° relative to the straight line third direction;
• and
• a rail extending in the straight line second direction along which the first exchange unit moves and another rail extending in the straight line third direction along which the second exchange unit moves.

A crimping tool exchange device for exchanging a first crimping tool, the first crimping tool being arranged at a processing position in a crimping press for producing a crimp connection to connect a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, for a second crimping tool comprising:

• a first exchange unit for releasably retaining the first crimping tool and a second exchange unit for releasably retaining the second crimping tool;
• the first exchange unit being movable to an exchange position at which the first crimping tool can be moved in a first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the first exchange unit and moved from the first exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• the second exchange unit being movable to the exchange position at which the second crimping tool can be moved in the first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the second exchange unit and moved from the second exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• wherein the first exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line second direction, and the second exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line third direction that is different from the straight line second direction;
• and
• wherein the straight line second direction is at an angle of less than 150° relative to the straight line third direction,
• and wherein the straight line second direction and the straight line third direction meet at the exchange position and including a spacer element for preventing a spacing between the first exchange unit and the second exchange unit from falling below a minimum spacing, the spacing being a sum of a distance of the first exchange unit from the exchange position in the straight line second direction and a distance of the second exchange unit from the exchange position in the straight line third direction.

A crimping tool exchange device for exchanging a first crimping tool, the first crimping tool being arranged at a processing position in a crimping press for producing a crimp connection to connect a conductor end of a cable to a crimp contact, for a second crimping tool comprising:

• a first exchange unit for releasably retaining the first crimping tool and a second exchange unit for releasably retaining the second crimping tool;
• the first exchange unit being movable to an exchange position at which the first crimping tool can be moved in a first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the first exchange unit and moved from the first exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• the second exchange unit being movable to the exchange position at which the second crimping tool can be moved in the first direction from the processing position in the crimping press to the second exchange unit and moved from the second exchange unit into the processing position opposite the first direction;
• wherein the first exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line second direction, and the second exchange unit is arranged to move linearly from the exchange position in a straight line third direction that is different from the straight line second direction;
• and
• wherein the straight line second direction is at an angle of less than 150° relative to the straight line third direction,
• and wherein the crimping press has a cover movable into a closed position and wherein the crimping tool exchange device is arranged on the crimping press and each of the first exchange unit and the second exchange unit is movable out of the exchange position whereby one of the first and second exchange units is positioned within the cover in the closed position and another of the first and second exchange units is positioned outside the closed cover, or both of the first and second exchange units are positioned outside the closed cover.