# US 2023/0411920 A1 · Device and method for assembling a plug connector

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- Number: US 2023/0411920 A1
- Document ID: US20230411920A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/032,579
- Filed: 2021-10-28
- Published: 2023-12-21
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-29
- Assignees: Metzner Holding GmbH
- Applicants: Metzner Holding GmbH
- Inventors: Manfred SORG; Pascal MAIER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230411920A1

## CPC

- H01R 43/28: for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
- H01R 43/05: with wire-insulation stripping
- H01R 43/052: with wire-feeding mechanism
- H02G 1/1256: {using wire or cable-clamping means}
- H01R 2103/00: Two poles
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for assembling a plug connector (2) on a front end portion of at least one first cable (3.1). The device (1) has a first holding element (13) for holding the first cable (3.1) at a holding portion. The holding portion is arranged downstream of the front end portion along the longitudinal axis (L) of the first cable (3.1) in the direction of a rear cable end. The first holding element (13) is designed to pivot about the front end portion of the first cable (3.1).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for assembling a plug connector on a front end portion of at least one first line, having a first holding element for holding the first line on a holding portion which is arranged downstream of the front end portion along the longitudinal axis of the first line in the direction of a rear line end, wherein the first holding element is configured to pivot the front end portion of the first line, and a second holding element for holding a second line on a holding portion is arranged downstream of the front end portion along the longitudinal axis of the second line in the direction of a rear line end, wherein the second holding element is configured to pivot the front end portion of the second line, and wherein the first and second holding elements are configured to either pivot the first and second lines independently from each other or synchronously in opposing directions.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding element and/or the second holding element have one respective line receiver which is configured to fix the corresponding line positively and/or non-positively to a sheath.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding element and/or the second holding element can be advanced onto the line for receiving the line and can be moved away from the line for releasing the line (3.1, 3.2).

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6

(canceled)

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding element and/or the second holding element are configured to pivot the front end portion in an angular range of between 0° and 120°.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding element and/or the second holding element are rotatably mounted about one respective pivot axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first holding element and/or the second holding element are fastened in the region of a first end of one respective extension arm, and wherein the extension arm is rotatably mounted about the pivot axis in the region of a second end.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the extension arm has an actuating pin which is configured to pivot the extension arm and thus the respective holding element about the pivot axis.

### Claim 13

(canceled)

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator unit which is configured to pivot the first holding element and/or the second holding element by means of the actuating pin of the extension arm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one actuator unit is configured to introduce a rotational movement into the actuating pin which is arranged coaxially to the pivot axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one actuator unit is configured to displace the actuating pin, which is arranged axially offset to the pivot axis, in a linear manner in order to move the actuating pin inside the sliding guide.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit for fixing the at least one line to a fixing portion which is arranged downstream of the holding portion along the longitudinal axis of the line in the direction of the rear line end.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fixing unit is configured as a pneumatic fixing unit, wherein the fixing unit fixes the line in a state without the application of compressed air and releases the line(s) in a state with the application of compressed air.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a compressed air coupling unit (34) configured to supply compressed air to the fixing unit exclusively at processing stations for introducing and removing the lines.

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one stop element arranged along the at least one line at a stop position assigned to the stop element in order to block positively the displacement path of the plug connector components on the line, wherein the stop position is arranged downstream of the holding portion along the longitudinal axis of the at least one line in the direction of the rear line end.

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transport apparatus including a workpiece carrier for the transport of the at least one line between individual processing modules and/or processing tools in a line transport direction.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein a line carrier is fastened to the workpiece carrier, with the first holding element, the second holding element, the fixing unit and/or the stop elements being arranged thereon.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the line carrier is movable on the workpiece carrier in an advancing direction in order to advance the front end portion of the at least one line onto at least one processing module and/or processing tool for the processing.

### Claim 28

(canceled)

### Claim 29

A method for assembling a plug connector on a front end portion of at least one first line, according to which a first holding element holds the first line on a holding portion which is arranged downstream of the front end portion along the longitudinal axis of the first line in the direction of a rear line end, and the first holding element pivots the front end portion of the first line, as required, and a second holding element holds a second line on a holding portion which is arranged downstream of the front end portion along the longitudinal axis of the second line in the direction of a rear line end, wherein the second holding element pivots the front end portion of the second line, as required, and wherein the first and second holding elements either pivot the first and second lines independently from each other or synchronously in opposing directions.

### Claim 30

(canceled)

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first holding element holds the front end portion of the first line in a pivoted state, while the front end portion of the second line is processed for assembling the plug connector, and wherein the second holding element holds the front end portion of the second line in a pivoted state, while the front end portion of the first line is processed for assembling the plug connector.

### Claim 32

(canceled)

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

A computer program product with program code means, in order to carry out a method as claimed in claim 29 when the program is executed on a control apparatus of a device for assembling a plug connector.
