Automated Methods and Apparatus for Installing Sleeves on Shielded Electrical Cables

An apparatus for placing a sleeve on a cable, the apparatus comprising:

• a split funnel assembly comprising:
• a first actuator comprising first and second guide carriages which translate from funnel open positions to funnel closed positions in response to a close funnel command;
• and
• a split funnel comprising a first funnel half mounted to the first guide carriage and a second funnel half mounted to the second guide carriage, wherein the first funnel half comprises a first cable guide channel and a first funnel extension and the second funnel half comprises a second cable guide channel and a second funnel extension, and wherein the split funnel is in a funnel closed state while the first and second guide carriages are in the funnel closed positions;
• a cable feeding mechanism configured to feed the cable in response to a feed cable command, wherein the cable feeding mechanism is aligned to feed the cable between the first and second funnel halves while the split funnel is closed;
• a robot comprising a robot tool mounting flange and a plurality of robot motors, wherein the robot is configured to move the robot tool mounting flange in accordance with robot motor control commands;
• a sleeve gripper mounted to the robot tool mounting flange, wherein the sleeve gripper is configured to grip the sleeve in response to a grip sleeve command;
• and
• a computer configured to output the close funnel command, the grip sleeve command, robot motor control commands that seat the sleeve on the first and second funnel extensions while the split funnel is in the funnel closed state, and the feed cable command in accordance with a predetermined computer program,
• wherein while the split funnel is in the funnel closed state, the first and second funnel extensions form a seat for the sleeve and the first and second cable guide channels to form a repeatable path for the cable to follow through the funnel.

A computer-implemented method for placing a sleeve on a cable, the method comprising automated operations performed by an automated workstation, wherein the automated operations comprise:

• closing a split funnel that comprises first and second funnel halves;
• picking up a sleeve using a sleeve gripper carried by a robot;
• placing an open end of the sleeve onto first and second funnel extensions projecting forward from the first and second funnel halves respectively of the closed split funnel;
• feeding an end of the cable through the split funnel and sleeve;
• removing a jacket slug from the end of the cable to expose shielding of the cable;
• retracting the cable until the exposed shielding is centered within the sleeve seated on the first and second funnel extensions;
• retracting the split funnel away from the cable centering gripper;
• releasing the sleeve from the sleeve gripper;
• moving the sleeve gripper away from the sleeve;
• activating heaters to heat the sleeve;
• and
• cooling the hot sleeve with cold air.