INTEGRATED WIRE CABLE TWISTING, WRAPPING, AND TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

摘要

A single machine configured to manufacture a wire cable assembly including an twisted wire pair and a drain wire having a conductive tape and an insulative tape spirally wrapped about said wire pair. The machine includes a first clamp that secures an end of the wire pair and a second clamp that secures the other end of the wire pair. The second clamp rotates while the first clamp is fixed thereby twisting the wires of the wire pair one about the other. The second clamp can also rotate synchronously with the first clamp thereby rotating the wire pair without twisting. The machine also has a tape reel configured to move parallel to the clamps as they rotate, wrapping tape around the wire pair. The apparatus can be configured to apply the tapes simultaneously to electromagnetically shield and insulate the cable assembly. A method of operating the apparatus is also provided.

主权项

1. An apparatus configured to manufacture a wire cable assembly including an insulated twisted wire pair having a tape spirally wrapped about said wire pair, said apparatus comprising:
a first clamp to secure a first end of the wire pair and to rotate or maintain a fixed position; a second clamp to secure a second end of the wire pair axially opposed to the first clamp, to rotate while the first clamp maintains the fixed position thereby twisting the wires of the wire pair one about the other, or to rotate synchronously with the rotation of the first clamp thereby rotating the wire pair without twisting; and a first tape reel holding a first tape and configured to move generally parallel to the axis of the first and second clamps when they rotate synchronously thereby wrapping the first tape around the wire pair.