Insertion tool operable in accordance with a predetermined program to insert a plurality of conductors in insulation-piercing contacts disposed on opposite sides of an electrical connector
First Claim
1. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of free-ended insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions arranged in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
- connector support means for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto;
a plurality of insertion levers each including an upper and a lower end and each pivotally mounted in alignment with each other on opposite sides of said connector support means;
a pair of conductor insertion tools each mounted at said upper end of a respective insertion lever and each including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion;
a circuit including a device having extensible means connected to said lower ends of said insertion levers, first switch means operable to cause said extensible means of said device to pivot the upper ends of said insertion levers toward each other to effect conductor insertion, and second switch means operated by one of said levers upon completion of insertion to reverse said device and withdraw said extensible means; and
insertion lever carriage means mounted for movement relative said connector support means between points spaced a distance of at least the spacing between the parallel content portions of a row.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for inserting a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contacts of an electrical connector employs a programmer for controlling the movement of a carriage along the electrical connector and for controlling the insertion of a predetermined number of conductors on each side of the connector. The carriage is mounted for movement along the connector and is programmed for rest insertion positions whereat insertion tools are operated to insert and terminate the conductors. The programming and indexing mechanism includes a ratchet operated by the insertion mechanism to cock, via a torsion spring, a programming drum or cylinder which limits movement of the carriage to define positions along the connector. At these positions, the insertion mechanism is operated to insert a plurality of conductors, for example five conductors, on each side of the electrical connector.
24 Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of free-ended insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions arranged in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a plurality of insertion levers each including an upper and a lower end and each pivotally mounted in alignment with each other on opposite sides of said connector support means; a pair of conductor insertion tools each mounted at said upper end of a respective insertion lever and each including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; a circuit including a device having extensible means connected to said lower ends of said insertion levers, first switch means operable to cause said extensible means of said device to pivot the upper ends of said insertion levers toward each other to effect conductor insertion, and second switch means operated by one of said levers upon completion of insertion to reverse said device and withdraw said extensible means; and insertion lever carriage means mounted for movement relative said connector support means between points spaced a distance of at least the spacing between the parallel content portions of a row.
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2. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of free-ended insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions arranged in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
- a base;
connector support means mounted on said base for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a carriage mounted on said base for movement along said connector support means; a pair of conductor insertion means pivotally mounted on said carriage on opposite sides of said connector support means, each insertion means including at least one insertion member mounted facing the other like member for engaging and forcing respective conductors into insulation-piercing contact portions on opposite sides of the connector; indexing means coupled to said carriage for defining predetermined distances between insertion positions equal to at least the contact portion spacing, said indexing means coupled to and operated by one of said insertion means; and a fluid control circuit for controlling movement of said carriage and pivoting of said insertion means, including first and second fluid operated cylinders having respective first and second extensible means, said first extensible means connected to said insertion means, said second extensible means connected to said carriage, manually operated first switch means connected in circuit with said first cylinder and operated to effect conductor insertion, second switch means connected to said first cylinder and operated by one of said insertion means to reverse the cylinder circuit connections and effect withdrawal of said insertion means, and third switch means connected in circuit with said second cylinder and operated by one of said insertion means upon withdrawal thereof to effect movement of said carriage from said one insertion position to another. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a base;
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17. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of free-ended insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions arranged in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
- a base;
front and rear parallel support members extending from said base, said support members having a plurality of bores therethrough; a connector support mounted on and extending forwardly of said front support member including a connector alignment slot for receiving the electrical connector with the contact portions thereof oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a carriage mounted for movement along said connector support including a pair of rods slidably mounted in respective ones of the bores of said front support member and a carriage frame mounted at the forward ends of said rods and spanning said connector support; a carriage cylinder mounted on said rear support member including an extensible member extending through one of said bores of said rear support member and connected to one of said shafts for moving said carriage; a pair of conductor insertion levers each having an upper end and a lower end and pivotally connected to said carriage frame between said upper and lower ends on opposite sides of said connector support; a pair of insertion means mounted on respective ones of said upper ends and each including a plurality of insertion members for engaging and forcing respective conductors into the insulation-piercing contact portions; insertion cylinder means including an extensible member, said insertion cylinder means and said extensible member pivotally connected to respective ones of said lower ends of said insertion levers to pivotally suspend said insertion cylinder means and provide for equalization of insertion forces across the connector; a first shaft mounted for rotation in said frame; a ratchet carried by said first shaft and operated by said insertion levers; a torsion spring connected to said first shaft for storing energy upon rotation of said ratchet; a second shaft rotatably mounted in one of said bores in said rear support member; an indexing cylinder mounted on said second shaft, said cylinder including a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots opening to and extending from the rear end of said cylinder to close slot ends at different points along said cylinder, said cylinder coupled to said torsion spring for rotation upon release of the energy stored in said spring; a projection extending from one of said carriage rods for receipt by said cylinder slots to prevent rotation of said cylinder and to limit the movement of said carriage to define points of carriage rest for conductor insertion; and a fluid control circuit connected to said carriage and insertion cylinders and operable to move said carriage forward and rearward and to pivot said insertion levers in accordance with a predetermined program.
- a base;
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18. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions disposed in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the channels oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto, including a support member and a cantilever member extending from said support member; carriage means mounted for movement relative said cantilever support member, including a frame spanning said cantilever member; a pair of insertion levers each including an upper end and a lower end and each pivotally mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said cantilever member in alignment with each other; a pair of conductor insertion tools each mounted at said upper end of a respective insertion lever and each including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and a control circuit including a device having extensible means connected to said lower ends of said insertion levers, first switch means operable to cause said extensible means of said device to pivot the upper ends of said insertion levers toward each other to effect conductor insertion, and second switch means operated by one of said levers upon completion of insertion to reverse said device and withdraw said extensible means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions disposed in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the channels oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a plurality of insertion levers each including an upper and a lower end and each pivotally mounted in alignment with each other on opposite sides of said connector support means; a pair of conductor insertion tools each mounted at said upper ends of respective insertion levers and each including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; an automatic control circuit including first means connected between said lower ends of said insertion levers for pivoting said insertion levers to effect conductor insertion and second means operable in response to at least one of said levers being pivoted upon completion of insertion to reverse the operation of said first means and pivot said levers in the opposite direction; and insertion lever carriage means mounted for movement relative said connector support means between points spaced a distance of at least the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions of a row. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the channels oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a carriage mounted for movement relative said connector support means between points spaced a distance of at least the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions; an insertion tool pivotally carried by said carriage means for movement transverse to the relative movement of said carriage means and including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact; and an insertion programmer operable to effect relative movement to said spaced points between said carriage means and said support means and pivotal movement of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. In an apparatus of the type wherein a conductor terminating tool is carried by a pivotally mounted lever to press a conductor into a conductor receiving portion of an electrical contact, the tool including a cutting edge which is cooperable with a cutting edge of a cutting member disposed adjacent the contact to cut the conductor before the conductor is pressed into the conductor receiving portion of the contact, the improvement comprising:
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means for converting the arcuate movement of the lever into a rectilinear movement of the tool, including a pivotal connection of the tool to the lever, a tool guide slidably mounting the tool for movement toward and away from the conductor receiving portion of the contact, and means carried by the tool for engaging the cutting member on an edge opposite its cutting edge to hold down the tool and prevent overriding and separation of the cutting edges due to engagement of a conductor.
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32. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; movable means mounted for movement relative said connector support means to points spaced according to the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions; an insertion tool mounted on said movable means for movement transverse to the relative movement of said movable means and including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer, said programmer including means defining the positions of said spaced points and means operable to effect relative movement between said movable means and said connector support means to said spaced points and movement of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation.
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33. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respect conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; a carriage mounted for movement relative said connector support means between the points spaced a distance of at least a spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions; an insertion tool mounted on said carriage means for movement transverse to the relative movement of said carriage means and including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer, said programmer including means defining selected spaced points and means operable to effect relative movement to said selected spaced points between said carriage means and said support means and transverse movement of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation.
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34. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of individual insulated conductors of a cable in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported by an electrical device, the cable having at least a portion of each insulated conductor free to move, said apparatus comprising:
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a cable clamp for holding the cable in a fixed position with the individual conductors free to be positioned immediately adjacent and parallel to respective contact portions; support means for supporting the electrical device; insertion means for inserting the insulated conductors into the insulation-piercing contact portions; a frame mounting said insertion means and said support means for relative movement of said insertion means with respect to said cable clamp and support means to spaced points defined by the spacing of the contact portions, said insertion means including an insertion tool mounted for movement transverse to the direction of relative movement between said insertion means and said support means for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulated-piercing contact portion; and insertion programming means, including means storing a predetermined sequence of relative positioning movement corresponding to selected spaced points and means operable to effect said relative movement to said selected spaced points and transverse movement of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation.
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35. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; insertion means including indexable means for movement to spaced points defined by the distances between the insulation-piercing contact portions, and an insertion tool mounted for movement transverse to the movement of said indexable means for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer including first means defining selected spaced points and second means coupled to said first means and operable to effect indexing of said indexable means to selected points and transverse movements of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation.
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36. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector at a fixed location with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; movable means mounted for movement with respect to said connector support means to points spaced according to the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions; an insertion tool mounted on said movable means for movement toward and away from a supported connector transverse to the movement of said movable means and including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer, including a programming element defining selected spaced points and program controlled means connected to said programming element and operable to effect movement of said movable means with respect to said connector support means to said spaced points and transverse movements of said insertion tool in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported in separate rows on each side of an electrical connector, said apparatus comprising:
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connector support means for supporting the connector with the channels oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto, including a support member and a cantilever member extending from said support member; carriage means mounted for movement relative said cantilever support member, including a frame spanning said cantilever member; a pair of insertion arms, each of said insertion arms mounted for movement on said frame on opposite sides of said cantilever member in alignment with each other; a pair of conductor insertion tools each mounted on a respective insertion arm and each including at least one insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and a control circuit including a device having extensible means connected to said insertion arms, first switch means operable to cause said extensible means of said device to move said insertion arms toward each other to effect conductor insertion, and second switch means operated by one of said arms upon completion of insertion to reverse said device and withdraw said extensible means.
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39. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical device, said apparatus comprising:
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support means for supporting the electrical device with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; an insertion tool, said insertion tool and said support means mounted for movement, one relative the other, to positions spaced according to the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions of the electrical device, said insertion tool including at least one movably mounted insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer for controlling the relative positioning and the movement of said insertion blade, said programmer including program means defining selected relative positions of said insertion tool and device support means, start means operable to produce a start control, and sequence means connected to said program means, to said insertion tool and to said start means and responsive to the operation of said start means to control the relative positioning and the movement of said insertion blade in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operation.
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40. Apparatus for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in respective insulation-piercing contact portions supported on at least one side of an electrical device, said apparatus comprising:
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support means for supporting the electrical device with the contact portions oriented to receive respective conductors disposed immediately adjacent and parallel thereto; an insertion tool, said insertion tool and said support means mounted for movement, one relative the other, to positions spaced according to the spacing between the insulation-piercing contact portions of the electrical device, said insertion tool including at least one movably mounted insertion blade for engaging and pressing a conductor into an insulation-piercing contact portion; and an insertion programmer for operating the terminating apparatus through a predetermined sequence of operation including repetitive relative positionings of said support means and insertion tool and repetitive movements of said insertion blade, said programmer including program means defining selected relative positions of said insertion tool and device support means, and sequence means connected to said program means and to said insertion tool and operable to control the relative positioning and the movement of said insertion blade in accordance with the predetermined sequence of operation.
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Specification