Methods and apparatus for making electrical connectors

• US 4,272,879 A
• Filed: 02/05/1979
• Issued: 06/16/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, James D., Wigby, Jon, Piatt, Ralph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilinsky, Z. R.
• Application Number:
  US06/008,999
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 29/33 M, 29/564.1, 29/564.6, 29/566.2, 29/749, 29/751, 29/753, 29/747, 29/863, 29/865, 29/866, 29/867, 29/884
• US Class Current: 29/566.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/04 for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4919 Through insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49222 forming array of contacts or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5149 to sever electric terminal from supply strip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5193 Electrical connector or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53217 Means to simultaneously assemble multiple, independent conductors to terminal

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making electrical connectors and, in one embodiment suitable for use with a multiplicity of parallel planar arrayed, spaced-apart insulated conductors, comprises means for and the steps of retainably positioning the conductor array above the crimp retainer portions of interconnected connector members, inserting the conductors into the connectors, positionally affixing the conductors to the connectors as by crimp means encircling the cable insulation and crimp means enveloping the exposed cable conductors, shearing the strips which interconnect the connector members to each other, and inserting the cables and their associated connectors into an associated connector block.

Claims

1. A machine for installing electrical termination connectors simultaneously on the ends of a plurality of wires which have previously been coupled together and arrayed in substantially planar, parallel, spaced-apart relationship with bared conductor ends thereof exposed for presentation to said machine, comprising:

a base;

gripper means movable relative to said base in a direction transverse to the plane of a planar array of wires for gripping such an array in substantially fixed position relative to said base, at a point axially spaced from the ends of wires;

wire guide means having a plurality of open grooves for receiving individual wires therein, positioned between said gripper means and the ends of wires held therein, said guide means being movable in a direction transverse to the axes of wires held in said gripper means between a first non-engaging position and a second wire-engaging position;

connector support means for positioning a plurality of electrical contacts in position to receive the ends of individual wires held by said gripper means;

movable contact crimping means positioned to engage and deform a plurality of contact elements supported in said connector support means onto the ends of a plurality of wires held by said gripper means;

means for moving said gripper means in the direction of the axes of wires gripped therein to advance such wires axially into a connector supported in said connector support means together with contacts installed on such wires, when said guide means has moved from said wire-engaging position to said non-engaging position.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 further including shear means movable with said crimping means in a direction parallel to the motion of said crimping means to sever a connecting link between adjacent contacts supported in said connector support means.

3. A machine in accordance with either claim 2 or 3, comprising releasable latch means for retaining said wire guide means in said non-engaging position;

and

spring means for biasing said wire guide means into said wire engaging position when said latch means has been released.