Crimping unit and method of crimping flat cables

• US 6,829,821 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roel Hellemans
• Original Assignee: Roel Hellemans
• Inventors: Hellemans, Roel
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US09/868,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 29/33.F, 297/53, 297/47, 297/51, 297/61, 297/63, 297/48, 297/49, 29/33.M, 298/63--67, 298/61, 295/644, 724/51, 727/12, 724/091.4, 724/12--16, 723/37, 724/61, 100/282, 710/7, 198/346.2, 198/468.2
• US Class Current: 29/753
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/048 Crimping apparatus or processes H01R43/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/28 for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49181 by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5187 Wire working
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53217 Means to simultaneously assemble multiple, independent conductors to terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53235 Means to fasten by deformation

Abstract

A unit for automatically crimping ribbons of flexible flat cable has a guide surface on which a ribbon of flat cable travels. A number of crimping stations are arranged vertically offset plumb with the plane of the guide surface and designed to crimp a connector onto an end of a branch of the flat cable. A number of tilting ramps have a first end even with the plane of the guide surface when they are in the tilted state and a second end even with a crimping station. The ramp tilts toward the guide surface on command so that a predetermined branch of the ribbon follows the ramp it encounters in its path as it travels along and so that it is directed to one travels along and so that it is directed to one of the crimping stations where it receives a connector.

Claims

1. A crimping unit for automatically crimping ribbons of flexible flat cable, the unit comprising:

a guide surface having a guide surface plane for guiding a ribbon of flat cable;

a plurality of crimping stations arranged vertically offset from said guide surface plane for crimping a connector onto an end of a branch of the ribbon; and

a plurality of tilting ramps each having a first end and a second end, and each being mounted to be tiltable towards said guide surface whereby said first end is brought into said guide surface plane and whereby said second end is even with a respective said crimping station, and wherein, when a respective said ramp is tilted toward said guide surface on command, a predetermined branch of the ribbon follows the ramp and travels to a respective said crimping station and receives the connector.

2. The crimping unit according to claim 1, wherein each said ramp is associated with a given said crimping station for guiding a branch of the ribbon of flat cable to said crimping station for crimping.

3. The crimping unit according to claim 1, wherein said guide surface drives the ribbon in two opposite directions of travel.

4. The crimping unit according to claim 1, which comprises a plurality of rollers having two directions of rotation, wherein the ribbon of flat cable is driven along said guide surface by said rollers.

5. The crimping unit according to claim 4, wherein said rollers driving the ribbon are vertically retractable for preventing damage to the connectors crimped onto the ribbon.

6. A crimping process for crimping connectors onto branches of ribbons of flexible flat cable, which comprises:

providing the crimping unit according to claim 1;

driving a ribbon of flat cable along a guide surface of the crimping unit;

issuing a command for tilting at least one tilting ramp for guiding at least one branch of the ribbon along the tilted ramp to a corresponding crimping station; and

crimping a connector onto the branch in the crimping station.

7. The method according to claim 6, which comprises crimping the connector onto the branch upon detecting a presence of an end of the branch in the crimping station.