Abstract: A battery powered portable crimping apparatus is provided for crimping a terminal onto a wire. The crimping mechanism imposes a substantially constant torque on the electric motor during the crimping cycle thereby conserving battery energy. A pair of anvil-die sets are provided for crimping two different size terminals. The two dies are arranged to reduce the hazard of inadvertently inserting a foreign object into one of the anvil-die set openings while the other anvil-die set is engaged in crimping a terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a two part circular connector and terminating discrete wires to insulation displacement contacts within the connector. A two part die is used to position and secure the connector parts. The cable is inserted through an opening in the bottom of the die and the wires positioned in respective radial slots that correspond with the contacts. A punch is then brought into engagement with the die to sever the wires to length, fold the wires into wire receiving slots, terminate the wires to the contacts, and assemble the two parts of the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) for interposition between an electronic component (2) and a printed circuit card (14), electrically to connect contact pads (10) of the electronic component (2) to contact pads (18) of the circuit card (14), comprises a pair of superposed insulating plates (22 and 24) connected together by means of interengaging pins and sockets (66, 70 and 68, 72). The insulating plates (22 and 24) cooperate to define cavities (30) receiving spring contact elements (40) each having a nose (50) projecting through an opening (36) in a respective cuter surface (26 or 28) of the plates (22 and 24) for engagement with the contact pads (10 and 18). One half of each cavity (30) is defined by one of the plates (22 and 24) the other half being defined by the other of the plates (22 and 24). The cavities ( 30) have end walls (62 and 64) between which the contact elements (40) are compressed by engagement with the pads (10) and (18) so that the noses (50) wipe the contact surfaces of the pads (10 and 18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ram actuating mechanism in a press for terminating wires, or the like. The actuating mechanism imparts movement to the ram in two distinct portions. An air cylinder or other low pressure linear actuator is utilized to effect the relatively long stroke of the first portion of movement. The second portion of movement, which must overcome relatively high insertion forces but over a relatively short distance is effected by a cam and cam follower arrangement. This permits sufficient clearance between the terminating punch and die when the ram is retracted to pass other wire handling mechanisms while at the same time providing a relatively compact mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for terminating wires in terminals while monitoring the quality of the termination. Quantitative data is collected during the terminating operation, analyzed to determine whether or not the quality of the termination is within acceptable limits, and appropriate machine mechanisms are adjusted, when required, to assure continued high quality output. This is done in a completely automated environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a termination of a multi-strand electrical conductor carrying relatively high current levels at high frequency in an environment having an ambient temperature of up to about 300.degree. C. The cable is separated into groups of wire strands which are fanned outwardly so that each group projects away from the longitudinal axis of the cable. A retainer is provided to guide the groups of wire strands and to hold them against an annular terminal. The tips of the wire strands and adjacent surfaces of the retainer and the annular terminal are melted into a monolithic fused ring or welded surface, by means of heli-arc welding apparatus. A similar mating connector half is similarly formed, both halves of which mate to form an in-line connector.

Abstract: Method for the simultaneous manufacturing and testing of a cable harness assembly having one, or a plurality of spaced apart connectors, of the insulation displacement type, terminated to a planar multi-conductor cable. The system can be programmed to cut or shear the cable immediately after a test thereof fails to verify an appropriately terminated connector or continuity in the cable, or after the cable harness assembly length is reached. By such a system, a minimum of cable is lost to scrap due to the failed electrical testing thereof.

Abstract: An electrical pin header connector (2) comprises an insulating housing (4) having an interface surface (6) and an opposite mating face (8), between which extends a grid array of electrical contact element receiving cavities (10). In each cavity (10) is an electrical contact element (12) having an elongate contact spring (14) with a contact nose (16) projecting from the interface surface (6) for engagement by a respective contact pad (44) of a grid array of contact pads (44) on an interface surface (42) of a mother printed circuit board (40). Each contact element (12) has a contact pin (26) projecting from the mating face (8) of the housing (4). The contact springs (14) are angled by 45.degree. with respect to X and Y axes of the grid array of cavities (10), for maximum contact density. The contact pin (26) of each contact element (12) has been twisted through 45.degree.

Abstract: A connector assembly (26) for use with a printed circuit board (30) wherein a true coaxial connection is provided. The connector assembly includes a housing block (36) with a plurality of bores (38) aligned with the plated-through apertures (42) of the circuit board. Each of the bores (38) contains a coaxial connector subassembly (50) which provides surface contact with the signal pads (46) and ground pads (48) surrounding the apertures (42).

Abstract: A connector (28) for use with a printed circuit board (26) and adaptable for single or double sided use as a signal launcher or feed-through, respectively. The connector includes an outer sleeve element (58) and a center contact element (46) which has a support portion (54) extending through an aperture (40) in the printed circuit board. The distal end (68) of the contact element (46) is secured by interference fit with a locking ring (72) on the other side of the circuit board.

Abstract: Strip feeding mechanism intended for use in a stamping and forming machine comprises an intermittently rotated sprocket wheel which is located adjacent to the operating zone of the machine in which the stamping and tooling is located. The strip material is held against the periphery of the sprocket wheel by a retaining shoe so that the sprocket teeth will enter pilot holes in the strip and advance the strip during feeding intervals. During non-feeding intervals, the pilot pins which are part of the stamping and forming tooling, will adjust the position of the strip relative to the tooling performing the operation thereon. The construction of the biasing shoe and the sprocket wheel is such that the strip is not firmly held by the feeding mechanism and can be moved by a very slight amount by the pilot pins in order to position the strip precisely in the operating zone.

Abstract: A film mounted semiconductor device is applied to a socket therefor by means of a protective carrier from which project four posts arranged in such a way that a line drawn between two opposite posts would pass through the center of the carrier. The film is formed with elongate slots each receiving one of the posts with clearance in the longitudinal direction of the slot but the post closely fitting the slot in its transverse direction. Each post is fitted snugly into a pocket in the socket. The slots allow relative movement between the film and the posts to take up dimensional changes resulting from temperature and humidity changes, but as the posts fit the slots in their transverse direction, the film, the carrier and the socket are maintained concentric.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the accurate and automatic determination of crimp height of a terminal being crimped onto a wire. The crimping apparatus includes a conventional crimping press having a reciprocating ram and base, each carrying a mating half of a crimping die set. A strain gage is arranged to measure crimping forces imposed on the terminal being crimped and a linear sensor measures the position of the ram during the crimping process. As the ram descends and the crimping begins, the force as indicated by the strain gage is monitored until it reaches a predetermined value. Monitoring continues until the force reaches substantially zero, at which time the position of the ram, as indicated by the linear sensor, is translated into crimp height.

Abstract: Harness-making machine has a connector installing station, a staging zone adjacent to the installing station for holding a stack of connectors, and a cable dispensing or feeding unit adjacent to the staging zone. Cable is fed from the feeding unit through the staging zone to the installing station at which the leading connector on the stack is installed on the cable. The dispensing unit has a cable guide which extends through the staging zone to the installing station thereby to protect the cable from the terminals which extend from the connectors contained in the staging zone. This guide thereby prevents jamming of the machine which can occur if cable movement through the staging zone is impeded by the terminals.

Abstract: Work holder for holding electrical connectors during insertion of terminals into cavities in the connector comprises a positioning fixture and a clamping member. The connector is clamped between one face of the positioning fixture and the clamping member. The positioning fixture has terminal guiding openings extending therethrough and has aligning and guiding surface portions which guide the connector towards these openings when the connector is being clamped in the fixture so that the cavities in the connector are in precise alignment with the terminal guiding openings. The fixture is intended for use in a robot and permits reorientation of the connector, from right to left, so that connectors requiring terminals in two different orientations can be accommodated.

Abstract: An electrical harness comprising a plurality of harness subassemblies is assembled by locating the subassembly leading ends of all of the subassemblies in a staging zone. The subassemblies are moved in succession along a transporting path which extends away from the staging zone in a succession which locates the subassembly leading ends of the several subassemblies at the required locations along the length of the harness. Bindings for the conductors in the harness subassemblies are applied where required. A fully automatic apparatus is disclosed for carrying out the process comprising individual transporters for each of the harness subassemblies which move the subassemblies individually along the transporting path.

Abstract: A protective carrier (2) has a flexible circuit (6) attached thereto, the protective carrier (2) protecting the circuit (6) during transportation and handling thereof. The flexible circuit (6) is attached to the protective carrier (2) in such a manner as to ensure proper registration and to maintain the center of all components in coincidence as dimensional change occurs due to the different temperature coefficient of expansion of each component. The protective carrier (2) can be used to orient, position, and install an integrated circuit chip carrier (8) and lead frame (4) on an interposer socket (30). As the lead frame (4) has a large number of contact zones positioned thereon, contact force is required between the interposer socker (30) and the lead frame (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus adapted to assist in making electrical wiring harnesses comprised of connectors (12) having passages (14) on given center-to-center spacing and containing terminals (20) terminated to flexible wires (40); the method and apparatus featuring providing tooling to effect wire shear and termination on the given spacing via a spring-loaded wire clamp and wire guide means associated with nesting die (50) and punch (54) tooling whereby the wires are sheared and terminated in a single stroke.

Abstract: Manufacturing method for integrated circuit chip carrier or similar devices comprises the steps of producing the substrate as a discrete part by pressing ceramic powder in a precision mold and sintering the pressed part. The discrete substrates are then placed in a work holder in which a plurality of substrates are precisely located with both surfaces of each substrate exposed. The manufacturing steps of metallizing the substrates, imaging, plating, resist removal, etching, and so on, can then be carried out on all of the substrates in the work holder simultaneously. The processes can be applied to both surfaces of each substrate simultaneously and in addition, further steps such as assembly of an IC chip to each substrate and wire bonding can be carried out while the substrates are in the work holder. The process greatly reduces the cost of manufacturing chip carriers, particularly the type having terminal pads on both surfaces of the substrate and conductors extending between the major surfaces.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the shut height of a press includes a rotatable dial (16) interposed between a ram mounting block (6) fixed to a press ram (2), and a tooling ram (14). The dial (16) is keyed to a screw bushing (12) which is rotatable in a screw threaded bore in the block (6) for vertical movement relative to the block (6). Facing surfaces (46 and 48) of the block (6) and the dial (16) are formed with opposed helical ramps (54 and 56, and 58 and 60). The angular position of the dial (16) is adjustable to cause the ramps (54 and 56, and 58 and 60) to cooperate to alter the distance between ramps (2) and 14) to adjust the shut height of the press.