Abstract: A one piece shaft clamp is disclosed having a flange and a tapered shank. The shaft clamp has a central bore that conforms in size and shape to the cress-sectional shape of a shaft. Relatively thin cuts are formed in the clamp through the shank and partially through the flange to form segments. Additional cuts are made in the flange adjacent the thin cuts to form relatively thin beams that resiliently interconnect the segments. The one piece shaft clamp is used in conjunction with a member that is to be secured to the shaft. The member has a tapered bore that mates with the tapered shank of the clamp so that when the shank is forced into the bore, the segments are urged into locking engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: Stamping and forming machine of the type having opposed tooling assemblies which are reciprocable towards and away from each other has toggle mechanisms for moving the tooling assemblies along their paths of reciprocation. Each toggle mechanism has one toggle link pivoted to a tooling assembly and another toggle link pivoted at a fixed pivot location. The fixed location pivots are adjustable in order to control the position of the tooling assemblies when they are in their closed positions. Additionally, adjustable wear plates are provided in the passageway in which the tooling assemblies are mounted. Advantages achieved include reduced manufacturing cost for the machine, potential for high operating speeds, and compactness when desired.

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: Method and apparatus 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: Apparatus for orienting elongate bodies, for example electrical connectors, comprises magazines for containing vertical stacks of the elongate bodies, escapement slides for releasing one body at a time from each magazine, as required, first and second slidable traps mounted beneath the escapement slides and having an advanced, body supporting position and a retracted body release position, and guide surfaces on the escapement slides for guiding each body as it falls from a magazine, so that it lies across both of the traps when they are in their body supporting position. A pair of receptacles are slidably mounted on a carriage beneath the traps so that either of these receptacles can be positioned to receive a body released by the traps. If one trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in one vertical orientation and if the other trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in the opposite vertical orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting electrical connectors to a flat multi-conductor cable comprises a work table on which are arranged a connector orienting assembly for placing electrical connectors at loading locations in different selected vertical and lengthwise orientations, a press for connecting the connectors to the cable by forcing the cable conductors into conductor receiving portions of terminals of the connectors, an assembly for feeding the cable intermittently through the press, a shuttle for receiving connectors from the loading locations and being movable intermittently along a path extending between the orienting assembly and the press, rams for loading connectors from the loading locations into the shuttle and an insertion assembly for driving the connectors from the shuttle into the press.

Abstract: Machine for interconnecting wire-in-slot type terminals in connectors mounted on a panel board utilizes a wire feed roll, rotatable insertion tooling, and an X-Y table. Wire is fed vertically through a rotation housing past wire inserters mounted above an aperture in a rotary plate. Wires are positioned for termination by wire feeding and movement of the X-Y table on which the panel board is mounted. Independently pivotable idler wheels cooperate with the feed roll to engage one or two wires. Insertion is effected by downward movement of the rotation housing which drives the inserters through the aperture in the rotary plate. The rotation housing is moved by pivoting a yoke with a variable pivot point to change limits of travel and therefore insertion depth. The plate, inserters, and rotation housing may be rotated to four orthogonal orientations to insert wires in terminals having like orientations.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises a heater which introduces hot air into an elongate duct via a tube to an aperture midway between the open ends of the duct. The duct has parallel slots in opposite walls thereof which extend between said ends in the plane of a conveyor which grips wire leads and transports them laterally so terminated ends lie in the duct. Heat shrink tubing prepositioned on the end of lead may be positioned to protrude from the slot so not exposed to hot air in the duct which prevents shrinkage of tubing over the terminated end.

Abstract: Apparatus draws a continuous length of shrink tubing from a reel, cuts off a section, and advances it onto the terminated end of a lead carried by an adjacent conveyor. This is accomplished by shear blades integral with jaws which close on the end of the tubing to sever a section and contain it and shape it between the jaws. The jaws move vertically in a plate which is then advanced horizontally toward the lead. A feed clamp which descends with the jaws draws the continuous length forward then releases vertically as the jaws depart and a stationary clamp grips the tubing while the jaws and clamp return over the tubing for the next shearing and advance operation. Above motions are effected by levers and a slide driven by followers riding in cam grooves on discs carried by a single shaft. The end of the lead with tubing section thereon is transported laterally through a hot air duct type heater having slotted walls which permit passage of the lead therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for deploying pre-split wires of a multi-conductor cable into a predetermined coplanar array comprises a guide plate with a recess therein and a lid which closes thereagainst. Side by side wires are pushed into a wire receiving opening of the recess and are gathered into a strait therein and splayed into channels which align the wires for termination to terminals at insertion stations where the channels open on the end of the plate. An insertion ram pushes the leading ends of the wires downward into the terminals while the guide plate pivots downward against the action of a spring. A wire catch is provided to prevent reverse movement of wires in the channels.