Abstract: Crimping machine comprises a press and a terminal applicator. The applicator ram is coupled to the press ram and has movable crimping tooling adjustably mounted thereon. The fixed crimping tooling is mounted in the applicator frame which in turn is supported on the press platen. A coarse adjusting system is provided on the applicator ram for adjusting the position of the movable crimping tooling on the ram and a fine adjusting system is provided in the press platen for adjusting the position of the applicator frame and thereby adjusting the position of the fixed tooling. The fine adjusting system results in the achievement of crimped connections within more narrow tolerance limits than have heretofore been possible.

Abstract: Terminal crimping apparatus having crimping dies and crimping anvils and strip feeding means for feeding terminal strip to a crimping zone between the dies and anvils has a strip lifter mounted on the press ram which lifts the strip above the level of the crimping anvils after completion of a crimping operation. The strip lifter prevents misfeeding of the strip in that after being lifted, the strip is above the surface of the anvil assembly and can be fed therepast in preparation for the next crimping cycle.

Abstract: An electrical connector pick-up station for use, for example, with a pick and place robot having a pick-up head for picking up electrical connectors and for placing them on a circuit board, comprises a base, upon which is mounted for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, a support frame for a magazine containing a supply of electrical connectors. A support surface for the magazine is provided nearest one end of the upper side of the frame and a connector locating comb is provided at the opposite end of the frame. Between the magazine support surface and the comb are ribs for guiding connectors from the magazine towards the comb. The ribs are spaced from the comb and the connectors are arranged to be guided between the ribs and the comb by guide slots in which terminal tails depending from the connectors engage.

Abstract: A pick-up head (20) for a robot (2), comprises a body (28) having a plate (30) for attachment to the Z-axis shaft (18) of the robot (2). Two pick-up arms (34), pivotally attached to the body (2) each carry a riveting tool (26). The tools (26) are driven through a working stroke by a piston and cylinder drive unit (52) on the body (2), against the action of return springs (82). The tools (26) are inserted by the robot (2) lowering the pick-up head (20), into rivets at the ends of the leading electrical connector (25') at a pick-up station (21) and are arranged to be releasably secured to the rivets to allow the robot (2) to transfer the connector (24') to a circuit board (19) and to insert projecting ends of the rivets into holes in the board (10). The drive unit (52) is then actuated to cause the tools (26) to expand the projecting ends of the rivets, the tools (26) are released from the rivets, and the pick-up head (20) is raised by the robot (2).