Abstract: A connector manipulating apparatus use a positioning mechanism to position a connector in a predefined location and orientation. A programmable positioning device or robot retrieves a connector from a first location using a locating tool, and places the connector in the positioning mechanism. After the positioning mechanism places the connector in a predefined location and orientation, the programmable positioning device moves the connector to a work location where conductors are attached to the connector.

Abstract: A coiled cable handling apparatus uses a platform with retractable fingers to maintain the coiled configuration of a coiled cable. The coiled cable having a coiled portion, a first end thereof terminating in a connector and a second end. The reactable fingers contact the inner circumference of the coiled cable, a centrally located nest or clamp secures one end of the cable and a clip secures the other end of the cable. A cable transport mechanism places the coiled cable on the platform or removes it from the platform. The transport mechanism comprises coil pickup clamps to grasp the coiled section of the cable, a clamp to grasp the end of the cable secured by the platform's centrally located clamp, and a clamp to grasp the other end of the cable.

Abstract: A cable handling apparatus uses a reeling mechanism to reel a cable into a coiled configuration by securing one end of the cable to the reeling mechanism. A capture mechanism is used to locate the other end of the cable by using a channel to guide the cable as it is reeled, and a detector to detect the end of the cable as it enters the channel.

Abstract: A conductor handling apparatus uses a rotating disk to move a single conductor to a first position on a path where a conductor identifier is located. The conductor identifier identifies the conductor by completing a circuit used to detect a signal on the conductor. A controller rotates the disk in a direction based on the identity of the conductor, and a conductor unloader moves the conductor from the rotating disk. A conductor transfer mechanism moves the conductor from the unloader to a predetermined position where the conductor is inserted into a contact of a connector.

Abstract: A compact wire straightener module having a plurality of curved tubes for simultaneously straightening a large number of wires. Each tube bends its wire in a first plane and then bends the wire in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The wires are not pulled through the wire straightener module; but rather, after one end the wires has been secured, the wire straightener module moves in a horizontal direction along the wires to perform the straightening operation. This movement of the wire straightener module allows for use in a compact automatic cable assembly by eliminating the need for a separate mechanism to pull the wires through the wire straightener module. Further, each tube is a continuous assembly so that threading wire through the module is simple and fast.

Abstract: A hopper tray for receiving a bulk array for articles, all the same oblong shape and size, is disposed on one side of an elongated conveyer. The tray is angularly movable between an up position at which articles on the tray are discharged onto the conveyer and a down position. The articles are transported one at a time, to a zone at which they are stopped by their contact with a stop plate and their arrival is indicated by a signal fed from a photodetector to a controller. A failure of an article to timely arrive at the zone indicates a probable jamming upstream of articles, and the controller responds to cause a temporary reverse movement of the conveyer tending to relieve the jam. The article stopped by the plate is, if at an angle, reoriented to bear flush against the plate, either lengthwise or widthwise to the conveyer, by the force exerted on the articles by the continuing movement of the conveyer. A probe senses whether the articles have been oriented lengthwise or widthwise.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inserting leads of an electric circuit component into correspondingly arranged holes in a printed wiring board by (a) holding the component by a robotic arm adjacent the board so that its leads contact the board under pressure and are in nominal registration in the X and Y directions, and (b) subjecting the board to the combined effect of two vibrating motions which are respectively directed in these two directions, and of which one is superimposed on the other. These two motions are each controlled in frequency and amplitude and differ from each other in a motion characteristic whereby the leads sweep in two-dimensional patterns over board areas respective to their corresponding holes and centrally including them until the leads substantially exactly register with the holes to become inserted therein by the pressure on the leads.

Abstract: A section (21) of tape (20), having an adhesive side (22), is advanced from a roll (18) and is held tautly beneath a plurality of tubes (86). The section (21) of tape (20) is vacuumly gripped on the adhesive side (22) by the tubes (86) and is thereafter severed from the roll (18). The tubes (86) are then moved to accurately place the severed section (21) of the tape (20) onto a tape support surface (44). Vacuum is removed from the tubes (86) and is applied to the surface (44) to facilitate the transfer of the severed section (21) of the tape (20) to the surface.

Abstract: Apparatus 30, FIG. 2 for severing an article 12 from a carrier strip 10 and for positioning the severed article is disclosed. The apparatus includes a die 33 having an aperture 32 exiting therethrough from an entrance end 35 to an exit end 36. A ramped shaped wall 37 is located on one surface of the aperture to taper the aperature as it extends from the entrance end to the exit end such that the exit end has a rectangular block "C" shaped opening. A punch 31 in axial alignment with the aperture for entering into and extending through the aperture, has a cavity 43 on one surface to accept ramped shaped wall 37 as punch 31 extends into aperture 32 and to form a block "C" shaped surface on the bottom face 42 of punch 31. When an article 12 is placed between punch 31 and aperture 32 and punch 31 is moved into the aperture, article 12 is severed from carrier strip 10 and is pushed by face 42 into the aperture.

Abstract: A fuse holder tester (50) is arranged with a plurality of conductive, resiliently mounted contact fingers (51, 52), for making electrical contact with leads (11, 12) embedded in the walls of the fuse holder (10). The tester also includes a spring-loaded probe (58) arranged to make contact with a third lead (13) located at the base of the fuse holder, upon insertion of the tester into the holder. In one example, a testing assembly (70) is provided, having six of the testers (50) capable of being simultaneously inserted into a typical fuse block (30) having six of the fuse holders (10).

Abstract: Trailing wire ends of a cable supply on a pay-off reel initially are connected to respective matrix points of a controller in a preselected numerical order. The cable then is fed from the reel, and a leading end portion is desheathed, using heat. The desheathed portions of the cable wires then are pressed or "ironed" from a twisted-pair bundle configuration into an individual-wire common plane configuration. As the desheathed portions of the wires next are fanned out of the common plane configuration in random order, they are sorted into two groups, depending on the side of a connector plug on which they are to be located, in response to signals from the controller, which also identifies each wire and stores information as to its random numerical position in its respective group. The cable then is cut to length adjacent the supply reel and a new sequence of operations is initiated.

Abstract: A leading end portion of a thermoplastic jacketed cable is desheathed by applying heat from a movable, continuously operating annular radiant heat source to heat-soften a narrow (e.g., on the order of 1/8 of an inch or less) annular section of the jacket without contacting the jacket. A gripper slide assembly is moved parallel to the cable to grip and apply tension on the leading end portion of the jacket to separate the jacket along the heat-softened section and to remove the leading end portion of the jacket from the cable. After the slide assembly has moved sufficiently to cause separation of the jacket, the heat source is moved axially of the cable from the area of jacket separation so as to preclude damage to the insulation on the cable conductors and to permit the heat softened material of the jacket remaining on the cable to reharden and form a smooth edge along the line of separation.