Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for crimping a workpiece. The machine of the invention comprises a bed plate, a conical shaped bowl adjacent the bed plate, and a ram reciprocal substantially upward and downward along an axis toward and away from the bowl. A crimping die assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially disposed die fingers attached to a die retaining ring is disposed adjacent to the bowl for receiving a workpiece. A driving means is provided for advancing the ram toward the die assembly, and a pusher assembly comprising a single pusher ring is provided to transmit the forces of the ram to the die assembly. The driving means has a variable length stroke, and the length of the stroke is controlled by matching a reference voltage with a comparative voltage on a balancing circuit. The diameter of the circle embraced by the die fingers is correspondingly reduced as the die fingers are advanced into the conical shaped bowl.

Abstract: A crimping die assembly comprising a plurality of die fingers, a holding unit for holding the die fingers in a working relationship, the holding unit comprising a retaining ring having a plurality of substantially evenly spaced openings for receiving the die fingers therein for holding the die fingers at one end of the die assembly, each die finger having a connecting part connecting the die finger to the retaining ring, each connecting part permitting radial movement of its respective die finger with respect to the central axis of the retaining ring, and a springing arrangement integrally associated with the connecting parts tending to force the die fingers radially outwardly with respect to the retaining ring, the top surfaces of the die fingers extending beyond the top surface of the retaining ring so as to receive pressing forces directly from a ram through a pusher ring that engages the top surfaces of the die fingers when the crimping die is used to crimp a workpiece.