Abstract: Apparatus which repeatedly severs wire segments from a wire strand and conveys them for further processing comprises a pair of wire feed clamps which are reciprocably movable in opposite directions to feed the wire strand along a first path. The wire feed clamps are affixed to parallel flights of a pulley-supported steel cable which is axially driven back and forth by an oscillatably rotatable cable drum. The cable drum is oscillatably driven by a rack-and-pinion mechanism which includes a drive rod or rack bar reciprocably movable by an orbiting crank pin on a support member which is adjustably mounted on a motor-driven rotatable feed crank. A locking mechanism releasably locks the support member and its crank pin in selected positions relative to the feed crank. The crank pin orbit determines drive rod stroke, cable drum position and wire feed clamp spacing and travel.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing electrical cords comprising modular multi-contact connectors attached to opposite ends of a segment of a multi-conductor sheathed cable. Each connector comprises a plastic housing having a cavity for receiving an end of the cable segment, displaceable anchors for mechanically engaging the cable sheath and the insulation on the conductors, and flat contacts displaceable for piercing the insulation on the conductors and making electrical contact with the wires therewithin. The apparatus includes: machinery for cutting segments from a strand of cable and for conveying them along a path; strippers along the path for removing small portions of the sheath from the ends of the segments to expose the ends of the insulated conductors therewithin; trimmers along the path for trimming the exposed ends of the insulated conductors; and connector attachment machines along the path.