Of Terminal Patents (Class 29/863)
  • Publication number: 20080104834
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an antenna connector is provided. The components of the antenna connector are mechanically assembled in an automatically operated workstation to effectively eliminate the labor/time consuming assembly process requiring assembly by hand as in the case of the prior art. The electrical connection between the coaxial cable and the terminal can be ensured and also the coaxial cable can be effectively secured to the housing so that the coaxial cable may not come loose. Thus, it is not only possible to effectively increase the production throughput, but also the reliability of the antenna connector may be effectively promoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: T-CONN PRECISION CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHIN-SHUN KAO
  • Patent number: 7318274
    Abstract: A method is provided for fitting waterproof seals onto outer peripheries of end portions of electric wires. The method feeds seals along the axis line of the wire and into a seal cavity. A passage forming member forms a feeding passage to feed the seal into the seal cavity with a posture to receive the electric wire. The seal then is locked in the seal cavity. The wire then is moved along the axis line and into the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Japan Automotive Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Ichikawa, Hatsuo Yamada, Kazuhiro Sato, Yuji Izumida, Masahiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7303450
    Abstract: Under the invention, a new electrical terminal assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the electrical terminal assembly comprises an electrical terminal made of an electrically conductive material and having a cavity to receive a wire assembly, and a wire assembly, comprising an electrically conductive wire and insulation surrounding the wire such that a portion of the wire assembly is insulated and a portion of the wire assembly is uninsulated. The wire assembly extends into the cavity of the electrical terminal such that the uninsulated portion of the wire assembly comes into contact with the electrical terminal. The electrical terminal is crimped at a first location around the insulated portion of the wire assembly which inhibits fluid from entering the portion of the cavity housing the uninsulated portion of the wire assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Josep Roset
  • Patent number: 7296334
    Abstract: A wiring harness manufacturing method and a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus is provided, wherein manufacturing costs of a wiring harness is reduced. The wiring harness manufacturing apparatus (1) has a pair of wire stocking units (10a, 10b), a pair of cutting units (11a, 11b), a pair of joining units (12a, 12b), and a case insertion unit (13). Painting devices (14,15,16) are attached to one wire stocking unit (10a). Painting devices (17,18,19) are attached to one cutting unit (11a). Painting devices (18,19) are attached to one joining unit (12a). The painting devices (14,15,16,17,18,19) color the electric wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamata, Kiyoshi Yagi
  • Patent number: 7243516
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for establishing setup parameters for use in a machine. In one embodiment a tooling component is removably mountable to a host machine. The tooling component includes a memory that contains information defining setup parameters for the host machine for use with the tooling component. A controller associated with the host machine reads the information from the memory and configures the host machine based on the information read from the memory. In another embodiment, an information carrying tag, is associated with the tooling component. The information carrying tag is read and the identifying information obtained from the tag is used by a controller to select a set of setup parameters from one or more sets of setup parameters stored in a storage device accessible by the controller. A mechanism is provided to precisely position the adapter on the base plate for the host machine to minimize variations in production using the setup parameters derived from the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Christopher J. Zusi
  • Patent number: 7237335
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for servicing a telecommunication junction box. The method enables a reduced number of tools to be utilized to service a telecommunication junction box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: John C. Stuart
  • Patent number: 7228624
    Abstract: The invention is a methods of connecting wire that is suitable to connect electrical devices implanted in a living body. The invention enables manipulation of a narrow wire and a crimping component that are on the order of a millimeter in size. The method utilizes a crimper having a slideably attached connector holder that moves relative to the crimper to position an open end of the crimp connector between the crimp die and the crimp anvil, and a slideably attached wire holder that allows the wire holder to be moved relative to the crimper to position a portion of the wire within the open end of the crimp connector. Small components are positioned with precision using a combination of the user's senses, not necessarily including vision. The method does not require stripping electrical insulation from the wires and is also useful for interconnection of miniaturized non-medical electrical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research
    Inventor: Gordon W. Culp
  • Patent number: 7219423
    Abstract: A modular multi-component power distribution system is provided having a plurality of modular components which includes a bus-bar-like power distribution assembly (PDA), branching connectors, flex connectors, and receptacles. A manufacturing process relates to the manufacture of the flex connectors which have plugs provided on the opposite ends of an intermediate cable section. The intermediate cable section includes multiple conductor wires having opposite ends projecting outwardly of an outer insulative cover or jacket. The plugs are attached to the opposite ends of the cable wherein each plug includes an outer housing and cover, as well as a plurality of multi-prong quad-point electrical terminals. Each terminal is connected to a respective wire and then fitted into an appropriate socket therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross S. Johnson, Harold R. Wilson, Randy Borgman, Dave Emery, Ronald H. Brown
  • Patent number: 7197821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector that provides guiding and centering of a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention further relates to a front sleeve assembly for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector which incorporates a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry to guide and center a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention also relates to a compression ring assembly for mounting a connector to a cable, the assembly having a collet engaging a tapered rear seal to compress the collet about the cable. The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector to a cable with a compression ring assembly incorporating a collet and tapered rear seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: M′Hamed Anis Khemakhem, Jim Kerekes, Michael John Shorter
  • Patent number: 7188415
    Abstract: A cable assembly comprises a plurality of electrical or fiber-optic cables, a spacer, and a collar. The cables are arranged lengthwise in a bundle, which includes a segment having a cross-sectional arrangement organized into a plurality of columnar sections of contiguous cables. Each columnar section has at least one cable. The spacer is disposed between adjacent columnar sections of cables and thus forms a dividing line between the adjacent columnar sections. The spacer spans substantially entirely across a cross section of the segment of the bundle in one direction. The collar is disposed entirely around the bundle and the spacer along at least a portion of the segment. The collar is sufficiently tight such that the collar and the spacer cooperate to hold the adjacent columnar sections in substantially fixed relative positions within the cross-section of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Carlyle, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Robinson, Terry M. Kleeberger, Billie D. Eliot
  • Patent number: 7140215
    Abstract: A cutting head has upper part with at least one separating cutter, at least one stripping cutter, a first cutting edge, a force-measuring device operating on the piezo principle, and a first holding plate. A lower part of the cutting head includes at least one separating cutter, at least one stripping cutter, a second cutting edge and a second holding plate. The first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the force-measuring device serve to measure the height of the crimp. The first holding plate and the second holding plate serve to measure the pull-out force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Stefan Viviroli, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 7124499
    Abstract: The apparatus is used for installing a wire in a crimp, in particular a wire being provided on a wire spool mounted on a spool holder. The wire outputs the apparatus at a wire output guide. The apparatus comprises a crimp punch tool located in front of the wire output guide. A first actuator allows operating the crimp punch tool. The wire is cut using a wire cutter adjacent to the crimp punch tool. The cutter tool is operated by a second actuator. In use, the wire is installed by feeding the wire from the wire spool through the wire output guide and then into the crimp. The crimp is closed by punching it using the crimp punch tool. The wire is cut after the last crimp using the wire cutter tool. The apparatus and method can be used for installing very fragile and small wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Simpler Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Villeneuve, Michel Décarie, Normand Lassonde, Pierre Kakos, Paul-André Messier
  • Patent number: 7086261
    Abstract: A crimp state estimation apparatus includes: an information input section for inputting information on an crimp contact terminal, an electric wire, an anvil, and the crimper and an input compression ratio of a core wire of the electric wire; and an estimation unit for calculating a total length of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp in a cross section orthogonal to the core wire based on the information and the input compression ratio and estimating a cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp based on the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Megumi Saito, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 7043833
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an angled conductor electrical connector including extruding a metal member having a channel therein; and bending the metal member such that the channel forms two angled conductor receiving areas. Each conductor receiving area has a channel axis angled relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. DiTroia
  • Patent number: 7036226
    Abstract: A crimp state estimation apparatus includes: an information input section for inputting information on an crimp contact terminal, an electric wire, an anvil, and the crimper and an input compression ratio of a core wire of the electric wire; and an estimation unit for calculating a total length of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp in a cross section orthogonal to the core wire based on the information and the input compression ratio and estimating a cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall and the pair of crimp pieces after crimp based on the total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Megumi Saito, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 7028384
    Abstract: A device is suggested for processing cable-shaped conductors, particularly multicore cables, having at least one transport means (126) having a drive means (132) for transport supply and/or for lengthwise transport of cable-shaped conductor material (200), a cutting means (170) for cutting through cable-shaped conductor material, at least one first means (170) for processing the cut, cable-shaped conductor material, at least one guide means (130) for lengthwise guiding of the cable-shaped conductor material, the guide means (130) being implemented so that the free end of the cable-shaped conductor material may be pivoted out of its lengthwise direction, and at least one plate (110), implemented essentially perpendicularly to the cable direction, on which at least some of the means (126, 128, 130) of the device are positioned on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Urs Mehri, Alois Lustenberger
  • Patent number: 7024752
    Abstract: A crimping press has a tool receptacle arranged at a lower end of a pressing slider provided with a force-sensing device. The forces arising during the crimping operation are transmitted from the supporting surfaces of an upper tool to several points on the force-sensing device. Provided on each side of an upper fork and held by screws are two collars to which are transmitted, the crimping forces on either side of the supporting surface. With their heads, the screws hold the collars, while with their other ends the screws are engaged with the pressing slider. The collars transmit the crimping forces to the sensor elements of the force-sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Peter Imgrüt, Claudio Meisser
  • Patent number: 7024766
    Abstract: A process for automatically wiring at least one terminal of an electrical apparatus with a wire-laying tool of the type that includes a wiring finger movable relative to the terminal. An initial terminal connection is established between the leading end of a wire and the terminal by pressing the wire into a SBIPC connector, which is located within the housing of the terminal, while positioning the wiring finger of the electrical apparatus outside the portions of the housing surrounding the SBIPC. A final wire connection is established between the trailing end of the wire and the terminal by pressing the cut wire into the SBIPC while positioning the wiring finger outside the portions of the housing of the terminal surrounding the SBIPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Vossloh-Schwabe Elektronik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Albeck, Stefan Koller
  • Patent number: 7017267
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a factory installed wiring guide that guides conductors into position for quality termination and crimp and which provides strain relief (support) for the wires or fibers and the outer sheath of the cable to create a quality cable or sub-cable assembly supporting termination at both ends of the cable. The wiring guide is sized to overcome obstacles and fit into conduits during network wiring installation. The wiring guide may be inserted into a cavity on the backside of a RJ45 female connector, completing the termination of a station cable to a RJ45 female jack. The wiring guide may be installed into a plastic housing creating a RJ45 male connector. The wiring guide may be utilized for multiple connections without damaging or compromising the wiring guide and without the need for cutting the wire from the sub-connector. The wiring guide supports universal attachment to either male or female RJ45 connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: James Allen Carroll
  • Patent number: 7010857
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step method for crimping a contact (1) comprising a sleeve (7), the sleeve being provided with a cylindrical portion (14) and a truncated portion (18), about one end (2) of a cable (3) inserted in this sleeve. In the first step, the cylindrical portion is crimped around bared strands (10) of the cable by means of a first jaw (12). In a second step, while the crimping pressure exerted during the first step is maintained, a second jaw (13) is shifted axially along the sleeve so as to apply stress to outer walls of the tapering portion along the bared strands of the cable and also along a sheath (11) of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Souriau
    Inventor: Daniel Gloaguen
  • Patent number: 6990730
    Abstract: A process and system for mounting terminals with electric wires in cavities of connector housings. Press-connecting terminals are initially loaded in cavities arranged in an upper surface of a connector jig and electric wires are press-connected on the terminals in the jigs. Then, the terminals with electric wires are transferred from the connector jig to cavities arranged in a lower surface of a inserting jig by pins arranged to contact and push the terminals from below in the transfer direction. Then, the terminals are loaded from the inserting jig to cavities of connector housings from the back by blades arranged to contact and push the terminals from one end in the inserting directing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fujita, Yoshinobu Ota, Junichi Shirakawa, Kenji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6976889
    Abstract: In a method of connecting a terminal with a wire in which a core (2) of a wire is inserted into a tubular wire connecting portion (1) of a terminal, and the wire connecting portion is crimped in a radial direction of the wire, the wire connecting portion is compressed in a radial direction of the wire and uniformly over the whole circumference. While rotating dies (7?) by using a rotary swaging machine, the wire connecting portion is compressed by the dies in a radial direction of the wire and uniformly over the whole circumference. The wire connecting portion is compressed in a radial direction of the wire and uniformly over the whole circumference, and the outer periphery of a compressed part of the wire connecting portion has a true circular section shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumichi Kuwayama, Toshihiro Maki, Masanori Onuma, Nobuyuki Asakura
  • Patent number: 6964095
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical contact with a crimp ear from a flat ribbon of conductive material including applying a force to the ribbon to form an adjacent pair of approximately semicylindrical depressions on opposite sides of the centerline of the ear, shearing the ribbon at the depression bisectors to form a pair of legs on opposites of the centerline, and forming the legs into a predetermined shape about the centerline. Forming the legs includes straightening the legs and bending the legs to the appropriate predetermine relative angle. Optionally, the ear is coined. Optionally, serrations are inscribed across the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Etco, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Jacques
  • Patent number: 6961992
    Abstract: A crimp press apparatus with first and second crimping stations includes at each station a device platform with device stations and a crimp press. A cable is advanced by a tape drive whereby the leading cable end is supplied to the first crimping station. After the leading cable end is provided with a crimping contact, the tape drive continues to advance the cable until the desired length of a cable section is reached. A separation and a stripping station separates the cable section from the cable and removes the insulation at the cable ends. The lagging cable end of the cable section is supplied to the second crimping station for assembly with a crimping contact. With the device stations located on a rotatable disk, a change of a type of contact to another type of contact is possible with minimum downtime of the crimp press apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Alois Conte
  • Patent number: 6945819
    Abstract: A coaxial cable connector is provided for interconnecting coaxial cables having center and outer conductors. The coaxial cable connector includes inner and outer contracts configured to be securable to inner and outer conductors of coaxial cables. A connector housing has a cavity for receiving the inner contact. The outer contacts are secured to the connector housing. A coaxial cable displacement contact section connected to the outer contacts has at least one displacement beam and braid-receiving slot dimensioned to pierce the coaxial cable automatically when the outer conductors are mounted to the coaxial cable connector. The coaxial cable displacement contact section affords an automated and reliable technique for interconnecting contacts and outer coaxial cable conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Laub, Richard J. Perko, John P. Huss, Jr., Charles R. Malstrom
  • Patent number: 6938329
    Abstract: A press apparatus presses a wire into a wire connector that is carried on an elongated strip. The connector has an opening at a top thereof, is stored on the strip in a side-ways orientation and is fed into the press on the strip. The press includes a feed path having a reorienting section to reorient the connector to position the opening in an upward orientation. A guide portion defines a conveyance path and direction. The guide portion has opposing walls. A one-way feed assembly feeds the connector into the press and prevents reverse movement of the connector. The feed assembly includes a guide wall and a feed pawl disposed opposite the guide wall. A reciprocating press has a die operably connected thereto and reciprocates to move the die to press the wire into the connector when the wire is positioned above the connector opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: James Turek, Richard Sponder
  • Patent number: 6915567
    Abstract: An housing of a meter unit is inserted from above into a meter unit support hole which is provided in the rear handle cover. Engagement claws of the housing are engaged with claw receiving portions of the rear handle cover, thereby prevent the housing from coming out. Male connector is provided beforehand in the rear handle cover, and inserting the housing of the meter unit into the meter unit support hole causes the female connector of the housing to be automatically connected to the male connector, thus completing the wiring work of the meter unit. The wiring work on the meter unit supported on the rear handle cover of the motorcycle can therefore be performed easily and reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakao, Yukihiro Hayasaka, Hiroshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6848179
    Abstract: A terminal mounting apparatus inserts press-fit terminals into a terminal housing for constituting a joint connector. The terminal mounting apparatus has a terminal positioning unit, a transfer unit, a carrier cutting unit, a tab bending unit, a separator, and an insertion unit. The terminal positioning unit adjusts spaces between adjacent ones of the terminals such that each of the terminals can enter one of the terminal insertion channels. The transfer unit transfers the terminals. The carrier cutting unit removes a desired joint portion jointing the terminals. The tab bending unit brings a desired contact tab, which can connect an upper one to a lower one of the terminals, into a connection state. The separator adjusts spaces between the terminals to correspond to spaces between terminal insertion channels. The insertion unit presses the terminals all at once into the terminal insertion channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 6829821
    Abstract: A unit for automatically crimping ribbons of flexible flat cable has a guide surface on which a ribbon of flat cable travels. A number of crimping stations are arranged vertically offset plumb with the plane of the guide surface and designed to crimp a connector onto an end of a branch of the flat cable. A number of tilting ramps have a first end even with the plane of the guide surface when they are in the tilted state and a second end even with a crimping station. The ramp tilts toward the guide surface on command so that a predetermined branch of the ribbon follows the ramp it encounters in its path as it travels along and so that it is directed to one travels along and so that it is directed to one of the crimping stations where it receives a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Roel Hellemans
  • Patent number: 6810581
    Abstract: A crimping apparatus comprises a pair of frames; a pair of crimpers each provided centrally in each frame; pairs of connector tables each provided movably in a longitudinal direction on each frame; locking means for securing the connector tables on both ends of each frame; moving means for moving each said connector table along the frame; and a pair of connector holding poles in each of which a plurality of connectors are arranged to be settable on each the connector table. Thus, a large number of kinds of sub-harnesses can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takada
  • Publication number: 20040168317
    Abstract: A method of joining an electric connector (2) to a flat electric cable (3) in a crimping unit (1); the connector being defined by an insulating casing (8), a first conducting portion (4) supported by the casing (8), and a cover (9) hinged to the casing (8); and the cable having a strip (6), and a second conducting portion (5) on the strip (6). The method includes inserting the casing (8) in a first seat (32) on the crimping unit (1); inserting the cover (9) in a second seat (41) on the crimping unit (1) to keep the cover (9) in an open position; inserting an end portion (7) of the cable (3) between the casing (8) and the cover (9); and crimping the first and second conducting portion (4, 5) by means of the crimping unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Luigi Aluffo
  • Patent number: 6769173
    Abstract: An electrical connector crimping die comprises a first section for removably connecting the die to an electrical connector compression tool. A second section of the die, which is connected to the first section, is provided for crimping a connector. The second section comprises a generally concave crimp projection of a given height which defines a primary crimp surface and at least one concave shaped secondary pre-crimp surface. The secondary pre-crimp surface is recessed relative to the primary crimp surface by the given height. The primary crimp surface and the secondary pre-crimp surface are arranged relative to the first section so that a major portion of a crimping force applied by the compression tool to the crimping die is applied to the primary crimp surface to crimp a first portion of the connector and so that a minor portion of the crimping force is applied to the secondary pre-crimp surface to pre-crimp a second portion of the connector. A hydraulic crimping tool employs such a crimping die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Chadbourne
  • Patent number: 6763583
    Abstract: A tool for cutting a live electrical wire and applying a connector thereto in a safe and convenient manner has a housing with a pistol grip and actuating means on a first end and wire preparing and connector application means at the opposite second end. At least the housing is made of electrical insulating material. The wire preparation portion comprises two parallel adjacent sections each having a wire gripping portion, an anvil and opposing cutter. When actuated, the cutter of one section completely severs the live electrical wire and the cutter of the other section, the sections being slightly spaced apart at this time, severs only the insulation of the live electrical wire. Continued movement of the actuation means causes the two sections to spread apart to remove the cut section of insulation from the electrical conductor and allow access of a connector applicator to the exposed end of the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Clyde Wesley Bryan
  • Patent number: 6763574
    Abstract: A device for the semi- or fully automatic attaching of a contact element (1) to a cable end (2), including a drive unit (3), a storage unit (4) containing a plurality of contact elements (1), a transport device for feeding contact elements (1) to the cable end (2), and a processing unit (5). At least the processing unit (5) and the storage unit (4) are configured as a self-enclosed assembly (6), which, as a self-enclosed unit, can be separated from the drive unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Matthias Woll
  • Patent number: 6742251
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that crimps an electrical wire having a water-proof plug onto a connector terminal in a given positional relationship and can be applied to an automatic assembling operation. In the vicinity of upper crimping members and lower crimping members of the apparatus which crimp an electrical wire having a water-proof plug onto the connector terminal, there are provided a water-proof plug positioning member which has a positioning protuberance used for placing a water-proof plug in a given position with respect to the front end of the connector terminal and a terminal positioning member which is vertically movable and engages with a positioning groove of the connector terminal. The front end face of a water-proof plus sealing section is brought into contact with the rear surface of a positioning protuberance, thereby placing the water-proof plug in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukase
  • Patent number: 6722034
    Abstract: A method of connecting a flat cable having flat conductors arranged in parallel and covered with an insulating material to a connecting terminal, in which crimp pieces of the connecting terminal are pierced into a desired conductor of conductors of the flat cable, with a gap left between a substrate of the connecting terminal and the flat cable, and leading ends of the crimp pieces penetrating the flat cable are bent inwardly, while maintaining a contact position of the crimp pieces penetrating the conductor and the conductor unchanged. Also disclosed are an apparatus for embodying the connecting method and a method for determining a connecting state between the flat cable and the connecting terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritsugu Enomoto, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazumasa Sakata, Kazunori Saka
  • Patent number: 6658726
    Abstract: A swing-down separating means (24) connected to the pivot arm (21) is provided for the initial separation of the two cables (3,4) of a double crimped cable (25). This separating means may be moved such that it is in detachable engagement with a guide and separating part (28) arranged in a first cable deposit trough (26) which may be emptied as a result of a lateral pivotal movement. To transfer the double crimped cables (25) in the separated condition in the emptying position of the first cable deposit trough (26), this first cable guide and separating part (28) may in turn be moved such that it is in detachable engagement with a second cable guide and separating part (29) arranged in a second cable deposit trough (27), which is located below the first cable deposit trough (26) and may be moved laterally in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventor: Alois Conte
  • Patent number: 6658725
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a crimped joint in an electrical wire terminal. The apparatus forms a crimped joint and substantially simultaneously bends and/or twists the terminal and electrical wire about their respective longitudinal axes, effective to reduce electrical contact resistance within the formed joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dangrong Ronald Liu
  • Patent number: 6655025
    Abstract: The connector includes a first housing with a first engagement part. A holder is configured to be mounted to the first housing. The holder has a first mating part corresponding to the first engagement part. The holder has a second engagement part for engagement of the first engagement part and the first mating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Motohisa Kashiyama, Junichi Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 6643926
    Abstract: In a shield terminal joining structure for joining a shield terminal to a prescribed grounding position along a shielded cable that is formed by an inner core wire made of a conductor, an inner insulation covering that covers the inner core wire, a braid that is provided around the outside periphery of the inner insulation covering, an outer insulation covering that covers the braid, resistive welding is performed while crimping parts of the shield terminal to the outer covering of the shielded cable at the grounding position, so as to melt away part of the outer insulation covering, enabling a weld to be made between the crimping parts and the braid of the shielded cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahisa Sakaguchi, Yasumichi Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 6625884
    Abstract: A method of determining whether a metal terminal including a conductor clamping section for clamping a wire is satisfactorily connected to the wire. First, a first metal terminal including a first conductor clamping section for clamping a first wire thereto is provided. Next, one of a dimensional variation and a ratio of a dimensional change of the first conductor clamping section in an axial direction of the first metal terminal, which are caused by clamping the first conductor clamping section, is calculated. Compressibility comparison data is prepared by calculating, from a section of the first conductor clamping section after clamping the first conductor clamping section, compressibility of the first wire with respect to the first conductor clamping section based on the one of the dimensional variation and the ratio of the dimensional change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukase, Toshihiro Maki
  • Patent number: 6618932
    Abstract: On a turntable are disposed a plurality of applicators and their respective terminal reels holding strings of terminals. A rail and a shank holder guide are provided between a press for operating one of the applicators and a waiting position on the turntable. One of the applicators alone moves between a set position in the press and the waiting position on the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6615486
    Abstract: A pressure welding device for wiring and a wire harness manufacturing method are provided. The pressure welding device for wiring includes a pressure welding unit for pressure-welding wires to connectors and a wiring plate provided with wiring fittings and placed in a position toward which the wires are pulled from the pressure welding unit. The wiring plate and the pressure welding unit are movable in a wire pulling direction. Wires are pressure-welded to one connector by the pressure welding unit. As the connector is pulled toward the wiring plate so as to hook the wires by predetermined wiring fittings. The wires are then pressure-welded to the other connector. After the wires are pressure-welded to the other connector, a continuity test of the wire harness is conducted on the wiring plate. After the wiring, the wiring plate and the pressure welding unit are moved in a wire pulling direction so as to eliminate the slack of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 6612026
    Abstract: A process and system for mounting terminals with electric wires in cavities of connector housings. Press-connecting terminals are initially loaded in cavities arranged in an upper surface of a connector jig and electric wires are press-connected on the terminals in the jigs. Then, the terminals with electric wires are transferred from the connector jig to cavities arranged in a lower surface of a inserting jig by pins arranged to contact and push the terminals from below in the transfer direction. Then, the terminals are loaded from the inserting jig to cavities of connector housings from the back by blades arranged to contact and push the terminals from one end in the inserting directing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fujita, Yoshinobu Ota, Junichi Shirakawa, Kenji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6609298
    Abstract: In an extrafine-strand-adaptable contact pressure blade, parts of the mutually opposed right and left side wall portions of a pressure contact part having a substantially U-shaped vertical section are formed by blanking so as to project inwardly in part in a substantially V-like shape, and the whole contact area of the right and left pressure contact blades with respect to the core of a wire is set at a value (equal to or larger than 0.15 mm2) which allows a slot width settable range to be determined by a pressure contact test to be larger than a tolerance range caused by a manufacturing tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6604268
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for widening the woven conductive sheath that Surround a shielded cable. The apparatus includes opposed punches that move into Contact with the exposed conductive sheath. Forces exerted by the punches are Sufficient to cause the extreme end of the exposed conductive sheath to be flared outwardly. The punches may be moved circumferentially around the wire for successive punching operations to achieve a uniform flaring. The punches also may be moved axially further away from the flared end to perform a second series of punches to flare the conductive sheath even further. The flared conductive sheath then can be folded over the insulating sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd
    Inventors: Koji Fujita, Yoshinobu Ohta, Haruhito Kobayashi, Masayuki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6604283
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode array has an elongate flexible carrier that is much more flexible in a first direction than in a second direction orthogonal thereto. The elongate flexible carrier is formed with a bias force that causes the array to flex in the first direction so as to assume the general spiral or circular shape of the scala tympani duct within the cochlea. The less-flexible direction is the direction that makes it difficult for the array to twist as it is inserted within the scala tympani duct. The bias force is sufficiently strong to cause the array to assume its preformed spiral shape even after being straightened during initial insertion into the cochlea. Electrode contacts, embedded into the carrier so as to be exposed along an inner or concave surface of the spiral, thus wrap snugly around the modiolus, thereby positioning the electrode contacts against the modiolar wall in an optimum position for stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation
    Inventor: Janusz A. Kuzma
  • Patent number: 6601290
    Abstract: A machine (10) for terminating a conductor to an electrical terminal (34) of a partially assembled connector (16) includes a frame (12) and an anvil (20) supported by the frame arranged to receive the partially assembled connector. The connector has an insulating housing (32) wherein the terminal is positioned against a constriction 38 within the insulated housing and the terminal tabs (42) and barrel (40) are extending outside the housing. A ram (22) carrying crimping tooling (28) is in sliding engagement with the frame and arranged to undergo reciprocating motion in a crimping direction (24) into crimping engagement with the terminal and in an opposite return direction (26) away from the terminal. A housing feed mechanism (80, 86, 108, 110, 114, 122, 124, 126) is coupled to the frame and effects the pushing of the insulating housing over the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Kerry Joseph Stakem
  • Patent number: 6598452
    Abstract: A crimping tool for crimping crimp contacts, in particular crimp contacts which are supplied to the crimping tool in the form of a strip, having a pressing device (1) and a feed device (2) for advancing the crimp contacts to the pressing device (1). The feed device (2) comprises an advancing element (3) and means (4) for reciprocating the advancing element (3), so as to provide a reliable supply of crimp contacts to the pressing device (1) in a constructionally simple manner. The means (4) for reciprocating the advancing element (3) comprises two cylinder-piston arrangements (5,6), which are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hanke, Paul Fleps
  • Patent number: 6568075
    Abstract: Electrical terminal fastening dies are provided, which includes: an electric wire; an electrical terminal having the electric wire; a couple of dies to press the electrical terminal a substantially hexagon in cross section; an abutting plane provided on each of the couple of dies; a pressing groove provided on the abutting plane and having a section to be formed by dividing a hexagon symmetrically with a diagonal; a pair of terminal pressing planes formed on a surface of the pressing groove of at least either one of the couple of dies for pressing the electrical terminal; and a pair of flash preventing planes formed on the surface of the pressing groove having the pair of terminal pressing planes, and each connected to the abutting plane, for pressing the electrical terminal to form thin portions thereon so as to prevent a flash from arising on the electrical terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 5107486
    Abstract: An optical memory device has grooves for guiding a light spot and pits for serving as track number indicators. The width W.sub.1 and depth d.sub.1 of the grooves and the width W.sub.2 and depth d.sub.2 of the pits are so selected that 2D(W.sub.1, d.sub.1)=1+D(W.sub.2, d.sub.2) where D(W.sub.1, d.sub.1) and D(W.sub.2, d.sub.2) are respectively the reflectivity of the groove and the pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Inui, Junji Hirokane, Toshihisa Deguchi, Kenji Ohta