Abstract: A machine (10) for performing a manufacturing operation on a sheet of material (12) includes an upper tool (282, . . . ) for engaging an upper surface (602) of the sheet of material (12) and a lower tool (380, . . . ) mateable with the upper tool for engaging a lower surface (606) of the material opposite to the upper surface. The upper and lower tools are arranged to cooperate in performing the manufacturing operation. A drive mechanism (456, 522, . . . ) is provided for causing relative movement between the tools and the sheet of material, back and forth along a first axis (24) and back and forth along a second axis (518) substantially perpendicular to the first axis while performing the manufacturing operation. The invention includes a method of performing the manufacturing operation utilizing the machine (10).

Abstract: A butt joint hanger (30) includes a central elongated rail (32) and two support elongated rails (34, 36) positioned on either side of the central rail (32). One or more U-channels (38) interconnect the three rails (32, 34, 36) at pivoting attachment points (40). The butt joint hanger (30) is inserted between two construction beams (94, 96) and the butt ends (108, 114) of two sheets of wallboard (104, 112) are attached to the central rail (32) by means of drywall screws (110). The two support rails (34, 36) abut against the surfaces of the wallboard flush with the nailing surfaces (98, 100) of the construction beams (94, 96) and the drywall screws (110) force the butt ends (108, 114) of the wallboard out of the plane (102) of the wallboard and into engagement with the central rail (32). This results in a depression area (116) adjacent both butt ends (108, 114) which can be easily filled with plaster (122) to produce a flat smooth butt joint (126).

Abstract: A multi-function electrical switch assembly (22) is disclosed that is mountable to a mosaic control panel (12) used in the controlling and monitoring of large complex traffic flow systems. The switch assembly has a bi-directional actuating mechanism including a shaft (24) that is movable axially as well as rotationally to actuate individual electrical switches (110, 112, 114, 115, 118, 120, 122, and 124). The switch assembly includes a housing (30) having an interior cavity (56) and interior walls (36, 46) to which individual switches are secured. The shaft (24) extends through the interior cavity (56) and has a rocker cam (224) and a linear cam (254) coupled thereto for actuation of various combinations of the switches. Return spring units (202) and (168) return the shaft (24) to its rotational and axial neutral positions when the shaft is released. An override spring unit (244) is coupled to the rocker cam (224) to absorb over-rotation of the shaft (24) and prevent damage to the switch mechanism.

Abstract: A connector (10) for interconnecting circuitry (12, 16) of two circuit boards (14, 18) which carry relatively high frequency signals, includes a receptacle connector (20) and a mating plug connector (24). The receptacle connector (20) includes shield plates (56) between each adjacent pair of signal contacts (58) and the mating plug connector (24) includes a central elongated ground plate (136) that electrically engages each of the shield plates (56). The ground plate (136) includes a plurality of leads (142) along its length that engage ground pads on the circuit board (18). The plug connector (24) includes an outer shield (146) that substantially surrounds the plug connector (24) and includes leads (148) that are attached to the leads (142) of the elongated ground plate (136).

Abstract: A setting (10) is disclosed for removably receiving decorative articles such as gemstones (12) and pictures. The setting includes a lower member (15) and an upper member (13), each having left and right side segments (20, 22, 26, 28) that are hingedly attached by left and right pivot pins (24, 30). The side segments (20, 26) of the lower member (15) define a plane (18) along which the gemstone (12) is free to slide when inserting into and removing from the setting (10). The upper member (13) of the setting can be pivoted from a closed position where stop surfaces (54, 56) intersect the plane (18) and hold the gemstone (12) captive within the setting to an open position where the stop surfaces (54, 56) are well away from the plane (18), thereby permitting the removal of the gemstone (12).

Abstract: A sanitary toothbrush holder is disclosed that is assembled from a single piece of sheet material to form a stable holder which positions the bristle end of the toothbrush away from any support surfaces. The holder is capable of occupying a flat state for convenient storage and shipping and an assembled state where it is ready for use. The holder includes at least two panels that are hingedly attached. An opening is provided in one of the panels to loosely receive and position the toothbrush so that excess water will drain sway from the bristle end thereby enhancing proper drying.

Abstract: A machine for cutting pin headers of a desired length from a standard length of pin header stock is disclosed. A vertically disposed track is provided for receiving the standard lengths of pin header stock. The stock is allowed to fall by gravity to a cutting station where a single cutting blade cuts individual pin headers from the end of the stock. The cut pin headers are deposited into a bin for convenient unloading. Leftover, or residual pieces of stock are directed into another bin for discarding or salvage.

Abstract: The present invention is a hand operated tool for flattening a portion of a ribbon cable preparatory to installing a cable tap. The tool includes a set of rollers which are closeable upon the cable. The rollers are then rotated, first in one direction and then the other while varying the pressure on the rollers to effect removal of kinks and to generally flatten a portion of the cable.

Abstract: A manually operated tool for terminating electrical conductors to insulation displacement contacts in a connector. The tool includes a connector holder and a pair of hingeable jigs for holding and positioning the conductors adjacent the connector terminals for shearing to length and inserting. Shearing and insertion assemblies are secured to two arms which are pivoted toward the connector until the assemblies engage and terminate the conductors. A pair of handles and a pair of toggle links are pivotally attached to the two arms for effecting a mechanical advantage during the shearing and insertion process.

Abstract: A programmable insertion tool is provided for inserting the contact pins of a pin header connector into plated through holes in a printed circuit board. The tool utilizes push pins of differing lengths to position selected contact pins to selected different depths thereby providing a make first, break last capability for these contact pins when connecting or disconnecting to a mating connector half.

Abstract: A machine for cutting pin headers of a desired length from lengths of pin header stock is disclosed. A mechanism is provided for adjusting the width of the track opening that receives the pin header stock so that stock of various widths may be accommodated in the machine. A portion of the track is continuously movable, that is, it is never rigidly clamped in a stationary position, but rather, its position relative to a stationary portion may be adjusted by a single control element.

Abstract: A cable making machine for making and electrically testing a cable assembly is disclosed. The machine includes a test circuit for effecting the electrical tests and a unique probe means for electrically connecting the test circuit to the contacts of the connectors being terminated to the cable. The probe means includes a plurality of relatively thin elongated metal probe members having a substantially rectangular cross section that slide in slots formed in an insulated block. Spring members bias the metal probe members toward the connector contacts. A cam, actuated by the ram of the machine causes the insulated block to move the metal robe members away from the connector contacts during the actual termination operation.

Abstract: A tool (10) and a jig (70) include intermating surfaces to facilitate mounting of the jig in reverse relationship to facilitate wiring of different sizes of connectors (160) having top and bottom rows of terminals (176, 177) with the jig having projections (100-114) precisely positioning terminals and connectors relative to index projections (74) which engage index means (60) on the tool and clamp means to hold cable (140) and wire in appropriate positions for different connectors and a wedge shaped adjustment (42) affixed to the tool to vary inserter movement for different size wires.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a metal or metallized plastic housing block (10) with contact members (26) contained within channels (12) in the block (10). The metallic housing block (10) provides a shield to eliminate cross-talk between the contact members (26). The contact members (26) are directly coated with a dielectric material, except where they perform an electrical contact function, to insulate them from the metallic housing block (10).

Abstract: A micro-strip type connector is disclosed having a one-piece receptacle ground bus. The connector includes two parallel rows of signal contacts, one row on each side of the ground bus, the signal contacts and the bus bar having solder tails that extend through plated through holes in a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, and are soldered in place there. The one-piece receptacle ground bus includes a flat vertically disposed root section, a plurality of first contact beams in a row and extending from the top edge of the root section and a plurality of members extending from the bottom edge which are bent around through 180 degrees to be parallel with the root section and extending upwardly to form another row of second contact beams, the two rows of beams converging. A plurality of solder tails extend from the bottom edge of the root section.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for and method of aligning the terminals of a group of connectors in side by side abutting relationship with tooling for terminating wires to the terminals thereof. The group of connectors is placed in a track with the first connector against a stop. A plurality of vertically reciprocal guide blades are arranged adjacent the track and are moved upwardly, one at a time, the first engaging the first connector and positioning it relative to the termination tooling followed by subsequent blades engaging the other connectors. These subsequent engagements occur one at a time in sequential order with increasing distance from the stop. When all connectors are positioned by engaging guide blades, wires are terminated to the connector terminals and the guide blades moved out of engagement so that the completed connector assembly can be removed and the process repeated.

Abstract: A hand operated tool for terminating the conductors of a hybrid cable to insulation displacement contacts contained in a connector. The tool includes a ratchet actuated cam which drives a ram and presser plate toward an abutting member upon which the connector assembly is secured. Free ends of the abutting member pass through the connector housing to provide adequate support. The free ends are then structurally supported by a bar that can be latched in place during operation of the tool. An interlock precludes operation of the tool without the support bar being in place. The operable handle which drives the ratchet is automatically disengaged when the ram has advanced to its fullest. A release mechanism provides for return of the ram to its starting position.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of determining the crimp height of an electrical terminal being crimped to a wire during the production crimping cycle. The method includes collecting a plurality of force and position data element pairs which are measured and sampled during the actual crimping operation. These data element pairs, representing the work curve of the operation and are analyzed to find the position of the ram when the crimping die set just disengages the terminal being crimped. The position of the ram at this point is then translated into the crimp height of the crimped connection. The analysis of the data element pairs includes a filter to remove inconsistent or extraneous data element pairs which could adversely affect the result by indicating an erroneous crimp height.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the determination of the force imposed on a terminal being crimped onto a wire. The crimping mechanism includes a cantilevered member which is deflected an amount that is proportional to the crimping force imposed on the terminal by the crimping bar. The amount of this deflection is sensed by four strain gages which are coupled to the cantilevered member and are electrically interconnected to form a Wheatstone bridge. The output of the Wheatstone bridge is then translated into actual force being imposed upon the terminal.

Abstract: A hand tool for inserting wires into insulation displacement contacts contained within a plastic connector housing is disclosed. An alignment member is provided which has a pair of camming surfaces formed on opposite sides thereof. The alignment member is attached to and moves with the insulation crimping blade and the wire insertion blade during the insertion process. The camming surfaces are arranged to engage the walls of the connector housing on either side of the contact and precisely align the contact with the insertion blade and crimping blade by moving the connector housing as needed just prior to engagement of the insertion blade and crimping blade.