Abstract: A terminal guide rail assembly attached along a worktable to position a terminal strip in alignment as it moves along the worktable and is received at the crimping and cutting machine. The terminal guide rail assembly has a lower guide rail mounted to the worktable and upper guide rail movable relative to the lower guide rail which is biased by compression springs to align a projecting ridge on the upper guide rail between generally U-shaped terminal portions. The terminal edges are biased against an inner portion of the lower guide rail.

Abstract: A terminal crimping apparatus for performing a crimping operation to crimp a wire barrel end of an electrical terminal on a stripped bare wire end of an electrical conductor, includes a reciprocal ram having a crimping tool cooperable with a crimping anvil and movable between a die open or ready position and a crimping position. The crimping apparatus also includes a device for monitoring the crimped height of the terminal on the conductor during each crimping operation. The monitoring device can be adjusted to accommodate different terminal and conductor configurations. Once calibrated, the monitoring device can be operated in an automatic mode and can be set to automatically stop the terminal crimping apparatus in the event that the crimped height of a terminal and conductor is greater than a selectable and setable high limit or is less than a selectable and setable low limit. The monitoring device operates on the principle that there is a relationship between crimping pressure and desired crimped height.

Abstract: A self-containing brake assembly adapted to be mounted on a strip feeding device to apply an adjustable frictionally braking force to the strip includes a first braking element mountable upon a feed table. A second braking element having spaced opposed webs located at opposite sides of the first element is guided by guide pins fixed to one element and received in bores in the other for movement between a braking position wherein a work piece strip is frictionally gripped between one side of the first braking element and the opposed web of the second and a release position in which the opposed web is disengaged from the strip. An adjustable spring resiliently biases the elements towards the braking position an eccentric release cam may be manually operated to shift the elements to their release position.

Abstract: A two piece feed member providing a less costly replacement and the ability to adjust the feed member's length. The two piece configuration only requires that the wearing portion be replaced, and not the entire feed member. This allows for a significant cost savings. Different feed mechanisms require different length feed members, and therefore, an adjustable length feed member allows for the use of one universal feed member.

Abstract: An alignment sensing device for use with an article and an apparatus requiring alignment of the article in relation to the apparatus. The alignment sensing device has a first lever and a second lever with an aperture corresponding to a portion of an outer contour of the article. The first lever is pivotally mounted to the second lever, allowing rotation of the first lever relative to the second lever from a normal rest position to an engaged position. The alignment sensing device is movable toward the article, thereby initiating contact between the first lever and the article. The first lever begins to rotate from the normal rest position toward the engaged position, while the alignment sensing device continues to move toward the article. Subsequently, if the article is aligned with the apparatus, the aperture of the second lever matingly encompasses a portion of the outer contour of the article, while the first lever simultaneously reaches the engaged position which is sensed by the alignment sensing device.