Abstract: Work holder for holding electrical connectors during insertion of terminals into cavities in the connector comprises a positioning fixture and a clamping member. The connector is clamped between one face of the positioning fixture and the clamping member. The positioning fixture has terminal guiding openings extending therethrough and has aligning and guiding surface portions which guide the connector towards these openings when the connector is being clamped in the fixture so that the cavities in the connector are in precise alignment with the terminal guiding openings. The fixture is intended for use in a robot and permits reorientation of the connector, from right to left, so that connectors requiring terminals in two different orientations can be accommodated.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the shut height of a press includes a rotatable dial (16) interposed between a ram mounting block (6) fixed to a press ram (2), and a tooling ram (14). The dial (16) is keyed to a screw bushing (12) which is rotatable in a screw threaded bore in the block (6) for vertical movement relative to the block (6). Facing surfaces (46 and 48) of the block (6) and the dial (16) are formed with opposed helical ramps (54 and 56, and 58 and 60). The angular position of the dial (16) is adjustable to cause the ramps (54 and 56, and 58 and 60) to cooperate to alter the distance between ramps (2) and 14) to adjust the shut height of the press.

Abstract: Terminal inserting apparatus comprises first and second sets of closable jaws, the second set of jaws being between the first set of jaws and the cavity in the connector into which the terminal is to be inserted. The jaws are normally aligned and are juxtaposed and are movable relative to each other to spaced-apart positions. In use, the first set of jaws is closed onto the wire adjacent to the end thereof and adjacent to the terminal. The second set of jaws is then moved towards the cavity and closed into surrounding and confining relationship with the terminal on the wire. The second set of jaws does not grip the wire so that the terminal can move relative thereto. The first set of jaws then moves towards the second set of jaws thereby moving the terminal, into the cavity. The actuating mechanism swings the jaws between a lead pick-up station and a lead insertion station.

Abstract: Apparatus for deploying end portions of an insulated signal wire and ground wires juxtaposed therewith, to locate said wire end portions in respective wire receiving channels of electrical contacts on opposite sides of an insulating electrical connector body, comprises means for combing out the wire end portions into parallel relationship, means for pushing back the insulation from the end portion of the signal wire and for splaying the wire end portions in opposite directions to locate them so as to straddle the connector body and means for wiping each wire end portion into a respective one of the wire receiving channels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting and stripping a plurality of wires, applying terminals to the ends of the wires, and inserting wires en masse into the cavities in a connector housing. A shuttle having telescoping tubes which contain the wires therein is attached to carriage which travels on a rail and delivers wires axially at a first fixed spacing on a linear path to an operating zone, insertion station, and strip and shear station. Tubing collapses to extrude wire into operating zone where wires are compensated by deflecting laterally of their axes various amounts such that subsequent rolling into a template will restore the wire ends to a straight array so they can be terminated to a strip of terminals at a second fixed spacing. Tubes expand to draw terminated wires therein as shuttle retreats, then connector housing is delivered onto linear path and shuttle advances to insert terminated wires therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneous location and termination of a plurality of stripped conductors in a connector is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body having a connector orienting cavity, a conductor comb for aligning the stripped conductor, a conductor wiper assembly disposed parallel to said cavity and conductor insertion tooling disposed perpendicular to said cavity.