Abstract: A contact insertion machine includes a contact feeder having a feed finger configured to feed contacts of a power connector assembly in a feed direction along a feed track during a contact loading process. The contact insertion machine includes a power connector assembly holder holding a housing of the power connector assembly and movable relative to the feed track to position the housing to receive the contacts in a contact stack. The contact insertion machine includes a contact retention plate located upstream of the power connector assembly holder having a contact insertion port therethrough. The contact insertion port is aligned with the feed track downstream of the feed track. The power connector assembly holder is movable relative to the contact retention plate to position the housing to receive the contacts through the contact insertion port.

Abstract: A press machine includes a frame, a punch die supported by the frame, a guide track supported by the frame, and a heater coupled to the guide track. The punch die is driven through a punch stroke to punch a strip advanced through the press machine at a punch zone. The guide track has a guide rail forming a guide channel configured to receive the strip. The guide channel is aligned with the punch zone to guide the strip to the punch zone. The heater heats the guide rail to an elevated operating temperature. The guide rail is used for conduction heating of the strip as the strip passes through the guide track.

Abstract: A contact insertion machine includes a contact feeder having a feed finger configured to feed contacts of a power connector assembly in a feed direction along a feed track during a contact loading process. The contact insertion machine includes a power connector assembly holder holding a housing of the power connector assembly and movable relative to the feed track to position the housing to receive the contacts in a contact stack. The contact insertion machine includes a contact retention plate located upstream of the power connector assembly holder having a contact insertion port therethrough. The contact insertion port is aligned with the feed track downstream of the feed track. The power connector assembly holder is movable relative to the contact retention plate to position the housing to receive the contacts through the contact insertion port.

Abstract: A machine for assembling components in the form of ferrules (22) to electrical terminals (10) arranged in side-by-side strip form, comprises a rotary disc cam (50) with respective cam tracks (78 to 86) in which cam followers are connected to a feed member (26) for advancing the strip terminals (10), a shuttle (30) for presenting the ferrules (22) to an assembly station (AS) of the machine, an inserter (32) for taking each ferrule (22) from the shuttle (30) and assembling it to a respective terminal (10), a crimper (34) for crimping the ferrule (22) to the terminal (10) and a back-up device (36) for supporting the terminal (10) during the crimping operation. During each half revolution of the disc cam (50), the shuttle presents a ferrule (22) to the assembly station (AS) the inserter (32) inserts it over the terminal (10') at the assembly station (AS) and the crimper (34) and the backup device (36) cooperate to crimp the ferrule (22) to the terminal (10).

Abstract: A strip (20) of electrical terminals (10) having barrel portions (14) advanced intermittently through a ferrule assembly station (AS) and a ferrule (22) is assembled to the barrel portion (14) of each terminal (10) when it has reached the assembly station (AS). A shuttle (30) is used to align a ferrule (22) with the barrel portion (14) of each terminal (10) when it is at the assembly station (AS), between the barrel portion (14) and an insertion tool (32) which is used to push the ferrule (22) from the shuttle and over the barrel portion of the terminal (10).