Patents by Inventor David Wiltraut

David Wiltraut has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11862920
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly loading contacts into the connector strip. The contact loading assembly includes a wire distribution unit and a wire feed unit having a feeding device configured to simultaneously index wires through feed tracks in successive feed strokes. The wire feed unit includes a wire guide assembly guiding the wires through the wire feed unit. The contact loading assembly includes a contact forming unit and a contact loading device loading the contacts made from the wires into the connector strip as the connector strip is advanced through the electrical connector assembling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions Gmbh
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Jeffrey Zerbe, Craig Roper, Edward T. Price, III, Albert W. Wolfgang, III
  • Patent number: 11611187
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a connector strip feeding device configured to index a connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly to load contacts in the connector strip. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a contact bending assembly positioned downstream of the contact loading assembly. The contact bending assembly includes a roller and a bending actuator holding the roller. The bending actuator moves the roller in an actuation direction to engage and bend ends of the contacts. The roller rolling along the contacts to bend the ends of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Scott Thomas Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20230032253
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a connector strip feeding device configured to index a connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly to load contacts in the connector strip. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a contact bending assembly positioned downstream of the contact loading assembly. The contact bending assembly includes a roller and a bending actuator holding the roller. The bending actuator moves the roller in an actuation direction to engage and bend ends of the contacts. The roller rolling along the contacts to bend the ends of the contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Scott Thomas Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20230034277
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes and a contact loading assembly loading contacts into the connector strip. The contact loading assembly includes a wire distribution unit and a wire feed unit having a feeding device configured to simultaneously index wires through feed tracks in successive feed strokes. The wire feed unit includes a wire guide assembly guiding the wires through the wire feed unit. The contact loading assembly includes a contact forming unit and a contact loading device loading the contacts made from the wires into the connector strip as the connector strip is advanced through the electrical connector assembling machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Jeffrey Zerbe, Craig Roper, Edward T. Price, III, Albert W. Wolfgang, III
  • Patent number: 11545803
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip distribution unit including a reel cradle for holding a reel of the connector strip and a roller for rotating the reel of the connector strip to unwind the connector strip from the reel. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip notching unit including a notching device configured to cut notches in the connector strip at designated locations. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a contact loading unit loading contacts into the connector strip and an electrical connector separating unit for separating the electrical connector from the connector strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: David Wiltraut, Craig Roper, Jeffrey Zerbe, Scott A. Day, Edward T. Price, III
  • Patent number: 11545804
    Abstract: A connector assembling machine a revolver mechanism coupled to a frame. The revolver mechanism includes a shaft coupled to the frame, an actuator operably coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a rotor rotated by the shaft. The rotor includes a hub coupled to the shaft and mounting brackets extending from the hub. The revolver mechanism includes cartridges coupled to the mounting brackets each having cartridge walls forming a connector cavity configured to receive an electrical connector. The cartridge has a window exposing receptacles of the electrical connector. The rotor is rotated to move the cartridges between a connector loading station, a connector processing station, and a connector unloading station. The cartridges are loaded with the electrical connectors in the connector loading station and unloaded in the connector unloading station. The cartridges position the electrical connectors for loading support plates into the receptacles in the connector processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Swapnilsinh Solanki, Scott Thomas Schlegel, Jiankun Zhou, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Edward T. Price, III, David Wiltraut
  • Publication number: 20220302664
    Abstract: A connector assembling machine a revolver mechanism coupled to a frame. The revolver mechanism includes a shaft coupled to the frame, an actuator operably coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a rotor rotated by the shaft. The rotor includes a hub coupled to the shaft and mounting brackets extending from the hub. The revolver mechanism includes cartridges coupled to the mounting brackets each having cartridge walls forming a connector cavity configured to receive an electrical connector. The cartridge has a window exposing receptacles of the electrical connector. The rotor is rotated to move the cartridges between a connector loading station, a connector processing station, and a connector unloading station. The cartridges are loaded with the electrical connectors in the connector loading station and unloaded in the connector unloading station. The cartridges position the electrical connectors for loading support plates into the receptacles in the connector processing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Swapnilsinh Solanki, Scott Thomas Schlegel, Jiankun Zhou, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Edward T. Price, III, David Wiltraut