Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle which is used to pick up and transport and place heavy cargo. In particular, the invention relates to a vehicle which is capable of picking a vehicle from a confined space and transporting it to the appropriate location, thereby replacing a conventional tow truck.

Abstract: A robotic pick up head for use in picking up electrical connectors (25 and 27) having top actuated rivets (176) and being of different lengths, placing them on a circuit board (19) and setting the rivets (176) to secure the connectors (25 or 27) to the board (19), comprises a body (28) having a top plate (30) for connection to the Z axis shaft (18) of a pick and place robot (2). Opposed piston and cylinder drive units (70 and 72) in the body (28) drive a toggle linkage (50, 54) to drive plungers (142) of riveting tools (26), first to cause the tools (26) to grip the rivets (176) when a connector (25 or 27) is to be picked up and then to set the rivets (176) when they have been inserted into holes (H) in the board (19), to secure the connector thereto.

Abstract: A pick-up head for picking up elongate electrical connectors having contact tails depending therefrom and for placing the connectors on circuit boards to insert the contact tails through holes therein, comprises a framework having a vertical shaft for attachment to the Z-axis shaft of a pick-and-place robot. Connector clamping bars on the framework are movable vertically with respect thereto by means of a first drive unit and are also movable towards and away from each other by means of second drive units. A contact tail comb assembly on the framework is movable towards and away from the clamping bars by means of third drive units. The clamping bars are adapted not only to grip a connector to be picked up, but to straighten it out to correct warpage, and the comb assembly is adapted to straighten out the contact tails of a connector which has been gripped by the bars and lifted from a connector pick-up station.

Abstract: An electrical connector pick-up station for use in feeding electrical connectors from a magazine into an electrical connector transfer nest, for transfer to a work station, comprises a cable supporting the magazine, a seat for the nest having guide rollers for guiding the nest onto the seat, and a feed ram which is movable under the base of the magazine to insert a connector into the nest. The ram is provided with an end for engaging the connector to insert it, and a guide plate extending beyond that end for guiding the connector into a predetermined position in the nest, in which position it is releasably latched in the nest. Where the connectors are provided with mating covers, the guide plate acts as a separator which extends between the connector and its cover so that these are inserted into the nest in properly spaced relationship.

Abstract: A cable severing station for severing a flat cable at a position adjacent to electrical connectors to which the cable has been terminated, comprises a cable gripping unit having cable grippers which can be moved between an open position to allow the cable with the connectors thereon to be fed therethrough and a closed cable gripping position; and a cutting second unit for gripping the cable and the connectors and for severing the cable at positions close to the connectors. The cable is first fed through the grippers of the cable gripping unit when these are in an open position, and the cable cutting unit is then moved into the cable gripping unit to carry out the cable severing operations.

Abstract: In an assembly for connecting electrical connectors to flat multi-conductor cable, an arm of a robot is provided with a connector transfer nest into which a connector can be fed at a connector feed station, for transfer by the robot to a press through which the cable has been fed. The nest is inserted into the press by the robot so that the cable extends through the nest and the press is then operated to actuate means in the nest to force conductor receiving portions of terminals in the connector through the cable to receive the cable conductors. The robot is then operated to withdraw the nest from the press leaving the connector on the cable and the cable is fed forward to allow the robot to apply a further connector thereto and so on. Means may be provided for severing the cable with the connectors thereon to provide separate electrical harnesses.

Abstract: An electrical connector transfer nest for use in transferring an electrical connector from a connector pick-up station to a work station, comprises a frame in which are slidably mounted, a pair of plungers, one of these having means for releasably retaining a connector thereon. The nest is arranged to receive a flat cable between the plungers, so that by moving the plungers towards one another, against the action of a return spring, conductor receiving portions of terminals of the connector can be forced through the cable to receive the conductors. Means are provided for releasing the connector from the nest, after it has been terminated to the cable and as the plungers are moved apart by the return spring. The other plunger may be arranged, releasably to receive, a cover for the connector, the cover having means for stuffing the cable conductors into the wire receiving portions of the terminals.