Abstract: A method for calibrating a crimping press for crimping terminals on an electrical conductor. A master tool is positioned in a test crimping press and the press is operated to crimp a test bar to a desired crimp height. During the process of crimping the test bar to the desired crimp height, a standard force profile is generated. The standard force profile is recorded in a control unit. The master tool is transferred to a crimping press to be calibrated. Once the master tool is in place, the crimping press is operated until the crimping press creates a crimp height on the test bar equal to the desired crimp height. During the crimping process that results in the desired crimp height, an actual force profile is determined for the crimping press being calibrated. The actual force profile is compared to the standard force profile and the actual force profile is adjusted by an offset factor such that the adjusted force profile replicates the standard force profile.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wire cutting and stripping and terminal attaching apparatus and, in particular to an improved wire positioning mechanism for positioning the stripped end of an insulated wire in an open barrel terminal. After the insulated wire is cut and a slug of insulation is removed from the end of the wire, a gripper rotates the wire so that the bare or stripped end of the wire is located above an open barrel terminal supported on a lower die of a terminal attaching unit. An upper die is movable on the terminal attaching unit in a direction toward and away from the lower die to crimp the terminal on the stripped end of the wire. The wire positioning mechanism includes a positioning member which is mounted on the upper die and arranged to contact the gripper and push the stripped end of the wire downwardly into the open barrel terminal before the upper die operates to crimp the terminal.

Abstract: A device is provided for gathering, cutting and stripping insulated wire. The device includes first and second cutterhead assemblies. Each cutterhead assembly includes a central cutting knife and a pair of stripping blades spaced laterally on either side of the cutting knife. A drive system moves the cutting knives in a direction toward each other to cause the cutting knives to cut the wire to a predetermined length and moves the stripping blades in a direction toward each other to cause the stripping blades to sever the insulation on the wires. A positioning head assembly located upstream of the cutterhead assemblies positions the insulated wire between the cutting knives on each cutterhead assembly for cutting and stripping. Wire gathering elements gather the wire positioned between the cutterhead assemblies such that the wire may be found by another handling device downstream of the cutterhead assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for crimping terminals on an electrical conductor including a novel mechanism for adjusting the crimp or shut height. An anvil is secured to a supporting structure and a ram is mounted for reciprocating movement on the supporting structure in a direction toward and away from the anvil. The anvil and the ram carry cooperating die members which act to crimp the terminal on a conductor which is positioned between the anvil and the ram. The ram is moved in reciprocating movement by a toggle mechanism which interconnects the ram and the supporting structure, and the toggle mechanism is movable between an under-center open position, an on-center crimping position and an over-center open position. The location of the pivotal connection of the toggle mechanism to the supporting structure can be adjusted to selectively vary the spacing between the die members when the toggle mechanism is in the on-center position to thereby adjust the crimp height.

Abstract: A laser positioning system for a wire cutting and stripping apparatus. Insulated wire having an outer layer of frayable insulation is fed in a downstream path in increments of length by a feeding and measuring unit. A wire burning unit is located upstream of the feeding and measuring unit and includes two pair of cooperating heated dies, which serve to burn a pair of short lengths of the insulation and provides spaced areas of exposed bare wire. A cutting and stripping unit is located downstream of the burning unit and includes a pair of cooperating cutting blades and two pair of cooperating stripping blades which are located on either side of the cutting blades. A laser sensing unit is disposed adjacent the cutting and stripping unit, and generates a laser beam curtain that senses a change in diameter of the wire.

Abstract: A blade for cutting insulation from an insulated electrical conductor. The blade includes first and second opposed surfaces interconnected by an end. The end has an opening extending at a compound angle toward the interior of the blade. The opening is defined by a first pair of cutting edges converging at an angle less than 90.degree. toward the interior of the blade member and a second pair of cutting edges intersecting the first pair of cutting edges and converging toward the interior of the blade at a second non-parallel angle greater than the first angle. The blade is capable of maximizing the portion of the insulation that is cut from various size insulated conductors.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cutting and stripping insulated wire. The apparatus includes a pair of cutting and stripping units which are mounted on a supporting structure in opposed relation and each cutting and stripping unit includes a central cutting knife and a pair of stripping knives, spaced laterally on opposite sides of the cutting knife. The insulated wire is fed between the cutting and stripping units and when a predetermined length of wire has been fed, the cutting units are moved toward each other in a first stroke of movement to cause the cutting knives to cut a length of wire. The wire and the cut length are then moved axially away from each other by gripping units in a first stroke of movement to position the cut end of the wire and the end of the cut length between the cutting knives and the respective stripping knives.

Abstract: A programmable wire stripper is provided for cutting and stripping selectively variable length insulation portions from the end of wire segments presented at a workstation. The stripper includes a base frame mounted in fixed relation to the workstation and a carriage mounted on the base frame for movement toward and away from the workstation by a first drive. A turret is mounted on the carriage for movement relative thereto. The turret has a plurality of individual mounting positions and an insulation cutting mechanism is mounted on the turret at each of the mounting positions for movement between open noncutting and closed cutting positions. A second drive is provided for moving the turret to place any selected mounting position and its associated cutting mechanism at the workstation. A first actuator is provided to effect closing of the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: Wire processing apparatus comprises a wire selector/feed mechanism for feeding a selected one of a plurality of different wire strands lengthwise into a wire insertion mechanism which then presents a wire segment severed by a wire cutter mechanism laterally to the infeed ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart conveyor units of a conveyor mechanism. Each conveyor unit comprises a support frame on which a conveyor belt assembly is mounted. The conveyor belt assembly is adjustably positionable on the support frame to enable wire segment end portions of desired length to project from the conveyor belt assembly. The wire selector/feed mechanism comprises a wire selector device including a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates having pairs of aligned holes for releasably supporting the wire strands.

Abstract: A programmable apparatus for automatically stripping insulation from a wire end being conveyed by a wire conveyor, thereby leaving a portion of exposed conductor. This apparatus includes an insulation cutting mechanism for transversely cutting the insulation. The cutting mechanism includes opposed blades having facing cutting surfaces, at least one of those blades being movable toward the other by a blade closure device. To effect stripping, the cutting mechanism is moved away from the wire end after the cut is made. The apparatus includes a stepper motor for adjusting for the size of the wire and the thickness of the insulation. Another stepper motor is provided to control the length of the stripped portion. As the cutting mechanism is moved, a blade holder holds the cutting blades in position. A slider rod is connected to the holder and slidably engaged in a support frame connected to the conveyor.

Abstract: A mechanism for retaining tools in the spindle of a machine tool and for ejecting the tools for removal from the spindle. The mechanism is adapted to operate with standard cutting tool holders having a retention knob extending rearwardly and axially. The tool holder is retained in the spindle by a set of locking pins that extend radially through the spindle in a single plane in position to engage the inner side of the knob. A set of release pins of similar construction extend radially through the spindle in another plane in position to engage the outer side of the knob for ejecting the tool holder from its seat in the spindle. A cylindrical cam is slidably disposed about the spindle for axial movement by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. When the cylindrical cam is moved in one direction it actuates the locking pins inwardly into locking engagement with the retention knob on the tool holders.

Abstract: A spindle keylock for stopping and locking the spindle of a machine tool at a predetermined angular orientation to align the machine tool spindle key with the toolholder key to facilitate tool exchange includes a collar fastened about the spindle for co-joint rotation therewith. The collar has a helically cammed exterior surface into which an axially extending slot or channel is inscribed. A cam follower, pivotally mounted to the machine tool spindlehead so as to lie within a plane passing through the spindle axis which is at a predetermined angular orientation with respect to a reference plane passing through the spindle axis in alignment with the spindle key, is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the spindle for engaging with the cammed collar surface.