Abstract: A composite thermal interface pad is comprised of a template portion formed from a material such as thermal gap pad material or thermal tape, in which cavities have been formed and filled with a pliable non-resilient material, such as thermal grease or thermal putty. The spacing and size of the cavities may be tailored to achieve desired elastic properties and stress distributions, as well as optimize the thermal characteristics of the thermal interface with respect to heat distribution patterns of electronic components being cooled. The composite thermal interface pad may also be used to provide EMI shielding along the gap formed between the electronic component and the adjacent cooling structure by filling closely adjacent cavities with electrically conductive non-resilient material.

Abstract: A wire container for use with a robot-arm-manipulated wire routing tool in the fabrication of wire harnesses. The container includes a protective shroud having a plurality of lever arms which facilitate the raising of the shroud above the drum of the container.

Abstract: A wire container for use with a robot-arm-manipulated wire routing tool in the fabrication of wire harnesses. The container is adapted to hold various cables, single wires and twisted pair wires of different lengths and wire sizes, and having different contact configurations on the ends thereof.

Abstract: Contact insertion and wire lay apparatus for manufacture of wire harnesses which provides for insertion of a contact affixed to the trailing end of a wire segment after wire lay. The invention provides for gripping a wire segment while the segment is caused to lay in a desired configuration. A pair of sets of tip jaws enable forward and trailing end contacts of the wire segment to be inserted into selected contact holding devices. In addition, the apparatus is arranged to facilitate lateral receipt and rejection of the wire segments.

Abstract: A harness formation end-effector comprising a housing disposed for cooperable receipt and retention of a removable tool tip, wherein the tool tip may take the form of a contact insertion tool tip or a crimping tool tip or the like.

Abstract: A first end effector extends from a rotatable support in a first direction and has a tip portion extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a second type of end effector extends in a third direction and has a tip portion extending in a fourth direction opposite the second direction, to enable contact insertion into a connector by either effector and regardless of the orientation in space of the connector.