Abstract: An automatic terminal applicator in which stripped wire ends are automatically guided and inserted into the insulation and wire barrel portions of terminals attached to a moving belt is disclosed. The belt is indexed through the crimping station between the upper and lower insulation and wire crimping dies of the press. A split funnel guide includes a spring-loaded portion and a complementary stationary portion respectively fastened with the upper and lower crimping dies. When the dies are closed, an aperture is formed at the apex of the funnel immediately adjacent the insulation portion of the leading terminal and whose cross-sectional area is no greater than the corresponding area of the insulation portion of the terminal. The wire is positioned transversely of the terminal and coaxial therewith. Thereafter, the wire is inserted into the funnel and guided thereby into the barrel of the terminal.

Abstract: A terminal applicator for applying terminals in the form of a continuous belt and having a crimping die and a crimping anvil movable relatively towards and away from each other is disclosed. The belt of terminals is fed along a feed path extending behind the dies to present and index the leading terminal on the belt to the dies. After crimping, the dies move relatively away from each other to free the crimped terminal. An ejector means is spaced laterally of the feed path and moves into engagement with the wire and away from the dies, while the other end of the wire is held by a wire clamp, so that the crimped terminal is broken away from, and thereby removed from, the belt. In one embodiment, the wire clamp is movably mounted for lateral movement toward and away from the dies, so that the wire end may be inserted into a closed-barrel terminal prior to the crimping operation.