Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprising a round cable having an end portion provided with an adaptor for terminating the round cable in a flat cable connector. The adaptor has a cylindrical end portion disposed for receiving therein a jacketed end portion of the round cable, an intermediate transitional portion wherein a plurality of conductors extending from the cable end portion are permitted to cross over one another and be formed with an array of juxtaposed conductor end portions, and a rectangular end portion out of which the array of juxtaposed conductor end portions extends. The rectangular end portion is provided with outer dimension and resilient properties similar to an equivalent flat cable for insertion and latching into a flat cable connector where the conductor end portions terminating at respective distances from a mating surface of the adaptor extend into respective grooves and are electrically connected to respective contacts of the connector in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying wire joints, of the type having a crimpable metallic ferrule, to the ends of wires. The apparatus includes a feeder for holding a supply of the joints, a tool for applying the joints to be crimped, and a conveyor interconnecting the feeder and the tool for conveying the joints in series. The tool has a crimping station and first and second crimping members which are movable between an open position and a crimping position for applying a joint held at the crimping station. The tool also includes a wire joint advance mechanism responsive to the crimping members moving toward their open position to advance the next upstream wire joint to the crimping station thereby ejecting the wire joint applied to the wires.As a method, the present invention includes the steps of moving a wire joint from a loading station to the crimping station as the crimping members move to their open position.