Abstract: Apparatus for orienting elongate bodies, for example electrical connectors, comprises magazines for containing vertical stacks of the elongate bodies, escapement slides for releasing one body at a time from each magazine, as required, first and second slidable traps mounted beneath the escapement slides and having an advanced, body supporting position and a retracted body release position, and guide surfaces on the escapement slides for guiding each body as it falls from a magazine, so that it lies across both of the traps when they are in their body supporting position. A pair of receptacles are slidably mounted on a carriage beneath the traps so that either of these receptacles can be positioned to receive a body released by the traps. If one trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in one vertical orientation and if the other trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in the opposite vertical orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting electrical connectors to a flat multi-conductor cable comprises a work table on which are arranged a connector orienting assembly for placing electrical connectors at loading locations in different selected vertical and lengthwise orientations, a press for connecting the connectors to the cable by forcing the cable conductors into conductor receiving portions of terminals of the connectors, an assembly for feeding the cable intermittently through the press, a shuttle for receiving connectors from the loading locations and being movable intermittently along a path extending between the orienting assembly and the press, rams for loading connectors from the loading locations into the shuttle and an insertion assembly for driving the connectors from the shuttle into the press.

Abstract: Lead making apparatus has normally aligned transfer heads with conductor cutting and stripping blades therebetween. Each head is mounted on a rotatable transfer head shaft and has a slide with a clamp thereon through which wire is fed and clamped. The slides carry followers in respective first arcuate track segments which pivot to pull the slides away from each other for insulation stripping. The transfer head shafts rotate in opposite directions through ninety degrees to align stripped ends with terminating stations as the followers ride through first arcuate track segments into second arcuate track segments, each pair of track segments forming a continuous ninety degree arc of circular track. The second track segments pivot an adjustable amount to push the slides forward for inserting conductor into terminals to an adjustable degree. Transfer head shafts carry pinion gears fixed thereto against rotation and driven by a rack which reciprocates intermittently.

Abstract: Machine for interconnecting wire-in-slot type terminals in connectors mounted on a panel board utilizes a wire feed roll, rotatable insertion tooling, and an X-Y table. Wire is fed vertically through a rotation housing past wire inserters mounted above an aperture in a rotary plate. Wires are positioned for termination by wire feeding and movement of the X-Y table on which the panel board is mounted. Independently pivotable idler wheels cooperate with the feed roll to engage one or two wires. Insertion is effected by downward movement of the rotation housing which drives the inserters through the aperture in the rotary plate. The rotation housing is moved by pivoting a yoke with a variable pivot point to change limits of travel and therefore insertion depth. The plate, inserters, and rotation housing may be rotated to four orthogonal orientations to insert wires in terminals having like orientations.

Abstract: Lead making apparatus has normally aligned transfer heads with conductor cutting and stripping blades therebetween. Each head is mounted on a rotatable transfer head shaft and has a slide with a clamp thereon through which wire is fed and clamped. The slides carry followers in respective first arcuate track segments which pivot to pull the slides away from each other for insulation stripping. The transfer head shafts rotate in opposite directions through ninety degrees to align stripped ends with terminating stations as the followers ride through first arcuate track segments into second arcuate track segments, each pair of track segments forming a continuous ninety degree arc of circular track. The second track segments pivot an adjustable amount to push the slides forward for inserting conductor into terminals to an adjustable degree. Transfer head shafts carry pinion gears fixed thereto against rotation and driven by a rack which reciprocates intermittently.

Abstract: Optical waveguide terminating apparatus applies a pair of plug members of the type having metal retention sleeves therein to cut and strip the ends of a jacketed optical waveguide cable. Plug members are delivered to a insertion station attached to a metal carrier strip and are clamped securely between an anvil and an upper clamp which move together vertically under the action of followers riding in cam slots in a moving cam block, which also determines movement of other components. Cable is positioned relative to insertion station by aligning exposed fibers in narrow channels in top of shear bar which drops to remove carrier strip and positions cable guide channels in cable feed path. A pair of cam actuated jaws grip the cable and advance the ends toward the terminating station; the guides drop away during this advance to permit the jaws to fully insert the cable ends in the plug member.

Abstract: Terminating apparatus for flat multi-conductor cable comprises a gravity discharge magazine which dispenses connector having a cover partially assembled to a housing preloaded with terminals at a delivery station. A carriage which reciprocates transversely beneath the magazine transports the connector from the delivery station to a terminating station where the cable is inserted between the cover and housing from the opposite direction. A ram presses the housing against the cover to terminate the cable in the terminals while the carriage holds the connector at the terminating station and a clamp holds the cable in a guide channel which aligns the cable for termination.