Abstract: An apparatus for attaching each of a successive pair of wires (12) to each of a pair of contacts (13), seated in opposed recesses (14) in a connector (16). The apparatus comprises a base (18) on which a connector-carrying carriage (26) is slidably mounted for movement along an axis (24). Each of a pair of ram assemblies (32) is mounted on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carriage (26). Adjacent to each ram assembly (32) is a wire guide (58) which has an upwardly inclined pin (74) which provides a path for pulling a wire into alignment with a separate one of the ram assemblies (32). Once aligned with the ram assemblies, the wires (12) are then rammed by the ram assemblies against the corresponding contacts (13).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electrical connector with a cable. The electrical connector including a connector head having a plurality of contacts and a pair of cover adaptors to which wires of the cable may be arranged is connected with the cable by means of the apparatus including a press section, a die-set section and a slide-unit section. The head is supported to a portion of the apparatus, and the cover adaptors to which cables are arranged are respectively attached to the head by a single operation of a handle of the apparatus whereby the wires are connected with the respective contacts.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for operating an electrical harness making machine on which a variety of electrical connectors may be used with a common set of tooling. In such an operation, a leading end of a wire is terminated in a preselected terminal of a row of terminals in a first electrical connector at a first operating station, and the trailing end of said wire is terminated in a preselected terminal of a row of terminals in a second electrical connector. The electrical connectors traverse a number of operating stations at which additional discrete wire segments are terminated to such electrical connectors to produce an electrical harness.

Abstract: An electrical cable-making apparatus comprises a feeding device (16) for feeding a shielded ribbon electrical cable (11) and discrete electrical insulated conductors (12) from supply members (23,24) along a path (15), a clamping device (17) clamps onto the cable (11) and conductors (12) and moves the cable and conductors along the path a specified distance, clamping devices (18,20) move adjacent cutting and stripping members (18a,19a) band clamp onto the cable and conductors, cutting blades (29a,29b) of the cutting and stripping members (19a,19b) cut the cable and conductors while the stripping blades (27a,27b and 28a,28b) cut through an outer jacket (11e) and shield (11d) of the cable (11) stripping the outer jacket and shield from the cable when the clamping devices (18,20) move in opposite directions exposing cable conductors (11c) of the cable (11) and forming trailing and newly-formed leading ends of the cable conductors (11c) and discrete conductors, the trailing and newly-formed conductor ends are posi

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a two part circular connector and terminating discrete wires to insulation displacement contacts within the connector. A two part die is used to position and secure the connector parts. The cable is inserted through an opening in the bottom of the die and the wires positioned in respective radial slots that correspond with the contacts. A punch is then brought into engagement with the die to sever the wires to length, fold the wires into wire receiving slots, terminate the wires to the contacts, and assemble the two parts of the connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a unitary cable terminating press for terminating flat cable of the type having multiple individual conductors extending therethrough. This is especially applicable for terminating such cable which is arranged in a twisted configuration defining a cable of substantially round configuration. The press includes a guide and clamp having a plurality of individually operable clamp members for first positioning and clamping a first predetermined portion of the cable in a manner such that the conductors within that portion are clamped in a desired position. Thereafter, additional portions can be selectively clamped by the individual clamp member in a predetermined sequence. A cutting blade then serves to cut the cable at a location relative to the clamp. A flat cable connector can then be positioned in open engagement and a press mechanism is brought down on the connector to terminate the cable with the connector.

Abstract: A universal nest (1)) for accommodating a separate one of a pair of ribbon connectors (12 and 12') of heights h.sub.1 and h.sub.2, respectively, comprises an elongated beam (26) along which a first block (28) of a height h.sub.1 is slidably mounted. A slide (42) is slidably mounted on the upper surface (34) of the first block (28) for movement between a first position at which it overhangs a portion of the block to expose part of its upper surface, and a second position at which it overlies the upper surface (34). When the slide (42) is at its first position, the upper surface (34) will support an end of the first connector (12). The slide, when displaced to its second position, itself supports an end of the second connector (12'). A second block (60), having a pair of opposed shelves (66 and 68) of a height h.sub.1 and h.sub.2, respectively, is rotatably mounted to the beam (26) distant from the first block (28).

Abstract: Measurement apparatus for use in connection with a connector assembly apparatus, for accurately positioning a connector on a cable relative to a previously mounted connector, the apparatus comprising a slotted plate mounted perpendicularly with respect to a base member and being adapted for displacement relative to a connector assembly station, the slot being sized to receive the cable but having a depth less than that of the mounted connector so that the cable can pass freely through the slot until the cable is positioned to abut the slotted plate. A cable having a connector prepositioned at one end thereof is positioned within the slotted plates and drawn therethrough so that the connector is urged against the plate to lock the cable in the desired position.

Abstract: A cable tray for use with a tool for applying a connector to a multiconductor flat cable includes a planar grooved cable positioning surface that aligns individual conductors of a flat cable and a cable transfer rod removably and rotatably mounted perpendicular to the length of the grooves and spaced from a cable positioned on the grooves of the positioning surface an amount sufficient to engage the surface of a cable inserted therebetween and upon rotation of the rod accurately advance the terminal edge of the cable to a desired termination position and securely hold the cable in position until a connector is terminated thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connection of wires to a connector is disclosed. A means is provided for exerting a predetermined tension on the wires so that they are held in alignment while being pressed into the connector.

Abstract: Method for the simultaneous manufacturing and testing of a cable harness assembly having one, or a plurality of spaced apart connectors, of the insulation displacement type, terminated to a planar multi-conductor cable. The system can be programmed to cut or shear the cable immediately after a test thereof fails to verify an appropriately terminated connector or continuity in the cable, or after the cable harness assembly length is reached. By such a system, a minimum of cable is lost to scrap due to the failed electrical testing thereof.

Abstract: A device for correcting the free conductor ends of a conductor bundle has a support with parallel grooves for holding the ends in a parallel array, a vertically movable heated stamp for adhering or welding a strip of material to the exposed plastic jackets of the conductor ends on the support and a knife for cutting off the portions of the conductor ends extending beyond the connecting strip. The pressing stamp is mounted on a vertically movable carrier plate for vertical movement relative to the plate and is spring biased downwardly, and the knife is fixed to the carrier plate so that the pressing stamp engages and presses the connecting strip to the conductor jackets and the knife then serves the projecting conductor ends as a result of a single downward movement of the carrier plate.

Abstract: A cable-making apparatus comprises a conductor-positioning device (110) to which an electrical cable (10) is affixed and exposed ends of electrical conductors (13) of the cable (10) are positioned in spaces (112) of a first comb member (110a), a conductor-moving member (141) moves the conductors (13) from the first comb member (110a) into spaces (132) of a second comb member (130) so that the conductors (13) are aligned with termination sections (21a) of electrical contacts (21) of an electrical connector (20) positioned in a connector-retaining member (150) adjacent the second comb member (130), and a cutting and stuffer member (162) cuts the conductors (13) and stuffs them into the termination sections (21a) of the contacts (21) thereby effecting electrical connections between the conductors and the contacts whereafter the cable and connector terminated thereto are removed from the conductor-positioning device (110).

Abstract: Apparatus for terminating a ribbon cable formed of electrical conductors in a web of electrical insulation during the attaching thereof to a connector. The apparatus comprises a guide member releasably coupleable with the cable at a predetermined location with respect to the end of the cable. The apparatus also comprises means to sequentially couple the guide member and cable end in operative relationship with a series of processing stations whereat the guide member functions to accurately locate the cable end with respect to the operating mechanisms of the processing stations. Such processing stations are operative for the attaching of the cable end to a connector. Also disclosed is the method of terminating a ribbon cable with such apparatus.

Abstract: An appartus (10) attaching successive pairs of wires (12) to successive pairs of opposed contacts (15) of a connector (16) comprises a connector-carrying carriage (44,46) mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis. Each of a pair of ram assemblies (100) is mounted on opposite sides of the carriage for movement to and from a separate one of a pair of opposed contacts on the connector. Each pair of wire guides (58) is situated adjacent to a separate one of the ram assemblies for guiding a wire pulled thereacross into alignment with one of a pair the opposed connector contacts. Once each wire is aligned with the connector contact, each ram assembly is actuated to attach the wire to the contact. After wire attachment, an advancing mechanism (120, 126, 134, 142, 146) advances the carriage so that each of a successive pair of contacts is opposite a separate one of the ram assemblies.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the simultaneous manufacturing and testing of a cable harness assembly having one, or a plurality of spaced apart connectors, of the insulation displacement type, terminated to a planar multi-conductor cable. The system can be programmed to cut or shear the cable immediately after a test thereof fails to verify an appropriately terminated connector or continuity in the cable, or after the cable harness assembly length is reached. By such a system, a minimum of cable is lost to scrap due to the failed electrical testing thereof.

Abstract: A tool (10) facilitates use of self-stripping electrical connectors (12). The connectors are formed into a string held within a holder (14) and indexed sequentially to the forward end of the body where an integral pair of crimping pliers (16) activates the first connector in the string.

Abstract: Wire bending apparatus comprising a positioning fixture adapted to secure the stripped free end of a ribbon cable in a predetermined orientation; a bending fixture positionable adjacent the fixed free end of a ribbon cable secured in the positioning fixture; and means releasably interconnecting the positioning fixture and the bending fixture for the releasable securement therebetween. Also disclosed is the method of bending free ends of ribbon cables with such apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors onto flat conductor cables. An improved installation station including the apparatus includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and a transport station to sequentially move them includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and an transport station to sequentially move the connectors from the magazines to the installation station. The installation station includes surfaces for retaining cables in a horizontal plane and a press having an avil and ram for coupling connector portions to the cable and to each other. The surfaces are spring biased and include abuttment surfaces for proper positioning of the cables.

Abstract: Cable supporting apparatus for assembly machines for terminating electrical cable with connectors includes a base and cable support means mounted on the base for supporting a length of cable. The support means is movable relative to the base from a cable loading position, in which position the support means is spaced from the machine connector applicator, to a working position, in which the support means presents a cable to the applicator for termination with a connector. The support means includes a plurality of cable support elements selectively positionable thereon. In addition, a sensor is provided for sensing when the support means is in the cable loading position.

Abstract: Harness-making machine has a connector installing station, a staging zone adjacent to the installing station for holding a stack of connectors, and a cable dispensing or feeding unit adjacent to the staging zone. Cable is fed from the feeding unit through the staging zone to the installing station at which the leading connector on the stack is installed on the cable. The dispensing unit has a cable guide which extends through the staging zone to the installing station thereby to protect the cable from the terminals which extend from the connectors contained in the staging zone. This guide thereby prevents jamming of the machine which can occur if cable movement through the staging zone is impeded by the terminals.

Abstract: A harness-receiving apparatus for receiving an electrical harness comprising electrical wires connected at respective ends thereof to electrical connectors and fed from a harness-making machine (HMM) comprises: a first carrier rail positioned with respect to the harness-naking machine (HMM) for receiving one of the connectors for movement therealong while the other of the connectors hangs down during movement of the harness along the first carrier rail; a second carrier rail at an outer end of the first carrier rail and being directed downwardly with respect to the first carrier rail so that the one connector is transferred from the first carrier rail to the second carrier rail while the other connector continues to hang down during the movement of the one connector and the harness along the second carrier rail; and a harness-receiving member positioned below the second carrier rail for receiving the harness from the second carrier rail and arranging the harness in the direction of the second carrier rail.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus adapted to assist in making electrical wiring harnesses comprised of connectors (12) having passages (14) on given center-to-center spacing and containing terminals (20) terminated to flexible wires (40); the method and apparatus featuring providing tooling to effect wire shear and termination on the given spacing via a spring-loaded wire clamp and wire guide means associated with nesting die (50) and punch (54) tooling whereby the wires are sheared and terminated in a single stroke.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly for in line emulation function includes plural pairs of electrical IDC (insulation displacement connection) contacts that face opposite directions on opposite sides of a multiconductor cable and a strain relief for holding together the cable and the contacts for use such that electrical connection is provided among each pair of contacts and a respective conductor of the cable. Desirably the IDC connections of contacts to the cable conductors are made simultaneously by contacts on both sides of the cable. A method and a machine for making the assembly provide for such simultaneous IDC connections and subsequent direct molding of the strain relief.

Abstract: An electrical connector applicator comprises a lower holding-member (1) on a base (3) for holding a base member (19) of an electrical connector so that electrical conductors (18) of a cable (17) can be positioned along the base member (19) and an upper holding-member (2) on a block (10) for holding a cover member (16) of the electrical connector. A section (10a) of block (10) is pivotally mounted to a spring-biased mechanism (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) located on base (3).

Abstract: Electrical cable assemblies formed by joining two halves or sections with each section having grooves extending from end to end and outwardly projecting ribs alongside the grooves with the grooves and ribs on one section being laterally shifted relative to the other section so that when the sections are brought together, the ribs enter facing grooves on the opposing sections to cooperatively form passageways for electrical contacts positioned in the grooves. A fixture useful in assemblying the electrical members and a method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making electrical harnesses of flat cable (30) terminated at respective opposite ends in electrical connectors (13) with individual conductors electrically connected to corresponding contacts of rows of contacts in conductor-receiving faces of the connectors (13). The flat cable (30) is fed longitudinally along a path extending towards a terminating station adjacent the feed path (12) along which the contact rows extend and a loop is formed in a leading end with the plane of the cable (30) and the loop axis extending perpendicularly to the contact rows and conductor-receiving faces. The leading and trailing ends of the cable loop are then rotated in opposite senses through 90.degree. to extend parallel to the plane of the conductor-receiving faces of the connectors (13) with individual conductors aligned with respective contacts and terminated therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting extremely short conductor ends to electrical connecting elements, such as e.g. clamps and/or plugs is described. A separating device can be integrated into a conventional stripping and crimping apparatus. The latter has a common pair of clamping jaws, the lower clamping jaw having a cutting edge facing an anvil for separating the electrical connecting elements from a support strip. A support strip supply means is provided in such a way that the support strip can be introduced into a separating device located outside the crimping zone. This space-saving construction makes it possible to considerably reduce the necessary conductor insertion depth.

Abstract: A pitch transition wire guide apparatus for use in wire harness fabrication machines includes a plate member having a wire engaging edge and a corresponding number of open-ended wire guide channels, each extending inwardly from the edge to a closed end. The closed ends of said channels are spaced apart by a centerline spacing different from the centerline spacing of the open ends in said edge. The plate is reciprocably moveable between a first position wherein the open ends are in surrounding engagement with the wires adjacent the edge and a second wire-receiving position wherein said wires are disposed at the closed ends. The guide includes actuation means for moving the plate member between said first and second positions. Actuation of the wire guide causes movement of the wires within their respective channels to alter the centerline spacing thereof. The wire guide is useful for making smooth continuous transitions between production runs of different pitch wire harnesses.

Abstract: Apparatus for semiautomatic termination of conductors of a ribbon cable to electrical terminals of an electrical connector having conductor receiving cavities located on opposite sides thereof. In operation the apparatus combs and shears individual conductors of the ribbon cable. The comb means cooperates with the individual conductors adjacent the dielectric jacket of the cable, ensuring that the individual conductors will be combed and spaced as required for termination to the terminals. The shear means is retracted, leaving the comb means in contact with the conductors, maintaining the position of the conductors until the connector is brought into place. A shuttle then places the connector in engagement with the conductors. The comb means is retracted, permitting the conductors to be positioned in alignment with terminating sections of the terminals which in turn allows for insertion and crimping of the conductors to occur.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a two-part connector with an interposed cable, which apparatus comprises a pair of relatively movable press elements, a storage magazine for containing a plurality of connectors, structure for moving a connector from the magazine to an operative position between the respective press elements, structure for actuating at least one of the press elements to achieve crimping of the connector and an interposed cable, when the connector is in the operative position, and a control system for selectively causing indexing of the storage magazine, movement of a connector into the operating position and crimping movement of the press elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors onto flat conductor cables. An improved installation station including the apparatus includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and a transport station to sequentially move the includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and a transport station to sequentially move the connectors from the magazines to the installation station. The installation station includes a surface for retaining cables in a horizontal plane and a press having an avil and ram for coupling connector portions to the cable and to each other. The installation station also includes means to retain connector portions on the ram during the coupling.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus for applying an electrical connector to a multiconductor cable. The apparatus includes a supply means for carrying and dispensing flat multiconductor cable. A drive receives cable from the supply and delivers the cable to a connector applying station. The connector applying station includes spaced sections for receiving connector sections and advancing and applying the connector section to the cable. A drive is mounted in a housing in a position between the supply and connector applying section. There is further provided an entry guide positioned between the supply and drive roller for laterally applying cable delivered to the cable received by the drive. Exit guide means positioned between the drive rollers and connector applying sections engage the cable and accurately laterally positioning the same.

Abstract: A cable core self-aligning apparatus comprises core feeding means for holding a plurality of cores, drawn out of an end of a cable, in a line and sequentially feeding the cores; rotational conveyor means having a conveying rotor for holding and rotationally conveying each of the cores to a core extracting position; and core identifying means for identifying the number of each core while that core is being conveyed to the core extracting position by the rotational conveyor means.

Abstract: An apparatus (60) is disclosed for accurately aligning and terminating conductors (4) of a flat multiconductor cable (2) to terminals (26) of a connector (18). This apparatus (60) is particularly suited for use with cables (2 ) that have closely spaced conductors (4). To ensure proper termination, the apparatus (60) forces the individual conductors (4) into respective grooves (38) of the cover (22) of the connector (18). These grooves (38) are molded in the cover (22) and are therefore, more accurately positioned than the extruded conductors (4). With the conductors (4) maintained in their resepctive grooves (38), the termination process is completed. This ensures that a positive electrical connection is effected between the connector (18) and the cable (2), even when the cable (2) has a nominal spacing between adjacent conductors (4) of 0.025 inches or less.

Abstract: An assembly tool for applying multi-terminal electrical connectors to multi-conductor flat electrical cable having sequentially operated sliding plates which locate and hold the flat cable against a bottom plate with the conductors precisely located in grooves in the plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and assembly for testing the electrical integrity of a multi-circuit cable harness. An intermediate harness product is prepared including a short test tab comprising a portion of insulated multiconductor cable extending from a terminated multi-circuit connector. The test tab is stripped to expose at least a portion of the tab conductors. Adjacent exposed portions of the tab are contacted with a test probe capable of electrically testing the adjacent circuits of the harness. If a positive test result is obtained, the test tab is trimmed to provide the finished cable harness product. If a negative test result is obtained, the test tab is left on the intermediate harness product to provide a ready visual indication of a defective cable harness product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical cable harness making apparatus including a shuttle table system for moving a connector between loading and termination stations. The shuttle table system includes a plurality of coplanar tables moveable in a common closed rectilinear path.Also disclosed is an arrangement for removing integrally molded tabs which join a plurality of housings together at spaced predetermined distances from each other. The arrangement includes a plurality of punches aligned with the connecting tabs and mounted for selective movement between operative and inoperative positions. A cover overlying the punches maintains groups of punches in their respective operative and inoperative positions.Also disclosed for use with the above apparatus is an arrangement of wire guides which pay out predetermined lengths of cable from a supply source and, after cutting the cable free of the source, provide transport thereof to a termination station.

Abstract: A pair of fingers are operated by air cylinders at different rates in accordance with a given wiring function. In one function, one finger engages, supports and aligns an IDT at low pressure prior to insertion of the wire by the other finger at high pressure. The opening and closing of the fingers is also at high pressure. The closing of the fingers captivates the wire in alignment therewith as the tool travels from terminal to terminal. The wire is severed from the last terminal in the wiring sequence by an air operated knife. The tool is adapted to be connected to a robotic arm.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for fabricating an electrical harness including a connector and a plurality of conductors. The connector has a plurality of terminals preloaded partially into a housing with a conductor-receiving terminal portion outside of the housing. One or more connectors are manually positioned within a frame of the electrical harness fabricating apparatus. An operational cycle of the electrical harness apparatus begins when a conductor is detected at a predetermined position within a conductor-guide channel. The conductors are sequentially terminated into the terminals outside of the housing and the previously terminated terminals are fully inserted into the housing.

Abstract: The apparatus is for terminating wires (W) to terminals (8) in a connector housing (4), for shearing from the housing (4), a cover (14) which is hinged thereto and for placing the cover (14) on the housing (4) to cover the connections. The connector housing (4) is conveyed by means of a first shuttle (50) to a cover shearing station (CS) at which the cover (14) is sheared from the housing (4) and is driven into a second shuttle (84). The first shuttle (50) is then moved to a terminating station (TS) at which wires are terminated to the terminals (8) by tooling (130) after which the second shuttle (84) is moved to the terminating station (TS) and the tooling (130) is operated to drive the severed cover (14) from the second shuttle (84) onto the connector housing (4).

Abstract: An improved machine for applying electrical connectors to electrically conductive cable, such as multi-conductor flat cable. The machine includes a pair of opposed tool members, each of which include a shelf-like recess for receiving a connector portion. The cable is positioned between the tool members which are advanced toward each other for staking the connector body portion to the cable and receiving the connector cap to the connector body, and thus securing the connector to the cable.In each tool member the shelf-like recess is formed from a shelf which is slidably mounted to the tool member and biased to an outward position. When the shelf engages the cable and other tool member, it retracts and the tool member urges the connector onto the cable. Upon retraction of the tool member, the shelf is biased to its extended position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for connecting a group of insulated conductors to a cross-connect connector in which the connector is held in an assembly station and a plurality of conductor insertion tools slidably mounted in side-by-side relationship are moved in sequence to insert the conductors sequentially into terminals of the connector. In a preferred arrangement, alternate conductors are inserted into associated terminals sequentially in one direction along the connector and the other conductors are then inserted into their terminals sequentially in the opposite direction along the connector.

Abstract: A robotically operated wire insertion apparatus for insulation displacement terminals (IDTs) automatically feeds wire to a wire insertion hand, automatically straightens the wire during the feeding so that the wire is aligned with the hand, inserts the wire progressively into a plurality of IDTs and severs the wire from the last inserted IDT, and initializes the apparatus to begin a new wiring cycle. The IDTs may have any orientation in any plane on one or more different substrates.

Abstract: Cable harness manufacturing apparatus comprises a pair of rails defining a linear path through a workstation where a press terminates ribbon cable to connectors in connector receiving fixtures independently journaled to the rails. A first stop on the path positions connectors sequentially at the workstation while a series of second stops along the path downstream of the workstation act on the lead fixture to define the length of cable between pairs of connectors as well as triggering the press for sequential terminations of connectors in remaining fixtures. A cutter carriage journaled to the rails upstream of the workstation is spring loaded to urge remaining fixtures to the workstation. A third stop along the path downstream stops the lead fixture when it is desired to cut the cable, the cut end subsequently being drawn flushly into the last connector terminated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for fabricating cable harness assemblies of the type wherein a plurality of mating pairs of electrical connector parts are terminated to a continous flat cable segment. Termination includes compressing a predetermined cable portion between a pair of connector parts, one of which has a plurality of insulation displacing terminals positioned therein. The connector parts are transported between loading stations and a termination station, by connector holders mounted on a pair of opposed rotatable indexing turrets. At least one of the connector holders is advanced inwardly toward the termination station, so as to bring the two connector parts together in compression, after a cable segment is located therebetween.Thereafter, the cable is advanced to bring another predetermined portion to the termination station, while the turrets are indexed to present a second pair of opposed mating parts to the termination station.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors to flat conductor cables comprising an installation station having a platen means for supporting cables in a generally horizontal plane and also having press means for coupling connectors to the cables supported thereat. The apparatus also includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions in a generally vertical orientation and a transport station to sequentially move connector portions from the magazines to the installation station while reorienting them from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. Also disclosed is the method for carrying out the installation with the above described apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching insulation penetrating connectors to the ends of flat multiple pair cables has a sheath stripping station and a connector attaching station. Spaced knives slit the sheath crosswise of the cable and translate in the direction of the cable to strip the sheathing while conductor separating and engaging combs engage on each side of the cable one conductor of each pair of conductors prior to complete removal of the severed sheath end but operative upon complete sheath removal to separate the conductors into two planar arrays diverging in opposite directions from the general plane of the cable. A carriage holding the cable with bared end is arranged to translate from the sheath stripping station to the connector attaching station where connector holding jaws are articulable for the purpose.

Abstract: Tooling to apply an SDL connector to a cable containing a plurality of conductors contains at least a contact-engaging die surface to apply contacts to said conductors. The die surface is on a crimping plate which is secured to the tooling against a main body member and is incrementally movable vertically by the user of the tooling through a range of adjustment positions to adjust the height of the die surface which results in an adjusted height of the contacts after application. The crimping plate is movable by a plate-moving means such as a wedge member having a slightly sloping bearing surface where the wedge member is moved horizontally atop the main body member by an adjustment screw, for instance. The tooling can be secured in a handtool, or a pneumatic bench machine, or a semiautomatic applicator apparatus as desired.

Abstract: A connector for providing electrical connections for a coax cable harness, the coax cable harness including a plurality of coax cables, each coax cable having a wire encased in a dielectric and having a drain wire. The connector comprises an insulation displacement connector having a plurality of insulation displacement contacts set in a top surface of the insulation displacement connector. Each insulation displacement contact engages a corresponding wire encased in the dielectric, the insulation displacement contact piercing the dielectric thereby providing the electrical connection for the wire of the coax cable. An orientation bar positions the coax cables to be in line with the corresponding insulation displacement contact, the coax cables resting on a top surface of the orientation bar. The orientation bar is positioned next to the insulation displacement connector such that a side surface of the insulation displacement connector is in contact or nearly in contact with the orientation bar.