Abstract: A powered hand tool (10) is disclosed for crimping terminals (30) to a conductor. The tool includes a linear actuator (18) for driving a cam (70) along a linear path (272). The cam (70) interacts with a pair of followers (192, 194) to first cause the crimping mechanism (16) to crimp the terminal and then, during the last part of the power stroke, to open the crimping mechanism (16) so that the crimped terminal (30) can be removed during the return stroke. Additionally, during the last part of the power stroke the feed mechanism (22) is actuated to store energy so that during the return stroke the main mechanism can utilize the stored energy to effect the feeding of the next terminal into position for crimping.

Abstract: A terminal crimping device comprising a pressing toothed upper die and a lower die for crimping an electrical terminal over an electrical wire, which is free from a difficulty that burrs are formed on the back of the electrical terminal in crimping the latter over the electrical wire. The terminal crimping device comprising a pressing toothed upper die having an axially symmetrical recess into which a lower die is inserted, the recess has linear guide walls, and the electrical terminal is crimped over the electrical wire in the space defined by the linear guide walls.

Abstract: A cable guide for a terminal crimping apparatus includes a guide member held between support plates in a clamped state such that one end of the guide member is turnably supported while the other end of the guide member is normally biased in the upward direction by the resilient force of a coil spring. A cable is inserted through a nozzle and a slit formed through the fore end part of a restricting piece. As an arm is turned, the nozzle and the restricting piece are displaced toward a cable guide together with the arm. Thus, the cable is displaced to an optimum cable feeding position relative to an applicator while slidably moving along the upper surface of the guide member. Since the plate-shaped guide member serves to properly guide the displacement of the cable, the terminal is always securely crimped and the cable is prevented from being undesirably deformed.

Abstract: A terminal crimping apparatus for performing a crimping operation to crimp a wire barrel end of an electrical terminal on a stripped bare wire end of an electrical conductor, includes a reciprocal ram having a crimping tool cooperable with a crimping anvil and movable between a die open or ready position and a crimping position. The crimping apparatus also includes a device for monitoring the crimped height of the terminal on the conductor during each crimping operation. The monitoring device can be adjusted to accommodate different terminal and conductor configurations. Once calibrated, the monitoring device can be operated in an automatic mode and can be set to automatically stop the terminal crimping apparatus in the event that the crimped height of a terminal and conductor is greater than a selectable and setable high limit or is less than a selectable and setable low limit. The monitoring device operates on the principle that there is a relationship between crimping pressure and desired crimped height.

Abstract: An electrical terminal applicator is provided for crimping terminals onto electrical wires. An applicator ram is movable mounted on an applicator frame and is drivable by a press ram through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. A crimping die is mounted on the applicator ram for cooperation with the anvil to crimp a portion of a terminal onto a wire during each working stroke of the applicator ram. A pneumatic piston-and-cylinder device is mounted directly on the applicator frame adjacent the applicator ram and is connected to the crimping die for moving the crimping die through a first portion of movement into engagement with an uncrimped terminal to preposition the terminal for crimping thereof.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus includes a pair of relatively movable jaws (22) carrying a mating pair of crimping dies (25). Stop surfaces (30) on respective ones of the jaws are in abutting relationship when the dies are fully closed. A flat film sensor (40) on one of the stop surfaces is coupled in an electrical circuit so as to produce an electrical signal when the stop surfaces come together and a force is imposed on the sensor. The electrical signal may be used to illuminate a visual display, generate an audio tone, or trigger an actuator which causes the jaws to retract to an open position.

Abstract: A crimping tool has a movable die attached to a reciprocable slide member for movement toward and away from a fixed die. A pair of rollers are journaled for rotation in pivotable links carried by the slide member. An actuating mechanism includes a wedge which is movable between the pair of rollers to drive the rollers apart and into engagement with a pair of ramps, thereby moving the slide member and the movable die toward the fixed die. A biasing mechanism is selectively operable to bias the slide member and the movable die either toward or away from the fixed die with a relatively small force during times when the wedge is withdrawn from between the rollers.

Abstract: An electrical terminal applicator includes an applicator ram drivable by a press ram through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. A first crimping die is mounted on the applicator ram for cooperation with the anvil to crimp a first portion of an electrical terminal onto the insulation of an insulated electrical wire during each working stroke of the applicator ram. A second crimping die is mounted on the applicator ram for cooperation with the anvil to crimp a second portion of the terminal onto a conductive core of the electrical wire during each working stroke of the applicator ram. A first adjusting plate is mounted for rotation about an axis on and extending in the direction of movement of the applicator ram and includes a concentric ramped striking surface for engaging a striker surface operatively associated with the first crimping die, to adjust the shut height of the first die in response to rotating the first adjusting plate.

Abstract: An electrical terminal applicator is provided for crimping terminals onto wires, the terminals being secured to a tape in a side-by-side relationship with their axes extending laterally of the tape. An applicator ram is drivable in a first path for moving a crimping die toward and away from a crimping anvil. A track guides the tape in a second path which generally intersects the first path of the ram. The track includes a platen and a guide plate which define a pair of opposing clamping jaws for engaging and gripping opposite surfaces of the tape and pulling the tape laterally of the second path thereof. The tape is moved relatively away from the crimping die when in crimping condition with the anvil and in engagement with a crimped terminal, to break the terminal away from the tape.

Abstract: In an apparatus for connecting a wire to a contact element by deformation of clamping portions of the contact element by means of pressure members, in particular pressure members of a crimping tool (20) which is arranged interchangeably in an impact press and which has a crimping punch (28) which in a crimping position produces the deformation, for the purposes of producing a plurality of deformation regions on the contact element, a number of crimping punches (28), said number corresponding to the number of the deformation regions, is arranged around a receiving opening, each of which crimping punches can be moved by pressure jaws (46, 47) towards the receiving opening into the crimping position, wherein the pressure jaws (46, 47) are movable by pressure punches (40, 40a) which are provided at an angle with respect thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is a crimping tool that utilizes a die member having a die opening for receiving a terminal therein to be crimped. The tool includes a crimping station that is within the die opening. The terminals are arranged on a carrier strip and are automatically fed into crimping position within the opening of the die while the terminal remains in position on the carrier strip. The feeding mechanism pivots the strip of terminals away from the crimping dies, feeds the strip of terminals one position, and then pivots the strip back into position so that the next terminal is moved into crimping position within the crimping die opening. A single cam member is provided that is moved by a linear actuator, such as an air cylinder, and effects and controls all functional operating motions for the mechanisms of the tool, including actuating the crimping dies and operating the terminal feed mechanism.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus is disclosed utilizing an angular motion actuator and a unique tooling bar arrangement to redirect the angular motion so that the crimping dies move along a straight line during the crimping process. Two identical tooling bars are utilized that interengage to form a sliding assembly so that the two crimping dies, formed in the tooling bars, move along the straight line. The tooling bars, which are operated by the actuator, have complementary recess and projected portions. The projected portion of each bar is nested within the recess of the other bar. Each tooling bar has an elongated opening and a pin that slidingly engages the elongated opening of the other tooling bar to limit the sliding motion to motion along a straight line.

Abstract: A system is provided for firmly attaching a coaxial cable terminus to a standard connection jack in such a way that the connection point is effectively shielded from tampering by individuals and is effectively sealed from degrading elements in the atmosphere. The system includes a jack attachment member having a collet structure, a swagging shell which slips over the collet structure to accomplish a firm connection with the jack and a locking shroud which surrounds the swagging cylinder so as to make it difficult to de-attach and/or re-attach the cable terminus to the jack without special tooling. Such special tooling, however, is simple and inexpensive for authorized service technicians, thereby making the system at once relatively secure from tampering and atmospheric degradation and simple and inexpensive to install and maintain. Furthermore, the system can be retrofitted into existing coaxial cable equipment, using standard coaxial cable connection jacks.

Abstract: A coiled cable handling apparatus uses a platform with retractable fingers to maintain the coiled configuration of a coiled cable. The coiled cable having a coiled portion, a first end thereof terminating in a connector and a second end. The reactable fingers contact the inner circumference of the coiled cable, a centrally located nest or clamp secures one end of the cable and a clip secures the other end of the cable. A cable transport mechanism places the coiled cable on the platform or removes it from the platform. The transport mechanism comprises coil pickup clamps to grasp the coiled section of the cable, a clamp to grasp the end of the cable secured by the platform's centrally located clamp, and a clamp to grasp the other end of the cable.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for terminating conductors of a cable to insulation displacement contacts of terminals that are partially assembled to a connector housing. After termination of all of the terminals the assembly is removed from the tool and the entire strip of terminals is fully inserted into the connector housing and the carrier strip removed and discarded. The tool includes an insertion blade attached to a reciprocating ram for effecting the termination and a terminal strip feed mechanism. A comb mechanism is coupled to the insertion blade and interacts with camming surfaces fixed to the frame to engage and align the conductor between the insertion blade and the terminal by means of a combing action. The comb mechanism engages the conductor at a point away from the end thereof and then moves toward the end thereby moving the conductor into the desired alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for securely crimping a crimp-style terminal to a small diameter conductor of a cable. A dummy conductor is prepared and a crimping portion of the terminal is crimped about both the dummy conductor and the conductor of the cable. The dummy conductor is a portion of second conductor of the cable, isolated from the conductor of the cable, or alternatively, a portion of a second conductor independent of the cable. A cutter cuts off the dummy conductor from the second conductor to electrically isolate the dummy conductor from the second conductor when the terminal is crimped about the dummy conductor and the conductor of the cable.

Abstract: A terminal crimping machine provided with an applicator having a crimper for crimping a terminal to a wire and an anvil, comprising: a frame; a cylinder fixed to said frame and having a rod, said cylinder for moving the crimper up and down and; a bumping member fixed on the rod of said cylinder; a height adjusting plate having a gradually changing height provided on said frame oppositely to said bumping member; and driving means for sliding said height adjusting plate in a direction orthogonal to said rod. Thus, the terminal machine can automatically adjust the crimping height of a terminal in accordance with its kind.

Abstract: An electrical terminal applicator is disclosed for crimping terminals onto wires, with the terminals being secured to a tape in a side-by-side relationship. An applicator ram is drivable in a first path through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. A crimping die on the applicator ram cooperates with the anvil to crimp a portion of a terminal onto a wire during each working stroke of the ram. A track guides the tape in a second path which intersects the first path of the ram. A tape feeding system includes a shuttle member adapted for linear reciprocal movement alongside the second path of the tape in an advancing stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, the crimping anvil. The shuttle member has at least one tooth for engaging indexing apertures in the tape and incrementally advancing the tape on the advancing stroke of the shuttle member.

Abstract: There is provided a terminal crimping apparatus for moving a plurality of crimp terminals respectively contained in a plurality of connector housings to a crimping position in a desired order to caulk the crimp terminal on an end of an electric wire. The terminal crimping apparatus includes one turntable for holding a plurality of types of pressure receiving members for receiving the crimp terminals and another turntable for holding a plurality of types of caulking members for caulking the crimp terminals between the turntable and the various types of pressure receiving members. A desired pressure receiving member alternatively selected by the rotation of one turntable is moved to a pressure receiving position. A desired caulking member alternatively selected by the rotation of the other turntable is moved to a caulking waiting position opposed to the crimp terminal in the crimping position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic terminal crimping apparatus (1) which comprises a cable cutting station (3), a mark positioning station (4), a mark location rotating station (5), a stripping station (6) and a terminal crimping station (7). The mark positioning station (4) includes a television camera (14) for image processing which senses a discrimination mark (8) of a high-voltage resistant cable (2), and circumferentially rotates the high-voltage resistant cable (2) and stops the rotation upon detection of the discrimination mark (8). At the mark location rotating station (5), the high-voltage resistant cable (2) positioned at the mark positioning station (4) is circumferentially rotated through a predetermined angle to orient the discrimination mark 8 in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: The terminal crimping apparatus includes a pressure receiving part provided with a pressure receiving surface for receiving a terminal having a barrel of which tips are chamfered at outer peripheral sides thereof, and caulking part having a caulking surface adapted to receive the pressure receiving part, for caulking the barrel of the terminal between the caulking surface and the pressure receiving surface of the pressure receiving part such that one of tips of the barrel overlaps the other. The caulking part has two rounding surfaces and a step portion therebetween having one end located at the deepest point formed at a middle portion of the caulking surface. The step portion has a difference in level at least equal to the thickness of the tips of the barrel. The deepest point of the pressure receiving surface and the deepest point of the caulking surface are located on a virtual line parallel with a symmetrical line of the barrel.

Abstract: An applicator tool is provided for applying an electrical connector having a plurality of insulation piercing terminals onto a multi-conductor flat cable. The tool includes a frame having a press ram drivable through a working stroke toward and away from an anvil for supporting the connector. A fixed connector-positioning peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for abuttingly engaging one side of the connector. A spring-loaded yieldable peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for yielding to a retracted condition to facilitate positioning the connector between the pegs.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for terminating conductors of a ribbon cable to insulation displacement contacts of terminals that are partially assembled to a connector housing. After termination of all of the terminals the assembly is removed from the tool and the entire strip of terminals is fully inserted into the connector housing and the carrier strip removed and discarded. The tool includes a terminal strip feed mechanism that is partially contained in the base of the tool that feeds both the strip of terminals and the ribbon cable so that it does not interfere with movement of the ribbon cable. The feed mechanism is coupled to the ram so that energy is stored during the termination stroke of the ram which is subsequently used during the return stroke to drive the feed mechanism in advancing the strip of terminals and ribbon cable into position for terminating the next conductor.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improvement in the wire reversing apparatus in the wire terminating equipment that fabricates terminal-attached wires of wiring harness. The turntable, which forms the wire into a loop by reversing one end of the wire fed out from the wire supply device, is provided at the underside with a gear secured to the rotating center thereof. A drive gear shaft that meshes with the gear of the turntable is shifted toward the wire feeding side so that the wire ends will not strike against the drive gear shaft to be bent when the wire is carried by a carrier chain in a direction perpendicular to the wire feeding direction.

Abstract: A machine and method are disclosed for attaching a coaxial connector to the end of a coaxial cable. The machine seats the cable end having a preassembled contact into the connector housing, latching the contact in place, then conducts a pull test to verify proper latching. The jaws that grip the cable during insertion of the contact and pull testing are used to push the ferrule over the braided signal conductor prior to crimping the ferrule. A single air cylinder is used, at a relatively low pressure, to seat the contact and at a relatively high pressure to seat the ferrule. A constant force return spring is used to apply a predetermined test force to the jaws during the pull test. A high voltage test may be conducted at two points in the operating cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a terminal crimping apparatus comprising a pressure receiving member having a pressure receiving surface receiving a crimped terminal loaded in a connector housing, a caulking member having a crimping surface, for caulking the crimped terminal in the connector housing between the caulking member and the pressure receiving member, a surrounding member integrally extending from the caulking member and adapted to pass through the connector housing toward the pressure receiving member, for surrounding the pressure receiving member with little clearance, and a regulating member for preventing the surrounding member from being deformed at the time of caulking the crimped terminal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a terminal crimping apparatus which comprises a crimping machine (29) for connecting a cable connection portion (2a) of crimp terminals (2) to a cable end by crimping the cable connection portion (2a), a terminal frame supply mechanism (30) for intermittently supplying the crimp terminals (2) in the form of a terminal frame (4) to the crimping machine (29), and a terminal attitude correcting unit (36) for the crimp terminals provided on the way of a supply path of the terminal frame to the crimping machine (29). The terminal frame supply mechanism (30) includes a terminal guide jig (35) having guide grooves (34) for guiding carriers (1) of the terminal frame (4), and the terminal attitude correcting unit (36) is provided on the way of the guide path of the terminal frame (4) by means of the terminal guide jig (35).

Abstract: An apparatus for making a cable utilizing round cable with a plurality of conductors, and attaching ribbon cable connectors to portions of the conductors that have been arranged in a flat array of conductors includes a lacing bar on which the cable and connectors are mounted, and two pressing stations, the first of which is used to lamination the flat array of conductors together in the flat array, and a pressing station that presses the conductors into the contacts of the connector. The lacing bar includes comb blocks and carriers into which the connectors are positioned under the flat array of conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus which automatically trims an exposed end of a conductor to a proper length, inserts the exposed end in a terminal and crimps the terminal thereto, all in a single operation, is disclosed. The apparatus includes anvil tooling for supporting the terminal during a crimping operation. A ram movable toward and away from the anvil tooling has a first cutting edge which defines a boundary between a conductor permitted zone and a conductor excluded zone during movement of the ram toward the anvil tooling. The ram has a first crimping die disposed in the conductor permitted zone. The first crimping die captures the conductor and crimps the terminal to the conductor. A conductor shearing element is disposed in the conductor excluded zone. The conductor shearing element has a second cutting edge which cooperates with the first cutting edge during movement of the ram toward the anvil tooling for trimming any portion of the conductor which extends across the boundary.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal crimping machine which assures that undesirable bending of a cable caused due to the fact that a terminal firmly fitted into a crimper is raised up together with the crimper after the time of terminal crimping is reduced as far as possible. A terminal crimping machine includes a crimper 3, an anvil 4 located opposite to the crimper 1, and a stopper 13 composed of a terminal disconnecting piece 14 and an arm piece 15, and the arm piece 15 is turnably disposed on a guide frame 11 of the ram 2 to turn about a pin 12. A tension spring 20 is bridged between the arm piece 15 and a spring fixing piece 19. As the ram 2 is lowered, it comes in slidable contact with the arm piece 15 so as to allow the arm piece 15 assume an upright attitude. At this time, the terminal disconnecting piece 14 is located at the terminal disconnecting position higher than the anvil 4 by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The shut height of a crimping die set (9) for crimping an electrical terminal (T) on an anvil (22) to a lead (L) is adjustable stepwise by means of a disc (60) which can be driven by a servo motor (M1) to a plurality of angular positions each setting a theoretical ideal shut height for a particular combination of lead and terminal sizes. Since anvil wear, in particular, and/or minor variations in lead and terminal dimensions can falsify the ideal crimp height set, the actual crimp height achieved, is measured electronically or mechanically, and the height of the anvil (22) is automatically adjusted in accordance with such measurement, by means of a further servo motor (M2) to adjust the shut height of the die set (9) and anvil (22), so that the ideal shut height is achieved.

Abstract: A shut height adjustment device is provided for a press having press and tooling rams coupled in spaced relationship during a forward stroke of the press ram. The adjustment device includes a carrier defining a rotation axis and a plurality of apertures concentric with the rotation axis. A plurality of spacers are removably held in the plurality of apertures. Each of the spacers extends parallel to the rotation axis between a pair of opposite end surfaces which accurately define a length of each of the spacers. Different ones of the spacers have different lengths. The carrier is rotatably mountable on a post coupled between the press and tooling rams such that the different ones of the spacers may be selectively disposed between the press and tooling rams for engagement by opposed contact portions of the rams during the forward stroke of the press ram.

Abstract: A conductor attachment wherein each conductor is mounted on a dielectric tape and has an attachment portion that is supported by the tape to an adjacent location a uniform distance from the bonding location and that contacts on a level with the plane of the underside of the tape. One conductor supporting tape has portions of the tape that extend into a central contacting area opening to contact locations at contacting pads in rows remote from the edge. Another supporting tape has window openings at the contacting locations. The conductor ends are brought into the level of the underside of the tape by a manufacturing rolling operation between an elastomer surface roller and a solid backing roller.

Abstract: A portable crimping tool is disclosed that includes an actuating mechanism that varies the amount of force made available to the crimping dies. A linear actuator having an axis is provided to move a movable die along that axis into crimping engagement with the mating die. The actuating mechanism includes a pair of links pivotally attached to a slide member. A wedge carried by the linear actuator engages a pair of rollers on the links, causing the rollers to move about other rollers attached to the frame, thereby causing the links to move the dies into crimping engagement.

Abstract: A wire crimping machine automatically adjusts the crimping means to the proper crimp depth for a selected size of wire and the size of the contact to be crimped onto the wire. The size of wire to be crimped is selected by the operator. As a wire is inserted into the machine for crimping, an arrangement of light emitting diodes, photo diodes, and associated circuits determine the wire's size and whether the wire is stripped. The crimping means is allowed to actuate only if the wire is stripped and the wire's size is the same as that selected by the operator.

Abstract: A cable guide block has a guide groove for receiving and guiding an end portion of a cable having an elastically deformable sheath. The guide block is for use in a cable connection processing apparatus for making a cable connection by moving a cable pusher in a direction perpendicular to the guide groove and in a cable receiving direction in order to press the end portion of the cable onto a cable connection portion of a contact disposed below the guide groove. The guide groove has a pair of wall surfaces which are spaced apart by a distance which is greater than a diameter of the cable. At least one projection is formed on at least one of the wall surfaces so that the distance between the wall surfaces is less than the diameter of the cable. By the use of the cable guide block, the end portion of the cable is reliably sent along the cable receiving direction and inserted into the guide groove. The end portion of the cable is forced against the positioning projection in an elastically deformed condition.

Abstract: A fluid cooled conductor including a wire rope or braid having ferrules forged on both ends thereof, said ferrules having a channel formed in the periphery thereof to provide a channel for fluid passage between the wire rope or braid and a terminal crimped to the ferrule. The terminal has a fluid passage communicating with the passage in the ferrule. A rubber hose is clamped between terminals in a water tight fashion, thereby providing a continuous fluid passage beginning with the fluid passage in the terminal, continuing about the periphery of the wire rope or braid, and terminating in the fluid passage on a terminal connected to the other end of the wire rope or braid. A method of making the fluid cooled connector is disclosed which includes placing the ferrule about one or both ends of a wire rope or braid, squeezing the ferrule with sufficient pressure to forge it into the wire rope or braid, and pressing a fluid carrying channel in the ferrule after it is forged onto the end of the cable.

Abstract: The present apparatus makes use of an intermediate plate on which a pressing tool can be mounted. The intermediate plate has a sensor for detecting the crimping force, from which the signals can be processed and displayed via a measurement processor. The apparatus offers the advantage of continuous monitoring of the individual crimpings, in the course of which a very high degree of measuring accuracy is additionally obtained, since the sensor is disposed particularly close to the crimping pistons. With the use of an intermediate plate, it is possible to exchange the device between individual presses in a simple manner so that the device can be used as a "mobile" device. The apparatus further relates to the use of a method for detecting the force used in crimping of cable sockets.

Abstract: In a device for connecting a wire to a contact element or the like by deformation of clamping members by means of pressure elements of a crimping tool arranged interchangeably in a press, for the purposes of refining the adjustability in respect of height, coaxially rotatably associated with an adjustment disk (13) which is provided at the pressure member side and which is rotatable about the axis (A) of an arresting pin (16) or the like holding member which faces in the pressing direction (x) is a further adjustment disk (14) at the clamping member side, wherein the two adjustment disks are each provided with at least one annular surface (108) which rises spiral-like in the pressing direction (x). Each of the annular surfaces (108) has a radial step edge (110) as the boundary between the beginning and the end of the rise. The heights of the step edges are also to be the same.

Abstract: A crimping tool is provided for compressing a terminal onto an electrical wire. The tool includes an anvil having a terminal engaging surface area. A ram is reciprocally movable toward and away from the anvil and has a terminal engaging surface area opposing the terminal engaging surface area of the anvil for compressing the terminal therebetween. A second ram is movably mounted on one of the anvil and ram in the respective terminal engaging surface area thereof for selectively compressing the terminal to an extent greater than that afforded by the anvil and the ram alone.

Abstract: The shut height of a crimping die set (9) for crimping an electrical terminal (T) on an anvil (22) to a lead (L) is adjustable stepwise by means of a disc (60) which can be driven by a servo motor (M1) to a plurality of angular positions each setting a theoretical ideal shut height for a particular combination of lead and terminal sizes. Since anvil wear, in particular, and/or minor variations in lead and terminal dimensions can falsify the ideal crimp height set, the actual crimp height achieved, is measured electronically or mechanically, and the height of the anvil (22) is automatically adjusted in accordance with such measurement, by means of a further servo motor (M2) to adjust the shut height of the die set (9) and anvil (22), so that the ideal shut height is achieved.

Abstract: A crimping die comprised of a wire crimping portion and an insulation crimping portion, and an anvil includes a wire retaining mechanism sandwiched therebetween where the wire retaining mechanism includes a wire retaining detent in advance of the crimping surfaces formed on the wire crimp member and the insulation crimp. The wire retaining mechanism is fixedly mounted to the crimping die and insulation crimp member by way of a retaining portion which has been wire eroded from an interior portion of the plate which forms the wire retaining mechanism. A formed spring is wire eroded from the plate portion and is positioned intermediate the retaining portion and the remainder of the plate portion to allow the wire retaining detent to be moveable vertically upward along the crimp axis during the downward movement of the wire crimp member and the insulation crimp member during the normal crimp cycle.

Abstract: The quality of a crimped connection produced by the application of a crimping force (F) to a crimping barrel (WB) of an electrical terminal (T) with a wire (W) therein, is carried out by measuring the peak value (PV) of the crimping force (F) and comparing it with a reference value. The incremental values (IV) of the crimping force are measured during its application and are stored in the form of an actual crimping force value envelope (EA). The incremental values of an ideal crimping force are measured during its application and are stored in the form of an ideal crimping force value envelope (EI). The envelopes (EA and EI) are then compared to determine the quality of the crimped connection.

Abstract: Cable handling and preparation apparatus comprising a cable source (12), cable stripping and crimping means (14), length determining means, robotic control means (13), cable guidance (43) and marking (11) means and cable conveying means (16). The arrangement is such that at least one cable or possibly more can be selectively drawn from a source comprising several powered cable reels (18) holding cables of different size by the robotic control means (13), subjected to processing by the stripping and crimping means (14) and subjected to marking, preferably laser marking, along its length, the prepared cable simultaneously and progressively being conveyed from the apparatus by the conveying means (16).

Abstract: Right connector pieces (R) are terminated to the right ends of the cores of said insulated wires and left connector pieces (L) are terminated to the left ends of the core conductors of the insulated wires or the left ends of the insulated wires may remain unterminated. Right connector pieces each having terminals fixed thereto are displaced from an initial position to a terminating position. The right connector pieces are terminated to the right core conductor ends of the insulated wires at the terminating position. The right connector piece terminated to the right core conductor ends of said insulated wires are displaced to the initial position which results in pulling the insulated wires out of a wire supply against a resilient tension which is applied to the insulated wires for withdrawal toward said wire supply. The insulated wires are pushed down at the intermediate position between the initial-position and the terminating position to a predetermined lowest level against the resilient tension.

Abstract: A crimp height adjustment mechanism is disclosed for use in a crimping machine having an anvil and a ram carrying a crimping die. The ram is secured against rotation and guided for reciprocal movement along a ram axis for moving the crimping die toward and away from the anvil. A drive member is connected for reciprocating the ram. The adjustment mechanism includes a first member fixed with respect to the anvil and having a first threaded portion of a first thread pitch extending along an adjustment axis parallel to the ram axis. A second member has a second threaded portion coaxial to the first threaded portion. The second threaded portion has a second thread pitch which differs from the first thread pitch. The second member is secured against rotation and coupled to move the ram linearly along the ram axis. A third member has both a third threaded portion which is threadedly engaged with the first threaded portion, and a fourth threaded portion which is threadedly engaged with the second threaded portion.

Abstract: A tool (150) for assembling stackable elements (52, 54 and 58) to form a multiple conductor connector (50). A holding bracket assembly (100) is incorporated in the tool (150) to prohibit undesirable movement of the lowermost connector element (52) and to maintain alignment of the various elements of the connector (50) during the connectorization process.At least one protrusion (112) is manipulated into physical engagement with a side portion of the lowermost connector element (52). The protrusion (112) is spring-loaded and includes a sharp, tapered edge constructed of hardened material which provides a position-securing force to the connector (50) by becoming embedded into the side portion of the lowermost connector element (52). In addition, a second protrusion (110) is aligned opposite each of the sharp protrusions (112) and capable of providing an additional position-securing force to a second side portion of the lowermost connector element (52).

Abstract: A cable making machine for making and electrically testing a cable assembly is disclosed. The machine includes a test circuit for effecting the electrical tests and a unique probe means for electrically connecting the test circuit to the contacts of the connectors being terminated to the cable. The probe means includes a plurality of relatively thin elongated metal probe members having a substantially rectangular cross section that slide in slots formed in an insulated block. Spring members bias the metal probe members toward the connector contacts. A cam, actuated by the ram of the machine causes the insulated block to move the metal robe members away from the connector contacts during the actual termination operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of determining the quality of a crimped electrical connection by collecting force and displacement data during the crimping cycle and comparing that data with data that represents standard crimped connections of known high quality. Of the collected data, selected portions are related to corresponding portions of the standard data and, if a deviation exists of more than a specific amount, a reject signal is generated and displayed to the machine operator. The standard data is continually updated to account for slowly changing environmental conditions that occur over a relatively long period of operation.

Abstract: A tool (10) and a jig (70) include intermating surfaces to facilitate mounting of the jig in reverse relationship to facilitate wiring of different sizes of connectors (160) having top and bottom rows of terminals (176, 177) with the jig having projections (100-114) precisely positioning terminals and connectors relative to index projections (74) which engage index means (60) on the tool and clamp means to hold cable (140) and wire in appropriate positions for different connectors and a wedge shaped adjustment (42) affixed to the tool to vary inserter movement for different size wires.