EP0040490A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for, and a method of, terminating flat, multi-conductor cables
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-05-06
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for, and a method of, terminating flat, multi-conductor cables. The apparatus comprises a cable terminating station (47) having means (48) for supporting a connector housing (18) and cover (16) in superposition, a cable feed track (26) for guiding a cable (12) into register with terminals (20) in the housing (18), and a ram (44) for pressing the cover(16) and the housing (18) into assembled relationship. A mechanism (40, 54, 62) automatically feeds the cover (16) and housing (18) in partially assembled relationship to the terminating station (47) and the feed track (26) is arranged to feed the cable (12) between the cover(16) and housing (18) so that the cable (12) is terminated when the ram (44) drives the housing (18) down on the cover (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Johnson, Jr.
- 👤 Robert Alvin Long
- 👤 William Roderick Over
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213; Y10T29/53217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for terminating flat multi-conductor electrical cables (12) to electrical connectors (14) each of which comprises a housing (18) preloaded with electrical terminals (20) adapted to pierce the insulation of the cable (12) and to make electrical contact with the conductors thereof, and a cover (16) which can be assembled to the housing (18) to enclose the terminals (20); the apparatus (10) comprising a cable terminating station (47), means (48) at the terminating station (47) for supporting the housing (18) and the cover (16) when arranged in superposition, a cable feed track (26, 30) for guiding the cable (12) in a given axial direction into registry with the terminals (20) of the housing (18), and a ram (44) mounted in spaced relationship to the terminating station (47) and being drivable through a working stroke theretowards to press the cover (16) and the housing (18) into assembled relationship; characterised by a mechanism (40, 54, 62) for automatically feeding the connectors (14) each of which comprises the cover (16) and the housing (18) interconnected in partially assembled, spaced, superposed relationship, to the terminating station, (47) in a direction opposite to the given direction; and in that the feed track (26, 28) is arranged to lead the cable (12) between the cover (16) and housing (18) of a partially assembled connector (14) fed to the supporting means (48) at the terminating station (47) by the connector feeding mechanism (40, 54, 62).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for terminating flat multi-conductor electrical cables (12) to electrical connectors (14) each of which comprises a housing (18) preloaded with electrical terminals (20) adapted to pierce the insulation of the cable (12) and to make electrical contact with the conductors thereof, and a cover (16) which can be assembled to the housing (18) to enclose the terminals (20); the apparatus (10) comprising a cable terminating station (47), means (48) at the terminating station (47) for supporting the housing (18) and the cover (16) when arranged in superposition, a cable feed track (26, 30) for guiding the cable (12) in a given axial direction into registry with the terminals (20) of the housing (18), and a ram (44) mounted in spaced relationship to the terminating station (47) and being drivable through a working stroke theretowards to press the cover (16) and the housing (18) into assembled relationship; characterised by a mechanism (40, 54, 62) for automatically feeding the connectors (14) each of which comprises the cover (16) and the housing (18) interconnected in partially assembled, spaced, superposed relationship, to the terminating station, (47) in a direction opposite to the given direction; and in that the feed track (26, 28) is arranged to lead the cable (12) between the cover (16) and housing (18) of a partially assembled connector (14) fed to the supporting means (48) at the terminating station (47) by the connector feeding mechanism (40, 54, 62).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised by a resiliently mounted cable clamp (76) which is movable between a clamping position adjacent to the guide track (26, 30), in which position the cable (12) can be inserted beneath the clamp (76) resiliently to displace it away from the guide track (26, 30), and a cable release position remote from the guide track (26, 30) to allow the cable (12) and the connector (14) when the cable (12) has been terminated thereto, to be removed from the apparatus (10).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that the apparatus (10) is surrounded by a frame (22) having a door (32) to allow the removal of the terminated cable (12) from the frame (22), the door (32) being arranged when opened, to actuate a switch (36) to cause the cable clamp (76) to be moved to its cable release position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the connector feeding mechanism (40, 54, 62) is actuable by the switch (36) to feed a connector (14) to the terminating station (47) upon the door (32) being opened and then closed again.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector feeding mechanism comprises a connector magazine (40), and an anvil (54) on which the supporting means (48) is mounted, the anvil (54) being movable between a connector pick-up position in which the supporting means (48) is in register with the magazine (40), and a cable terminating position in which the supporting means (48) is located at the terminating station (47).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the supporting means comprises an escapement (48) dimensioned to receive a single connector (14) from the magazine (40) in the connector pick-up position of the anvil (54), the anvil (54) being provided with a blade (50) restraining egress of connectors (14) from the magazine, excepting when the anvil, (54) is in its connector pick-up position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised in that the escapement (48) opens towards the cable feed track (26, 30), the anvil (54) having a connector lifting plate (51) projecting therefrom in the direction of the feed track (26, 30) to receive a terminated connector (14), as the anvil (54) is moved from its terminating position towards its pick-up position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of terminating a flat multi-conductor electrical cable (12) to an electrical connector (14) which comprises a housing (18) preloaded with electrical terminals (20) adapted to pierce the insulation of the cable to make electrical contact with the conductors thereof, and a cover (16) which can be assembled to the housing (18) to cover the terminals (20); in which method the cable (12) is terminated by feeding the cable (12), in a given axial direction, into registry with the terminals (20) and driving the terminals (20) through the cable (12) and assembling the cover to the housing (18). at a cable terminating station (47); characterised in that the housing (18) and the cover (16) are initially interconnected in partially assembled, spaced, superposed, relationship, and are fed automatically to the terminating station (47) in a direction opposite to the given direction, the cable (12) then being inserted between the cover (16) and the housing (18) which are then pressed into assembled relationship at the terminating station (47).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of terminating a flat multi-conductor electrical cable (12) to an electrical connector (14) which comprises a housing (18) preloaded with electrical terminals (20) adapted to pierce the insulation of the cable to make electrical contact with the conductors thereof, and a cover (16) which can be assembled to the housing (18) to cover the terminals (20); in which method the cable (12) is terminated by feeding the cable (12), in a given axial direction, into registry with the terminals (20) and driving the terminals (20) through the cable (12) and assembling the cover to the housing (18). at a cable terminating station (47); characterised in that the housing (18) and the cover (16) are initially interconnected in partially assembled, spaced, superposed, relationship, and are fed automatically to the terminating station (47) in a direction opposite to the given direction, the cable (12) then being inserted between the cover (16) and the housing (18) which are then pressed into assembled relationship at the terminating station (47).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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