EP0046076A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacturing a wiring harness
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1981-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-08-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus (10) mass terminates wires (12) to an automatically fed strip (22) of terminals, then mass inserts terminals on leading ends into cavities in a connector housing. A shuttle (14) having telescoping wire guide tubes and a wire clamp reciprocates to deliver wires (12) with leading ends in a straight array axially at a first fixed spacing to an operating zone and then to an insertion station. The telescoping tubes collapse to extrude leading ends of wires (12) into the operating zone where the wires (12) are deflected laterally of their axes various amounts and rolled into grooves in a template of the compensator (80) which restores the leading ends to a straight array at a second fixed spacing for termination to a strip (22) of terminals at the second fixed spacing. Shuttle (14) then retreats as tubes expand to draw in terminated wires, and then advances to insert terminals on leading ends into cavities at first fixed spacing in a connector housing. Clamp is released and shuttle (14) retreats over stationary wires (12) until wires (12) are exposed to strip and shear blades (40) remote from housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Graham Boutcher, Jr.
- 👤 Kenneth Foster Folk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/04; H01R43/048; H01R43/052; H01R43/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49181; Y10T29/49185; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5147; Y10T29/5148; Y10T29/5149; Y10T29/515; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213; Y10T29/53217; Y10T29/53243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
Apparatus (10) for mass terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) comprises: an operating zone having a terminating station therein; , a wire delivery shuttle (14) which is reciprocable on a first path from said operating zone to a point remote therefrom, said shuttle (14) having a leading end (60) closest to said operating zone, said shuttle (14) having a like plurality of elongated wire guide tubes in a planar parallel array, said guide tubes having a first fixed spacing, each guide tube comprising two telescoping parts (56, 57), the innermost part (56) extending to the leading end (60) of the shuttle, each guide tube closely accommodating a single wire, said shuttle (14) having releaseable wire gripping means (54) effective to hold the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost (57) of the telescoping parts, whereby, said shuttle (14) may reciprocate on said path toward and away from said operating zone and deliver said leading ends (46) of said wires (12) to said operating zone in a planar array at said first fixed spacing, said leading ends (46) being extruded from the guide tubes (56) into the operating zone for termination by stopping the leading end (60) of the shuttle (14) at the operating zone and collapsing the telescoping parts (56, 57) by continued movement of the shuttle (14) while the wire gripping means (54) holds the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost (57) of the telescoping parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
Apparatus (10) for mass terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) comprises: an operating zone having a terminating station therein; , a wire delivery shuttle (14) which is reciprocable on a first path from said operating zone to a point remote therefrom, said shuttle (14) having a leading end (60) closest to said operating zone, said shuttle (14) having a like plurality of elongated wire guide tubes in a planar parallel array, said guide tubes having a first fixed spacing, each guide tube comprising two telescoping parts (56, 57), the innermost part (56) extending to the leading end (60) of the shuttle, each guide tube closely accommodating a single wire, said shuttle (14) having releaseable wire gripping means (54) effective to hold the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost (57) of the telescoping parts, whereby, said shuttle (14) may reciprocate on said path toward and away from said operating zone and deliver said leading ends (46) of said wires (12) to said operating zone in a planar array at said first fixed spacing, said leading ends (46) being extruded from the guide tubes (56) into the operating zone for termination by stopping the leading end (60) of the shuttle (14) at the operating zone and collapsing the telescoping parts (56, 57) by continued movement of the shuttle (14) while the wire gripping means (54) holds the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost (57) of the telescoping parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein said operating zone has wire spreading means therein aligned with said path and adjacent to said terminating station, whereby, said shuttle (14) may deliver said wires (12) to said terminating station at a second fixed spacing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus (10) of claim 2 wherein said wire spreading means comprises a planar guide template (82) having a plurality of grooves (83) therein, said grooves (83) having first portions spaced at said first fixed spacing remote from said terminating station and second portions spaced at said second fixed spacing adjacent to said terminating station, said spreading means further comprising a wiper assembly (139) which wipes the wires (12) into the grooves (83) from the first portions toward the second portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
The apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein said operating zone has wire deflecting means adjacent said guide template (82) remote from said terminating station, said deflecting means comprising a plurality of blades (164) at said first fixed spacing, said blades (164) moving transversely of the planar array to deflect the wires (12), the innermost leads in said array being deflected more than the outermost leads, whereby, a planar array of wires with the leading ends (46) delivered to the template (82) in a rectilinear array is modified to non-planar array with the leading ends (46) in an arcuate array with the innermost leads at the concavity of the arcuate array, and the wire spreading means restores the leading ends (46) to a rectilinear array as the wires (12)'are spread into the grooves (83) in the template (82) by the wiper assembly (139).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
The apparatus (10) of claim 1 which further comprises: an insertion station on said first path between said operating zone and said point remote therefrom, connector housing feed means for feeding a connector housing (48) having cavities (49) therein at said first fixed spacing to said insertion station, said housing feed means comprising a reciprocable housing transfer carriage (32) traveling on a second path substantially normal to said first path, said second path extending from said insertion station on said first path to a point remote therefrom, said carriage (32) having securing means (34) for securing said connector housing (48) to said carriage (32) and for positioning said housing (48) at said insertion station with said cavities (49) aligned to axially receive the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) of the wires (12), whereby, said shuttle (14) may pass through said insertion station toward said operating zone to terminate the leading ends (46) of the wires (12) when said housing transfer carriage (32) is remote from said insertion station, said carriage (32) may be advanced to said insertion station when said shuttle (14) is remote from said operating zone, and said shuttle (14) may axially insert the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) of wires (12) into cavities (49) in the connector housing (48) at said first fixed spacing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus (10) of claim 5 which further comprises a shearing station on said first path remote from said insertion station and said operating zone, said shearing station having an open position which allows passage of said shuttle (14) therethrough, whereby, said terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) may be inserted into said housing (48) at said insertion station, said gripping means (54) may be released, said shuttle (14) may be moved on said first path away from said insertion station until said shuttle (14) clears the shearing station, and the wires (12) may be sheared at a point remote from the insertion station.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
365 words
A method of terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) having a second fixed spacing in a linear array and inserting the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) into a like plurality of cavities (49) having a first fixed spacing in a linear array in a connector housing (48) comprises the steps of: gripping said wires (12) in a planar parallel array at said first fixed spacing at portions thereof remote from said leading ends (46) and delivering said ends (46) to a terminating station, said wires (12) being gripped so that the ends (46) are in a rectilinear array when the wires (12) are parallel between said gripped portions and said ends (46), deflecting said wires (12) transversely of the planar array at a point between said terminating station and said gripped portions, the innermost wires being deflected more than the outermost wires, said ends (46) thereby being modified to an arcuate array when the wires (12) are parallel between said gripped portions and said ends, spreading said ends (46) to a second fixed spacing in a planar guide template (82) having grooves (83) therein, said grooves (83) having first portions at said first fixed spacing remote from said terminating station and second portions at said second fixed spacing adjacent to said terminating station, said second spacing being sufficient to align ends (46) to a rectilinear array when the wires (12) are spread into the grooves (83), said wires (12) being spread into the grooves (83) by a wiper assembly (139) which wipes the wires (12) into the grooves (83) from the first portions toward the second portions, positioning a like plurality of terminals (42) at said second fixed spacing at said terminating station adjacent said leading ends (46) and terminating said ends (46) to said terminals (42), restoring said leading ends (46) to said first fixed spacing and inserting said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) into cavities (49) in a connector housing (48) at an insertion station, said terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) being inserted by relative axial movement between the terminals (42) and the housing (48).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
365 words
A method of terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) having a second fixed spacing in a linear array and inserting the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) into a like plurality of cavities (49) having a first fixed spacing in a linear array in a connector housing (48) comprises the steps of: gripping said wires (12) in a planar parallel array at said first fixed spacing at portions thereof remote from said leading ends (46) and delivering said ends (46) to a terminating station, said wires (12) being gripped so that the ends (46) are in a rectilinear array when the wires (12) are parallel between said gripped portions and said ends (46), deflecting said wires (12) transversely of the planar array at a point between said terminating station and said gripped portions, the innermost wires being deflected more than the outermost wires, said ends (46) thereby being modified to an arcuate array when the wires (12) are parallel between said gripped portions and said ends, spreading said ends (46) to a second fixed spacing in a planar guide template (82) having grooves (83) therein, said grooves (83) having first portions at said first fixed spacing remote from said terminating station and second portions at said second fixed spacing adjacent to said terminating station, said second spacing being sufficient to align ends (46) to a rectilinear array when the wires (12) are spread into the grooves (83), said wires (12) being spread into the grooves (83) by a wiper assembly (139) which wipes the wires (12) into the grooves (83) from the first portions toward the second portions, positioning a like plurality of terminals (42) at said second fixed spacing at said terminating station adjacent said leading ends (46) and terminating said ends (46) to said terminals (42), restoring said leading ends (46) to said first fixed spacing and inserting said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) into cavities (49) in a connector housing (48) at an insertion station, said terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) being inserted by relative axial movement between the terminals (42) and the housing (48).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said leading ends (46) of said wires (12) are delivered to said terminating station by axial movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said leading ends (46) of said wires (12) are delivered from said terminating station to said insertion station by axial movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
The method of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said axial movements.are effected by a shuttle (141 having a like plurality of elongated wire guide tubes in a planar parallel array at said first fixed spacing, each guide tube having two telescoping parts (56, 57) and closely accommodating a single wire (12), said shuttle (14) having releaseable wire gripping means (54) effective to hold the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost of the telescoping parts (57), said shuttle (14) being reciprocable along the axes of the wires (12), said ends (46) being delivered by collapsing the telescoping parts (56, 57) to extrude the ends (46) from the innermost part (56) as the shuttle (14) moves and the gripping means (54) holds the wires (12) stationary with respect to the outermost (57) of the telescoping parts.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
309 words
A method of terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) having second fixed spacing in a rectilinear array and inserting the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) into a like plurality of cavities (49) having a first fixed spacing in a rectilinear array in a connector housing (48) comprises the steps of: gripping said wires (12) on portions thereof remote from said leading ends (46) and advancing said wires (12) axially in a planar parallel array having a first fixed spacing with the leading ends (46) in a rectilinear array along a path to a terminating station, deflecting said wires (12) transversely of the planar array at a point between said terminating station and said gripped portions, the innermost leads in said array being deflected more than the outermost leads, said leading ends (46) thereby being modified to an arcuate array with the ends (46) of the innermost leads, at the concavity of the arcuate array, spreading said leading ends (46) to a second fixed spacing, said ends (46) being spread enough to restore them from said arcuate array to a rectilinear array, positioning a like plurality of terminals (42) at said second fixed spacing at said terminating station adjacent said leading ends (46) and terminating said leading ends (46) to said terminals (42), retracting said wires (12) from said terminating station along said path and reversing said deflection and reversing said spreading so that said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) are restored to said first fixed spacing in a rectilinear array at a point remote from the terminating station, positioning said connector housing (48) on said path between said remote point and said terminating station, advancing said wires (12) until said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) are inserted in said cavities (49).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
309 words
A method of terminating the leading ends (46) of a plurality of wires (12) to a like plurality of terminals (42) having second fixed spacing in a rectilinear array and inserting the terminals (42) on the leading ends (46) into a like plurality of cavities (49) having a first fixed spacing in a rectilinear array in a connector housing (48) comprises the steps of: gripping said wires (12) on portions thereof remote from said leading ends (46) and advancing said wires (12) axially in a planar parallel array having a first fixed spacing with the leading ends (46) in a rectilinear array along a path to a terminating station, deflecting said wires (12) transversely of the planar array at a point between said terminating station and said gripped portions, the innermost leads in said array being deflected more than the outermost leads, said leading ends (46) thereby being modified to an arcuate array with the ends (46) of the innermost leads, at the concavity of the arcuate array, spreading said leading ends (46) to a second fixed spacing, said ends (46) being spread enough to restore them from said arcuate array to a rectilinear array, positioning a like plurality of terminals (42) at said second fixed spacing at said terminating station adjacent said leading ends (46) and terminating said leading ends (46) to said terminals (42), retracting said wires (12) from said terminating station along said path and reversing said deflection and reversing said spreading so that said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) are restored to said first fixed spacing in a rectilinear array at a point remote from the terminating station, positioning said connector housing (48) on said path between said remote point and said terminating station, advancing said wires (12) until said terminals (42) on said leading ends (46) are inserted in said cavities (49).
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