Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An apparatus for withdrawing a predetermined length of electrical wire from a supply, severing said predetermined length from said supply, and installing an electrical connector on at least one end of said length, characterised by: feed means (75) for advancing a predetermined length of wire (70) axially in a given direction; guide means (71) having an inlet for receiving wire from said feed means, and an outlet for positioning wire at a work location; gripper means (76) spaced from the outlet of said guide means in the direction of.motion of the wire, for gripping a portion of wire which has passed through said guide means; cutter means (77) movable along a path transverse to said direction of motion of the wire intermediate said outlet of said guide means (71) and said gripper means (76) for severing a portion of wire which has passed through.said guide means; connector carrying means (19) movable along a path transverse to said given direction of motion of the wire, said path being positioned intermediate said outlet of said guide means (71) and said gripper means (76) for advancing a connector (72) into position for attachment to a portion of wire which has passed through said guide means; said guide means (71) being movably mounted relative to the path of said connector carrying means (19) so that the outlet of said guide means may be selectively displaced away from the path of said connector carrying means to permit a connector (72) to be carried into position for attachment to a wire gripped in said gripper means; and release means for causing a severed, predetermined length of wire to be released from said gripper means (76).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
279 words
An apparatus for withdrawing a predetermined length of electrical wire from a supply, severing said predetermined length from said supply, and installing an electrical connector on at least one end of said length, characterised by: feed means (75) for advancing a predetermined length of wire (70) axially in a given direction; guide means (71) having an inlet for receiving wire from said feed means, and an outlet for positioning wire at a work location; gripper means (76) spaced from the outlet of said guide means in the direction of.motion of the wire, for gripping a portion of wire which has passed through said guide means; cutter means (77) movable along a path transverse to said direction of motion of the wire intermediate said outlet of said guide means (71) and said gripper means (76) for severing a portion of wire which has passed through.said guide means; connector carrying means (19) movable along a path transverse to said given direction of motion of the wire, said path being positioned intermediate said outlet of said guide means (71) and said gripper means (76) for advancing a connector (72) into position for attachment to a portion of wire which has passed through said guide means; said guide means (71) being movably mounted relative to the path of said connector carrying means (19) so that the outlet of said guide means may be selectively displaced away from the path of said connector carrying means to permit a connector (72) to be carried into position for attachment to a wire gripped in said gripper means; and release means for causing a severed, predetermined length of wire to be released from said gripper means (76).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus.according to claim 1, characterised in that said feed means (75) comprises a pair of cooperating feed rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the length of wire fed by said rollers is controlled by a preset control mechanism.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said gripper means (76) comprises a pair of cooperating jaws with a plurality of finger-like elements that provide a series of openings to allow for wire to pass when the jaws are in a partially closed position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said cutter means (71.) is positioned on said connector carrying means (19).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said connector carrying means (19) has positioned thereon said cutter means (77) a first assembly tool (73) for attaching a connector (72) to the leading end of said portion of wire, and a second assembly tool (73A) for attaching a connector to the trailing end of said portion of wire.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by locking means (60) for securing different regions of said connector carrying means (19) along said path of travel thereof at said work location (74).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to any.preceding claim, in which the wire extends vertically through said work location (74).