Machine for securing and electrically connecting an electrical cable to an electrical connector

Claim 2

A machine for securing and electrically connecting an electrical cable to an electrical connector including: a gripping mechanism for gripping a cable; means operable automatically when the cable is gripped by said gripping mechanism for stripping a length of the insulating sheath from the end of said cable, said means including; a carriage movable towards and away from said gripping mechanism; a pair of relatively movable coacting cutter members on the carriage; stop means acting between the carriage and the cutter members to limit said relative movement of the cutter members; actuating means acting through the cutter members for moving the carriage, the arrangement being such that in use initial operation of said actuating means causes relative movement of said cutter members to sever the insulating sheath of the cable whereupon said stop means arrests said relative movement of the cutter members so that further operation of said actuating means moves the carriage away from the gripping mechanism to strip the severed part of the insulating sheath from the cable; and further means operable automatically when the sheath has been stripped for crimping a connector to at least the bared core of the cable, while the cable is still held by said gripping mechanism.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for crimping the connector includes an anvil on which an electrical connector is supported in use, a hammer movable between upper and lower limit positions towards and away from the anvil for crimping the connector to the cable, actuating means acting through a toggle linkage to move the hammer, and adjusting means associated with one link of said toggle linkage for adjusting the limit positions between which the hammer is movable.

Claim 4

A machine for stripping an insulating sheath from an electrical cable including: a gripping mechanism for gripping the cable; a carriage movable towards and away from said gripping mechanism; a pair of arms; means pivotally mounting said arms intermediate their ends on the carriage; a pair of relatively movable, coacting cutter members defined at one end of said arms respectively; a toggle linkage interconnecting the ends of said arms remote from said cutter members; actuating means coupled to the center point of said toggle linkage; and stop means acting between the carriage and said arms, the arrangement being such that in use initial operation of said actuating means straightens said toggle linkage and thereby pivots said arms relative to the carriage in a manner to move said cutter members towards one another until said arms engage said stop means to prevent further pivotal movement of the arms, the inertia of the carriage and friction in mounting means for the carriage resisting movement of the carriage during said initial movement of the actuating means, said inertia and friction being overcome when said arms engage said stop means, so that said carriage is moved by further movement of said actuating means, said initial movement of said actuating means causing said cutter members to sever the insulating sheath of the cable, and said further movement of the actuating means causing said cutter members to strip the severed part of the insulating sheath of the cable from the cable.

Claim 5

A machine for stripping an insulating sheath from an electrical cable including: a gripping mechanism for gripping the cable; a carriage movable towards and away from said gripping mechanism; a pair of arms; means pivotally mounting said arms intermediate their ends on the carriage; a pair of relatively movable, coacting cutter members defined at one end of said arms respectively; a toggle linkage interconnecting the ends of said arms remote from said cutter members; actuating means coupled to the center point of said toggle linkage; and stop means acting between the carriage and said arms, the arrangement being such that in use initial operation of said actuating means straightens said toggle linkage and thereby pivots said arms relative to the carriage in a manner to move said cutter members towards one another until said arms engage said stop means to prevent further pivotal movement of the arms, the inertia of the carriage and friction in mounting means for the carriage resisting movement of the carriage during said initial movement of the actuating means, said inertia and friction being overcome when said arms engage said stop means, so that said carriage is moved by further movement of said actuating means, said initial movement of said actuating means causing said cutter members to sever the insulating sheath of the cable, and said further movement of the actuating means causing said cutter members to strip the severed part of the insulating sheath of the cable from the cable.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting means for the carriage includes friction means which is adjustable to vary the degree of friction and to take up wear in said mounting means in use.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes a fluid operable ram.

Claim 8

A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein movement of the actuating means in the opposite direction after a stripping operation initially moves said members apart so that the stripped sheath of the cable is released, said movement of the cutter members being arrested by further stop means whereupon further movement of the actuating means moves the carriage, towards the gripping mechanism in preparation for a further stripping operation.

Claim 9

A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stop means and said further stop means are carried by said carriage.

Claim 10

A machine for crimping an electrical connector to an electrical cable including: a frame; a gripping mechanism for gripping a cable; an anvil on which an electrical connector is supported in use; a hammer movable towards and away from the anvil, between an upper limit position and a lower limit position, for crimping the connector to the cable; a stop on the frame of the machine; means for adjusting the position of said stop in a direction towards or away from said anvil; a toggle linkage interconnecting said hammer and said stop; and actuating means, said actuating means being coupled to the center point of said toggle linkage, and acting through the toggle linkage to move the hammer relative to the anvil, said means for adjusting the position of said stop serving to permit adjustment of the upper and lower limit positions of the hammer.

Claim 11

A machine for crimping an electrical connector to an electrical cable including: a frame; a gripping mechanism for gripping a cable; an anvil on which an electrical connector is supported in use; a hammer movable towards and away from the anvil, between an upper limit position and a lower limit position, for crimping the connector to the cable; a stop on the frame of the machine; means for adjusting the position of said stop in a direction towards or away from said anvil; a toggle linkage interconnecting said hammer and said stop; and actuating means, said actuating means being coupled to the center point of said toggle linkage, and acting through the toggle linkage to move the hammer relative to the anvil, said means for adjusting the position of said stop serving to permit adjustment of the upper and lower limit positions of the hammer.

Claim 12

A machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said hammer is shaped to guide said cable into engagement with said connector during movement of said hammer to its lower limit position.

Claim 13

A machine as claimed in claim 8 including means for feeding electrical connectors onto said anvil during movement of said hammer to its upper limit position.

Claim 14

A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrical connectors are integral with, and spaced along a connecting strip and the machine includes means for severing a crimped connector from said strip after the crimping operation.