Apparatus for shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit

Claim 2

In an apparatus for use in shaping separate sets of plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, the the apparatus having: locating means and means for mounting the locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulliNg the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached; and control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions the improvement comprising the provision of: a saddle on one of the jaw assemblies, said saddle having spaced anvil portions defining an opening into which the body is received enabling the lead wires thereof to rest on and extend outwardly of the anvil portions, and a mating clamp on the other jaw assembly, said mating clamp having spaced anvil portions which engage the lead wires on the saddle anvil portions in the clamping position of the jaw assemblies to clamp the lead wires therebetween and wherein: the mating clamp has a clamp member for each set of lead wires, each clamp member having an anvil portion, and the means for mounting the clamping means includes spring means between each clamp member and the other jaw assembly for pressurizing the individual clamp members while permitting limited relative movement therebetween and stop means are provided between the clamp members to limit the relative movement therebetween, enabling each of the individual clamp members to hold its respective lead wire set independently of the other clamp member.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit wherein the body has separate sets of lead wires, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting the locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire forming means for bending the lead wires into a desired shape; and, control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement in wire forming means comprising the provision of: a male die member on one of the jaw assemblies, said male die member having spaced anvil portions, and wall portions which together are shaped into the desired lead wire shape, and a mating female die on the other jaw assembly said female die having mating spaced anvil portions for engaging the lead wires in the clamped position and bending the lead wires over the male die spaced anvil portions and wall portions into the desired shape as the jaw assemblies are moved to the shaping position and wherein: the male die has anvil portions and wall portions for each set of lead wires, the female die includes a plurality of female die members, one for each set of lead wires, each of said female dies having anvil portions, and the means for mounting the forming means includes spring means between each female die member and the other jaw assembly for pressuring the female die member individually while permitting relative movement therebetween, and stop means between the female die members to limit said relative movement, enabling each female die member to independently bend its respective set of lead wires.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit wherein the body has separate sets of lead wires, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting the locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire forming means for bending the lead wires into a desired shape; and, control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement in wire forming means comprising the provision of: a male die member on one of the jaw assemblies, said male die member having spaced anvil portions, and wall portions which together are shaped into the desired lead wire shape, and a mating female die on the other jaw assembly said female die having mating spaced anvil portions for engaging the lead wires in the clamped position and bending the lead wires over the male die spaced anvil portions and wall portions into the desired shape as the jaw assemblies are moved to the shaping position and wherein: the male die has anvil portions and wall portions for each set of lead wires, the female die includes a plurality of female die members, one for each set of lead wires, each of said female dies having anvil portions, and the means for mounting the forming means includes spring means between each female die member and the other jaw assembly for pressuring the female die member individually while permitting relative movement therebetween, and stop means between the female die members to limit said relative movement, enabling each female die member to independently bend its respective set of lead wires.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit Protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting and locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire forming means for bending the lead wires, and control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement comprising: a male die member on one of the jaw assemblies, said male die member having spaced anvil portions, and wall portions which together are shaped into the desired lead wire shape, the male die member including a central male die member having a spaced pair of anvil portions, and wall portions, and includes outer die members along the wall portions of the central male die member, said outer male die member having anvil portions being in step relationship with the anvil portions of the central male die members to form the lead wires into a step configuration, and a mating female die on the other jaw assembly said female die having mating spaced anvil portions for engaging the lead wires in the clamped position and bending the lead wires over the male die spaced anvil portions and wall portions into the desired shape as the jaw assemblies are moved to the shaping position and wherein: the means for mounting the shaping means includes: means for fixedly mounting the outer male die members to the one jaw assembly; means are provided for adjustably mounting the central male die member to the one jaw assembly for selective movement relative the outer male die members to selectively change the length of the step relationship of the anvil portions; the female die member includes a plurality of female die members, one for each outer male die member, each of said female die members having respective anvil portions, and the means for mounting the shaping means includes means for mounting the female die members to the other jaw assembly to mate with the various stepped configurations of the male die members.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit Protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting and locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire forming means for bending the lead wires, and control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement comprising: a male die member on one of the jaw assemblies, said male die member having spaced anvil portions, and wall portions which together are shaped into the desired lead wire shape, the male die member including a central male die member having a spaced pair of anvil portions, and wall portions, and includes outer die members along the wall portions of the central male die member, said outer male die member having anvil portions being in step relationship with the anvil portions of the central male die members to form the lead wires into a step configuration, and a mating female die on the other jaw assembly said female die having mating spaced anvil portions for engaging the lead wires in the clamped position and bending the lead wires over the male die spaced anvil portions and wall portions into the desired shape as the jaw assemblies are moved to the shaping position and wherein: the means for mounting the shaping means includes: means for fixedly mounting the outer male die members to the one jaw assembly; means are provided for adjustably mounting the central male die member to the one jaw assembly for selective movement relative the outer male die members to selectively change the length of the step relationship of the anvil portions; the female die member includes a plurality of female die members, one for each outer male die member, each of said female die members having respective anvil portions, and the means for mounting the shaping means includes means for mounting the female die members to the other jaw assembly to mate with the various stepped configurations of the male die members.

Claim 7

The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the means for adjustably mounting the central male die member includes a calibrated adjuster assembly for precisely and controllably changing the length of the stepped relationship of the anvil portions of the male die members.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting the locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the Jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire trimming means for cutting the lead wires to a desired length; and control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement in wire trimming means comprising: a pair of mating shear plates on the jaw assemblies, one of said shear plates having extensions which extend over the other shear plate in the clamping position of the jaw assemblies, enabling the other shear plate to guide the path of the one shear plate to shear the wires to the desired length.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for use in shaping a plurality of lead wires of a miniaturized circuit protruding from a body of insulation formed about said circuit, said apparatus including a frame assembly having vice portions adapted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of jaw assemblies and means for mounting the jaw assemblies on respective vice portions to be moved therewith into and out of engagement with each other, locating means and means for mounting the locating means on one of the jaw assemblies for receiving and locating the body with respect to the one jaw assembly in an open position thereof, mating clamping means and means for mounting the clamping means on the jaw assemblies for clamping the lead wires extending outwardly of the body, in a clamping position of the Jaw assemblies to hold the lead wires therebetween, mating shaping means and means for mounting the shaping means on the jaw assemblies for movement relative to the clamping means for shaping the lead wires held between said clamping means without pulling the lead wires from the body as the shaping position of the jaw assemblies is reached, said shaping means including wire trimming means for cutting the lead wires to a desired length; and control means operably associated with the frame assembly and the jaw assemblies for moving the jaw assemblies between the positions, the improvement in wire trimming means comprising: a pair of mating shear plates on the jaw assemblies, one of said shear plates having extensions which extend over the other shear plate in the clamping position of the jaw assemblies, enabling the other shear plate to guide the path of the one shear plate to shear the wires to the desired length.

Claim 10

The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the means mounting the shaping means includes means removably mounting the shear plates to the jaw assemblies to permit the removal and replacement thereof without disturbing the location of the other means mounted to the jaw assemblies.

Claim 11

A lead shaping apparatus for shaping lead wires of a miniaturized circuit having a body with lead wires extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising: support means; opposed relatively movable jaw assembly means and means for mounting said assembly means to the support for movement between an open position, through a clamping position to a shaping position, said relatively movable jaw assembly means including clamping means comparable to receive the body in the open position, and to clamp the lead wires from the body therebetween in the clamping position and the shaping position, and including shaping means for engaging the clamped lead wires to shape the lead wires into a desired shape as the relatively movable jaw assembly means are moved into the shaping position, and control means are operably attached to the support means and associated with said relatively movable jaw assembly means for moving said jaw assembly means between said positions, wherein the control means include: a cam member mounted on one of said jaw assemblies, said member having a cam surface, a lever member having a camming end, means pivotally mounting the other end of the lever member to the support means to locate the camming end of the lever member in engagement with the cam surface of said cam member, a handle member, and means for mounting the handle member to the support means in association with said lever member whereby manual movement of said handle member causes pivoting of said lever member to move said cam member and thereby move said one of said jaw assembly means relative to the other of the jaw assembly means.

Claim 12

A lead shaping apparatus for shaping lead wires of a miniaturized circuit having a body with lead wires extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising: support means; opposed relatively movable jaw assembly means and means for mounting said assembly means to the support for movement between an open position, through a clamping position to a shaping position, said relatively movable jaw assembly means including clamping means comparable to receive the body in the open position, and to clamp the lead wires from the body therebetween in the clamping position and the shaping position, and including shaping means for engaging the clamped lead wires to shape the lead wires into a desired shape as the relatively movable jaw assembly means are moved into the shaping position, and control means are operably attached to the support means and associated with said relatively movable jaw assembly means for moving said jaw assembly means between said positions, wherein the control means include: a cam member mounted on one of said jaw assemblies, said member having a cam surface, a lever member having a camming end, means pivotally mounting the other end of the lever member to the support means to locate the camming end of the lever member in engagement with the cam surface of said cam member, a handle member, and means for mounting the handle member to the support means in association with said lever member whereby manual movement of said handle member causes pivoting of said lever member to move said cam member and thereby move said one of said jaw assembly means relative to the other of the jaw assembly means.

Claim 13

The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said support means is provided with means for mounting said cam member on either of the two sides thereof, and means for pivotally mounting the lever on either of the two sides thereof, to selectively permit either right hand or a left hand operation.

Claim 14

The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said support means includes a circular aperture therein, and the means for pivotally mounting the lever member includes an eccentric bushing for pivotally mounting said lever member eccentrically of said aperture in which said bushing is mounted, said bushing being selectively rotatable in said aperture to vary the pivot location of the lever member and thereby adjust the travel of the associated jaw assembly means.

Claim 15

The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for attaching the handle includes clutch means between the handle member and the lever member for selectively changing the position of the handle member relative to the lever member to permit manual operation of the handle member from various positions.