US3839787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Assembling electrical components
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of strips of repetitively configured partially formed and interconnected blade-like terminals are indexed along predetermined paths which extend through passageways in a shearing assembly and into grooves of a stationary die block which are aligned with the passageways. The leading repetitively configured portion of each of the strips is received in the associated groove such that the leading portions are each supported along a leading edge and two adjoining flat faces. The shearing assembly is moved in a direction extending between the faces to separate the leading portion from the remainder of each strip and thereby form a plurality of terminals. The shearing assembly has the dual function of covering the grooves following the separation of the leading portions to provide support for the trailing edge of each leading portion as formed during separation. Insertion facilities are operated to move the terminals from the grooves and into associated ones of a plurality of terminal-receiving openings formed in a miniature type telephone cord plug prepositioned in alignment with the insertion facilities.
Inventors
- 👤 F Gavin
- 👤 W Brown
- 👤 H Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49222; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of assembling a blade-like terminal with a dielectric body to form an electrical connector, which includes the steps of: advancing a repetitively configured elongated metallic material along a predetermined path to move a leading portion thereof through a passageway opening to one surface and then into a groove opening to another surface adjacent the one surface such that the leading portion is supported along a leading edge and two adjoining faces thereof; separating the leading portion of the elongated material from the subsequent portions thereof and between ones of the repetitive configurations to form a terminal having a trailing edge opposite the leading edge while covering the groove to complete the support of the terminal around the periphery thereof as defined by the leading and trailing edges and the two adjoining faces; aligning the dielectric body with the groove; engaging an unsupported surface of the terminal which faces into the groove; and moving the terminal from the groove and into assembled relationship with the aligned dielectric body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of assembling a blade-like terminal with a dielectric body to form an electrical connector, which includes the steps of: advancing a repetitively configured elongated metallic material along a predetermined path to move a leading portion thereof through a passageway opening to one surface and then into a groove opening to another surface adjacent the one surface such that the leading portion is supported along a leading edge and two adjoining faces thereof; separating the leading portion of the elongated material from the subsequent portions thereof and between ones of the repetitive configurations to form a terminal having a trailing edge opposite the leading edge while covering the groove to complete the support of the terminal around the periphery thereof as defined by the leading and trailing edges and the two adjoining faces; aligning the dielectric body with the groove; engaging an unsupported surface of the terminal which faces into the groove; and moving the terminal from the groove and into assembled relationship with the aligned dielectric body.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
244 words
An apparatus for assembling blade-like terminals into terminal-receiving openings formed in a dielectric body to engage the terminals electrically with conductors of a cord preconnected to the dielectric body to form an electrical connector, which comprises: means for feeding a plurality of strips of repetitively configured elongated metallic material; means for receiving leading portions of the elongated material to partially support laterally leading portions along leading edges and two adjoining faces thereof; means mounteD for movement relative to the receiving means and through which the leading portion of the repetitively configured elongated material is fed for separating the leading portions of the elongated materials from the remainder of the elongated materials between ones of the repetitive configurations to form a plurality of terminals and for completing the support of the leading portions along the lines of separation when relative movement has been caused to occur between the separating means and the receiving means; means for causing relative movement between the separating means and the receiving means to form the plurality of terminals and to support the terminals along the lines of separation; means receiving the dielectric body for holding the dielectric body with the terminal-receiving openings thereof aligned with the terminals supported in the receiving means; and means operated subsequent to the formation of the terminals and engaging an exposed surface of each of the terminals for moving the terminals into associated ones of the terminal-receiving openings and assembled relation with the dielectric body.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
244 words
An apparatus for assembling blade-like terminals into terminal-receiving openings formed in a dielectric body to engage the terminals electrically with conductors of a cord preconnected to the dielectric body to form an electrical connector, which comprises: means for feeding a plurality of strips of repetitively configured elongated metallic material; means for receiving leading portions of the elongated material to partially support laterally leading portions along leading edges and two adjoining faces thereof; means mounteD for movement relative to the receiving means and through which the leading portion of the repetitively configured elongated material is fed for separating the leading portions of the elongated materials from the remainder of the elongated materials between ones of the repetitive configurations to form a plurality of terminals and for completing the support of the leading portions along the lines of separation when relative movement has been caused to occur between the separating means and the receiving means; means for causing relative movement between the separating means and the receiving means to form the plurality of terminals and to support the terminals along the lines of separation; means receiving the dielectric body for holding the dielectric body with the terminal-receiving openings thereof aligned with the terminals supported in the receiving means; and means operated subsequent to the formation of the terminals and engaging an exposed surface of each of the terminals for moving the terminals into associated ones of the terminal-receiving openings and assembled relation with the dielectric body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiving means is a die block having a plurality of open-ended grooves formed therein, each of the grooves being aligned with and communicating with an associated one of the terminal-receiving openings in the dielectric body in the holding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the receiving means is stationary and the separating means is a shearing assembly mounted for movement in a direction extending between the two adjoining faces of the leading portions of each of the strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shearing assembly includes an insert having passageways therethrough aligned with the grooves to permit the strips to be fed therethrough, the insert being moveable beyond a front face of the shearing assembly to facilitate machining thereof to maintain sharp-edged entrances to the openings thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the feeding means includes a trackway for supporting the strips of terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the trackway has one end supported by the separating means and the other end mounted pivotally to permit the trackway to be moved with the separating means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of assembling a terminal to a block of insulating material having a groove therein, which includes the steps of: advancing a strip of partially formed terminals connected end to end to move a leading one thereof into an insertion position; confining a leading edge and two side surfaces of the leading one of the terminals; positioning a block of insulating material to align a groove formed therein with the leading one of the terminals; shearing the leading one of the partially formed terminals from the strip to define and produce an individual terminal having a trailing edge; while confining the leading one of the terminals along the trailing edge thereof to support completely laterally the terminal and provide a laterally closed path of movement for the terminal; and engaging a free edge of the leading one of the terminals and then moving the terminal along the path into the aligned groove.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of assembling a terminal to a block of insulating material having a groove therein, which includes the steps of: advancing a strip of partially formed terminals connected end to end to move a leading one thereof into an insertion position; confining a leading edge and two side surfaces of the leading one of the terminals; positioning a block of insulating material to align a groove formed therein with the leading one of the terminals; shearing the leading one of the partially formed terminals from the strip to define and produce an individual terminal having a trailing edge; while confining the leading one of the terminals along the trailing edge thereof to support completely laterally the terminal and provide a laterally closed path of movement for the terminal; and engaging a free edge of the leading one of the terminals and then moving the terminal along the path into the aligned groove.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for assembling a terminal to a block of insulating material having a groove therein, which includes: means for advancing a strip of partially formed terminals connected end to end to move a leading one thereof into an insertion position; means for confining a leading edge and two side surfaces of the leading one of the terminals; means for positioning a block of insulating material to align a groove formed therein with the leading one of the terminals; means for shearing the leading one of the partially formed terminals from the strip to define and produce an individual terminal having a trailing edge; means for confining the leading one of the terminals along the trailing edge thereof to suppOrt completely laterally the terminal and provide a laterally closed path of movement for the terminal; and means for engaging a free edge of the leading one of the terminals and for then moving the terminal along the path into the aligned groove.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for assembling a terminal to a block of insulating material having a groove therein, which includes: means for advancing a strip of partially formed terminals connected end to end to move a leading one thereof into an insertion position; means for confining a leading edge and two side surfaces of the leading one of the terminals; means for positioning a block of insulating material to align a groove formed therein with the leading one of the terminals; means for shearing the leading one of the partially formed terminals from the strip to define and produce an individual terminal having a trailing edge; means for confining the leading one of the terminals along the trailing edge thereof to suppOrt completely laterally the terminal and provide a laterally closed path of movement for the terminal; and means for engaging a free edge of the leading one of the terminals and for then moving the terminal along the path into the aligned groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |