Apparatus for attaching terminals to electric conductors

Claim 2

Apparatus for attaching terminals to the ends of electric conductors, comprising: a. means for axially delivering predetermined lengths of electric conductors endwise into a conductor supply zone; b. a terminal attaching zone spaced from said conductor supply zone, including cooperable terminal attaching die means; c. means for feeding a supply of terminals to said die means, each of said terminals having a portion adapted to receive an end of said conductor; d. means for successively picking up and transporting the conductor lengths laterally from the conductor supply zone to a position in said terminal attaching zone, in which said end of the conductor is disposed for reception by said terminal portion; and e. means including said die means for crimping said terminal portion on the received conductor end.

Claim 3

Apparatus for attaching terminals to the ends of electric conductors, comprising: a. means for axially delivering predetermined lengths of electric conductors endwise into a conductor supply zone; b. a terminal attaching zone spaced from said conductor supply zone, including cooperable terminal attaching die means; c. means for feeding a supply of terminals to said die means, each of said terminals having a portion adapted to receive an end of said conductor; d. means for successively picking up and transporting the conductor lengths laterally from the conductor supply zone to a position in said terminal attaching zone, in which said end of the conductor is disposed for reception by said terminal portion; and e. means including said die means for crimping said terminal portion on the received conductor end.

Claim 4

Apparatus for attaching terminals to the ends of electric conductors, comprising: a. means for axially delivering predetermined lengths of electric conductors endwise into a conductor supply zone; b. a terminal attaching zone spaced from said conductor supply zone, including cooperable terminal attaching die means; c. means for feeding a supply of terminals to said die means, each of said terminals having a portion adapted to receive an end of said conductor; d. means for successively picking up and transporting the conductor lengths laterally from the conductor supply zone to a position in said terminal attaching zone, in which said end of the conductor is disposed for reception by said terminal portion; and e. means including said die means for crimping said terminal portion on the received conductor end.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductor has an insulation covering and is delivered with a stripped end portion from an insulation stripping mechanism to receiver means in the supply zone, said receiver meaNs being supported for rectilinear movement in the supply zone between a normal conductor receiving position and a conductor pick-up position.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for successively picking up and transporting the conductor lengths include a movable conveyor having spaced finger assemblies for successively picking up the conductors delivered to said supply zone, each of said finger assemblies comprising a pair of fingers, one of said fingers being a generally straight member anchored at its inner end on the conveyer, the other of said fingers having a generally channel shaped outer end portion for receiving the outer end portion of said one of said fingers longitudinally therein between side walls of the channel; a pivot interconnecting said fingers for relative swinging movements of their outer ends to opened and closed positions; and transversely aligned V-notches in said side walls at the outer end of said other of said fingers for grippingly receiving and holding a picked up conductor in the closed position of the outer ends of said fingers.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of said side walls projects inwardly of said pivot to form an extension; a roller mounted on said extension; and spring means interconnecting said fingers to normally urge the outer ends thereof towards said closed position.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for successively picking up and transporting the conductor lengths includes a movable conveyor having spaced finger assemblies for successively picking up the conductors delivered to said supply zone, each of said finger assemblies including a pair of relatively movable finger members having coacting jaws normally urged to a closed position and in an opened position being operative to receive a conductor length therebetween; and means for opening said jaws to admit a conductor length therebetween, and thereafter release the jaws for movement to a closed position gripping the conductor length.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for opening and releasing said jaws comprises a fixed cam member, and a cam follower projection on one of said fingers adapted to engage and disengage the cam member at spaced points.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cam comprises a plate member having a sector configuration.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the cam plate member is adjustably positionable circumferentially with respect to a right-angle axis to vary the position of the point of disengagement of said follower.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conveyor comprises a link chain looped between a driving sprocket at one end and an idler sprocket at the other end affixed to a rotatably supported tubular shaft; and in which the cam member is secured to an end of a stationary shaft supported within said tubular shaft; and including means for adjusting the position of the stationary shaft in a circumferential direction to vary an operating effect of the cam member.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1, including means sequentially operable to positively center said end of the conductor with respect to said terminal portion.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means to center said conductor end comprises an arm pivoted for limited swinging movement, said arm having a V-notch at an outer end thereof for receiving and guidingly centering said conductor end, when said outer end of the arm is moved from a lowered position to a raised position; means normally urging the outer end of said arm towards said lowered position; and an actuating solenoid connected with said arm and being energizable to move said outer end towards said raised position.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for crimping said terminal portion on the received conductor end are actuated by power means coupled with an electric control circuit; and in which switching means in said circuit initiates actuation of said power means when the conductor end is in said position in the terminal attaching zone, said switching means including a wire sensor switch having an actuator member positioned in the path of movement of said conductor to said terminal attaching zone.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means for crimping said terminal portion on the received conductor end are actuated by power means coupled with an electric control circuit; and in which switching means in said circuit initiates actuation of said power means when the conductor end is in said position in the terminal attaching zone, said switching means including a switch having contacts operable to a closed position in response to the operation of said means to center said end of the conductor with respect to said terminal portion.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the conductor has an insulation covering and is delivered with a stripped end portion from an insulation stripping mechanism to receiver means in the supply zone; said receiver means having a pair of clamping members for receiving the delivered conductor therebetween; cylinder-piston means for actuating said clamping members to closed position; spring means urging said clamping member to an opened position; valve means normally urged to one position for supplying a pressurized fluid to said cylinder-piston means and to another position for venting said cylinder-piston means to effect movement of said clamping members to said opened position and release a conductor length held therebetween; actuator means for said valve means including electro-magnetic means energizable to move said valve means to said another position; electric power means having a driving connection with said conveyor, said power means having an electric supply circuit; and control means for intermittently energizing and deenergizing said supply circuit to successively advance the finger assemblies with the picked up conductors from the supply zone to the terminal attaching zone, said control means including switching elements operative to energize said electro-magnetic means concurrently with the energization of the supply circuit of said electric power means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor comprises a link chain looped between a driving sprocket at one end and an idler sprocket at the other end; an electric motor having a driving connection with said driving sprocket, said motor having an electric supply circuit; control means for intermittently energizing and deenergizing said circuit to successively advance the finger assemblies with the picked up conductors from the supply zone to the terminal attaching zone, said control means including a first switching means; and an indexing cam for actuating said first switching means in response to the movement of said driving sprocket.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15, which includes a resistor element, and in which said control means includes switching elements operative upon deenergization of said circuit to connect said resistor across said circuit so as to effect dynamic braking.