US3872584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-27
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A fully automatic apparatus which measures, cuts and strips a plurality of wire leads, which may be of differing diameters and lengths, which applies terminals or the like to the leading ends of the wire leads, and which transfers the plurality of cut wire leads to a conveyor which subsequently indexes the trailing ends of the cut wire leads past a plurality of terminal applicators or other work performing structures to a discharge station. The various components of the apparatus include a wire measuring device, a first terminal applicator or the like, a cutting and stripping mechanism, a feed mechanism, a transfer mechanism, a conveyor, a plurality of additional work performing structures, and a discharge station. The wire measuring device, which is associated with the feed mechanism, measures a plurality of wire leads to differing lengths. The feed mechanism shifts the leading end of the wire leads between a first position, wherein terminals or the like are applied to the leading ends of the measured wire leads, and a second position wherein the feed mechanism feeds the pre-measured lengths of wire leads past the cutting and stripping mechanism. The transfer mechanism which is disposed adjacent the cutting and stripping mechanisms, receives the cut wire leads and transfers them to the conveyor. The conveyor, which has a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted on an endless chain, conveys the cut wire leads past the additional work performing structures to the discharge station. Additional work operations are performed upon the trailing ends of the cut wire leads, such as the assembling of terminals, etc., as the cut wire leads are conveyed.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph James Chick
- 👤 Jr Thomas Joseph Bozek
- 👤 James Woodrow Hammond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/04; H01R43/048; H01R43/052; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49181; Y10T29/49185; Y10T29/49192; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5139; Y10T29/514; Y10T29/5193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A method of processing a plurality of wire leads comprising the following steps: A. providing a wire lead cutting and stripping station, a source of supply for a plurality of supply wire leads, a discharge station, and a plurality of additional work operation performing stations; B. independently feeding each of a plurality of supply wire leads from said source of supply for a plurality of supply wire leads past said cutting and stripping station in varying increments, one or more of the leading ends of said plurality of supply wire leads having terminals or the like affixed thereto; C. cutting all of said plurality of supply wire leads at said cutting and stripping station to form an additional plurality of cut wire leads; D. stripping insulation from all of said pluralities of supply and cut wire leads at said cutting and stripping station to form bared leading and trailing ends, said leading ends being on the supply wire leads and said trailing end being on the cut wire leads E. applying a terminal or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends and transferring the plurality of cut wire leads away from said cutting and stripping station; F. repeating steps B-E a number of times while simultaneously conveying the additional plurality of wire leads past said plurality of additional work operation performing stations to said discharge station, and sequentially performing additional work operations on the bared trailing ends of said cut wire leads as they are conveyed past said additional work operation performing stations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
257 words
A method of processing a plurality of wire leads comprising the following steps: A. providing a wire lead cutting and stripping station, a source of supply for a plurality of supply wire leads, a discharge station, and a plurality of additional work operation performing stations; B. independently feeding each of a plurality of supply wire leads from said source of supply for a plurality of supply wire leads past said cutting and stripping station in varying increments, one or more of the leading ends of said plurality of supply wire leads having terminals or the like affixed thereto; C. cutting all of said plurality of supply wire leads at said cutting and stripping station to form an additional plurality of cut wire leads; D. stripping insulation from all of said pluralities of supply and cut wire leads at said cutting and stripping station to form bared leading and trailing ends, said leading ends being on the supply wire leads and said trailing end being on the cut wire leads E. applying a terminal or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends and transferring the plurality of cut wire leads away from said cutting and stripping station; F. repeating steps B-E a number of times while simultaneously conveying the additional plurality of wire leads past said plurality of additional work operation performing stations to said discharge station, and sequentially performing additional work operations on the bared trailing ends of said cut wire leads as they are conveyed past said additional work operation performing stations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein several groups of additional pluralities of cut wire leads are simultaneously conveyed in spaced apart relationship with respect to each other past the plurality of work stations, and wherein additional work operations are simultaneously performed on the bared trailing end of one of the cut wire leads of each of several groups of additional plurality of cut wire leads.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads comprising: cutting means operable to cut a plurality of supply wire leads, which extend away from a source of supply, to form an additional plurality of wire leads which still extend away from the source of supply, said plurality of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends, respectively; stripping means operable to strip insulation from the opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; applying means operable to apply terminals or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends; feeding means operable to independently measure and feed each of said plurality of supply wire leads past the cutting means after terminals or the like have been applied to one or more of the bared leading ends; a plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing means operable to perform additional work operations on one or more of the bared trailing ends when said ends are positioned adjacent said last mentioned means; and conveying means operable to convey and to sequentially position one or more bared trailing ends of said cut wire leads adjacent said plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing means whereby additIonal work operations are performed on said one or more bared trailing ends.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads comprising: cutting means operable to cut a plurality of supply wire leads, which extend away from a source of supply, to form an additional plurality of wire leads which still extend away from the source of supply, said plurality of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends, respectively; stripping means operable to strip insulation from the opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; applying means operable to apply terminals or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends; feeding means operable to independently measure and feed each of said plurality of supply wire leads past the cutting means after terminals or the like have been applied to one or more of the bared leading ends; a plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing means operable to perform additional work operations on one or more of the bared trailing ends when said ends are positioned adjacent said last mentioned means; and conveying means operable to convey and to sequentially position one or more bared trailing ends of said cut wire leads adjacent said plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing means whereby additIonal work operations are performed on said one or more bared trailing ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads set forth in claim 3 wherein the conveying means includes a plurality of clamp assemblies, said clamp assemblies being mounted upon an endless conveyor which has one run which passes said plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing means, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads set forth in claim 3 further characterized by the provision of transfer means between the conveying means and the cutting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
The apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads set forth in claim 5 in which said transfer means includes a holding assembly which holds the plurality of wire leads after they have been fed past the cutting means and before they have been cut, means to shift the holding assembly linearly after the plurality of wire leads have been held, and the linear shifting of the holding assembly cooperating with the stripping means to strip insulation from the cut ends of the wire leads engaged by the transfer means, and means to rotate the holding assembly after it has shifted linearly to present the bared trailing ends of the cut wire leads to the conveyor means, and wherein said conveyor means moves the plurality of cut wire leads generally linearly and includes a plurality of clamping assemblies which are sequentially positioned adjacent the holding assemblies on the transfer means after the holding assembly has been rotated to effect transfer of the plurality of cut wire leads from the transfer means to the conveyor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of clamp assemblies include a plurality of clamping means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus for processing a plurality of wire leads set forth in claim 6 wherein said holding assembly includes a plurality of holding means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
381 words
In a lead processing apparatus including cutting means operable to cut a plurality of supply wire leads, which extend away from a source of supply, to form an additional plurality of cut wire leads which are initially in register with the plurality of wire leads which still extend away from the source of supply, all of said plurality of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends, respectively; stripping means disposed to either side of the cutting means operable to strip insulation from the opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; applying means disposed to one side of said cutting means and operable to apply terminals or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends; feeding means disposed to the same side of the cutting means as the applying means, said feeding means being operable to feed each of said plurality of supply wires past the cutting means after terminals or the like have been applied to one or more of the bared leading ends; one or more additional work operation performing means operable to perform additional work operations on one or more of the bared trailing ends of the cut wire leads when said ends are positioned adjacent the work operation performing means to form a plurality of processed cut wire leads; and a discharge station which receives a plurality of processed cut wire leads the combination therewith of transfer means disposed to one side of the cutting means opposite that side on which the applying means and feeding means is disposed, said transfer means receiving the plurality of wire leads fed past the cutting means by said feeding means, and being operable to transfer the bared trailing ends of said plurality of cut wire leads away from said cutting and stripping means; and conveyor means which receive said plurality of cut wire leads from the transfer means after the trailing ends have been transferred away from said cutting means, said conveyor means indexing the bared trailing ends past said one or more additional work operation performing means fOr processing of the bared trailing ends when they are adjacent the work operation performing means, said conveyor means discharging the plurality of processed cut wire leads to said discharge station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
381 words
In a lead processing apparatus including cutting means operable to cut a plurality of supply wire leads, which extend away from a source of supply, to form an additional plurality of cut wire leads which are initially in register with the plurality of wire leads which still extend away from the source of supply, all of said plurality of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends, respectively; stripping means disposed to either side of the cutting means operable to strip insulation from the opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; applying means disposed to one side of said cutting means and operable to apply terminals or the like to one or more of the bared leading ends; feeding means disposed to the same side of the cutting means as the applying means, said feeding means being operable to feed each of said plurality of supply wires past the cutting means after terminals or the like have been applied to one or more of the bared leading ends; one or more additional work operation performing means operable to perform additional work operations on one or more of the bared trailing ends of the cut wire leads when said ends are positioned adjacent the work operation performing means to form a plurality of processed cut wire leads; and a discharge station which receives a plurality of processed cut wire leads the combination therewith of transfer means disposed to one side of the cutting means opposite that side on which the applying means and feeding means is disposed, said transfer means receiving the plurality of wire leads fed past the cutting means by said feeding means, and being operable to transfer the bared trailing ends of said plurality of cut wire leads away from said cutting and stripping means; and conveyor means which receive said plurality of cut wire leads from the transfer means after the trailing ends have been transferred away from said cutting means, said conveyor means indexing the bared trailing ends past said one or more additional work operation performing means fOr processing of the bared trailing ends when they are adjacent the work operation performing means, said conveyor means discharging the plurality of processed cut wire leads to said discharge station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which said conveyor means includes an endless conveyor having one run which passes said one or more additional work operation performing means, and a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted on said endless conveyor, each of said plurality of clamp assemblies including a plurality of clamping means, each of the clamping means receiving one of the plurality of cut wire leads when the clamp assembly is disposed adjacent the transfer means, each of said clamping means maintaining clamping engagement of one of the plurality of cut wire leads as they are indexed along said one run.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said clamping means includes fixed jaw means and a movable jaw shiftable between a closed position adjacent said fixed jaw means and an open position remote from said fixed jaw means, means operable to spring bias the movable jaw towards its closed position, and means engagable to move said movable jaw to an open position when the clamping means is disposed adjacent the transfer means so that each of the clamping means may receive one of the plurality of cut wire leads from the transfer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein said means engagable to move said movable jaw to an open position includes a cam follower means, said conveying means further including cam means engagable with said cam follower means for each of said clamping means when a clamp assembly is disposed adjacent the transfer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein the cam follower means for each of said movable jaws are disposed in alignment with each other, and in which said cam means on the conveyor means is longitudinally shiftable to engage the cam follower means for each of said movable jaws to move them to their open position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 10 in which longitudinally shiftable cam means are provided adjacent the transfer means and the discharge station to open said plurality of clamping means to facilitate the loading of the clamping means adjacent the transfer means and the discharge of the processed cut wire leads at the discharge station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 9 in which said conveyor means includes an endless roller chain disposed about spaced apart sprockets, a plurality of spaced apart clamp assemblies mounted upon said chain, and wherein stabilizing means are provided on each of said clamp assemblies to stabilize said clamp assemblies in various positions as they are indexed from one end of the conveyor to the other end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein the conveyor means includes stabilizing discs mounted concentrically with each of said sprockets, said stabilizing discs cooperating with the stabilizing means on each of the clamp assemblies to stabilize said clamp assemblies as they pass around said sprocket means, and wherein said conveying means also includes stabilizing channels disposed adjacent each of the additional work operation performing means, said stabilizing channels cooperating with the stabilizing means on the clamp assemblies to stabilize the clamp assemblies adjacent each of the one or more additional work operation performing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein the transfer means includes a holding assembly operable to hold the plurality of cut wire leads after they have been fed past the cutting means, means to shift the holding assembly linearly away from the cutting means, the linear shifting of the holding assembly cooperating with the stripping means to strip insulation from the cut ends of the wire leads engaged by the holding assembly on the transfer means, and means to rotate the holding assembly after it has shifted linearly to dispose the bared trailing ends of the cut wire leads adjacent the conveyor means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 17 wherein the holding assembly on the transfer means includes fixed jaw means and a plurality of movable jaw means equal in number to the plurality of cut wire leads.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 17 in which said transfer means include a trough portion which extends away from the holding means, the wire leads being fed into said trough means past said holding assembly, one of the sidewalls of said trough being provided with a cut-out, said conveyor means including an endless conveyor having a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted thereon, the means which rotates the holding assembly positioning the holding assembly adjacent the conveyor means with one of said clamp assemblies mounted on the conveyor means extending into the trough portion of said transfer means through said cut-out.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
The lead processing apparatus set forth in claim 19 in which said clamp assemblies on the conveyor include a plurality of clamping means, and the holding assembly on said transfer means includes a plurality of holding means equal in number to the clamping means on the clamping assemblies of the conveyor means, the plurality of holding means on the transfer means being disposed in alignment with the plurality of clamping means on the clamping assemblies of the conveyor means so that the cut wire leads engaged by each of the holding means on the transfer means is transferred to a respective clamping means on the clamping assembly disposed within said cut-out.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for transferring and conveying a plurality of wire leads of differing diameters, each of said plurality of wire leads having a terminal affixed to its leading end and having a bared trailing end, said wires being transferred and conveyed away from a cutting and stripping station, past a plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing stations capable of performing work operations upon the bared trailing ends, to a discharge station, said apparatus comprising: transfer means having a holding assembly disposed adjacent one end of said transfer means and a trough portion having spaced apart sidewalls extending away from said holding assembly and means to shift the holding assembly and trough portion between a first position wherein the holding assembly initially engage the plurality of wire leads to a second position wherein the plurality of wire leads are transferred; and one of the sidewalls of the trough means having an opening therein adjacent said holding assembly, and said holding assembly including fixed jaw means and a plurality of independently operable movable jaws normally biased towards the fixed jaw means, each of the movable jaws normally engaging one of said plurality of wire leads of differing diameters; conveyor means including a plurality of clamp assemblies indexable from a first position adjacent the second position of the transfer means past the plurality of additional work stations to a second position adjacent the discharge station, each of said clamp assemblies including a plurality of independently operable movable jaws on holding assembly of said transfer means, the movable jaws on the transfer means and clamping means on the clamping assemblies being disposed in register with each other when said transfer means is in its first position to effect transfer of the wire leads from the transfer means to the conveying means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for transferring and conveying a plurality of wire leads of differing diameters, each of said plurality of wire leads having a terminal affixed to its leading end and having a bared trailing end, said wires being transferred and conveyed away from a cutting and stripping station, past a plurality of spaced apart additional work operation performing stations capable of performing work operations upon the bared trailing ends, to a discharge station, said apparatus comprising: transfer means having a holding assembly disposed adjacent one end of said transfer means and a trough portion having spaced apart sidewalls extending away from said holding assembly and means to shift the holding assembly and trough portion between a first position wherein the holding assembly initially engage the plurality of wire leads to a second position wherein the plurality of wire leads are transferred; and one of the sidewalls of the trough means having an opening therein adjacent said holding assembly, and said holding assembly including fixed jaw means and a plurality of independently operable movable jaws normally biased towards the fixed jaw means, each of the movable jaws normally engaging one of said plurality of wire leads of differing diameters; conveyor means including a plurality of clamp assemblies indexable from a first position adjacent the second position of the transfer means past the plurality of additional work stations to a second position adjacent the discharge station, each of said clamp assemblies including a plurality of independently operable movable jaws on holding assembly of said transfer means, the movable jaws on the transfer means and clamping means on the clamping assemblies being disposed in register with each other when said transfer means is in its first position to effect transfer of the wire leads from the transfer means to the conveying means.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
543 words
An apparatus to measure, cut and strip a pair of wire leads of differing diameters and lengths, and to apply terminals to the leading and trailing ends of each of said cut pair of wire leads comprising; cutting means operable to cut a pair of supply wire leads of differing diameters which extend away from a source of supply to form an additional pair of cut wire leads which still extend away from the source of Supply, said pairs of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends respectively; stripping means operable to strip insulation from opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; first terminal applying means operable to apply a pair of terminals, one to each of the bared leading ends; feeding means operable to independently measure differing lengths of each of said pairs of wire leads which extend away from the source of supply and to feed the differing measured lengths of said wire leads past the cutting means after the pair of terminals has been applied to the bared leading ends; transfer means including a pair of holding means and means to shift said pair of holding means as they hold a cut pair of wire leads between a first position wherein the pair of holding means initially engages the cut pair of cut wire leads to a second position wherein the cut pair of wire leads are transferred, one of said pair of holding means engaging one of said cut pair of wire leads, and the other of said pair of holding means engaging the other of said cut pair of wire leads; endless conveyor means including a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted thereon, each clamp assembly being movable from a first position adjacent the second position of the pair of holding means to a second position where cut pairs of wire leads are discharged, each of said clamp assemblies including a pair of clamping means, the pair of holding means on the transfer means and the pair of clamping means on one of the clamping assemblies being disposed in register with each other when said transfer means is in its second position and said one clamping assembly is in its first position to effect transfer of the pair of wire leads from the transfer means to the clamping assembly, one clamping means engaging one of said pair of cut wire leads, and the other clamping means engaging the other of said cut pair of wire leads, and second and third terminal applying means disposed adjacent said endless conveyor means and operable to apply terminals to said bared trailing ends, said clamp assemblies moving past said second and third terminal applying means as they move from their first position to their second position, said endless conveyor means presenting the bared trailing end of one of the pair of wire leads to the second terminal applying means for application of a terminal to said bared trailing end, and the endless conveyor means also presenting the bared trailing end of the other of said pair of wire leads to the third terminal applying means for application of a terminal to the bared trailing end of said other of said pair of wire leads.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
543 words
An apparatus to measure, cut and strip a pair of wire leads of differing diameters and lengths, and to apply terminals to the leading and trailing ends of each of said cut pair of wire leads comprising; cutting means operable to cut a pair of supply wire leads of differing diameters which extend away from a source of supply to form an additional pair of cut wire leads which still extend away from the source of Supply, said pairs of cut and supply wire leads having opposed trailing and leading ends respectively; stripping means operable to strip insulation from opposed trailing and leading ends to form bared trailing and leading ends; first terminal applying means operable to apply a pair of terminals, one to each of the bared leading ends; feeding means operable to independently measure differing lengths of each of said pairs of wire leads which extend away from the source of supply and to feed the differing measured lengths of said wire leads past the cutting means after the pair of terminals has been applied to the bared leading ends; transfer means including a pair of holding means and means to shift said pair of holding means as they hold a cut pair of wire leads between a first position wherein the pair of holding means initially engages the cut pair of cut wire leads to a second position wherein the cut pair of wire leads are transferred, one of said pair of holding means engaging one of said cut pair of wire leads, and the other of said pair of holding means engaging the other of said cut pair of wire leads; endless conveyor means including a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted thereon, each clamp assembly being movable from a first position adjacent the second position of the pair of holding means to a second position where cut pairs of wire leads are discharged, each of said clamp assemblies including a pair of clamping means, the pair of holding means on the transfer means and the pair of clamping means on one of the clamping assemblies being disposed in register with each other when said transfer means is in its second position and said one clamping assembly is in its first position to effect transfer of the pair of wire leads from the transfer means to the clamping assembly, one clamping means engaging one of said pair of cut wire leads, and the other clamping means engaging the other of said cut pair of wire leads, and second and third terminal applying means disposed adjacent said endless conveyor means and operable to apply terminals to said bared trailing ends, said clamp assemblies moving past said second and third terminal applying means as they move from their first position to their second position, said endless conveyor means presenting the bared trailing end of one of the pair of wire leads to the second terminal applying means for application of a terminal to said bared trailing end, and the endless conveyor means also presenting the bared trailing end of the other of said pair of wire leads to the third terminal applying means for application of a terminal to the bared trailing end of said other of said pair of wire leads.
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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |