US3874077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for centering and shearing the free end portion of a plurality of leads which extend outwardly from one end of a template
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-12
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for shearing the ends of the free end sections of a plurality of leads in which the free end sections are positioned in a desired spatial location prior to and during the shearing of the ends of the free end lead sections. The plurality of leads are initially positioned in a plurality of grooves which extend to one end of a template, the leads having free end portions which extend beyond the end of the template and pass through lead trimming or shearing means. Means are provided adjacent the end of the template to engage and properly position the free end portions immediately prior to and during the shearing operation so that the ends of the leads will extend directly away from the end of the template means to insure that the terminal end portions of the leads which project beyond the end of the template after shearing are of the desired final length suitable for a terminal applying operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Foster Folk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:39
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; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of performing work operations upon a plurality of leads comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including template means and shear means, the template means having a plurality of grooves, one end of the grooves being disposed at an end of the template means, and the shear means being disposed beyond said one end of the grooves adjacent said one end of the template means; positioning the plurality of leads into said plurality of grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond the end of the template means and past the shear means; engaging and positioning the free end portions of said leads in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in said grooves; and shearing the ends of the free end portions after said free end portions have been positioned in their predetermined positions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of performing work operations upon a plurality of leads comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including template means and shear means, the template means having a plurality of grooves, one end of the grooves being disposed at an end of the template means, and the shear means being disposed beyond said one end of the grooves adjacent said one end of the template means; positioning the plurality of leads into said plurality of grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond the end of the template means and past the shear means; engaging and positioning the free end portions of said leads in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in said grooves; and shearing the ends of the free end portions after said free end portions have been positioned in their predetermined positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the free end portions are positioned to extend directly away from the template means and in line with the ends of the grooves to insure that the free end portions of the leads will be sheared to a predetermined length during the shearng of the free end portions of the leads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the steps of: providing a centering member having a plurality of notches, each of the notches having a V-shaped portion which terminates at the apex of the V-shaped portion in a channel shaped portion; moving the centering member into engagement with the leads to engage and position the free end portions of said leads, each of the leads initially passing through the V-shaped portion of one of the plurality of notches and then being confined within the channel shaped portion as the end of the leads are sheared.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the step of: applying terminals to the terminal end portion of the leads which extend away from the template means after the ends of the free end portions have been sheared.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for shearing a plurality of leads including in combination: template means having a plurality of grooves terminating adjacent one end of the template means; means operable to position a plurality of leads in said grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond said one end of the template means; and lead trimming means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to shear the ends of said free end portions after said leads have been positioned in said grooves; the combination therewith of centering means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to engage the free end portions extending beyond said one end of the template means and to position the free end portions in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in the grooves and prior to the time the ends of the leads are sheared.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for shearing a plurality of leads including in combination: template means having a plurality of grooves terminating adjacent one end of the template means; means operable to position a plurality of leads in said grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond said one end of the template means; and lead trimming means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to shear the ends of said free end portions after said leads have been positioned in said grooves; the combination therewith of centering means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to engage the free end portions extending beyond said one end of the template means and to position the free end portions in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in the grooves and prior to the time the ends of the leads are sheared.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5 in which said centering means includes a centering member having a plurality of notches, each of the notches having an inverted V-shaped portion which terminates at its upper end in an upper channel shaped portion; and means operable to move the centering member relative to the template means to cause the free end portions to initially pass through the V-shaped portions and to be disposed within the upper channel shaped portions as the ends of the leads are sheared.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which the channel shaped portions of the centering member are in line with the ends of the grooves to insure that the free end portions of the leads will extend directly away from the template means durIng the shearing of the leads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6 in which the lead trimming means includes upper and lower shear blades mounted for movement towards each other, said centering member being held in fixed relationship relative to the upper shear blade.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which the ends of the leads are substantially simultaneously sheared.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in which said centering member is disposed between said one end of the template means and said upper shear blade.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for shearing the ends of a plurality of leads and for applying terminals to the ends of the plurality of leads after they have been sheared, comprising in combination: template means having a plurality of grooves terminating adjacent one end of the template means; means operable to position a plurality of leads in said grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond said one end of the template means; centering means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to engage the free end portions extending beyond said one end of the template means and to position the free end portions in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in the grooves; lead trimming means disposed adjacent said centering means and operable to shear the ends of the free end portions after said free end portions have been disposed in said predetermined positions by said centering means; and terminal applying means operable to apply terminals to the terminal portion of the leads which extend away from the template means after the ends of the free end portions have been sheared.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for shearing the ends of a plurality of leads and for applying terminals to the ends of the plurality of leads after they have been sheared, comprising in combination: template means having a plurality of grooves terminating adjacent one end of the template means; means operable to position a plurality of leads in said grooves with free end portions of said leads extending beyond said one end of the template means; centering means disposed adjacent said one end of the template means and operable to engage the free end portions extending beyond said one end of the template means and to position the free end portions in predetermined positions after they have been positioned in the grooves; lead trimming means disposed adjacent said centering means and operable to shear the ends of the free end portions after said free end portions have been disposed in said predetermined positions by said centering means; and terminal applying means operable to apply terminals to the terminal portion of the leads which extend away from the template means after the ends of the free end portions have been sheared.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |