US4030174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation for preparing cable lengths for plug extrusion
Assignee: KM Kabelmetal AG
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Filing: 1976-10-13
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Cable lengths are prepared for extruding a plug at the end in that the lengths are stepwise moved through stations, in which each cable length is turned and oriented as to its leads; the lead ends are stripped, tinplated and shaped in sequential stations followed by connecting preassembled contact prongs to the lead ends. The plug body is then extruded around the prong-lead connections. The lead orientation is electro-optically servo-controlled and the prong to lead connection is made by a funnel for threading the leads into the hollow prongs followed by squeezing the prongs to fasten the leads thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Buttner
- 👤 Jurgen Boll
- 👤 Kurt Wolfel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49828; Y10T29/49829; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5138; Y10T29/5139; Y10T29/514; Y10T29/5187; Y10T29/5193; Y10T29/5196
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus for providing a plug element by means of extrusion to the end of a length of electrical cable having a plurality of leads and wherein each such length has to be prepared prior to extruding said element, and wherein a portion of each length, at least at one end, has its jacket removed to expose the insulated leads for a certain length, comprising: means for positioning the lengths of cable in particular, spaced apart positions and moving the lengths in steps through a plurality of stations, said stations including: means (a) for turning the exposed leads at least at one end of a length, so that the leads assume a predetermined orientation for and during the continuation of moving the length to the next and other stations; means (b) for stripping the insulation of a portion of the leads as oriented to expose the wire; means (c) for strengthening the tips of the exposed wires; means (d) for shaping the lead ends with exposed and strengthened wire to assume an orientation and a disposition flush with the position of prongs in the completed product; and means (e) for connecting the prongs to said wires.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus for providing a plug element by means of extrusion to the end of a length of electrical cable having a plurality of leads and wherein each such length has to be prepared prior to extruding said element, and wherein a portion of each length, at least at one end, has its jacket removed to expose the insulated leads for a certain length, comprising: means for positioning the lengths of cable in particular, spaced apart positions and moving the lengths in steps through a plurality of stations, said stations including: means (a) for turning the exposed leads at least at one end of a length, so that the leads assume a predetermined orientation for and during the continuation of moving the length to the next and other stations; means (b) for stripping the insulation of a portion of the leads as oriented to expose the wire; means (c) for strengthening the tips of the exposed wires; means (d) for shaping the lead ends with exposed and strengthened wire to assume an orientation and a disposition flush with the position of prongs in the completed product; and means (e) for connecting the prongs to said wires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means (c) for strengthening dip said leads to coat the bared leads at least at their tips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
In an apparatus as in claim 1, including means for optically detecting the extent of misalignment of the leads and means for stopping the turning as provided by the means (a) upon detecting that the leads extend parallel to each other and in a particular plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
An installation for preparing cable lengths for receiving a plug as an extruded body, the lengths having been cut from long cable and the insulation jacket enveloping the plural leads in the cable having been removed from at least one end of a length, comprising: conveyor means for holding the lengths in spaced apart disposition and transversely to a direction of movement of the conveyor means; drive means for moving the conveyor means in predetermined steps: a plurality of processing stations disposed along the conveyor means and having disposition so that a length of the lengths is positioned at each station in-between moving steps as provided by the drive means; and the stations including a first station for turning the leads from which the jacket has been removed until they have a particular orientation; a second station for stripping insulation of the leads; a third station for strengthening tips of the leads; and at least one more station for connecting the tips to prongs as mounted in a bridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
An installation for preparing cable lengths for receiving a plug as an extruded body, the lengths having been cut from long cable and the insulation jacket enveloping the plural leads in the cable having been removed from at least one end of a length, comprising: conveyor means for holding the lengths in spaced apart disposition and transversely to a direction of movement of the conveyor means; drive means for moving the conveyor means in predetermined steps: a plurality of processing stations disposed along the conveyor means and having disposition so that a length of the lengths is positioned at each station in-between moving steps as provided by the drive means; and the stations including a first station for turning the leads from which the jacket has been removed until they have a particular orientation; a second station for stripping insulation of the leads; a third station for strengthening tips of the leads; and at least one more station for connecting the tips to prongs as mounted in a bridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An installation as in claim 4, wherein said last mentioned station includes means for preparing the orientation of the leads, so that the tips are flush with said prongs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An installation as in claim 4, wherein said last mentioned station is preceded by a station, following the third station, for preparing the orientation of the leads, so that the tips are flush with said prongs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An installation as in claim 4, wherein the first station includes optical means responsive to optical properties of the leads for determining the existing orientation of the leads and means for turning the cable until the leads have the said particular orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation as in claim 7, wherein the first station includes means for stepwise turning the cable lengths, the latter having been released temporarily by the holding means on the conveyor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An installation as in claim 7, wherein the optical detector means includes means for distinguishing color of the leads to ascertain the desired orientation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An installation as in claim 4, wherein the last mentioned station includes a biparted funnel, and means for retracting the parts of the funnel from each other, the assembled funnel providing for threading of the leads into the prongs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An installation as in claim 10, wherein one funnel part is disposed on a retractable carriage, the other funnel part being up and down movable.
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) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |