Apparatus for inserting wires into terminals in modular type connector

Claim 2

An assembling apparatus for modular electrical connectors comprising: a frame structure comprising a base section and a head section which is spaced from, and extends parallel to, said base section, connector supporting means on said base section for supporting an elongated electrical connector thereon, force applying means for applying a force to a connector supported on said supporting means, said force applying means comprising a sector-shaped member having an arcuate surface, said sector shaped member being pivotally mounted in said head section by pivotal mounting means, said pivotal mounting means having an axis which extends normally of said sector shaped member, said arcuate surface having an arc-and-tangent-line relationship to a connector on said supporting surface, an elongated guide slot means in said head section extending parallel to a connector supported on said supporting means, said pivotal mounting means being movably mounted in said guide slot means, and actuating means for moving said pivotal mounting means along a rectilinear path defined by said slot means and simultaneously rotating said sector shaped member with respect to said pivotal axis whereby, upon placing a connector on said supporting means, moving said pivotal mounting means along a path defined by said slot means and simultaneously rotating said sector shaped member, said arcuate surface moves progressively over said connector and imposes a force against said connector.

Claim 3

An assembling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said actuating means comprising a handle extending from said sector-shaped member.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said head section being movable away from said base section, and disengageable latch means for securing said base section and said head section rigidly to each other.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said arcuate surface having a slot extending therealong, said slot being dimensioned to provide clearance for plate-like terminals extending from a surface of a connecting device supported on said connector supporting means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said base section having wire positioning means extending along opposite sides of said connector supporting means for supporting wires in side-by-side relationship and in alignment with said plate-like terminals, said apparatus being effective to insert said wires into wire-receiving portions of said terminals during movement of said arcuate surface over said connector.

Claim 7

Apparatus for inserting wires into the wire-receiving portions of electrical contact terminals, said wire-receiving portions extending from a planar surface of a connecting device, said wire-receiving portions being arranged in side-by-side relationship in a row which extends between two opposite end portions of said surface, said apparatus comprising: frame means, connecting device supporting means on said frame means for supporting said connecting device in a predetermined orientation, a wire inserter comprising a sector shaped member having an arcuate surface, said arcuate surface having a slot extending therealong, said slot being dimensioned to provide clearance for said wire-receiving portions of said terminals, wire inserter supporting means and wire inserter guide means on said frame means, said inserter supporting and guide means being cooperatively effective to support said inserter in spaced relationship to said planar surface of a connecting device supported on said connecting device supporting means with said planar surface extending generally tangentially with respect to said arcuate surface, and being effective to guide said inserter along a path which extends parallel to said planar surface and permit simultaneous rotary movement of said inserter with respect to the center of said sector thereby to cause rolling movement of said arcuate surface over said planar surface between said ends thereof whereby, upon locating said wires with their axes extending transversely across, and spaced from, said planar surface and with said axes in alignment with said wire receiving portions of said terminals, and upon thereafter moving said inserter along said path and simultaneously rotating said sector, said arcuate surface moves over said planar surface and portions of said arcuate surface on each side of said slot engage said wires and move said wires into said wire-receiving portions of said terminals.

Claim 8

Apparatus for inserting wires into the wire-receiving portions of electrical contact terminals, said wire-receiving portions extending from a planar surface of a connecting device, said wire-receiving portions being arranged in side-by-side relationship in a row which extends between two opposite end portions of said surface, said apparatus comprising: frame means, connecting device supporting means on said frame means for supporting said connecting device in a predetermined orientation, a wire inserter comprising a sector shaped member having an arcuate surface, said arcuate surface having a slot extending therealong, said slot being dimensioned to provide clearance for said wire-receiving portions of said terminals, wire inserter supporting means and wire inserter guide means on said frame means, said inserter supporting and guide means being cooperatively effective to support said inserter in spaced relationship to said planar surface of a connecting device supported on said connecting device supporting means with said planar surface extending generally tangentially with respect to said arcuate surface, and being effective to guide said inserter along a path which extends parallel to said planar surface and permit simultaneous rotary movement of said inserter with respect to the center of said sector thereby to cause rolling movement of said arcuate surface over said planar surface between said ends thereof whereby, upon locating said wires with their axes extending transversely across, and spaced from, said planar surface and with said axes in alignment with said wire receiving portions of said terminals, and upon thereafter moving said inserter along said path and simultaneously rotating said sector, said arcuate surface moves over said planar surface and portions of said arcuate surface on each side of said slot engage said wires and move said wires into said wire-receiving portions of said terminals.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said wire inserter supporting means comprising pivot pin means supported on said frame means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said wire inserter guide means comprising a slot in said frame means extending parallel to said planar surface, said pivot pin means being disposed in said slot.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 comprising wire trimming means for trimming end portions of said wires during insertion of said wires into said wire-receiving portions of said terminals, said trimming means comprising a fixed shearing edge extending beside said planar surface and one edge of said wire inserter, said one edge comprising one side edge of said cylindrical surface.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said sector having radially projecting tooth means thereon beside said arcuate surface, said teeth means being engageable with said connector and serving to ensure rotary movement of said sector during linear movement of said sector along said path.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said sector having radially projecting tooth means thereon beside said arcuate surface, said frame means having rack means extending beside said connecting device supporting means and parallel to said path, said tooth means being engageable with said rack means and being effective to limit the movement of said wire inserter along said path.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having selective positioning means for positioning said connecting device supporting means at different selected distances from said arcuate surface.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having wire positioning means for positioning wires with their axes extending transversely of a connector on said connector device supporting means and in alignment with said wire receiving portions of said terminals.