US4064624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separable funnel guide and crimping die assembly
Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corp
•
Filing: 1976-06-16
•
Granted: 1977-12-27
•
Expires: 1996-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An automatic terminal applicator in which stripped wire ends are automatically guided and inserted into the insulation and wire barrel portions of terminals attached to a moving belt is disclosed. The belt is indexed through the crimping station between the upper and lower insulation and wire crimping dies of the press. A split funnel guide includes a spring-loaded portion and a complementary stationary portion respectively fastened with the upper and lower crimping dies. When the dies are closed, an aperture is formed at the apex of the funnel immediately adjacent the insulation portion of the leading terminal and whose cross-sectional area is no greater than the corresponding area of the insulation portion of the terminal. The wire is positioned transversely of the terminal and coaxial therewith. Thereafter, the wire is inserted into the funnel and guided thereby into the barrel of the terminal. Upon completion of the crimping operation, the dies, and therefore the split funnel, are separated thereby permitting the completed lead to be indexed or ejected away from the crimping station.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Joseph Spangler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/04; H01R43/048; H01R43/055; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213; Y10T29/53235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
An automatic terminal applicator machine wherein terminals on a continuous belt and extending laterally thereof are crimped onto the stripped ends of insulated wires which are inserted into the insulation and wire barrels of the terminals, said applicator comprising: a pair of cooperable dies, said dies being movable relatively towards and away from each other to crimp a terminal located therebetween onto the stripped end of an insulated wire and each die including insulation and wire crimping portions; belt feeding means adjacent one side of said dies, said feeding means being effective to index said belt along a path extending past said dies on said one side thereby to locate the leading terminal on said belt between said dies; means cooperating with said feeding means for positioning a wire transversely of said belt and substantially coaxial with said leading terminal; means for inserting said wire into said leading terminal; means for guiding said wire into said terminal comprising a separable wire guide having first and second complementary sections respectively fastened to said crimping dies at the other side thereof and translatable therewith, wherein a funnel is formed when said dies are closed, said funnel being closed in its radial direction and having an aperture at the apex thereof which is immediately adjacent and abutting against said leading terminal and whose cross-sectional area is no greater than the cross-sectional area of the adjacent insulation barrel of said terminal; and, means for ejecting said wire in the feeding direction of said belt after said dies have crimped said leading terminal on said wire and said funnel guide sections have moved away from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
An automatic terminal applicator machine wherein terminals on a continuous belt and extending laterally thereof are crimped onto the stripped ends of insulated wires which are inserted into the insulation and wire barrels of the terminals, said applicator comprising: a pair of cooperable dies, said dies being movable relatively towards and away from each other to crimp a terminal located therebetween onto the stripped end of an insulated wire and each die including insulation and wire crimping portions; belt feeding means adjacent one side of said dies, said feeding means being effective to index said belt along a path extending past said dies on said one side thereby to locate the leading terminal on said belt between said dies; means cooperating with said feeding means for positioning a wire transversely of said belt and substantially coaxial with said leading terminal; means for inserting said wire into said leading terminal; means for guiding said wire into said terminal comprising a separable wire guide having first and second complementary sections respectively fastened to said crimping dies at the other side thereof and translatable therewith, wherein a funnel is formed when said dies are closed, said funnel being closed in its radial direction and having an aperture at the apex thereof which is immediately adjacent and abutting against said leading terminal and whose cross-sectional area is no greater than the cross-sectional area of the adjacent insulation barrel of said terminal; and, means for ejecting said wire in the feeding direction of said belt after said dies have crimped said leading terminal on said wire and said funnel guide sections have moved away from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
208 words
A separable funnel guide and crimping die assembly for use with an automatic terminal applicator wherein funnel entry terminals on a continuous belt are crimped onto the stripped end of an insulated wire and wherein the wire is automatically inserted into the ferrule and conductor barrel of the terminal, said assembly comprising, in combination: a stationary die holder and a movable die holder; said stationary die holder having a stationary conductor crimping die, a stationary insulation die and a first funnel guide segment mounted thereon wherein said insulation die is intermediate said stationary insulation die and said funnel guide segment; said movable die holder having a movable conductor die and a movable insulation die mounted thereon and respectively cooperating with said stationary conductor and insulation dies, said movable holder further including a second funnel guide segment complementary to said first segment wherein said segments form a substantially closed funnel tapering towards said insulation dies when said segments are moved into engagement; and, said funnel terminating in an aperture at the apex thereof abutting against said ferrule and wherein the cross-sectional area of said aperture is greater than the area of the opening of the conductor barrel of said terminal but no greater than the opening of said ferrule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
208 words
A separable funnel guide and crimping die assembly for use with an automatic terminal applicator wherein funnel entry terminals on a continuous belt are crimped onto the stripped end of an insulated wire and wherein the wire is automatically inserted into the ferrule and conductor barrel of the terminal, said assembly comprising, in combination: a stationary die holder and a movable die holder; said stationary die holder having a stationary conductor crimping die, a stationary insulation die and a first funnel guide segment mounted thereon wherein said insulation die is intermediate said stationary insulation die and said funnel guide segment; said movable die holder having a movable conductor die and a movable insulation die mounted thereon and respectively cooperating with said stationary conductor and insulation dies, said movable holder further including a second funnel guide segment complementary to said first segment wherein said segments form a substantially closed funnel tapering towards said insulation dies when said segments are moved into engagement; and, said funnel terminating in an aperture at the apex thereof abutting against said ferrule and wherein the cross-sectional area of said aperture is greater than the area of the opening of the conductor barrel of said terminal but no greater than the opening of said ferrule.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for automatically crimping terminal devices onto wire, said terminal devices being secured to a belt in side-by-side relationship with their axes extending laterally of the belt, said method comprising the steps of: moving a pair of cooperating crimping dies relatively towards and away from each other to crimp a terminal device located therebetween onto one end of a wire; guiding said belt along a path extending past said dies and on one side thereof; indexing said belt toward said dies and between successive crimping operations thereby to locate the next leading terminal on said belt between said dies; positioning a wire transversely of said belt and substantially coaxial with said leading terminal; closing a split funnel guide to form a closed funnel guide between said wire and said leading terminal having its smaller opening immediately adjacent and abutting against said leading terminal; inserting said wire through said funnel and into said leading terminal; closing said dies to crimp said leading terminal; separating said split funnel guide while said dies are moving away from each other; and, ejecting the crimped terminal and attached wire from between said dies.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for automatically crimping terminal devices onto wire, said terminal devices being secured to a belt in side-by-side relationship with their axes extending laterally of the belt, said method comprising the steps of: moving a pair of cooperating crimping dies relatively towards and away from each other to crimp a terminal device located therebetween onto one end of a wire; guiding said belt along a path extending past said dies and on one side thereof; indexing said belt toward said dies and between successive crimping operations thereby to locate the next leading terminal on said belt between said dies; positioning a wire transversely of said belt and substantially coaxial with said leading terminal; closing a split funnel guide to form a closed funnel guide between said wire and said leading terminal having its smaller opening immediately adjacent and abutting against said leading terminal; inserting said wire through said funnel and into said leading terminal; closing said dies to crimp said leading terminal; separating said split funnel guide while said dies are moving away from each other; and, ejecting the crimped terminal and attached wire from between said dies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of crimping said leading terminal includes the step of crimping a funnel ferrule about an insulation portion of said wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of closing said split funnel includes the step of yieldably urging the split sections of said funnel guide toward each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for guiding said wire includes means for closing said first and second sections prior to the insertion of sad wire into said leading terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first section is yieldably urged toward said second section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said cooperable dies includes an insulation crimping die and a wire barrel crimping die.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said barrels of said terminals are generally cylindrical closed barrels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2545756A
Cited
US3264860A
Cited
US3553814A
Cited
US3693230A
Cited
US3710483A
Cited
US3858292A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |