US4281442A — Apparatus for applying connectors to multiconduct…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising; a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a predetermined length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; connector holding means disposed on said frame for holding said connector parts spaced apart one part from the other, said connector holding means being operable to be moved between a first position for receiving said connector parts and a second position adjacent to said path so that said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; and means on said frame for engaging said connector parts in said second position of said connector holding means and moving said connector parts to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising; a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a predetermined length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; connector holding means disposed on said frame for holding said connector parts spaced apart one part from the other, said connector holding means being operable to be moved between a first position for receiving said connector parts and a second position adjacent to said path so that said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; and means on said frame for engaging said connector parts in said second position of said connector holding means and moving said connector parts to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: said apparatus includes cable cutting means interposed between said feed mechanism and said connector holding means for cutting said cable to predetermined lengths.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein: said apparatus includes a first clamping means interposed between said feed mechanism and said connector holding means for releasably clamping said cable, said first clamping means including an actuator for moving said clamping means to position said cable for applying a connector thereto.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein: said first clamping means is disposed between said feed mechanism and said cutting means and is operable to position the leading edge of said cable in position to apply a connector thereto.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein: said apparatus includes second clamping means for releasably clamping said cable, said second clamping means being disposed on said frame beyond said holding means in the direction of movement of said cable through said apparatus.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: said second clamping means includes an actuator for moving said second clamping means to position the trailing end of a length of cable in position to apply a connector thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: said second clamping means includes power actuated opposed clamping jaws arranged on said second clamping means for movement toward each other to a cable clamping condition and away from each other to a nonclamping condition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for engaging and moving said connector parts includes a pair of opposed rams operable to engage said connector parts disposed in said connector holding means for forcing said connector parts toward each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: said apparatus includes magazine means for holding a plurality of each of said connector parts and means for transferring said connector parts from said magazine means to said connector holding means prior to application of a connector to said cable.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 172 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising: a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a predetermined length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; magazine means disposed on said frame for holding a plurality of each of said connector parts; connector holding means disposed on said frame comprising a holding member for holding said connector parts spaced apart, one part from the other, said holding member being movable between a first position for receiving at least one of each of said connector parts from said magazine means and a second position wherein said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; means disposed on said frame for transferring said connector parts from said magazine means to said connector holding means prior to application of a connector to said cable; and means for engaging and moving said connector parts toward each other in said second position of said holding member to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 172 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising: a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a predetermined length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; magazine means disposed on said frame for holding a plurality of each of said connector parts; connector holding means disposed on said frame comprising a holding member for holding said connector parts spaced apart, one part from the other, said holding member being movable between a first position for receiving at least one of each of said connector parts from said magazine means and a second position wherein said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; means disposed on said frame for transferring said connector parts from said magazine means to said connector holding means prior to application of a connector to said cable; and means for engaging and moving said connector parts toward each other in said second position of said holding member to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 54 words

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein: said means for transferring said connector parts from said magazine means comprises a pair of opposed rams operable to engage, respectively, said connector parts comprising a body and a cover disposed in said magazine means and move said body and said cover onto said holding member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 70 words

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein: said holding member includes means forming a pair of slots aligned in such a way as to receive a body and a cover spaced apart one from the other, a third slot formed in said holding member between said pair of slots and substantially perpendicular thereto for receiving a portion of said cable when said holding member is in said second position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention set forth in claim 12 together with: holding jaws disposed in said pair of slots for releasably gripping said body and said cover, respectively, and means for yieldably biasing said holding jaws into engagement with said body and said cover.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein: said apparatus includes housing means for supporting said holding member for movement between said first position and said second position, and an actuator connected to said holding member for moving said holding member between said first and second positions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein: said holding member is connected to actuating means for rotating said holding member to change the relative positions of said connector parts after said connector parts are loaded into said holding member whereby a connector may be applied to said cable in an inverted position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 79 words

The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein: said actuating means for rotating said holding member comprises a sleeve slidably supporting said holding member for linear movement with respect to the sleeve, said sleeve being rotatably mounted on said housing for rotating said holding member, said sleeve including gear means, and a gear rack engaged with said gear means and connected to an actuator for rotating said sleeve and said holding member in response to operation of said actuator.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 48 words

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein: said magazine means comprises first and second magazines for holding, respectively, a plurality of connector parts, said first and second magazines being disposed on said apparatus adjacent to said holding member when said holding member is in said first position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein: said first and second magazines each comprise elongated connector part holding trays removably mounted on said apparatus and said holding member is disposed between said trays and adjacent to one end of said first magazine and one end of said second magazine.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 45 words

The invention set forth in claim 18 together with: a third magazine disposed on said apparatus spaced from and aligned with one of said first and second magazines for holding a plurality of connector parts facing opposite to those parts disposed in said one magazine.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 54 words

The invention set forth in claim 19 together with: a gate disposed on said apparatus to alternately block said third magazine and said one magazine from feeding connector parts to said holding member, and an actuator connected to said gate for selectively moving said gate to block said third magazine or said one magazine.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein: said connector parts are disposed in said magazines side by side and said apparatus includes means engaged with said connector parts for biasing said parts toward said holding member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 59 words

The invention set forth in claim 21 wherein: said means for biasing said parts includes a pusher plate engaged with at least one of said parts disposed in respective ones of said magazines and means connected to said pusher plate for imposing a substantially constant feed force on said connector parts for urging said parts toward said holding member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

The invention set forth in claim 22 wherein: said means connected to said pusher plate includes a hanging weight and means including flexible cable means interconnecting said weight and said pusher plate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 54 words

The invention set forth in claim 23 wherein: said apparatus includes elongated guide means disposed on said apparatus adjacent to said magazines and substantially parallel to the feed path of said connector parts disposed in said magazines and a member mounted on said guide means and connected to said cable and said pusher plate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 83 words

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein: said holding means includes a holding member forming a pair of slots aligned in such a way as to receive, respectively, at least one each of said connector parts comprising a body and a cover spaced apart one from the other, a third slot formed in said holding member between said pair of slots and substantially perpendicular thereto for receiving a portion of said cable when said holding member is moved to said second position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising: a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; connector holding means including a holding member disposed on said frame for receiving and holding said connector parts spaced apart one part from the other, said holding means being operable to be disposed in relation to said cable so that said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; actuating means connected to said holding means for rotating said holding member to change the relative positions of respective ones of said connector parts after said connector parts have been received by said holding member; and means for engaging and moving said connector parts to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus for applying a two-part electrical connector to flat multiconductor cable comprising: a frame; a cable feed mechanism disposed on said frame and operable to feed a length of cable along a predetermined path on said frame; connector holding means including a holding member disposed on said frame for receiving and holding said connector parts spaced apart one part from the other, said holding means being operable to be disposed in relation to said cable so that said connector parts are disposed on opposite sides of said cable; actuating means connected to said holding means for rotating said holding member to change the relative positions of respective ones of said connector parts after said connector parts have been received by said holding member; and means for engaging and moving said connector parts to apply said connector to said cable.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 66 words

The invention set forth in claim 26 wherein: said holding member includes means forming a pair of slots aligned in such a way as to receive said connector parts comprising a body and a cover spaced apart one from the other, and a third slot formed in said holding member between said pair of slots and substantially perpendicular thereto for receiving a portion of said cable.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention set forth in claim 27 together with: holding jaws disposed in said pair of slots for releasably gripping said body and said cover, respectively, and means for yieldably biasing said holding jaws into engagement with said body and said cover.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-08-03	1985-02-02	1985-08-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-08-03	1989-02-02	1989-08-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-08-03	1993-02-02	1993-08-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for applying connectors to multiconductor flat cable

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