Tool for assembling conductors to connector element

Claim 1

A tool for severing end portions of each of a plurality of insulated conductors and for securing the plurality of conductors to an elongated connector element having a plurality of conductor-receiving portions, said tool comprising: a nest for holding an elongated connector element having a generally rectangular cross section and having conductor-receiving recesses formed along side surfaces thereof; means disposed on at least one side of said nest for holding a plurality of conductors spaced along the connector element transversely across an upper surface of the element and aligned with conductor-receiving recesses of the connector element preparatory to the conductors being severed and secured to the connector element; cutting means upstanding from said next adjacent that side surface of the connector element which is to secure a free end portion of each of the conductors; forming means including a cavity adapted to receive a portion of the connector element which includes the conductor-receiving recesses and cooperating with said cutting means for causing a free end portion of each conductor to be severed so that a remaining free end portion of each has a predetermined length to be secured to the one side surface of the connector element and for causing an end portion of each of the conductors to be formed into a generally U-shaped configuration within an associated aligned one of the conductor-receiving recesses of the connector element; means connected movably to said nest for mounting said forming means for pivotal movement from an open position which permits the connector element to be loaded into said nest to a closed position above said nest and for reciprocal movement toward and away from said nest; means capable of being interposed between said nest and said mounting means for spacing said forming means at each of at least two predetermined distances from said nest; and means rendered effective subsequent to said spacing means being interposed between said nest and said mounting means for moving said forming means toward said nest to cause the conductor end portions to be formed partially about the connector element, cut and then formed completely into the U-shaped configuration about the connector element.