Sensor for cut-clinch head assembly

Claim 1

A head assembly for cutting and clinching the lead wires of an electrical component which extend down through openings in a printed circuit board, comprising: a. a fixed knife mounted on the head assembly and adapted to be positioned below a printed circuit board to receive the lead wire extending through an opening in the board; b. a movable knife slidably mounted on said head assembly and adapted to be moved into cutting relationship with said fixed knife; c. drive means for moving said movable knife, including a piston having a central passageway with an opening toward said movable knife; d. a movable knife carrier slidably disposed in said passageway opening and having an opening disposed toward said movable knife; e. a guide bushing positioned in said passageway and having a recess and an opening; f. a compression spring positioned in said bushing recess and between said carrier and said guide bushing to bias said carrier away from said guide bushings; g. electrical contact means positioned in said guide bushing opening and said carrier opening; h. said carrier being movable by the movable knife when engaging the lead wire to compress said spring and engage said contact means to sense the presence of a lead wire; i. said electrical contact means includes a ball plunger threaded into said carrier opening to close said carrier opening and encase said electrical contact means in said piston passageway, said ball plunger being accessible from the exterior of said head assembly and adjustable to vary the opening of said contact means.