Electrical continuity tester for the connection of a terminal and an insulated lead

Claim 1

Apparatus for electrically connecting insulated leads to electrical terminals of an electrical connector, the apparatus comprising; a press frame; an electrical connector support on the frame; a press ram slidably mounted in the press frame for vertical reciprocating motion through a working stroke towards the connector support to connect electrical leads to the terminals of an electrical connector on the connector support and through a return stroke away from the connector support; a plunger mounted on the frame for horizontal movement towards and away from the connector support; a plurality of electrical test probes mounted in horizontal spaced relationship in a test probe carrier on the plunger; means for driving the plunger through a working stroke towards the connector support to apply each test probe to a terminal of the connector and for driving the plunger through a return stroke away from the connector support; electrical continuity test means including an oscillatory circuit, a bridge circuit, signal comparison means responsive to unbalanced inputs from the bridge circuit, and continuity indicating means, the oscillatory circuit having an outlet connected to inlets of the bridge circuit, outlets of the bridge circuit being connected to respective inlets of the signal comparison means an outlet of which is connected to the continuity indicating means; and means for connecting the bridge circuit to each probe, whereby the bridge circuit receives substantially identical signals from the oscillatory circuit, and is also energized thereby through capacitance present between the leads and the frame when there is electrical continuity between a lead and a terminal and a test probe has been applied thereto, so that the bridge circuit applies unbalanced inputs to the signal comparison means, to cause it to activate the continuity indicating means.