Hand tool for terminating wires in a connector

Claim 1

A hand tool for terminating wires successively in respective electrical contacts arranged at intervals (13) in a row along an electrical connector (7), and comprising a wire inserting ram (3) mounted on and reciprocable relative to a frame (4) which defines a guideway (5) for a connector support (6) extending transversely of the path of the ram, (3) is characterized in that a wire gripping device (19) is mounted at an upper side of the forward end of the ram (3); the gripping device (19) comprising a pair of jaws (21) projecting forwardly of the ram (3) and being pivotally supported on the ram, the jaws (21) being resiliently biased towards a closed condition by a compression spring located between the jaws and being arranged to engage camming means (25) on the frame (4) on withdrawal of the ram (3) to a rearward position, the camming means (25) comprising a convergent recess formed in the frame and being arranged to open the jaws (21) against the bias, and to disengage on forward movement of the ram (3) to permit closure of the jaws (21) by the resilient bias, a wire aperture (17) being formed in the frame (4) below the leading end of the ram (3) when in its withdrawn position and in general alignment with the jaws (21) when in the open condition, a shear member (18) being disposed at a forward side of the aperture (17) arranged to coact with a lower portion (29) of the ram (3) forward end to shear the wire (22) as the ram (3) moves forward past the aperture (17) and shear member (18).