Patent US3454397A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent FR714259A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3767271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4850221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire sensing apparatus
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1988-09-12
•
Granted: 1989-07-25
•
Expires: 2008-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided for accurately sensing the presence of an end of a wire in a position for stripping insulation therefrom or crimping a terminal thereto. The apparatus comprises a housing having an aperture extending therethrough for delivering a flow of low pressure air. A target is pivotally mounted to the housing and can undergo a small range of pivotal movement. The flow of air through the housing will urge the target to one extreme position in its range of pivotal movement. However, the end of a wire urged into contact with the target will cause the sensor target to pivot through its range of movement into a position for blocking the flow of air through the housing. Back pressure created by the blockage of air through the housing will be sensed by appropriate apparatus to initiate portions of the apparatus for stripping insulation from the wire or crimping a terminal thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Zielke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/28; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/22; H01H3/24; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/12; H02G1/1202; H02G1/1248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for sensing the presence of an end of a wire, said apparatus comprising: a housing having aperture means extending therethrough for permitting a flow of air through said housing; means for delivering a flow of air to said aperture means in said housing; a sensor target pivotally mounted adjacent said housing for selective pivotal movement toward and away from the aperture in said housing, said sensor target being disposed in the path of the wire to be sensed; stop means for positively controlling the range of pivotal movement of said sensor target away from said housing, whereby said flow of air is operative to pivot said sensor target toward said stop means, and whereby movement of the wire into contact with the sensor target is operative to urge said sensor target toward said aperture means in said housing for obstructing the flow of air therethrough.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for sensing the presence of an end of a wire, said apparatus comprising: a housing having aperture means extending therethrough for permitting a flow of air through said housing; means for delivering a flow of air to said aperture means in said housing; a sensor target pivotally mounted adjacent said housing for selective pivotal movement toward and away from the aperture in said housing, said sensor target being disposed in the path of the wire to be sensed; stop means for positively controlling the range of pivotal movement of said sensor target away from said housing, whereby said flow of air is operative to pivot said sensor target toward said stop means, and whereby movement of the wire into contact with the sensor target is operative to urge said sensor target toward said aperture means in said housing for obstructing the flow of air therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a surface aligned substantially vertically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said surface is substantially planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said sensor target comprises at least one arcuate edge about which said target is pivotable relative to said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sensor target comprises air flow control means for enabling said air flow to pivot said sensor target toward said stop means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a rear face disposed in generally opposed relationship to said aperture means in said housing, said rear face comprising said air flow control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said air flow control means comprises an unsmooth portion on said rear face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said air flow control means comprises a nonplanar portion on said rear face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said air flow control means comprises a recess in said rear face generally aligned with the flow of air through said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a rear wall having a generally planar front face against which said target is engageable, said rear wall comprising said aperture means extending therethrough for directing the flow of air through said rear wall and toward said sensor target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said housing comprises a bottom wall extending from said rear wall and a front wall extending from said bottom wall and disposed in a generally spaced relationship to said rear wall, said rear wall, said bottom wall and said front wall defining a mounting groove therebetween for pivotally retaining the sensor target therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said front wall defines the stop means for said apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a rear wall having opposed top and bottom ends, said sensor target being hingedly connected to said rear wall adjacent the bottom end thereof, said housing further comprising a top wall extending from the top end of said rear wall and a front wall extending from said top wall and spaced from said rear wall, said front wall defining said stop means of said apparatus for controlling the pivotal movement of said sensor target away from said rear wall.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for sensing the presence of an end of a wire in a predetermined location, said apparatus comprising: means for longitudinally guiding said wire toward said predetermined location; a sensor target assembly disposed generally at said predetermined location, said sensor target assembly comprising a housing having aperture means extending therethrough for permitting a flow of air through said housing, a sensor target pivotally mounted to said housing for pivoting movement toward and away from said aperture means, and stop means for controlling the amount of pivotal movement of said sensor target away from said aperture means; air delivery means for providing a controlled flow of air toward the aperture means of said housing; pressure sensing means in communication with said air delivery means for sensing a back pressure created by the pivoting movement of said sensor target toward said aperture means in said housing, said sensing means being operative to generate a signal in response to a sensed change in pressure caused by movement of said sensor target against the aperture means in said housing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for sensing the presence of an end of a wire in a predetermined location, said apparatus comprising: means for longitudinally guiding said wire toward said predetermined location; a sensor target assembly disposed generally at said predetermined location, said sensor target assembly comprising a housing having aperture means extending therethrough for permitting a flow of air through said housing, a sensor target pivotally mounted to said housing for pivoting movement toward and away from said aperture means, and stop means for controlling the amount of pivotal movement of said sensor target away from said aperture means; air delivery means for providing a controlled flow of air toward the aperture means of said housing; pressure sensing means in communication with said air delivery means for sensing a back pressure created by the pivoting movement of said sensor target toward said aperture means in said housing, said sensing means being operative to generate a signal in response to a sensed change in pressure caused by movement of said sensor target against the aperture means in said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the housing of said sensor target assembly comprises a generally vertically aligned wall through which said aperture means extends, said vertically aligned wall defining one extreme of pivotal motion of said sensor target relative to said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said housing comprises a top and a bottom, said sensor target being pivotal to said housing generally adjacent the bottom thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said housing further comprises a mounting groove formed in a portion thereof generally adjacent the bottom of said housing, said sensor target being pivotally mounted in said mounting groove of said housing for pivotal movement toward and away from the aperture means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the stop means for controlling the range of pivoting movement of said sensor target away from the aperture means in said housing is defined by a wall defining a portion of the groove in the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said sensor target is hingedly mounted to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said sensor target comprises a rear face for substantially engaging and surrounding said aperture means in said housing, said rear face of said sensor target comprising air flow control means for enabling said air flow from said housing to pivot said sensor target toward said stop means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said air flow control means comprises an unsmooth portion on said rear face.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said air flow control means comprises a nonplanar portion on said rear face.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said air flow control means comprises a recess in said rear face generally aligned with the flow of air through said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3407505A
Cited
US4601093A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |