US5208977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the connection of conductor wire or optical fiber section ends to connectors
Assignee: Komax Holding AG
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Filing: 1991-10-17
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Granted: 1993-05-11
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Expires: 2011-10-17
Abstract
Abstract The object of this invention is processes and devices for the automatic connection of conductor wire or optical fiber section ends to adapted component receptacles using clamps of various types and having specific uses. A device according to the invention comprises a conveyor (1) which feeds clamps to various end processing units. Loading unit (5) positions wire sections in a first type of clamp (2). Units (4), (20) modify the ends for purposes of their connection. Unit (21) interchanges the ends in clamps to arrange them in a preferential order for the connection which is subsequently performed by one or more units (32). The invention uses clamps adapted to a variety of operations, to hold a group of wires (72) or to hold components (34). An application is the automatic production of conductor wire bundles.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Ricard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/422; G02B6/4226; H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49181; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5187; Y10T29/5193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A process for the automatic connection of ends of sections of conductor wire or optical fiber, to connectors, said process including the steps of: providing a conveyor having clamps which grasp and hold said ends; intermittently transferring said clamps with said ends along a given transfer path; selectively feeding some of said clamps with said ends to end processing units arranged laterally along said transfer path; selectively modifying said ends on said some of said clamps using said end processing units; feeding said clamps with said ends to an interchange unit which is placed laterally along said transfer path; modifying the order of some of said ends on said conveyor through the use of said interchange unit; feeding said clamps with said ends to at least one connection unit placed laterally along said transfer path downstream from said interchange unit; said connection unit comprising means for taking each of said ends and connecting it to each of said connectors; said connection unit selectively connecting said each of said ends to said each of said connectors in a predetermined manner; said ends being connected in an order which may be different from the order in which said ends are fed to said connection unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A process for the automatic connection of ends of sections of conductor wire or optical fiber, to connectors, said process including the steps of: providing a conveyor having clamps which grasp and hold said ends; intermittently transferring said clamps with said ends along a given transfer path; selectively feeding some of said clamps with said ends to end processing units arranged laterally along said transfer path; selectively modifying said ends on said some of said clamps using said end processing units; feeding said clamps with said ends to an interchange unit which is placed laterally along said transfer path; modifying the order of some of said ends on said conveyor through the use of said interchange unit; feeding said clamps with said ends to at least one connection unit placed laterally along said transfer path downstream from said interchange unit; said connection unit comprising means for taking each of said ends and connecting it to each of said connectors; said connection unit selectively connecting said each of said ends to said each of said connectors in a predetermined manner; said ends being connected in an order which may be different from the order in which said ends are fed to said connection unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process according to claim 1, further including steps of, feeding empty clamps to said interchange unit; said interchange unit moving said ends from said clamps with said ends to said empty clamps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein, said clamps are of different types.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein, some of said clamps grasp and hold several wires in a given order and in a limited space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein, said clamps can be separated from said conveyor and can be engaged mechanically thereon or withdrawn mechanically therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process according to claim 4, wherein, said clamps which grasp and hold several wires in a given order and in a limited space are introduced on the conveyor at a level of said interchange unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein clamps which grasp and hold several wires in a given order and a limited space are unloaded from said conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein said interchange unit transfer some of said ends to clamps which grasp and hold several wires in a given order and in a limited space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, further comprising, a control device which controls the operation of said interchange unit to rearrange said ends in a preferential order for said connection unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process according to the claim 1, wherein the connection unit is used to take some of said ends on said conveyor, and said ends are arranged in a predetermined manner in said each of said connectors, and are taken in the same order as said ends are fed to said connection unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said connection unit and said conveyor are associated with means to withdraw at least one of said clamps from said conveyor and feed it to the connection unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 11, wherein said clamp is recycled without placing it back on said conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein interconnection of several said connectors with conductor wire or optical fiber sections, includes use of several connection units arranged laterally along said transfer path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
The process according to claim 13, further comprising an overall control device which controls the operation of said several connection units so that said conveyor feeds an end to one of said several connection units in response to a first signal emitted by said overall control device and said one of said several connection units takes said end and connects it to one of said several said connectors in response to a second signal emitted by said overall control device, so that ends which do not correspond to said said one of said several said connection units skip said one of said several connection units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |