Patent ID: 6230395
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
A crimping machine adapted to receive a loose bulk quantity of elongated components, with each of the components having a first end and a reduced diameter second end, and upon demand, adapted to position each of the components one-at-a time and having the second end oriented upwardly as a desired orientation thereof, and adapted to receive a conductor within the second end of one of the components, and further adapted to crimp the second end of said one of the components securely to the conductor, comprising:a hopper assembly having a bowl adapted to receive the loose bulk quantity of components, and having means adapted to supply the components aligned end-to-end and in a random orientation into a substantially vertical supply chute therein;a feeder device having an inlet chute adapted to receive the components from the supply chute of said hopper assembly, and having means adapted to release each of the components having the desired orientation into an outlet chute therein, and having means for inverting end-to-end each of the components not having the desired orientation into having the desired orientation and then release each of the inverted components into the outlet chute;a crimping assembly having crimping means therein and adapted to receive one of the components from the outlet chute of said feeder assembly.