Patent ID: 8671538
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring a crimping process, comprising: generating an ideal crimping force progression level; setting a tolerance band of actual force progression level surrounding the ideal force progression level; providing the tolerance band with an upper border of actual force progression level above the ideal force progression level; setting a first zone of actual crimping force progression level above the ideal force progression; setting a first lower bound of actual force progression level as a lower bound for the first zone; setting the level of the first lower bound of actual force progression level higher than the ideal force progression; setting a first upper bound of actual force progression as an upper bound for the first zone; setting the level of the first upper bound of actual force progression level higher than the first lower bound; defining a fixed upper limit of actual crimping force progression level above the upper border; providing the tolerance band with a lower border of actual force progression level below the ideal force progression level; setting a second zone of actual crimping force progression level below the ideal force progression; setting a second upper bound of actual force progression level as an upper bound for the second zone; setting the level of the second upper bound of actual force progression level lower than the ideal force progression; setting a second lower bound of actual force progression as a lower bound for the second zone; setting the level of the second lower bound of actual force progression level lower than the second upper bound; defining a fixed lower limit of actual crimping force progression level below the lower border; measuring the actual force progression of a crimping operation; making a determination of whether the measured actual force progression lies within the first zone or the second zone; dynamically shifting the tolerance band defined by the upper tolerance border and lower tolerance border based on the determination; and, limiting the dynamic shifting of the tolerance band to within the fixed upper limit and the fixed lower limit.