MEASUREMENT APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY APPARATUS

Abstract: Measurement apparatus for use in connection with a con­ nector assembly apparatus (9), for accurately positioning a connector on a cable (12) relative to a previously mounted con­ nector (14), the apparatus comprising a slotted plate (2) mounted perpendicularly with respect to a base member (3) and being adapted for displacement relative to a connector as­ sembly station (14), the slot (8) being sized to receive the cable (12) but having a depth less than that of the mounted connec­ tor (14) so that the cable (12) can pass freely through the slot until the mounted connector (14) is positioned to abut the slot­ ted plate (2). A cable (12) having a connector (14) prepositioned at one end thereof is positioned within the slotted plate (2) and drawn therethrough so that the connector (14) is urged against the plate (2) to lock the cable (12) in the desired position.

Description: THIS INVENTION relates to measurement apparatus for use in connection with connector assembly apparatus. In particular the invention relates to such measurement apparatus for use in accurately positioning a connector on a cable relative to a previously mounted connector. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use with automatic or semi-automatic connector assembly apparatus for connecting two-part plug and socket connectors too multiple core strip cable. Existing manual or semi-automatic cable connecting equipment relies upon a cable having been previously accurately cut to a desired length in a separate operation prior to the installation of any connectors or contacts to that cable. Such an apparatus is shown in EP-A-0 066 391. This necessarily requires a two stage operation for fixing connectors to a cable and is time consuming and prone to inaccuracies. In particular if, as is frequently the case, connectors are to be positioned accurately along the length of the cable and at cut ends thereof, the accurate positioning of the precut cable length relative to the connector assembly apparatus is difficult to achieve reliably and repeatably. It is an object of the present invention to provide measurement apparatus for at least mitigating the problems associated with prior art apparatus. Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides measurement apparatus for use in connection with a connector assembly apparatus, for accurately positioning a connector on a cable relative to a previously mounted connector, the apparatus comprising a base member, a slotted plate mounted perpendicularly with respect to said base member and being adapted for displacement relative to a connector assembly station, the slot being sized to receive the cable but having a depth less than that of the mounted connector so that the cable can pass freely through the slot until the mounted connector is positioned to abut the slotted plate. Use of such measurement means enables a length of cable that is longer than the desired maximum cable length, for example the free end of a length of cable wound on to have a connector mounted on the outer end of that cable, using any suitable connector assembly apparatus, and for the cable then to be slid tranversely into the slotted plate and moved so that the previously mounted connector abuts the slotted plate, the spacing of the slotted plate from the connector assembly station being fixed to a predetermined spacing for subsequent connection of a further connector. Desirably the slotted plate is mounted to be movable with respect to the base member. Alternatively, the slotted plate may be fixed to the base member, the base member being adapted for displacement relative to the connector assembly station. Any suitable means may be used for achieving the desired adjustment of the positioning of the slotted plate, for example, the slotted plate may be mounted for sliding movement relative to the surface of the base member and to be lacked thereon in a selected position, or the base member may be mounted for cooperation with a lead screw so that rotation of the lead screw can produce a desired longitudinal movement of the base member relative to the connector assembly station. Preferably, locking means are provided to lack the previously positioned connector against the slotted plate. Conveniently, guidance means are provided to facilitate insertion of the cable into the slotted plate. In a particular preferred arrangement, a blade means is associated with the base member for cutting the cable subsequent to the positioning of a desired number of connectors to the cable. Conveniently, a calibrated scale is marked on the base member to give a visual indication of the spacing of the slotted plate from the connector assembly station. Preferably, the connector is a two-part multiple plug and socket connector and the cable is in the form of a multicore ribbon or strip cable. It will be appreciated that the invention may equally readily be employed in connection with the mounting of single socket connector to a single core cable. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, one embodiment of the measurement means of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of a measurement apparatus of the invention mounted in connection with a connector assembly apparatus; and FIGURE 2 illustrates the use of the measurement apparatus of Figure 1 in positioning a cable relative to the connector assembly apparatus. Referring to Figure 1, measurement apparatus generally indicated 1 comprises a slotted plate 2 mounted transversely on a base member 3. The slotted plate 2 is mounted substantially perpendicularly with respect to the base member 3 and is adapted for adjustable positioning along the length of the base member 3being movable in either direction as indicated by the arrows A. Any convenient means for mounting the slotted plate 2 for movement along the base member 3 may be employed, for example the plate may be provided with a key (not shown) projecting downwardly therefrom to run in a keyway provided in the surface of the base member 3. In such arrangement suitable means would be provided for locking the slotted plate in a selected position along the length of the base member 3. The slotted plate 2 comprises a pair of spaced apart parallel arms 5,6 connected at one end by cross member 7 to define an open ended slot 8 between the spaced apart arms. Conveniently the upper arm 6 is slightly shorter in length than the lower arm 5, and is shaped to provide a convenient lead into the slot 8. The shaping facilitates the transverse insertion of a cable into the slotted plate as will be explained further below. The base member 3 conveniently comprises a substantially rectangular plate that is adapted for cooperation with a connector assembly apparatus 9 and to extend transversly of the connector assembly station 4 of the apparatus 9. Although it is not shown in the drawings, the base member 3 may conveniently have a rectangular opening therein in the region of the connector assembly station 4 to allow uninterrupted functioning of the connector assembly apparatus, or may be formed as an integral part of that apparatus. The base member 3 is marked along at least one side with a graduated scale 10 to give a visual indication of the spacing of the slotted plate 2 from on indexing reference point 11 in the connector assembly station 4. The lower arm 5 of the slotted plate 2 is conveniently also provided with an index mark 11 a to facilitate accurate positioning thereof. The measuring apparatus is intended for use with connector assembly apparatus where the normal method of operation is capable of leaving one connector, or contact, installed at the free end of a reel or coil of cable prior to that cable (or wire) being cut to any desired length. The thus installed connector is then used to establish a datum for further measuring of the length of the cable for the positioning of further connectors and for the final cutting of the cable to the desired length. Such cable cutter may be an integral part of the connector assembly apparatus or may be provided separately for cooperation with the base member 3. Referring now to Figure 2, one method of operation of the measurement apparatus, in which the cable is moved manually with respect to the connector assembly apparatus, is illustrated. In Figure 2 a length of ribbon cable 12 extending from a cable drum or reel 13 is shown with a connector 14 mounted at the outer end 15 thereof. The connector assembly apparatus 9 achieves this by first positioning the cable at an arbitrary position within the connector assembly station cutting the cable and affixing a connector 14 to the now outer end of the cable 12. A short length of unwanted cable is necessarily generated by this operation and is discarded. The free end 15 of the reel of cable, with a connector 14 installed thereon, is then moved outwardly from the connector assembly station 4 so that the length of cable between the outer end 15 and the connector assembly station 4 exceeds the desired length for positioning the next connector in sequence. The slotted plate 2 is then adjusted to its desired position, the distance between the slotted plate 2 and the index mark 11 in the connector assembly station 4 is the desired length for positioning of the next assembly, or for cutting of the cable. The cable is then fed transversly into the slot 8 as indicated in Figure 2, the shaping of the upper arm 6 acting to guide the cable into position and to hold the cable within the slotted plate, with the connector 14 being positioned outwardly of the slotted plate 2, relative to the connector assembly station 4. The cable is then supported and pulled in the direction of the arrow B to move the connector 14 into a position of abutment against the slotted plate 2. The cooperation of the connector 14 and the slotted plate 2 act to lock the cable 12 in the desirably selected position for installation of a further connector. The cable 12 may be held locked in the desired position by the maintenance of tension in the direction of arrow B or, alternatively, means may be provided for lacking the connector 14 against the slotted plate 2 and for locking the cable 12 in position on the base member 3. The assembly apparatus 9 can be activated in cycle to position a number of connectors 14 in sequence to the cable 12 or the ribbon cable may be cut to the desired length with the desired number of connectors in position. The base member 3 may be fitted with more than one slotted plate, each slotted plate having a selected slot configuration, and, optional connector guide means, being located at selected positions along the base member 3, and at selected orientations relative thereto, for facilitating the use of the measurement apparatus for positioning connectors at a variety of pre-set cable lengths for differing connector types and with minimum need for resetting of the apparatus. It is envisaged that the slotted plate may be power driven for positioning relative to the base member 3 in order to increase the automatic capability of the apparatus, such power driving optionally being used to draw cable automatically from a fixed cable drum 13. In this case it may also be desirable to include a cable gripping means for loading cable into the connector assembly apparatus 9. The slotted plates may also be mounted on a motor driven endless belt having speed and index control means, in which case the distance between the plate and the connector assembly station would be determined by the length of the endless belt to enable the apparatus to function in a fully automatic mode. The measuring apparatus may be used in connection with any suitable connector assembly apparatus. However, one particularly suitable connector assembly appartus is shown in EP-A-0 171 993, belonging to prior art in accordance with Article 54(3)EPC.

Claims: Measurement apparatus (1) for use in connection with a connector assembly apparatus (9) for accurately positioning a connector (14) on a cable (12) relative to a previously mounted connector (14), the apparatus comprising a base member (3), a slotted plate (2) mounted perpendicularly with respect to said base member (3) and being adapted for displacement relative to a connector assembly station (4), the slot (8) being sized to receive the cable (12) but having a depth less than the height of the mounted connector (14) so that the cable (12) can pass freely through the slot (8) until the mounted connector (14) is positioned to abut the slotted plate (2). Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the slotted plate (2) is mounted to be movable with respect to the base member (3). Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the slotted plate (2) is mounted for sliding movement relative to the surface of the base member (3) and lockable thereon in a selected position. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the slotted plate (2) may be fixed to the base member (3) the base member (3) being adapted for displacement relative to the connector assembly station (4). Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the base member (3) is mounted for cooperation with a lead screw so that rotation of the lead screw produces a desired longitudinal movement of the base member (3) and the slotted plate (2) relative to the connector assembly station (4). Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein locking means are provided to lock the previously positioned connector (14) against the slotted plate (2). Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein guidance mean (5, 6) are provided to facilitate insertion of the cable (12) into the slotted plate (2). Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, further comprising blade means associated with the base member (3) for cutting the cable (12) subsequent to the positioning of a desired number of connectors (14) to the cable. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein a calibrated scale (10) is marked on the base member (3) to give a visual indication of the spacing of the slotted plate (2) from the connector assembly station (4). Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, further comprising means for applying tension to a cable (12) positioned in said slotted plate (2) to draw the cable (12) through the plate (2) and to urge the first positioned connector (14) against the slotted plate (2). A method of fixing a connector to a cable (12) in a predetermined position relative to a first connector (14) comprising positioning the first connector (14) at one end of the cable (12), mounting the cable (12) in measurement apparatus of any one of the Claims 1 to 10, and fixing a further connector (14) to the cable (12) at a position determined by that apparatus.

Inventors: PEARCE, HOWARD R.
Applicants: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H01R43
IPC codes: H01R43