An insertion head for a wire trimming and inserting machine

Abstract: The insertion head (10) of the present invention is for a wire trimming and inserting machine, i.e., a machine or apparatus for loading color-coded, or otherwise coded wires (W) into a connector half. It includes a platform (12) with an appendage (14) coupled thereto. The appendage (14) has a channel (22) formed therein to receive and guide wire (W) therethrough to a terminal (58) of a connector half. The insertion head (10) includes a spring biased guide (26), which bears against the channel-received wire (W), and imposes a movement-­ retarding force or drag on the wire (W) to insure that the latter is held taut until engaged with the connector terminal (58).

Description: The present invention relates to an insertion head of a wire trimming and insertion machine according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1. Multiple, color-coded or otherwise coded wire cable, such as telephone communications cable, consists of an outer sheath covering a number of pairs, such as twenty-five, of insulated color-coded wires. Pairs of the wires may be twisted together to reduce cross talk. Lengths of the cable are assembled with a male connector half at one end and a female connector half at the opposite end to accommodate use thereof in communications apparatus. In accordance with the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, EP-A-0 007 711 and US 4,470,181, disclose an apparatus for automatically sorting individual wires from groups of twisted pairs of wires, in a communications cable, and for trimming and connecting the wires, in a desired arrangement, in a solderless electrical connector half. In that apparatus, each wire, in turn, is passed to a pair of friction drive rollers which apply tension thereto. A ram moves each wire lengthwise of the rollers and into a throat of a trimming and insert mechanism where it is met with another ram which cuts the wire to length and inserts the cut end into a terminal of a connector half. The object of the invention is to provide for an insertion head of the above type, in which lateral control of the wire is assured when it is moved through the channel. This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. According to the present invention, the sidewalls of the channel impose a movement-retarding force or drag on the wire during the movement thereof within the channel. Thereby, lateral control of the wire is achieved, but also axial control is achieved in that the wire during the movement thereof through the channel does not move in its lengthwise direction. Thereby it is ensured that there is a wiredress of neat and orderly appearance after all wires have been set in their respective contacts. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view, partially cut-away, of a preferred embodiment of the insertion head according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 2-2 of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 3-3 of Figure 1; and FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding, generally, to that of Figure 1 showing, however, only the outermost portion of the appendage and platform. As shown in the figures, the novel insertion head 10 comprises a platform 12 having an appendage 14 coupled thereto. The insertion head 10 corresponds, generally, to the wire trimmimg and inserting mechanism disclosed in the aforesaid documents US-4,470,181 and EP-A-0 007 711. Platform 12, as will be understood from the aforesaid disclosures, is coupled to an apparatus which sorts out individual wires from twisted pairs thereof and conveys them to the cited wire trimming and inserting mechanism. The known apparatus has means for moving wires, individually, to friction drive rollers. The rollers apply a tension to the individual wire while a ram moves the tensioned wire into the throat of the wire trimming and inserting mechanism. Each wire, necessarily, must be disposed at an inclination from the vertical, upon entry into the throat, and moved transverse to the length thereof for severing and engagement with the contact of a connector half. In such movement, of course, the effective length of the wire, between the drive rollers and the trimming and inserting mechanism, must include an amount of slack as will be described below. To insure that there is a wire dress of neat and orderly appearance, after all wires have been set in their respective contacts, and to assure lateral control of the wire a movement-retarding force or drag is imposed on the wires as each is moved from the throat to its designated contact. The appendage 14 has a wing 16 which, with the adjacent, angular surface 18 of the platform defines a wire entry throat 20. The throat 20 terminates at, and opens into, a channel 22, which is approximately normal thereto. The channel 22 is formed by a first, fixed guide 24 which has a linear surface defining a first wall 25 of the channel. A second guide 26 is movably mounted in the appendage 14, and also has a linear surface which confronts the linear surface of the fixed guide 24 and defines a second wall 27 of the channel 22. Guide 26 also has a shank 28 which is slidably held in guideways formed in an underlying clamp 30 and an innermost, clamping end 32 of the wing 16. The guide 26 further has a shoulder 34 which confronts a recess 36 formed in the clamp 30. A compression spring 38 nests in the recess 36 to bear against the shoulder 34 and urge the guide 26 toward its companion guide 24. The aforesaid first and second walls 25 and 27 of the guides 24 and 26 define the channel 22. The platform 12 has a trough 44 along which an inserter housing 46 translates. The housing 46 confines and carries a wire guiding blade 48 and an inserter 50. Both are secured to the housing 46 by means of a key 52. By means described in the patents 4,470,181 and 4,238,874, the housing 46 is advanced toward the appendage 14 and, as a consequence thereof, the blade 48 and inserter 50 engage a wire W held in the channel 22 and move it lengthwise of the channel toward its designated contact. With particular reference to Figures 2 and 4, it will be appreciated that the wire W has been held at the entrance to the channel 22, against a knee 29 of the spring-biased guide 26 by the tension of the friction drive rollers 56, as well as against a lowermost land below the shear 54. The wire describes a relatively arcuate loop "A" into the channel 22, and has a somewhat taut lie thereafter to the tensioning rollers 56. This arcuate loop "A" is important in the operation of the device because a small amount of slack is provided in the wire W. As the blade 48 and inserter 50 engage the wire, they cause it to force the spring-biased guide 26 to retract and open the channel to the wire width. At this point, the drive rollers somewhat release their grip on the wire W thereby reducing some of the tension on the wire. Due to the slack in the wire W, tension must necessarily be further reduced as the wire moves to the position indicated as B in Figure 2 and is aligned with the axis Z of the terminal 58 as it advances toward the shear 54. This reduction in tension of the wire W tends to prevent the wire W from moving in an axial direction away from the shear 54. In view of these circumstances, the guides 26 and 24 impose a movement-retarding force or drag on the wire as it traverses the channel before the blade 48 and inserter 50. This drag urges the wire W into pressing engagement with the blade and the inserter 50 thereby assuring controlled movement both axially and laterally through the channel 22. This drag and the presence of a small amount of slack also help to prevent axial movement of the wire after severing by the shear 54. As movement continues the wire W is then severed, and the terminated end which has been pushed between the guides 26 and 24 throughout the travel of the wire through the channel, is inserted into the contact 58 of the connector half (not shown). While we have described our invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example, and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: An insertion head (10) of a wire trimming and inserting machine for inserting a wire into a connector terminal (58) comprising: a platform (12); wire receiving and guiding means (24, 26) coupled to said platform (12) for defining a channel (22) and for receiving wire (W) therewithin and guiding such wire (W) in movement thereof through said channel (22); means for positioning said connector terminal (58) and said channel in mutual alignment; and means for moving a wire (W) through said channel (22) and into engagement with said terminal (58); characterized in that : said wire receiving and guiding means (24, 26, 38) comprises a pair of guides; said guides (24, 26) have linear surfaces (25, 27) formed thereon which mutually confront each other, and define side walls of said channel (22); one of said guides (24) is immovably coupled to said platform; the other guide (26) of said pair thereof is movably mounted relative to said one guide (24) to impose a movement-retarding force or drag on said wire (W) during movement thereof in said channel (22). An insertion head (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that : said wire receiving and guiding means (24, 26, 38) further comprises a pair of clamps (30, 32) coupled to said platform (12); and said other, movably mounted guide (26) is slidably interposed between said clamps (30, 32). An insertion head (10) according to any of claims 1 and 2 characterized in that said means (48, 50) for moving said wire through said channel (22) is arranged to move said wire (W) in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis of said wire (W). An insertion head (10), according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising an appendage (14) coupled to said platform (12); wherein said appendage (14) has said channel (22) formed therein for receiving wire (W). An insertion head (10), according to any of claims 1 to 4, comprising an appendage (14) coupled to said platform (12), wherein said appendage (14) has said channel (22) formed therein for receiving wire (W) therewithin and guiding such wire (W) in movement thereof through said channel (22) from a first position (A) in said channel (22) in which a portion of said wire (W) is of a arcuate shape through a second position (B) in said channel (22) in which said portion of said wire (W) is substantially parallel to said axis of said terminal (58); and means (48, 50, 24, 26, 38) coupled to said appendage (14) for a moving said wire (W) through said channel (22) from said first position (A) through said second position (B), and (b) imposing said movement-retarding force or drag on said wire (W) during said movement of said wire (W) through said channel (22). The insertion head (10) , according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that said linear surfaces are first and second substantially parallel and opposed surfaces (25, 27), said first surface (25) being stationary with respect to said appendage (14) and said second surface (27) being movable with respect thereto. The insertion head (10) according to any of claims 1-6 characterized in that said movably mounted guide (26) includes a resilient member (38) for urging said movable guide toward said unmovable guide. The insertion head (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said means for moving said wire through said channel (22) is arranged to move said wire (W) from said first position (A) where said wire (W) is free of said movement-retarding force or drag, into engagement within said channel (22) where said wire (W) is affected by said movement-retarding force or drag.

Inventors: ADLON DANIEL TODD, SPONG RICHARD VERNON, ADLON, DANIEL TODD, SPONG, RICHARD VERNON
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H01R43
IPC codes: H01R43