Patent GB-829501-A (GB)
Title: Machines and methods for making electrical leads
IPC: H01R43/052
Filed: 1957-01-23
Abstract: 829,501. Making electrical leads; shearing; jointing. AMP Inc. Jan. 23, 1957 [Jan. 30, 1956], No. 2454/57. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). [Also in Group XXXVI] A machine for making electrical leads comprises severing means for severing a lead from a length of insulated wire, wire insulation stripping means for stripping insulation from the leading end of said wire, lead insulation stripping means for stripping insulation from the trailing end of said lead, wire crimping means for crimping a terminal onto the leading end of the wire, a lead crimping means for crimping a terminal onto the trailing end of said lead. A main drive-shaft 16 reciprocates through an eccentric 30 and rod 40, a ram 42 supporting upper wire severing, insulation-cutting, and terminal crimping tools, a fixed platen 44 under the ram 42 supporting wire feeding, terminal feeding and insulation stripping means and lower wire severing, insulation cutting and terminal crimping tools. Wire feed. Insulated wire 104 is fed, during the latter part of the up-stroke of the rani 42 and first part of its down stroke, along a conduit 92 through gripping jaws 220<SP>1</SP>, 222<SP>1</SP> across the tops of lower insulation cutting knives 126 and a lower shearing blade 128, through gripping jaws 220, 222, Fig. 8, and into an ejector tube 318, Fig. 11. This feed is effected by a roller 94 spring-urged against a roller 84 rotated through an over-running clutch by downward movement of a rack 68 pivoted at a selected one of holes 72 in an arm 60 rocked about pivot 62 by a pin 56 on a crank 54 on the main shaft 16. Wire severing and insulation cutting. Shortly after the wire feed stops a tool-holder 106, on the ram 42, and carrying an upper wire shearing blade 112 and upper insulation cutting- blades 110 disposed on each side thereof, cooperates with the lower blades to sever the wire and cut the insulation. On continued downward movement of the ram 42 the holder 106 is unlocked therefrom, spring detents 120 moving out of upper notches 116 in the holder. When the ram 42 reaches its lowest position the detents 120 lock into lower notches 118 in the holder 106 and raise it on the upward movement of the ram until a stop 122 unlocks the holder again and allows the detents 120 on further upward movement of the ram 42 to lock again in the notches 116. Wire and lead gripping, stripping and shifting. As the wire is cut so a spring 238 on the ram 42 closes the jaws 220, 222 on the trailing end of the lead and the jaws 2201, 2221 on the leading end of the wire, an over-centre spring 236 which connects the pivoted jaws keeping them closed, Fig. 9. Immediately thereafter rack-bars 166, 166<SP>1</SP> are actuated by a cam 142 on a shaft 140 driven from the shaft 16 to rotate cams 202, 202<SP>1</SP> to cause compound slides 198, carrying a support 208 for the jaws 220, 222, and compound slides 198<SP>1</SP>, carrying a support 208<SP>1</SP> (not shown), for the jaws 220<SP>1</SP>, 222<SP>1</SP>, first to pull the end of the wire and the end of the cut lead axially away from each other and from the insulation cutting blades 110, thus stripping the insulation from the cut ends. Then the jaws move laterally in opposite directions to position the cut and strip feed ends at their terminal crimping stations. Terminal feeding and crimping. Strips 257, 257<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 1, 17, of terminals are fed, under spring-urged drag-plates 274, to the terminal crimping stations, in steps, from both sides of the machine by lug feed fingers 250, 250<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, reciprocated by springs 262, 262<SP>1</SP> and cams 271, 271<SP>1</SP> carried by the ram 42 so that a terminal is fed forward on the up-stroke of the ram. Upon arrival of the stripped ends of the wire and lead at the crimping station tampers 298, 298<SP>1</SP> on the ram 42 depress the jaw carriages 208, 208<SP>1</SP> against springs 210, the gripping jaws opening by contact with fixed studs 296 and the wire and lead being lowered into terminals previously positioned on anvils 280, 282 and 280<SP>1</SP>, 2821. Crimpers 292, 294 and 292<SP>1</SP>, 2941 on the ram 42 then affix the terminal to the wire, Fig. 18, blades 290, 290<SP>1</SP> on the ram removing the slugs connecting the positioned terminals with the next adjacent ones. On upward movement of the ram 42 and tool-holder 106 now latched thereto, strippers 286 (not shown), 2861 prevent the terminals from moving up. Lead and insulation ejecting. As the ram 42 rises a plunger 306, Fig. 11, is depressed by a cam 312 on the shaft 16 to allow compressed air to flow through hoses 323, 328 to eject any pieces of insulation and through a hose 314 to eject the finished lead from the ejector tube 318. Any lodged insulation is stripped from the blades 110, 112 by a slide 330 slidable on the tool holder contacting a stop 122. A closed barrel terminal may be applied to one or each end of the lead. Specification 715,091 is referred to.