Patent GB-1448751-A (GB)
Title: Method of and a machine for separating and fitting insulated  conductors of multiconductor ribbon cables to connectors  in housings
IPC: H01R43/052
Filed: 1973-06-28
Abstract: 1448751 Making electrical connections; shearing BREEDON PRESS Ltd 18 Sept 1974 [28 June 1973] 9707/73 Headings B3A B3Q and B3W A method of fitting insulated conductors of multiconductor ribbon electric cables with contacts or connectors comprises passing a ribbon cable endways between cutting or tearing elements, e.g. rollers 1, to separate the conductors, passing the conductors to a collecting and spreading mechanism 3, which presents their leading ends to a cropping mechanism 4, which bares the conductor ends, supplying and locating a housing (H), Fig. 4A (not shown), fitted with contacts in a position for receiving the bared ends of the conductors, gang-crimping the contacts about the conductors and engaging the contacts fully within the housing. The cable is fed through a guide 51 and between the rollers 1, which are driven by meshing pinions engaged by a rack 2b actuated by a fluid power cylinder 2. The rollers separate the conductors and drive them along diverging grooves (3a), Fig. 10 (not shown), in the mechanism 3 and at the end of its stroke the rack actuates fluid power cylinders to open the rollers. A press 13 is actuated and an arm 14, Fig. 2, of the press ram 17 engages the top of the spreader mechanism and the open roller assembly to lower them and a base-plate 15 on which they are mounted against the action of air springs (16), Fig. 7 (not shown). The ram 17 strikes rollers 18 to close the cropping mechanism 4, the blades (63) of which, Fig. 4A (not shown), trim the conductors to length and cut through their insulation. A latch 19 engages in notches 20a in columns 20 to lock the mechanism 4. On the upward stroke of the press, the air springs (16) raise the baseplate 15 and then a cylinder 21 is actuated to retract the mechanism 4 so that the blades (63) strip the cut insulation from the conductor ends. A cylinder 25 is actuated to move a slide 26 on which are mounted the cropping mechanism 4 and a crimping tool 27, to bring the latter under the press. A release arm 52 engages the latch 19 thereby allowing the blades (63) to open. Contacts are fitted in temporary positions in the housings, which are fed from a magazine and moved by a slide 43 to a position P, this operation having taken place while the cable passed through the rollers 1 and into the spreader mechanism. The ram 17 makes a second downward stroke and the arm 14 again lowers the base-plate 15 and the spreader mechanism to insert the bared conductor ends into the contacts and then the ram engages the crimping tool 27 to secure the contacts to the conductors. When the ram has completed its upward stroke, the air springs (16) raise the base-plate 15 and position the housing for insertion of the crimped contacts. A cylinder 21 is then actuated and an adapter 24 on its ram 22 engages a pusher (41), Fig. 3 (not shown), which pushes the housing forward until the contacts are fully home. The ram is withdrawn, allowing the housing and cable to be removed and the apparatus is re-set for the next work cycle.