Patent GB-759652-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for interconnecting electrical terminals
IPC: H05K13/06
Filed: 1954-07-23
Abstract: 759,652. Control of several motors. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., Inc. July 23, 1954 [July 24, 1953], No. 21565/54. Class 38(3) [Also in Group XXII] Apparatus for interconnecting selected terminals of an array of electrical terminals comprises 'a pair of wiring tools each adapted to connect a different one of the ends of a length of wire to a corresponding selected terminal and positioning means for moving the wiring tools to the appropriate different positions for connecting the wire to the selected terminals, the wiring tools and positioning means being controlled to effect the desired connections automatically in accordance with a predetermined wiring scheme. A panel mounting frame 26 supports a number of panels 33 on which are mounted various apparatus units 34' having projecting terminals 35 which are to be connected by insulated wire. The panel frame 26 is moved to and from a wiring position in which the two selected terminals to be connected are engaged by two wiring tools A, B which have been suitably positioned. The tools A, B are mounted respectively, on platforms 55, 56 vertically movable in frames 46, 47 on carriages 40, 41 movable horizontally along tracks in front of the panel frame. The vertical. movement of the tools A, B is effected by motors AY, BY, respectively, on the frames 46, 47 driving endless belts secured to the platforms 55, 56, and the horizontal movement is effected by motors AX, BX, respectively, driving endless belts 70, 80 secured to the carriages 40, 41. Operation: loading. A spool 58 of insulated wire 60 is carried by the platform 55 of the tool A and the end of the wire is led from the spool through a guide 200, a slotted one-way feed member 281 on a pivoted arm 283 and under a spring-urged guide 206. Before a cycle of operations the tools A, B are at a " home " position at the bottom right-hand corner of their area of movement. In operation, a starter key 100 (not shown) is depressed whereupon relay and solenoid means are operated first to open the jaws of a stationary gripper 90 at the " home" station, then to rock the arm 283 to present the wire end to the grip. per 90 and then to close the gripper 90. The tools A and B are then moved to the left a little and then up a little. This is effected by relay means which cause voltages, corresponding to the positions to be reached by the tools, from networks and voltages from potentiometers driven by the motors AX, AY, BX (not shown), BY to be fed to summing amplifiers controlling the motors, the voltages from the networks unbalancing the motor operating circuits and causing the motors to operate, to move the tools first horizontally and then vertically, to drive the potentiometers until the circuits are in balance again, when the motors stop. In this position of the tools, the wire is laid across their wrapping heads. The solenoids A3 and B1 are then operated to guide the wire in the tool A and grip the wire tightly in tool B, and the jaws 90 are opened. Solenoid means then allow reader fingers to enter perforations in one line of a perforated tape 261, Fig. 19, which is fed intermittently under said fingers. The first two groups of seven positions in a line operate in accordance with a binary code having elements 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 which allow the position of a tool to be determined at any one of 127 positions along an axis, the first group for tool A and the second for tool B. A perforation at 15 commands the tool A to move vertically and the absence of a perforation commands the tool to move horizontally, similarly for position 16, perforations 17-20 corresponding to other commands. The reader fingers actuate relays,- those of the fingers 1-14 varying the voltages fed from the motor networks to the summing amplifiers controlling the motors. The line 1 (cycle 1) of perforations on the tape 261 causes the tools A, B to be moved horizontally, the tool A to the end of the panel frame 26, wire being paid out through the tool A, and the tool B beneath a terminal T1, Fig. 13. Line 2 causes the tools A and B to move vertically the same amount, tool A to a position just to the left: and below a pin 220 projecting from a strip securing the panels 33 together, and the tcol B to a position above the terminal T1. Alternatively horizontal rows of pins projectible through the panels may be provided. Line 3 causes the tool B to descend to the terminal T1 and also causes a series of guide pins 225 retractibly carried on the platform 56 of the tool B to project into the wiring plane, the wire being led over the pin 225 adjacent the terminal T1. Line 4 causes the tool A to rise to a position adjacent another pin 220. Line 5 causes the tool A to move to a position above a terminal T2. Line 6 firstly causes the tool A to descend to the terminal T2 and guide pins 225 on the platform 55 of tool A to project, then causes a cutter 210 on the platform 55 to sever the wire from the spool 58, a solenoid to operate to crush the insulation in the tool A, and a motor CZ to move the panel frame 26 into the wiring plane, inserting Tl and T2 into the wiring tools. The solenoid A1 then releases the wire and the solenoids A2 and B2 are operated to hold the ends of the wire in wrapping grips. Wrapping motors are then clutched in to wrap the wire ends around the terminals T1, T2. The wrapping then stops, the panel. frame is moved back and the tools A and B are returned to the home position. Specifications 674,709, 716,526 [both in Group XXXVI] and 759,651 are referred to.