Patent GB-1302190-A (GB)
IPC: H01R43/052
Filed: 1969-12-17
Abstract: 1302190 Shearing; attaching terminals to wire PHILIPS ELECTRONIC & ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES Ltd 17 Dec 1969 [20 Dec 1968] 61512/69 Headings B3A and B3W [Also in Division H2] An automatic machine for cutting sheathed wire into lengths, stripping an end of each length and processing the stripped lengths, comprises a wire supply unit 1, an unwinding unit 2, a marking unit 3, a unit 7 for measuring, cutting to length and stripping the wire, a unit 5 for feeding the lengths from the cutting means, for braking the travel of each length, for holding it during and ejecting it after processing and a processing unit 6, safety means being provided for stopping the machine in the event of failure of the supply, unwinding marking or processing units and a control system, responsive to the pressure of cut length at a given point upstream of the processing unit, which governs the operation of the braking, holding and ejecting means, the measuring, cutting and stripping unit and of the processing unit. Wire from a reel 1 looped around a motordriven roller (8) is passed round a system of pulleys including pulleys (12), (18) on a counterweighted pivotable arm (13). The arm is mounted on a shaft (15) connected to a potentiometer ganged with a speed control device for the motor driving the roller (8) so that a tensile force on the wire in the feed direction above a predetermined value increases the motor speed thus the rate of feed and vice versa. Electrical switches located at the limits of possible movement of the arm stop the motor and the other drives of the machine. A predetermined length of wire is fed first to a marking unit, by a roller 23 co-operating with a measuring wheel 22, a counter associated with the wheel actuating marking dies 21 when the predetermined length is reached. Photo-electric devices stop the drive to the marking die and all the other units if the printing tape breaks or comes to an end. The counter also actuates a cutter 31 which severs the wire and cutters 32, 32<SP>1</SP> which sever the insulation. Clamps 33, 33<SP>1</SP> are then moved apart to withdraw the wire from the cut portions of insulation. Lengths of wire with stripped ends are then carried towards a press G by a conveyer A the drive of which is stopped when any of the stop devices operates. An air-actuated guide C is moved to Fig. 5 position and a brake shoe D co-operates with the guide to position the leading end of the wire accurately relative to the press G. A photo-cell F activates a control system which actuates the brake shoe D, the guide C and the press G, releasing the brake shoe D and actuating a clamp E before the press G is operated to crimp a terminal connector H on the wire. The guide C and clamp E are lifted and the wire with terminal connected is ejected laterally into a trough by a nozzle supplied with compressed air and having orifices along its length selectively closable by rings. The press G is one of several supplied with different connectors and mounted on a rotatable support. The control system, through a time control in unit 5, also controls the feed of wire to unit 4 so that feeding of a new length of wire starts before the previous length is ejected.