Patent GB-1183861-A (GB)
Title: Crimping Press
IPC: B30B1/40
Filed: 1967-04-12
Abstract: 1,183,861. Making electrical connections. ETC. Inc. 12 April, 1967 [13 Oct., 1966], No. 16835/67. Headings B3A and B3P. A press for crimping ferrules (27), Fig. 1 (not shown), carried by a perforated tape (130) comprises a ram 18 reciprocated between first and second positions, dies 23, 24 on a frame 11-15 and on the ram for crimping the ferrule when the ram reaches its first position, means 57 to move the ram from a third position, between the first and second positions, to the first position to crimp the ferrule, first positionresponsive means to raise the ram to the second position when it has reached the first position, and second position-responsive means to advance the tape and move the ram to the third position when the ram reaches its second position. As applied to crimping electrical terminals or connectors on to conductors and an insulation portion of the terminal &c. on. to insulation on the conductor, the ram descends by gravity assisted by a spring 102, Fig. 4, from its raised, second position to the third position, wherein the upper die is in contact with a ferrule prior to the power stroke, which may be started by a foot-operated switch or by a switch 150, Fig. 4 and Fig. 9 (not shown), closed by the end of a conductor when this is inserted in the connector held between the dies. Tandem pistons 51, 52, Fig. 3, operate a cam 57 for the crimping stroke of the ram, which is raised by a separate piston 101, Fig. 4, against the biasing spring 102. Feeds.-The tape perforations (129) are engaged by the teeth of a feedwheel 127 which is carried by a shaft 123 mounting a pawlwheel 115. A pawl 114, guided by an abutment (118), Fig. 2 (not shown), is raised by a piston 111 to rotate the wheel 127 against the action of a spring-pressed indexing pin 138. A handle 137a on the shaft 123 facilitates insertion of the tape (130) between guides 131, 132. After crimping, the connectors &c. are pulled off the tape, which is deflected to one side by a shield (191, Fig. 2). Operation.-Closure of the sensing switch 150, or the foot-operated switch, causes a solenoidvalve 60, Fig. 5, to re-set a valve 59 so as to supply pressure fluid to chamber 53 of cylinder 37 for projecting the cam 57. At the end of the power stroke the piston 51 passes a pilot port 84 in cylinder 37 through which pressurized fluid now flows, along a line 85, to reset a valve 87 for supplying fluid (a) beneath piston 101 for raising the ram, (b) above the piston 111 for lowering the pawl 114, and (c) to reset the valve 59 for returning the cam 57. When the ram reaches the top (second) position, a pilot port 108 is uncovered in cylinder 100 through which fluid now flows, along line 120, to re-set valve 87 for allowing the piston 101 to descend and the ram to assume its third position, and for supplying fluid beneath piston 111 to raise the feed pawl and advance the band of connectors &c. The press is now ready for another working stroke. After each operation, the solenoid is de-energized by a microswitch (173), Fig. 6 (not shown), even though a circuit remains established through the leads of the sensing switch or through those of the foot-switch. When the microswitch is operated by a pin 185 on the cam 57, a capacitor (186) is discharged through a coil (171) to maintain a switch (170) closed and the solenoid energized until the cam has completed its stroke.