Patent Publication Number: US-11394164-B2

Title: Detachable cassette for machining connector and crimp tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/998,646, by Wen-Lung Hung, entitled DETACHABLE CASSETTE FOR MACHINING CONNECTOR AND CRIMP TOOL, filed Jan. 29, 2016, which claims the benefit of Taiwan application No. 104133572, by Wen-Lung Hung, entitled DETACHABLE CASSETTE FOR MACHINING CONNECTOR AND CRIMP TOOL HAVING THE SAME, issued as Taiwan Patent 1581920, both herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for machining an article, in particular, a detachable cassette for machining a connector and a crimp tool having the same. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Cables or wires are commonly used for transmitting signals between electronic devices. For example, cables are used for transmitting signals from and to televisions, telephones, computers etc. These signals include: video signals, audio signals and packed data. Connectors are used for connecting cables with electronic devices and are usually disposed at the ends of the cables. These connectors include an RJ-45 connector, a connector standardized as the 8P8C modular connector, and an RJ-11 connector, a connector for telephone connections etc. When the connector housing is crimped to secure the internal position of the wires, its internally contained electrical contact blades also assume the positions in which they will matingly engage the blades of corresponding contacts in the receptacle of an associated female connector. Conventional crimp tools, such as the pliers described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,120, are used for crimping insulated cables and connectors so that they are electrically and physically connected. Furthermore, Taiwan Pat. Pub. No. 534510 discloses a tool for crimping a cable connector, which can shear, strip and crimp insulated cables respectively with different portions thereof. 
     However, each of these conventional tools can only crimp connectors and cables of particular specifications. Thus, to crimp connectors and cables with different specifications, a user needs to carry several different crimp tools, which is inconvenient and cumbersome for the user. 
     Given the above, there is need for a single crimp tool that can crimp connectors and cables with different specifications. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a cassette for machining a connector is provided. The cassette is detachably disposed in a tool body having a head and a driving element. The direction of motion of the driving element defines a first axis. The cassette comprises: a cassette body and a machining block. The cassette body is detachably disposed in an opening of the head of the tool body and has a machining opening therein. The machining block is slidably disposed in the cassette body along the first axis and has an engagement element detachably engaged with the driving element of the tool body. Through the engagement element, the driving element drives the machining block to slide along the first axis to move toward or away from the machining opening. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a crimp tool is provided, which comprises: a tool body and a cassette. The tool body comprises: a first handle, a second handle, a head and a driving element. The second handle is pivotally connected with the first handle. The head is connected with the first handle. The driving element is connected with and actuated by the second handle. The direction of motion of the driving element defines a first axis. The cassette comprises: a cassette body and a machining block. The cassette body is detachably disposed in an opening of the head of the tool body and has a machining opening therein. The machining block is slidably disposed in the cassette body along the first axis and has an engagement element for being detachably engaged with the driving element of the tool body. Through the engagement element, the driving element drives the machining block to slide along the first axis to move toward or away from the machining opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic view showing the crimp tool of one embodiment of the present invention in a resting state; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic view showing the crimp tool of the embodiment in a working state; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic view showing the cassette of one embodiment of the present invention in a resting state wherein a shearing structure is shown; 
         FIG. 2B  is another schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the resting state wherein the shearing structure is shown; 
         FIG. 3A  is a further schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the resting state wherein a crimping structure is shown; 
         FIG. 3B  is still a further schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the resting state wherein the crimping structure is shown; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in a working state wherein a shearing structure is shown; 
         FIG. 4B  is another schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the working state wherein the shearing structure is shown; 
         FIG. 5A  is a further schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the working state wherein a crimping structure is shown; 
         FIG. 5B  is still a further schematic view showing the cassette of the embodiment in the working state wherein the crimping structure is shown; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic view showing a connector and a cable before being sheared and crimped; 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic view showing the connector and the cable after being sheared and crimped; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic view showing one embodiment of the present invention in which a cassette is to be inserted into an opening of a head of a tool body from one side thereof; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic view showing one embodiment of the present invention in which a cassette is to be inserted into an opening of a head of a tool body from the other side thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The characteristics, subject matter, advantages, and effects of the present invention are detailed hereinafter by reference to embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the drawings referred to in the following description are intended only for purposes of illustration and do not necessarily show the actual proportion and precise arrangement of the embodiments. Therefore, the proportion and arrangement shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or restricting the scope of the present invention. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 1A  shows the crimp tool  10  of one embodiment of the present invention in a resting state wherein the handles  110 ,  120  thereof are in an expanded position and  FIG. 1B  shows the crimp tool  10  in a working state wherein the handles  110 ,  120  of the crimp tool  10  of the embodiment are in a contracted position. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the crimp tool  10  comprises: a tool body  100  and a cassette  200 . The tool body  100  comprises: a first handle  110 , a second handle  120 , a head  130  and a driving element  140 . The second handle  120  is pivotally connected with the first handle  110  wherein the second handle  120  pivots along a rotational path between a first position where the second handle  120  is away from the first handle  110  (as shown in  FIG. 1A ) and a second position where the second handle  120  is adjacent to the first handle  110  (as shown in  FIG. 1B ). The head  130  is connected with the first handle  110  and has an opening  131  for receiving the cassette  200 . The driving element  140  is connected with and actuated by the second handle  120 . When a user grasps the handles  110 ,  120 , the second handle  120  urges the driving element  140  to move upward and the cassette  200  is actuated to machine the connector and the cable, such as shearing and/or crimping the connector and the cable. The crimp tool  10  is then switched from the resting state to the working state. When the user releases the handles  110 ,  120 , a spring provided at the pivot of the two handles  110 ,  120  biases the second handle  120  so that the handles  110 ,  120  are urged into the expanded position, and the driving element  140  retreats to its original position. The crimp tool  10  is then switched from the working state to the resting state. During the above operation, the direction of motion (i.e., upward or downward direction) of the driving element  140  defines a first axis (L 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 7A and 7B , the cassette  200  comprises: a cassette body  210  and a machining block  220 . The cassette body  210  is detachably disposed in an opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  and has a machining opening  214  therein. The cassette body  210  is provided with a slot  212  therein and the machining block  220  is slidably disposed in the slot  212  along the first axis (L 1 ). With this detachable design, the crimp tool  10  of one embodiment of the present invention can crimp connectors and cables with different specifications by using corresponding cassettes  200 . The machining opening  214  of the cassette  200  fits with a particular connector (e.g., RJ-45 connector, RJ-11 connector or the like) and cable. Different cassettes can be used with connectors and cables of different specifications. That is, one embodiment of the present invention provides a tool body  100  that can be used with cassettes of different machining openings. The cassette bodies of these cassettes are of the same or similar outer configurations such that all of them can fit with the opening  131  of the same tool body  100 . 
     The machining block  220  slidably provided in the slot  212  of the cassette body  210  and the engagement element  222  of the tool body  100  are interconnected. The machining block  220  has an engagement element  222  for being detachably engaged with the driving element  140  of the tool body  100 . Through the engagement element  222 , the driving element  140  drives the machining block  220  to slide along the first axis (L 1 ) to move toward or away from the machining opening  214 . When the handles  110 ,  120  are pressed to move toward to each other, the second handle  120  urges the driving element  140  to move upward and the driving element  140  pushes the machining block  220  to slide upward along the first axis (L 1 ) to machine the connector and the cable via the engagement between the driving element  140  and the engagement element  222 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the driving element  140  is a male structure, such as a T-shaped protrusion, and the engagement element  222  is a female structure, such as a groove that matches with the T-shaped protrusion. The T-shaped structure prevents the driving element  140  from being easily disengaged from the engagement element  222 . As such, the machining block  220  is actuated by the driving element  140  to slide upward or downward in a slot  212  along the first axis (L 1 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-58 , the machining opening  214  is provided in the cassette body  210  for machining a connector. Corresponding to the machining opening  214 , the machining block  220  comprises: at least one machining structure  224 . In operation, the engagement element  222  is actuated by the driving element  140  so that the machining block  220  having the engagement element  222  slides along the first axis (L 1 ) in the slot  212  in relation to the machining opening  214 . When the machining block  220  is driven to a working position, the at least one machining structure  224  at least partially overlaps with the machining opening  214 . As such, the at least one machining structure  224  machines the connector placed in the machining opening  214 , such as crimping or shearing a connector having a cable for telephone connections or local area network (LAN). 
     In one embodiment, the at least one machining structure  224  comprises two machining structures, namely a crimping structure  224   a  disposed at one side of the cassette body  210  and a shearing structure  224   b  disposed at the other side of the cassette body  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A, 38 , SA, and SB, the crimping structure  224   a  is a structure for crimping a crystal joint (connector). A shown in  FIGS. 2A, 28, 4A and 48 , the shearing structure  224   b  is a blade for cutting. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A, 48, 5A and 58 , when the machining block  220  is driven to the working position, the crimping structure  224   a  partially overlaps with one side of the machining opening  214  and the shearing structure  224   b  fully overlaps with the other side of the machining opening  214 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 68 , the crimping structure  224   a  for crimping a crystal connector  50  comprises two crimping blocks P 1 , P 2 , which perform the crimping function simultaneously. The first crimping block P 1  is for crimping the body of the crystal connector  50  and the second crimping block P 2  is provided between the first crimping block P 1  and the shearing structure  224   b  for securing the electrical contact blades  54  contained therein to the core(s)  62  of the cable  60 . When the machining block  220  is driven by the driving element  140  to the working position, the crimping structure  224   a  partially overlaps with one side of the machining opening  214  and the first crimping block P 1  of the crimping structure  224   a  presses against a ridge  52  at the bottom of the crystal connector  50  so that the ridge  52  deforms and breaks. The deformed and broken ridge  52  thus squeezes the outmost insulator(s) of the cable so that the cable  60  is secured to an internal portion of the crystal connector  50 . As such, a part of the crystal connector  50  holds the cable  60  and the crystal connector  50  is firmly secured to one end of the cable  60 . At the same time, the second crimping structure P 2  pushes the electrical contact blades  54  of the crystal connector  50  to move upward and punches through the insulator of the cores  62  of the cable  60  to electrically connect with the cores  62  of the cable  60 , so that signals can be transmitted from the cores  62  through the crystal connector  50  to a corresponding female connector. 
     In one embodiment, the shearing structure  224   b  is a blade for shearing off the redundant parts of the cores  62 . When the machining block  220  is driven by the driving element  140  to the working position, the blade  224   b  is moved along the first axis (L 1 ) until it fully overlaps with the side of the machining opening opposite to the crimping structure  224   a  and at the same time shears off the ends of the cores  62  that protrude from one end of the crystal connector  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the blade  224  can also be arranged to shear off both the protruded parts of the cores  62  and the appendix  56  of crystal connector  50  as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 68 . As such, the ends of the sheared cores  62  are flush with the sheared end of the crystal connector  50 . In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the location of the shearing structure  224   b  relative to the crystal connector  50  can be arranged in accordance with the needs of a specific user, and might be different from that shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     To ensure that the machining block  220  works steadily and properly when it machines a connector and/or a cable, the cassette  200  should be firmly placed within the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 78 , the head  130  of the tool body  100  further comprises: a first connecting structure  132  disposed in the inner lateral surfaces of the opening  131  and the cassette body  210  of the cassette  200  further comprises: a second connecting structure  216  disposed thereon, wherein the first connecting structure  132  engages with the second connecting structure  216  so that the cassette body is secured within the tool body  100 . The design of the engagements between the first connecting structure  132  and second connecting structure  216  as described below has the benefit of easy assembly of the cassette  200  to the head  130  of the tool body  100  and easy disassembly of the cassette  200  from the head  130  of the tool body  100 , in addition to the benefit of the firm engagement between the cassette  220  and the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100 . 
     The second connecting structure  216  comprises a stopper  216   a  abutting against one of a first surface  130   a  and a second surface  130   b  of the head  130  of the tool body  210  along a second axis (L 2 ) perpendicular to the first axis (L 1 ) when the cassette body  210  is disposed in the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100 . The second connecting structure  216  comprises: a first hook  216   b  and a second hook  216   e  respectively disposed at the two lateral sides of the cassette body  210 . The first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  extend away from the stopper  216  a in a direction substantially parallel to the second axis (L 2 ). When the stopper  216   a  abuts against one of the first surface  130   a  and the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  of the tool body  210 , the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  engage with the other one of the first and the second surfaces  130   a ,  130   b  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  so as to secure the cassette  200  in the head  130  of the tool body  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , one embodiment of the present invention provides a crimp tool  10  that is convenient for both right-handed and left-handed users. Specifically, the cassette  200  can be inserted into the opening  131  of the head  130  of the body tool  100  from either the first surface  130   a  or the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  of the tool body  100 . As the second handle  120  is pivotable in relation to the first handle  110  with respect to a pivot provided at the joints of the first handle  110  and the second handle  120 , the first handle  110  is defined as a stationary handle and the second handle  120  is defined as the moving handle. When a right-handed user uses the crimp tool  10 , the cassette  200  might be inserted into the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  from the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  as shown in  FIG. 7A . As such, the right-handed user can use his/her left hand to hold a connector with cable and place it into the machining opening  214  of the cassette  200  and uses his/her right hand to operate the crimp tool  10 . The first handle  110  is placed between and abuts against the thumb and the palm of the right hand so that the first handle  110  is held still. The other four fingers of the right hand are placed upon the second handle  120  for pressing against the second handle  120  to move toward the first handle  110 . When the right handle  120  is moved adjacent to (or abutting against) the first handle  110 , the machining block  220  is driven by the driving element  140  to the working position and the connector with cable is machined. 
     Similarly, when a left-handed user operates the crimp tool  10 , the cassette  200  might be inserted into the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  from the first surface  130   a  of the head  130  as shown in  FIG. 7B . Accordingly, the left-handed user can use his/her right hand to hold a connector with cable and place it into the machining opening  214  of the cassette  200  and uses his/her left hand to operate the crimp tool  10 . The first handle  110  is placed between and abuts against the thumb and the palm of the left hand so that the first handle  110  is held still. The other four fingers of the left hand are placed upon the second handle  120  for pressing against the second handle  120  to move it toward the first handle  110  so as to machine the connector. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  are asymmetrically disposed at the two lateral sides of the cassette body  210  along the direction of the first axis (L 1 ). The first connecting structure  132  comprises: a first notch  132   a , a second notch  132   b , a third notch  132   c  and a fourth notch  132   d  wherein the first notch  132   a  and the third notch  132   c  are disposed in one lateral inner surface of the opening  131  of the head  130  and the second notch  132   b  and the fourth notch  132   d  are disposed in the other lateral inner surface of the opening  131  of the head  130 . The first notch  132   a  and the fourth notch  132   d  are at the same first height and the second notch  132   b  and the third notch  132   c  are at the same second height. The first height is higher than the second height. The first notch  132   a  and the second notch  132   b  form a depression from the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  and the third notch  132   c  and the fourth notch  132   d  form a depression from the first surface  130   a  of the head  130 . 
     With the above structures, when the cassette  200  is inserted into the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  from the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  as shown in  FIG. 7A  along the second axis (L 2 ), the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  respectively engage with the first notch  132   a  and the second notch  132   b . The heads of the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  will ultimately abut against the first surface  130   a  of the head  130  and the stopper  216   a  abuts against the second surface  130   b  of the head  130 . Similarly, when the cassette  200  is inserted into the opening  131  of the head  130  of the tool body  100  from the first surface  130   a  of the head  130  as shown in  FIG. 78  along the second axis (L 2 ), the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  respectively engage with the fourth notch  132   d  and the third notch  132   c . The heads of the first hook  216   b  and the second hook  216   c  will ultimately abut against the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  and the stopper  216   a  abuts against the first surface  130   a  of the head  130 . Thus, the cassette  200  can be placed into the opening  131  of the head from either the first surface  130   a  or the second surface  130   b  of the head  130  depending on the habits of the users. Under either of the two assembly manners, the hand tool  100  performs the same crimping and/or shearing functions well. 
     In addition to the benefits mentioned above, with both the crimping structure  224   a  and the shearing structure  224   b  provided at the machining block  220 , the crimping tool  100  is capable of being used in one step to simultaneously secure the crystal connector  50  to the cable  60 , electrically connect the electrical contact blades  54  of the crystal connector  50  to the cores  62  of the cable  60 , and shear off the both the protruded parts of the cores  62  and the appendix  56  of crystal connector  50 . 
     The foregoing embodiments are illustrative of the technical concepts and characteristics of the present invention so as to enable a person skilled in the art to gain insight into the contents disclosed herein and to implement the present invention accordingly. However, it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention. Hence, all equivalent modifications and variations made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.