Patent Publication Number: US-6212757-B1

Title: Automatic cutting and crimping apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus, and relates, more particularly, to an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus for cutting an electric wire (covered wire) to be used for a wiring harness (an assembled wire for a car) and for crimping a terminal (a compression ring) to both ends of the wire after stripping the wire of its cover at both ends. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-102354 discloses a both-end crimping apparatus for crimping both ends of a covered wire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the investigation by the present inventor, there is considered available a both-end crimping apparatus  1  as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The apparatus  1  has a supply station  3  having a large number of wire supply tubes  3   a  on a base stand  2 , as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The supply station  3  is provided to be able to move in both directions of an arrow mark e. 
     A turning arm  4  is provided at an exhaust side of the supply station  3 . The turning arm  4  is provided with clamping means (not shown) for clamping an electric wire W supplied from the supply station  3 . 
     The turning arm  4  can move (turn) freely in left and right directions as shown by an arrow mark with respect to the base stand around an axis  5 . A head portion  4   a  of the turning head  4  is designed to be positioned at a reference position H, at a maximum turn processing position J that forms a maximum turn angle with the reference position H, and at an intermediate processing position I between these two points, respectively, by the turn of the turning arm  4 . Further, the head portion  4   a  of the turning arm  4  is structured to face a wire cutting section  6 A at the reference position H. to face a covered wire stripping section  6 B at the intermediate position I, and to face a terminal crimping section  6 C at the maximum turn processing position J, respectively. 
     Further, a first carrying section  7  is provided on the base stand  2 , and this first carrying section  7  can move freely in an arrow mark n direction and an arrow mark m direction. 
     The first carrying section  7  is provided with four clamping sections of first to fourth clamping sections  7   a  to  7   d  at equal distances. The first clamping section  7   a  is moved between the reference position H and a first processing position K, the second clamping section  7   b  is moved between the first processing position K and a second processing position L, the third clamping section  7   c  is moved between the second processing section L and a third processing section M, and the fourth clamping section  7   d  is moved between the third processing section M and a fourth processing section N, respectively. 
     A second carrying section  8  is disposed at the first processing position K of the first carrying section  7 , and this second carrying section  8  can move freely in an arrow mark p direction. The second carrying section  8  has a clamping section  8   a  and can carry a clamped wire W to a position opposite to a cover stripping section  6 D by moving in the arrow mark p direction. 
     A third carrying section  9  is disposed at the second processing position L of the first carrying section  7 , and this third carrying section  9  can move freely in an arrow mark q direction. The third carrying section  9  has a clamping section  9   a  and can carry a clamped wire W to a position opposite to a cover stripping section  6 E by moving in the arrow mark q direction. 
     A clamping section  6 F is provided at the third processing position M of the first carrying section  7 , and a wire exhausting section  6 G is provided at the fourth processing section N of the first carrying section  7 . 
     Based on the above-described structure, at first, the electric wire W is supplied to the turning arm  4  from the supply station  3 , and the supplied wire W is clamped by the clamping means not shown, with the front end side of the electric wire W set in a status of being projected from the head portion  4   a  of the turning arm  4 . 
     Next, the electric wire W projected from the head portion  4   a  of the turning head  4  is cut by the wire cutting section  6 A, and the turning arm  4  is turned from the reference position H to the intermediate processing position I. 
     Next, an insulating cover member at one end terminal of the electric wire W is stripped by the cover stripping section  6 B, and the turning arm  4  is turned from the intermediate position I to the maximum turn processing position J. 
     Then, a terminal is crimped to a conductive wire of the electric wire W by the terminal crimping section  6 C, and the turning arm  4  is returned from the maximum turn processing position J to the reference position H. Thus, a terminal processing at one end side of the electric wire W finishes. 
     When the turning arm  4  has returned to the reference position H, the first carrying section  7  moves in the arrow mark m direction to position the first clamping section  7   a  at the reference position H, and the electric wire W is drawn out by a predetermined volume by the head portion  4   a  of the turning arm  4 . The first clamping section  7   a  of the first carrying section  7  clamps this drawn-out electric wire W, and the first carrying  7  moves in the arrow mark n direction to move the first clamping section  7   a  to the first processing position K. 
     Next, the clamping section  8   a  of the second carrying section  8  re-clamps the electric wire W, and the second carrying section  8  moves in the arrow mark p direction to move the electric wire W to a position near the cover stripping section  6 D. 
     Next, an insulating cover member at the other end terminal of the electric wire W is stripped by the cover stripping section  6 D, and then the second carrying section  8  returns to the original position. 
     Next, the second clamping section  7   b  of the first carrying section  7  is positioned at the first processing section K, and the second clamping section  7   b  re-clamps the electric wire W. 
     Next, the first carrying section  7  moves in the arrow mark n direction, and the second clamping section  7   b  moves to the second processing position L. 
     Next, the clamping section  9   a  of the third carrying section  9  re-clamps the electric wire W, and the third carrying section  9  moves in the arrow mark q direction to move the electric wire W to a position near the terminal crimping section  6 E. 
     Next, a terminal is crimped to the other end terminal of the electric wire W by the terminal crimping section  6 E, and thereafter the third carrying section  9  returns to the original position. 
     Next, the third clamping section  7   c  of the first carrying section  7  is positioned at the second processing position L, and the third clamping section  7   c  re-clamps the electric wire W. 
     Next, the first carrying section  7  moves in the arrow mark n direction to move the third clamping section  7   c  to the third processing position M. 
     Then, the clamping section  6 F re-clamps the electric wire W, and the electric wire W is moved to the fourth processing position N by the move of the first carrying section  7 , and the electric wire W is exhausted by the wire exhausting section  6 G. Thus, the terminal processing at the other end side of the electric wire W also finishes. 
     According to the above-described apparatus  1 , however, it is necessary to use a worm gear, a worm wheel, a belt, etc. as a mechanism for turn driving the turning arm  4 . It is generally difficult to accurately position the turning arm  4  at each position of H, I and J, because of the backlash generated between the worm gear and the worm wheel at the time of stopping the turning arm  4  at each position of H, I and J. Particularly, the move volume of the head portion  4   a  at the front end of the turning arm  4  becomes large, and thus, it is considered difficult to secure a constant level of processing quality at each position of H, I and J. 
     With a view to solving the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus capable of maintaining the processing quality at a high level by improving the precision of a stop position of an electric wire carrying unit at each part. 
     In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, there is provided an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus comprising a cutting and cover stripping section cutting an electric wire and stripping a cover of the electric wire, a terminal crimping section crimping a terminal to the electric wire, an electric wire carrying unit carrying the electric wire to the terminal crimping section by rotating around a rotary axis in a carrying direction, an elastic member applying a force to the electric wire carrying unit in a direction substantially opposite to the carrying direction, and an electric wire guiding section provided at a front end side of the electric wire carrying unit and guiding the electric wire to a send-out direction. Here, the electric wire, sent out by a predetermined volume from the electric wire guiding section to the send-out direction, reaches the cutting and stripping section, and then the electric wire is rotated in the carrying direction so as to reaches the terminal crimping section. 
     According to the above aspect, based on the above-described structure, when the electric wire carrying unit stops at each work position, the electric wire guiding section at the front end side thereof stops practically with no deviation by the force applied by the elastic member, so that the precision of the stop at each work position improves. 
     Thus, the processing precision at each work position improves, and it is possible to continuously manufacture an electric wire of high quality having a terminal securely crimped to the wire. 
     More specifically, it is preferable that the elastic member is a coiled spring wound around the rotary axis from the viewpoint of space reduction. 
     In this case, more specifically, it is preferable that one end of the coiled spring is stopped by a pin member provided in the electric wire carrying unit, and the other end of the coiled spring is stopped by a pin member provided in a case member of a reduction gear mechanism communicated with the rotary axis, from the viewpoint of a secure installation. 
     On the other hand, it is preferable that the elastic member is a tension spring applying a tensile force to the electric wire carrying unit, from the viewpoint of space saving and cost reduction. 
     In this case, more specifically, it is preferable that one end of the tensile spring is stopped by a pin member provided in the electric wire carrying unit, and the other end of the tensile spring is stopped by a pin member of a bracket member provided in a case member of a reduction gear mechanism communicated with the rotary axis, from the viewpoint of a secure installation and preventing an unnecessary increase in the size of the case of the reduction gear. 
     In other words, the rotary axis is communicated with a driving source, and the elastic member reduces the backlash between the rotary axis and the driving source. 
     Of course, the electric wire carrying member may be movable in swinging manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a whole top plan view of an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electric wire turning unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a part of the periphery of the electric wire turning unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a part of the electric wire turning unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a key part of the electric wire turning unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6A is an explanatory view for showing a status that an electric wire is before being cut by a cutting and stripping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6B is an explanatory view for showing a status that the electric wire is being cut by the cutting and stripping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6C is an explanatory view for showing a status that the electric wire is before being stripped by the cutting and stripping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6D is an explanatory view for showing a status that the electric wire is being stripped by the cutting and stripping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6E is an explanatory view for showing a status that the electric wire has been stripped by the cutting and stripping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view for showing an electric wire turning unit as a key element of an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view for showing a both-end crimping apparatus for a covered electric wire relating to an investigation by the present inventor. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     There will be explained in detail below embodiments of the present invention with reference to the appropriate drawings. 
     At first, an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus  10  is structured by the following members: a base stand  11 ; an electric wire size measuring unit A installed at the rear end of approximately the center of the base stand  11 , for measuring an electric wire W at a predetermined length and then sending the electric wire W out; an electric wire correcting unit B installed at the rear end of the electric wire size measuring unit A, for correcting a bending and other distortion of the electric wire W and then sending the electric wire W to the electric wire size measuring unit A; an electric wire turning unit C installed at the rear side of approximately the center on the base stand  11 , for carrying the electric wire W by turning; a cutting and stripping unit (a cutting and stripping section) D installed at approximately the center on the base stand  11  for cutting the electric wire W and stripping the electric wire W of its insulating cover member Wc at a cutting side of the electric wire W; a terminal crimping unit (a terminal crimping section) for one end terminal E installed at one side with respect to the center on the base stand  11 , for crimping a terminal T to one end terminal Wa of the electric wire W having been stripped by the cutting and stripping unit D; an electric wire carrying unit F installed at the other side and the front portion form the center on the base stand  11 , for carrying the electric wire W to one end of which the terminal T is crimped and which is cut with a predetermined length in such a state; and a terminal crimping unit for the other end terminal G installed at the other side on the base stand  11 , for crimping a terminal T to the other end terminal Wb of the electric wire W having been carried by the electric wire carrying unit F. 
     The above will be explained in more detail. In referring to FIGS. 2 to FIG. 5, the electric wire turning unit C as a key part of the automatic cutting and crimping apparatus  10  is structured by: a reduction gear case  20  installed on the base stand  11  and having a rotary axis  21  rotatably supported at the center; a servomotor (a driving source)  23  installed on one side wall  20   a  of the reduction gear case  20 , and having a worm gear  24  engaged with a worm wheel  22  fixed to a lower end  21   a  of a rotary axis  21 , at the front end of a rotary axis  23   a ; and an electric wire carrying unit  25  fixed to an upper end  21   b  of the rotary axis  21  projected to the outside from the center of a ceiling wall  20   b  of the reduction gear case  20 , for reciprocally carrying the electric wire W between the cutting and stripping unit D and the terminal crimping unit for one end terminal E. 
     The electric wire carrying unit  25  is structured by: an arm holder (base end)  26  having a U-shaped front surface, fixed to the upper end  21   b  of the rotary axis  21  and freely movable in left and right directions (turning); and a turning arm  27  supported freely swingingly in up and down directions by both side walls  26   a  and  26   a  projected to both sides of the base end of the arm holder  26 , via a supporting axis  28 . 
     A bolt  29  is screwed at the front side of the arm holder  26 . The turning arm  27  is pierced through a shank portion not shown of the bolt  29 . A front end  27   a  side of the turning arm  27  is always biased to the upside by a compressed coiled spring (elastic biasing member) not shown provided around the shank portion. The upward biasing of the turning arm  27  by this compressed coiled spring is restricted by a head portion  29   a  of the bolt  29 . 
     Further, the arm holder  26  is prevented from left and right oscillations (vibrations) at each stop position of an initial position (reference position) P of the electric wire carrying unit  25 , an intermediate processing position Q for a soldering, and a terminal crimping position R, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, by the biasing force of a torsion coiled spring  30 . 
     That is, specifically, a coil winding section  30   a  of the torsion coiled spring  30  is wound around the rotary axis  21 . One end  30   b  of the torsion coiled spring  30  is stopped by a pin  31  projected to the lower side of the arm holder  26 , and the other end  30   c  of the torsion coiled spring  30  is stopped by a pin  32  projected to the ceiling wall  20   b  of the reduction gear case  20 . 
     At a recessed portion  27   b  at the lower side of a front end  27   a  of the turning arm  27  shown in detail in FIG. 5, an air cylinder (a drive cylinder)  35  and a holder main body  37  for a holder  36  are fastened and fixed via a connection plate  33  and a plurality of bolts  34 . 
     This holder  36  is structured by: the holder main body  37  having a recess portion  37   a  extending in a sending direction of the electric wire W, for accommodating a front end side of a guide tube  40  and a base end side of a nozzle  43  respectively; and a lid unit  38  installed via three bolts (fastening means) so as to cover this recess portion  37   a  between both side walls  37   b  and  37   c  of the recess portion  37   a  of the holder main body  37 . 
     In this case, of the side walls  37   b  and  37   c  of the holder main body  37 , the height of the side wall  37   b  is made smaller than the height of the other side wall  37   c . With this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 4, a space S is formed between the lower side wall  37   b  and the lid unit  38 , and front end sides of a plurality of kinds of guide tubes  40  having different diameters and the base end side of the nozzle  43  are accommodated respectively between the recess portion  37   a  of the holder main body  37  and the lid unit  38 , and this can be detachably installed by one bolt  39 . 
     Screw holes  37   d  to be meshed with each bolt  39  are formed at the center on the upper surface of one side wall  37   b  of the holder main body  37  and at both sides on the upper surface of the other side wall  37   c , respectively. Further, on both sides of a large-thickness portion  38   a  of the lid unit  38  opposite to each screw hole  37   d , a pair of piercing holes  38   c  and  38   c  for piercing a shank portion  39   a  and a head portion  39   b  of the bolt  39  are formed respectively. At the center of a small-thickness portion  38   b  of the lid unit  38 , a piercing hole  38   d  is formed for piercing the shank portion  39   a  of the bolt  39 . 
     As shown in detail in FIG.  2  and FIG. 5, the guide tube  40  for inserting the electric wire W and guiding this electric wire W to its send-out direction, is structured by: a transparent tube made of an elastic resin extending from a cylinder portion  12   a  of a bracket  12  of the electric wire size measuring unit A; and an approximately cylindrical metal-made tube holder  42  communicated with the front end of the tube  41 . A recess portion  42   b  is formed at the lower side of a front end  42   a  of a holder tube  42 . A rectangular opening hole  37   e  is formed at the center of the recess portion  37   a  of the holder main body  37  (at a position opposite to the recess portion  42   b  of the holder tube  42  when accommodated in the recess portion  37   a ). Within the opening hole  37   e , there is formed a pusher section  35   b  movable in forward and backward directions, integrally formed at the upper end of a piston rod  35   a  of the air cylinder  35 . The electric wire W is measured by a pair of size measuring rollers  13  and  13 , and is sequentially sent out to the inside of the tube  41  by a pair of send-out rollers  14  and  14 . 
     Further, a nozzle (an electric wire guiding section)  43  communicated with the front end  42   a  of the tube holder  42  is structured by: a metal cylindrical nozzle main body  44  having approximately the same diameter as that of the tube holder  42 ; and a flexible tube  45  made of a closely adhered coiled spring or the like to be fixed to the inside of a cylindrical projecting portion  44   a  at the front side of the nozzle main body  44  via a bolt  46 . The front end  42   a  of the tube holder  42  of the guide tube  40  and a base end  44   b  of the nozzle main body  44  of the nozzle  43  are communicated with each other at approximately the center within the recess portion  37   a  of the holder main body  37 . The guide tube  40  and the nozzle  43  are selectively used to match the type or size of the electric wire W. 
     Further, as shown in detail in FIG.  1  and FIG. 6, the cutting and stripping unit D is structured by: a pair of upper and lower mobile units  50  and  50  for cutting and stripping the electric wire W; and a pair of upper and lower holders  53  and  53  for holding the electric wire W at the time of cutting and stripping the electric wire W. At the center of the opposite surfaces of the mobile units  50 , a cutting blade  51  is provided in projection respectively. On both sides of each mobile unit  50 , a stripping blade  52  is provided in projection. Each mobile unit  50  is set to be movable in upward and downward directions to be close to each other or apart from each other by a screw  54  rotated by a servomotor not shown, and is set movable in forward and backward directions by a screw  56  rotated by a servomotor  55 . Each holder  53  is set to be movable in upward and downward directions to be close to each other or apart from each other by a driving mechanism  57  constituted by an air cylinder and a link or the like, and is set movable in forward and backward directions by a screw  59  rotated by a servomotor  58 . 
     In FIG. 3, a reference numeral  15  denotes a terminal crimping device of the terminal crimping unit E,  16  denotes a cover stripping inspection section,  17  denotes a terminal crimping inspecting section, and  18  denotes an intermediate processing unit such as a soldering unit or the like. 
     In FIG. 4, reference numerals  35   c  and  35   d  denote air supply openings of the air cylinder  35 . By changing over the supply, the pusher section  35   b  is moved upward and downward. 
     Each of the bolts  39  and  46  is formed with a hexagonal hole at its head, and each bolt is loosened by a tool of a hexagonal wrench not shown or the like. 
     The operation of the automatic cutting and crimping apparatus  10  having the above-described structure will be explained below. 
     At first, at an initial position (a reference position and a position opposite to the cutting and stripping unit D) P of the electric wire carrying unit  25  shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire W is sent out to within the tube  41  of the guide tube  40  of the electric wire carrying unit  25 , through the electric wire correcting unit B and the pair of send-out rollers  14  and  14  of the electric wire size measuring unit A. Then, the electric wire W is further sent out by a predetermined volume from the front end (the flexible tube  45 ) of the nozzle  43  to the outside. 
     Next, in a status that the electric wire W is being sent out by the predetermined volume from the front end of the nozzle  43  to the outside, the electric wire W is held and fixed by the pusher section  35   b  of the piston rod  35   a  of the air cylinder  35  at the lower side of the front end of the electric wire carrying unit  25 . 
     Next, as shown in FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C, the electric wire W held and fixed after having been sent out by the predetermined volume from the front end of the nozzle  43  to the outside, is cut via the pair of mobile units  50  and  50  and the pair of holders  53  and  53  of the cutting and stripping unit D. Thereafter, as shown in FIG.  6 D and FIG. 6E, the electric wires W cut into two parts are stripped of their cover members Wc at both cut end sides respectively. Each arrow mark in these drawings indicates a move direction of each mobile unit  50  and each holder  53  respectively. 
     Next, the rotary axis  21  is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction through the servomotor  23 , the worm gear  24  and the worm wheel  22 , so that the electric wire carrying unit  25  is rotated by a predetermined angle, such as, for example, 45°, to the terminal crimping unit for one end terminal E side, and the nozzle  43  of the electric wire carrying unit  25  is stopped at the intermediate processing position Q such as for the soldering processing or the like. 
     Next, at the intermediate processing position Q, the front end side of the one end terminal Wa of the electric wire W after having been stripped is processed with the intermediate processing such as the soldering via the intermediate processing unit  18 . Thereafter, the electric wire carrying unit  25  is further rotated by a predetermined angle, such as, for example, 45°, to the terminal crimping unit for one end terminal E side, and the nozzle  43  of the electric wire carrying unit  25  is stopped at the terminal crimping position R. 
     Next, at the terminal crimping position R, a terminal T is crimped to the terminal Wa at one end of the electric wire W having been stripped, via the terminal pressuring-welding device  15  of the terminal crimping unit E. In FIG. 6A, a status that the terminal T is crimped in such a manner is shown for convenience. 
     Next, after the terminal T has been crimped to the terminal Wa at one end of the electric wire W, the electric wire carrying unit  25  is returned to the original reference position P. Then, the other electric wire W is further sent out by a predetermined volume via the electric wire correcting unit B and the pair of send-out rollers  14  and  14  of the electric wire size measuring unit A, and is cut by the cutting and stripping unit D. 
     Then, the cover member Wc at the side of the terminal Wb of the other end of the electric wire W is stripped and such stripped electric wire W is carried to the terminal crimping unit for the other end terminal G by the electric wire carrying unit F. And a terminal T is crimped to the terminal Wb at the other end of the electric wire W. 
     That is, by sequentially repeating the above-described process, it is possible to continuously manufacture an electric wire W by a predetermined length, with the terminals T crimped to both ends Wa and Wb respectively. 
     In the present embodiment, the electric wire carrying unit  25  for carrying and stopping the electric wire W to the reference position P, the intermediate position Q and the terminal crimping position R is always being biased by the torsion spring force of the torsion coiled spring  30  toward the pin  32  projected on the ceiling wall  20   b  of the reduction gear case  20 , when the electric wire carrying unit  25  stops at each stop position of P, Q and R. 
     Accordingly, when the electric wire carrying unit  25  stops at each stop position of P, Q and R, the oscillation of the nozzle at the front end of the electric wire carrying unit  25  is restricted effectively. In other words, even if there is a backlash between the worm gear  24  and the worm wheel  22 , the oscillation of the nozzle  43  at the front end of the electric wire carrying unit  25  is securely prevented by the torsion spring force of the torsion coiled spring  30 . Thus, a deviation of the nozzle  43  from the center of each stop position of P, Q and R can be prevented securely. 
     This leads to an improvement in the processing quality at each stop position of P, Q and R. Further, it becomes possible to manufacture a large volume of high-quality electric wires W fitted with the terminals T and rubber stoppers. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, as the precision of the reduction gear itself (the precision of the worm gear  24  and the worm wheel  22  built into the reduction gear case  20 ) is not required severely, it is possible to manufacture the automatic cutting and crimping apparatus  10  at low cost. Furthermore, as the coil winding section  30   a  of the torsion coiled spring  30  is wound around the rotary axis  21 , it is possible to reduce the space for installing the torsion coiled spring  30 , so that the electric wire turning unit C can be made smaller. 
     Next, there will be explained an automatic cutting and crimping apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, a tensile coiled spring (a tensile member)  47  is provided as a structure for restricting an oscillation of a nozzle  43  of an electric wire carrying unit  25  at each stop position of the reference position P, the intermediate processing position Q and the terminal crimping position R. 
     That is, specifically, the automatic cutting and crimping apparatus has a structure having one end  47   a  of the tensile coiled spring  47  stopped at a pin  31  projected to the lower surface of an arm holder  26  that becomes a base end of the electric wire carrying unit  25  and having the other end of  47   b  of the tensile coiled spring  47  stopped at a pin  49  at the front end of a bracket  48  stopped with a screw on a ceiling wall  20   b  of a reduction gear case  20 . The rest of the structure is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the identical structural parts are attached with identical reference numerals, with their detailed explanation omitted. 
     According to the present embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to restrict an oscillation of the nozzle  43  of the electric wire carrying unit  25  when the electric wire carrying unit  25  stops at each position of P, Q and R, so that the level of processing precision at each position of P, Q and R improves. 
     Further, as the tensile coiled spring  47  is used for restricting the oscillation of the nozzle  43 , it is possible to further reduce the cost of the apparatus as a whole. 
     In the present embodiment, it is needless to mention that as a member for restricting the oscillation when the electric wire carrying unit stops, it is possible to use an elastic member capable of applying a similar tensile force in place of the tensile coiled spring. 
     Further, in each of the above embodiments, description has been made of the case where the electric carrying unit is rotated by a total 90° from the reference position to crimp a terminal to an end of stripped electric wire. However, it is needless to mention that the rotary position of the electric wire carrying unit for crimping the terminal is not limited to 90° and the electric wire carrying unit may be freely rotated to any angle, for example, 45°. 
     It is of course also possible to implement the present invention by making various modifications within the scope and technical idea of the present invention.