Abstract:
To effect accurate positioning and avoid interference of a terminal fitting with a wire guide member. By lifting and lowering guide members  112, 113  formed with Y-shaped wire guide slots  112 F,  113 F, respectively, a wire W is brought to a terminal mounting position. The wire W and the terminal fitting mounted on the wire W will not interfere with the guide members  112, 113,  and the wire W can be more accurately positioned by the Y-shaped wire guide slots  112 F,  113 F.

Description:
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/623,280, filed in Mar. 28, 1996 which is U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,394. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for guiding a wire and, more particularly to a method and an apparatus for positioning the wire in a specified position before a terminal fitting is mounted on the wire in a terminal mounting unit. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     A terminal mounting unit, such as the continuous terminal mounting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 4-78795, has a terminal mounting position where a terminal fitting is mounted at an end of a wire. Terminal fittings can be continuously mounted at ends of wires by automatically feeding the ends of the conveyed wires to the terminal mount position. 
     When being fed to the terminal mounting unit, the ends of the wires where the terminal fittings are to be mounted need to be accurately positioned. In view of this, the applicant of the present invention proposed a wire guide for guiding a wire (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-236792). 
     The proposed wire guide comprises a guide means for guiding a wire and an elastic holding means for elastically receiving the guided wire. 
     The guide means is specifically formed by, e.g. a restricting member secured on a for feeding a wire, or a pair of clamping members for gripping the wire. Further, the elastic holding means is specifically formed by an elastic member mounted on the terminal mounting unit. The guide means is displaceable with respect to the elastic holding means. 
     The elastic holding means may get caught by the wire and/or the terminal fitting after the terminal mounting operation and while the wire is being withdrawn from the terminal mounting unit. This may lead to a lowered durability of the member forming the elastic holding means and/or a difficult maintenance. Accordingly, in the prior art mentioned above, the durability is improved by elastically holding a wire receiving member of a hard material by an elastic member mounted on the terminal mounting unit. 
     Another construction in which a wire receiving member is elastically rotated so as to avoid interference with the wire and the terminal fitting is also known (Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1-106093). 
     However, the above-mentioned wire guides cannot realize both accurate positioning and avoidance of an interference of the terminal fitting with the guide member. 
     More specifically, in the construction disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-236792, since the elastic holding means is secured on the terminal mounting unit, if the terminal fitting gets caught in the elastic holding means, either the terminal fitting or the elastic holding means is disadvantageously deformed. On the other hand, since the construction disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1-106093 is such that the wire receiving member is merely made rotatable, the accurate positioning of the wire cannot be effected. 
     Further, in the case that the clamping members for gripping a wire are adopted as the guide means, it is difficult to properly position the center of the wire in the terminal mounting position since the positioning is performed merely by gripping the clamping members. Accordingly, it is difficult to accurately position the wire. 
     In view of the problems residing in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for processing a wire which, during conveyance of the wire, can prevent the terminal fitting from getting caught in an elastic holding means and effect accurate positioning of the wire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a method for processing or guiding a wire (W) being conveyed to a processing apparatus that may be operative for mounting a terminal fitting on the wire. The method comprises the step of advancing a guide member from a retracted position. The guide member, in its retracted position, may be located under the wire and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the wire. In particular the guide member may be transversely below a wire processing position, when the wire is conveyed toward the wire processing position, such as a terminal mounting position. Thus, movement of the guide member is effective for inserting the wire into a wire guide slot of the guide member to position the end of the wire in the wire processing position. The method continues by processing the wire, in particular by mounting the terminal fitting on the wire, and releasing the wire from the guide member. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises before the step of processing, the step of elastically holding the wire by means of an elastic means in the wire guide slot, in particular in an intermediate position thereof. 
     Preferably, the step of releasing the wire comprises the step of retracting the guide member after the mounting of the terminal fitting, thereby bringing the wire out of the wire guide slot, in particular to release the wire. 
     According to the invention there is further provided an apparatus for processing a wire, in particular for guiding a wire being conveyed. The wire may be one on which a terminal fitting is to be mounted such that an end thereof is located in a wire processing position, such as a terminal mounting position. The apparatus comprises a wire processing means. The apparatus also includes a guide member which comprises a wire guide slot into which the wire to be positioned is insertable. The guide member is shiftable to a guiding position and to a retracted position. Preferably the guide member is shifted at an angle, preferably transversely to the axis of the wire. The retracted position preferably is below the terminal mounting position particularly while bringing the wire out of the wire guide slot. The apparatus also includes means for shifting the guide member between the retracted position and the guiding position. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wire guide slot is substantially Y-shaped. The guide member preferably is advanceable or shiftable to the guiding position such that the end of the wire can be located in the wire processing position, while the wire is inserted into the wire guide slot. The guide member is retractable to the retracted position, a distance a distance from and/or below the wire processing position, while the wire is brought out of the wire guide slot. 
     Preferably, there is provided an elastic member mounted on the guide member for elastically receiving the wire, preferably in an intermediate position in the wire guide slot. 
     Further preferably, the guide member comprises a first guide member being located in the vicinity of the wire processing means, in particular a terminal mounting unit. The first guide member is adapted to position the wire. The guide member preferably further comprises a second guide member being opposed to the first guide member with respect to a longitudinal direction of the wire and adapted to guide the wire into the first guide member. 
     Still further preferably, the first guide member is detachable from and/or movable with respect to the second guide member, in particular along the longitudinal direction of the wire to be processed, so as to come closer to the wire processing position. Therefore it is easily possible to adapt the wire guide slot (in particular its width) of the first member to the thickness of the wire to be processed, in particular by replacing the first guide member that has a wrong or mismatched wire guide slot with a first guide member that has a correct or adapted wire guide slot. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment, the first guide member has a width selected in accordance with the thickness of the wire to be processed, and particularly a width that is necessary and sufficient to position the wire in the wire processing means. The second guide member may have a guiding surface, in particular a curved outer shape to guide the wire to the first guide member, in particular into its wire guide slot. 
     Further preferably, the width of the wire guide slot of the first guide member is adapted to the width of the wire to be actually processed and/or wherein the width of the wire guide slot of the second guide member is adapted to the thickness of the thickest wire to be processed. 
     Still further preferably, the guide member is mounted on a detachable block, in particular being detachably mountable on an actuator. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for guiding a wire being conveyed on which a terminal fitting is to be mounted such that an end thereof is located in a terminal mounting position. The method includes the step of bringing a guide member to its retracted position below the terminal mounting position, the guide member comprising a substantially Y-shaped wire guide slot into which the wire to be positioned is inserted. The guide member further includes an elastic member being mounted on the guide member in an intermediate position of the wire guide slot for elastically holding the wire in the wire guide slot. 
     The method includes lifting the guide member when the wire is conveyed toward the terminal mounting position, thereby inserting the wire into the wire guide slot to position the end of the wire in the terminal mounting position, and lowering the guide member after the mounting of the terminal fitting, thereby bringing the wire out of the wire guide slot to release the wire. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for guiding a wire being conveyed on which a terminal fitting is to be mounted such that an end thereof is located in a terminal mounting position. The apparatus includes a guide member which comprises a substantially Y-shaped wire guide slot into which the wire to be positioned is inserted. The guide member is shiftable to a guiding position where the end of the wire can be located in the terminal mounting position while lifting the wire inserted into the wire guide slot. The guide member also is shiftable to a retracted position below the terminal mounting position while bringing the wire out of the wire guide slot. The apparatus also includes an elastic member mounted on the guide member for elastically receiving the wire inserted into the wire guide slot in the intermediate position of the wire guide slot. The apparatus further comprises means for shifting the guide member from the retracted position to the guiding position when the wire is conveyed and lowering the guide member after the mounting of the terminal fitting so as to release the wire by bringing the wire out of the wire guide slot. 
     According to the above method or apparatus, when the wire on which the terminal fitting is to be mounted is conveyed to the terminal mounting unit, the guide member is moved to the wire processing position, in particular the guide member is lifted such that the wire is inserted into the wire guide slot, thereby guiding the wire while restraining it from being bent. Accordingly, the end of the wire is brought to the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit. At this time, preferably the elastic member moves integrally with the guide member, thereby elastically receiving the wire before the mounting of the terminal fitting in the terminal mounting unit. Further, when a downward acting load is exerted on the wire during the terminal mounting operation, this load is transmitted to the elastic member and the wire is elastically lowered by a very small distance. In this way, the load is cushioned. 
     On the other hand, upon completion of the terminal mounting operation by the terminal mounting unit, the guide member is moved to the retracted position, in particular lowered to release the wire. At this time, the elastic member shifts to its retracted position integrally with the guide member, with the result that it securely parts from the wire. 
     As described above, the elastic member holds the wire W in a similar manner as and in particular with the wire guides, cushioning the load acting on the coated wire W, and is located in the guide member. Accordingly, when the guide member is displaced to its retracted position, the elastic member will not get caught by the wire or the terminal fitting mounted on the wire. On the other hand, by being lifted by the guide member, the wire conveyed to the terminal mounting unit is guided into the guide slot. Accordingly, the wire is so guided as not to be bent, and is accurately brought to the terminal mounting position. Thus, the invention has remarkable effects that the terminal fitting does not get caught in the elastic holding means during conveyance of the wire having the terminal fitting mounted thereon, and that the wire can be accurately positioned. 
     Preferably, the guide member comprises a first guide member which is located in the vicinity of the terminal mounting unit and adapted to position the wire and a second guide member which is opposed to the first guide member with respect to a longitudinal direction of the wire and adapted to guide the first guide member, the first guide member being movable with respect to the second guide member along the longitudinal direction so as to come closer to the terminal mounting position. 
     Thus, even if the terminal mounting unit is changed to the one of a different kind, the mount position of the first guide member can be so changed as to conform to the terminal mounting position of the newly set terminal mounting unit. Thus, the wire guiding device advantageously performs accurate positioning for a number of different kinds of terminal mounting units. 
     Further preferably, the first guide member has a width necessary and sufficient to position the wire in the terminal mounting unit, and the second guide member has such an outer shape that it can guide the wire to the first guide member. 
     Accordingly, the first guide member can be brought as close to the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit as possible, and the in particular coated wire can be guided to the first guide member by the second guide member, thereby advantageously restraining the wire from being bent as much as possible and thus enabling accurate positioning. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal mounting apparatus equipped with a wire guiding device as one embodiment of the invention when a guide unit of the wire guiding device is in its guiding position, 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal mounting apparatus when the guide unit is in its retracted position, 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the wire guiding device of FIG. 1, 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of an essential portion of the wire guide device of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the wire guiding device of FIG. 1 mounted on the terminal mounting unit, 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are a schematic side view and a perspective view of the wire guiding device of FIG. 1 mounted on a terminal mounting unit of so-called end feed type, and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a continuous terminal mounting apparatus incorporating the wire guiding device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First, a continuous terminal mounting apparatus according to the invention is summarily described with reference to FIG. 9 which is a schematic plan view of the apparatus incorporating a wire guiding device as one embodiment of the invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 9, the continuous terminal mounting apparatus  1  includes a pair of feed rollers  2 A,  2 B, a peeling device  10 , and a pair of terminal mounting devices  4 ,  5 . The feed rollers  2 A,  2 B feed a coated or insulated wire W drawn from an unillustrated feed roller along a wire conveyance path PH vertically extending in FIG. 9 while measuring the coated wire W. The peeling device  10  is disposed in an intermediate position along the conveyance path PH. The terminal mounting devices  4 ,  5  are spaced apart along the conveyance path PH with the peeling device  10  therebetween and adapted to mount a cramping terminal T at an end of the coated wire W. 
     The terminal mounting device  4  disposed at an upstream side of the conveyance path PH includes a movable clamp  43  for gripping the coated wire W in a position upstream from the peeling device  10  and rotating about a shaft  41  to convey an end of the coated wire W cut by the peeling device  10  to a terminal mounting unit  42 . On the other hand, the terminal mounting device  5  disposed at a downstream side of the conveyance path PH includes a plethora of movable clamps  52  for gripping the coated wire W in a position downstream from the peeling device  10  and conveying an end of the coated wire W cut by the peeling device  10  to a terminal mounting unit  51 . The movable clamps  52  are so secured on a disk-shaped index table  53  as to project radially outward therefrom. As the index table  53  turns, the movable clamps  52  convey the cut coated wires W to a terminal mounting position and then to a collecting container  6 . Between the movable clamps  52  and the peeling device  10 , there is disposed a conical guide member  7  for guiding the end of the coated wire W along the conveyance path PH. 
     The peeling device  10  includes a pair of carriers  11  which are disposed on the opposite sides of the conveyance path PH and movable closer to and away from each other in a direction normal to the extension of the conveyance path PH. Each carrier  11  carries a peeling blade  16  and a cutting blade  17 . When the carriers  11  move closer to each other, the coated wire W is cut by the cutting blade  17  and an insulation of the coated wire W is peeled by the peeling blade  16 . While the carriers  11  move closer to each other to cut the coated wire W, the movable clamp  43  and the index table  53  move away from each other along the conveyance path PH. This movement of the movable clamp  43  and the index table  53  causes the end of the coated wire W to be withdrawn from the corresponding terminal mounting units  4  and  5  after the terminal mounting operation. 
     In order to guide the ends of the coated wire W to proper positions in the respective terminal mounting devices  4  and  5 , a wire guiding device  100  of this embodiment is mounted on the downstream terminal mounting unit  51 . 
     First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal mounting unit  51  is of side feed type, and includes a base  5 A secured on a frame  5 Z of the terminal mounting device  5 , a main body  5 B integrally formed with the base  5 A, a shank unit  5 C mounted on the main body  5 B and adapted to specify a terminal mounting position where a terminal fitting is to be mounted, and a terminal feeding unit  5 E for feeding a terminal fitting T, arranged in particular in a chain of terminal fittings to the terminal mounting position specified by the shank unit  5 C. A crimper  5 H and a cutoff punch  5 J are mounted on the shank unit  5 C. Below the shank unit  5 C, an anvil  5 F and a slide cutter  5 G which are mounted on the base  5 A are opposed to each other as shown in FIG.  6 . The shank unit  5 C mounts a terminal fitting T fed on the anvil  5 F and the slide cutter  5 G is mounted on an end of a coated wire W conveyed by the index table  53 . Thus, the terminal fitting T can be secured on the end of the coated wire W while being separated from the chain. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 to  5 , the wire guiding device  100  of this embodiment includes a guide unit  110  for guiding the coated wire W and an air actuator  120  for moving the guide unit  110  upward and downward. 
     The guide unit  110  includes a detachable block  111 , first and second guide members  112  and  113  secured on the detachable block  111  by bolts. 
     The detachable block  111  is of metal and includes a substantially rectangular-shaped ceiling portion  111 A and side portions  111 B extending from the opposite longitudinal ends of the ceiling portion  111 A. The ceiling portion  111 A and the side portions  111 B are integrally or unitarily formed. A pair of notches  111 C are formed at the opposite longitudinal ends of the detachable block  111 , and a lever  111 D is mounted in each notch  111 C. The levers  111 D are rotatably supported by screws  111 E which extend in the widthwise direction from side portions of the ceiling portion  111 A and are spirally fitted into the levers  111 D, and are rotatably biased about the screws  111 E by an unillustrated spring member such that the bottom ends thereof come closer to each other. At the lower end of each lever  111  is formed an engaging claw  111 F which is engageable with a locking portion  120 E of the actuator  120  to be described later. Further, the ceiling portion  111 A of the detachable block  111  is formed with three threaded holes  111 H,  111 G as shown in FIG. 4 for fastening respective guide members  112 ,  113 , to be described later. The threaded holes  111 H,  111 G are spaced apart at specified intervals in the longitudinal direction of the ceiling portion  111 A. 
     The first guide member  112  is a substantially L-shaped metal member, and includes a mount portion  112 A to be mounted on the ceiling portion  111 A of the detachable block  111  and a guide portion  112 B extending from one end of the mount portion  112 A. 
     The mount portion  112 A is a substantially rectangular-shaped plate member and is formed with an oblong hole  112 C extending its longitudinal direction. A bolt  112 D (see FIG. 3) is inserted through the hole  112 C and spirally fitted into the threaded hole  111 G located in the center of the ceiling portion  111 A. In this way, the first guide member  112  can be secured such that its position is adjustable along the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole  112 C. 
     The guide portion  112 B is a thin plate member extending upward. A substantially Y-shaped wire guide slot  112 F which widens at its upper end is formed in the guide portion  112 B. The Y-shaped wire guide slot  112 F preferably comprises a lower portion having a constant width and an upper portion having a variable width becoming larger or widening towards the top of the wire guide slot with a constant or variable slope. In this embodiment, the guide slot  112 F has a width L 1  necessary and sufficient for the coated wire W to be inserted therethrough. Further, a width L 2  of the guide portion  112 B is set sufficient to position the coated wire W in the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit  51 . 
     The second guide member  113  includes a pair of mount portions  113 A for guiding the mount portion  112 A of the first guide member  112  therebetween, and a guide portion  113 B extending upright from ends of the mount portions  113 A. 
     Each mount portion  113 A is a plate member of a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the mount portion  112 A, and is formed with an oblong hole  113 C extending in its longitudinal direction. Bolts  113 D (see FIG. 5) are inserted through the oblong holes  113 C and spirally fitted or screwed or threadingly engaged into the threaded holes  111 H at the opposite sides of the ceiling portion  111 A. In this way, similar to the first guide member  112 , the second guide member  113  can be secured such that its position is adjustable along the longitudinal direction of the oblong holes  113 C. 
     The guide portion  113 B is a plate member having an arcuate face  113 E for receiving the coated wire W conveyed to the terminal mounting unit  51 , and a substantially Y-shaped wire guide slot  113 F which widens at its upper end for receiving the coated wire W guided by the arcuate face  113 E. The wire guide slot  113 F has preferably a similar shape as the wire guide slot  112 F. In order to facilitate guiding of the coated wire W to the guide slot  112 F of the first guide member  112 , a width L 3  of the guide slot  113 F is set larger than the width L 1  of the guide slot  112 F. Accordingly, even if the conveyed coated wire W is slightly bent or curved, it can be securely guided into the guide slot  113  and the end thereof can be guided into the guide slot  112 F. A part of the guide portion  113 B where the guide slot  113 F is formed (thin part) is thinner than a part thereof where the arcuate face  113 E is formed (thick part), thereby defining a shoulder portion  113 G therebetween. A rectangular projection  113 H thinner than the thick part is formed at the upper end corner of the thin part, contiguously with the shoulder portion  113 G. A threaded hole  113 J is formed in the projection  113 H, and a torsion spring  114  as an elastic member is mounted between the projection  113 H and a bolt  113 K formed with a hexagonal hole which is spirally fittable into the threaded hole  113 J. 
     More specifically and in a preferred construction, the torsion spring  114  includes an engaging end  114 A which substantially linearly extends, a coiled portion  114 B which is coiled clockwise in FIG. 4 with the engaging end  114 A as its base end, and a hooked portion  114 C which is formed at the other end of the coiled portion  114 B and extends in a direction normal to the extension of the engaging end  114 A. The bolt  113 K is spirally fitted into the threaded hole  113 J through the hooked portion  114 C. Accordingly, the coiled portion  114 B is mounted between the projection  113 H and the shoulder portion  113 G, and the engaging end  114 A crosses the guide slot  113 F in its intermediate position in slidable contact with the front surface of the guide portion  113 B. As a preferred result, the engaging end  114 A is capable of elastically receiving the coated wire W guided into the guide slot  113 F in the intermediate position of the guide slot  113 F. 
     A plurality of kinds of guide units  110  as described above are prepared in conformity with kinds of terminal fittings to be mounted and coated wires W. As shown in FIG. 5, those guide units  110  can be easily mounted and replaced on the air actuator  120  to be described next. 
     Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the air actuator  120  includes an air cylinder  120 A and a substantially L-shaped elevating member  120 B which is moved upward and downward by the air cylinder  120 A. 
     The air cylinder  120 A is secured, via a mount plate  120 C, on the front surface of the frame  5 Z on which the terminal mounting unit  51  is mounted. The air cylinder  120 A is adapted to move the elevating member  120 B upward and downward in synchronism with the wire conveying operation by the index table  53  and the terminal fitting mounting operation by the terminal mounting unit  51  under the control of an unillustrated controller. 
     The elevating member  120 B is provided with a block-shaped locking portion  120 E on its upper surface. The locking portion  120 E includes ear portions  120 F (only one ear portion is illustrated in FIG. 5) on its opposite side surfaces. By engaging the engaging claws  111 F (see FIG. 4) formed at the levers  111 D of the guide unit  110  with the locking portion  120 E, the guide unit  110  is mounted on the elevating member  120 B. 
     In the above construction, when the coated wire W on which the terminal fitting T is to be mounted is conveyed to the terminal mounting unit  51 , the guide unit  110  moves upward as shown in FIG.  1  and the coated wire W is guided into the guide slots  112 F,  113 F while restraining it from being bent. This enables the coated wire W to be accurately brought to the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit  51 . At this time, the engaging end  114 A of the torsion spring  114  is displaced integrally with the guide unit  110 , thereby elastically receiving the coated wire W before the terminal fitting T is mounted by the terminal mounting unit  51 . If a downward acting load is exerted on the coated wire W during the terminal mounting operation, this load is transmitted to the engaging end  114 A of the torsion spring  114  and the coated wire W is moved downward by a very small distance to cushion the load. 
     On the other hand, upon completion of mounting of the terminal fitting T by the terminal mounting unit  51 , the guide unit  110  moves downward as shown in FIG. 2, thereby releasing the coated wire W. At this stage, the engaging end  114 A of the torsion spring  114  is displaced to its retracted position integrally with the guide unit  110 , with the result that it can securely part from the coated wire W. 
     As described above, in the construction of this embodiment, the engaging end  114 A of the torsion spring  114  holds the coated wire W in a similar manner and in particular together with the wire guide members, cushioning the load acting on the coated wire W, and is located in the guide unit  110 . Accordingly, when the guide unit  110  is displaced to its retracted position, the engaging end  114 A will not get caught by the coated wire W or the mounted terminal fitting T. On the other hand, by being lifted by the guide unit  110 , the coated wire W conveyed to the terminal mounting unit  51  is guided into the respective guide slots  112 F and  113 F by the arcuate face  113 E formed on the second guide member  113 . Accordingly, the coated wire W is so guided as not to be bent, and the end thereof is accurately positioned in the terminal mounting position. Thus, this embodiment has remarkable effects that the terminal fitting T does not get caught in the elastic holding means during conveyance of the coated wire W having the terminal fitting T mounted thereon, and that the coated wire W can be accurately positioned. 
     Further, the first guide member  112  can be located as close to the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit  51  as possible, and the coated wire W can be guided to the first guide member  112  by the second guide member  113 . Thus, in this embodiment, the bending of the coated wire W is restrained as much as possible, thereby enabling accurate positioning. 
     Furthermore, in the construction of this embodiment, the first guide member  112  is movable closer to the terminal mounting position with respect to the second guide member  113 . Accordingly, even if the terminal mounting unit  51  is of so-called end feed type in which terminal fittings T are fed along their longitudinal direction as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mount position of the first guide member  112  can be so changed as to conform to the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit  51  by changing the relative position of the oblong hole  112  and the bolt  112 D. Accordingly, the wire guiding device  100  advantageously performs accurate positioning for a number of different kinds of terminal mounting units  51 . It should be appreciated that since the construction of the terminal mounting unit of FIGS. 7 and 8 is similar to that of FIGS. 1 to  6 , no description is given to elements corresponding to those of the terminal mounting unit of FIG. 1 by identifying them by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 6. 
     Further, in the construction of this embodiment, the guide portion  112 B of the first guide member  112  has a width L 2  necessary and sufficient to position the coated wire W in the terminal mounting position of the terminal mounting unit  51 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the guide portion  112 B can be located as close to a mold (e.g. anvil  5 F) as possible by being fitted in a narrow space, with the result that the coated wire W can be accurately positioned. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       51  . . . Terminal Mounting Unit 
       100  . . . Wire Guiding Device 
       110  . . . Guide Unit (Guide Member) 
       112  . . . First Guide Member 
       112 F . . . Wire Guide Slot 
       113  . . . Second Guide Member 
       113 F . . . Wire Guide Slot 
       114  . . . Torsion Spring (Elastic Member) 
       120  . . . Air Actuator (Guide Member Elevating Means)