Patent ID: 7124499

Claim:
An apparatus for installing a length of wire between two crimps, the apparatus comprising: a wire output guide; a crimp punch tool located in front of the wire output guide; a first actuator operatively connected to the crimp punch tool; a wire cutter tool adjacent to the crimp punch tool; a second actuator operatively connected to the wire cutter tool; and a wire gripper including: a wire gripper actuator having a movable part with a free end, the movable part being selectively movable between an elongated position and a retracted position, wherein the wire gripper actuator is a pneumatic linear actuator connected to a pneumatic source; a seat in registry with the free end; wherein the wire is held by frictional engagement between the free end of the movable part and the seat when the movable part is at the elongated position, and wherein the wire gripper actuator includes: a position sensor located on the wire gripper actuator, the position sensor generating signals indicative of the position of the free end with reference to the seat; a flow regulator operatively connected to the wire gripper actuator; and a bypass valve selectively movable between an opened and a closed position in response to the signals received from the position sensor; whereby the bypass valve is moved to the opened position when the free end of the wire gripper actuator is proximate the seat.