Patent Application
20120096916
The subject matter herein relates generally to wire termination machines.
Termination machines are known for terminating terminals to wires, such as by a crimping process. The termination machines include a motor that drives a terminator ram along a termination stroke. The terminator ram is connected to an applicator ram and drives the applicator ram along a crimp stroke. The applicator ram holds crimp tooling and drives the crimp tooling along the crimp stroke to terminate the terminal to the wire.
Known termination machines are not without disadvantages. For instance, the connection between the applicator ram and the terminator ram may be difficult and time consuming to achieve. Typically, the connection is what is referred to as a fixed hook style connection in which an end of the applicator ram has a hook or channel formed in the top. The end of the terminator ram is loaded into the channel from the side and slid into position. The channel has tight tolerances to maintain a fixed joint between the applicator ram and the terminator ram, and thus it may be difficult to feed the end of the terminator ram into the channel. Additionally, the space between the terminator and the applicator may be limited, and placement of crimp height adjustment dials may be restricted. The dials tend to be small, making it difficult to see the dials and making fine adjustments difficult.
A need remains for a connection device for connecting applicator rams and terminator rams quickly and easily. A need remains for a more visible and practical fine wire crimp height adjustment.
In one embodiment, an applicator ram is provided having a ram body configured to hold crimp tooling, and a ram adaptor coupled to the ram body. The ram adaptor is configured to be coupled to a terminator ram. The ram adaptor includes an adaptor hub having a hub chamber configured to receive a ram post of the terminator ram. A latch mechanism is movably received in the hub chamber. The latch mechanism is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch mechanism is configured to engage the ram post in the latched position. The latch mechanism allows the ram post to be released from the hub chamber in the unlatched position. An adaptor stud extends from the adaptor hub and is configured to be coupled to the applicator ram.
In another embodiment, an applicator ram is provided having a ram body that holds a crimp tool. The applicator ram also includes a ram adaptor coupled to the ram body that has a spring loaded latch mechanism configured to lock onto a terminator ram post. The latch mechanism is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch mechanism is configured to engage the terminator ram post in the latched position. The latch mechanism allows the terminator ram post to be released in the unlatched position.
In a further embodiment, an applicator is provided having an anvil positioned within a crimping zone. The applicator also includes an applicator body that has a ram chamber. The applicator body is positioned proximate to the crimping zone. An applicator ram is movably received in the ram chamber. The applicator ram is driven in the ram chamber by a terminator ram during a crimp stroke. The applicator ram has crimp tooling coupled thereto and is driven by the applicator ram along the crimp stroke within the crimping zone toward and away from the anvil. The applicator ram has an adaptor bore that extends into the applicator ram. A ram adaptor is coupled to the applicator ram and is releasably coupled to the terminator ram. The ram adaptor includes an adaptor stud received in the adaptor bore and coupled to the applicator ram. The ram adaptor includes an adaptor hub coupled to the ram stud. The ram adaptor includes a spring loaded latch mechanism received in the adaptor hub and being configured to lock onto a terminator ram post. The latch mechanism is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, where the latch mechanism engages the terminator ram post in the latched position and allows the terminator ram post to be released in the unlatched position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the applicator 100 is configured to be coupled to a terminator ram 112 of a terminator or termination machine (not shown). The terminator ram 112 is driven through a termination stroke by the terminator. During the termination stroke, the terminator ram 112 is driven along a linear path in a vertical direction, shown by the arrow A. The terminator ram 112 is illustrated in an uncoupled position in
The applicator 100 includes an applicator body 130 having a ram chamber 132 therein. The applicator body 130 has a top 134 and a bottom 136. The ram chamber 132 extends between the top 134 and the bottom 136. The applicator body 130 includes a first side 138 and a second side 140. The feeder 110 is provided at the second side 140 and feeds the terminals in a feeding direction generally from the second side 140 to the first side 138. The applicator body 130 has a front 142 and a rear 144. In the illustrated embodiment, the front 142 is open to the ram chamber 132.
An applicator ram 150 is received in the ram chamber 132. The applicator ram 150 is configured to be coupled the terminator ram 112, as described in more detail below. The applicator ram 150 is movable within the ram chamber 132 along a crimp stroke by the terminator ram 112. The applicator ram 150 is movable in a linear direction along a vertical path, in the direction of arrow A. The applicator ram 150 is raised and lowered within the ram chamber 132 during the crimp stroke. The crimp tooling 106 is coupled to a side 152 of the applicator ram 150.
During operation, as the applicator ram 150 is moved through the crimp stroke, the applicator ram 150 raises and lowers the crimp tooling 106 along the crimp stroke within the crimp zone 108. As the crimp tooling 106 is pressed downward toward the anvil 102, the terminal may be terminated to the wire. As the crimp tooling 106 is raised away from the anvil 102, the terminal may be released from the crimp tooling 106 and/or the anvil 102 and replaced with another terminal and wire.
In an exemplary embodiment, the applicator ram 150 includes a crimp height adjustment mechanism 153 for adjusting the vertical position of the applicator ram 150 with respect to the applicator body 130, which also controls the vertical position of the crimp tooling 106 with respect to the stationery anvil 102. For example, raising the applicator ram 150 with respect to the applicator body 130 raises the crimp tooling 106 with respect to the anvil 102. Conversely, lowering the applicator ram 150 with respect to the applicator body 130 lowers the crimp tooling 106 with respect to the anvil 102, thus affecting the crimp height for the terminal. In the illustrated embodiment, the crimp height adjustment mechanism 153 constitutes a dial that may be rotated to change the position of the applicator ram 150.
The applicator ram 150 includes a ram adaptor 160 coupled to a top 162 of the applicator ram 150. The ram adaptor 160 is configured to be releasably coupled to the end portion 116 of the ram post 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the ram adaptor 160 defines a quick connect/quick disconnect connector between the applicator ram 150 and the terminator ram 112. The ram adaptor 160 is spring loaded and may be quickly latched to, and unlatched from, the ram post 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the ram adaptor 160 defines a jam style connector that allows the terminator ram 112 to be plugged directly into the applicator ram 150 by pressing or jamming the ram post 114 into the ram adaptor 160 or pressing or jamming the ram adaptor 160 onto the ram post 114. The ram adaptor 160 is configured to be latched to the terminator ram 112 and may be quickly and easily released from the terminator ram 112, as described in further detail below.
The applicator ram 150 has an adaptor bore 166 extending into the applicator ram 150 from the top 162. Optionally, the adaptor bore 166 may extend entirely through the applicator ram 150. The ram adaptor 160 is configured to be received in the adaptor bore 166. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptor bore 166 is threaded and the ram adaptor 160 is threadably coupled to the applicator ram 150 within the adaptor bore 166. The ram adaptor 160 may be secured to the applicator ram 150 by alternative means using alternative securing features or processes in alternative embodiments.
In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator ram 150 includes tabs 168 extending from one of the sides of the ram body 163. The tabs 168 define a receiving space therebetween that receives that crimp tooling 106 (shown in
The ram adaptor 160 includes an adaptor hub 170 and an adaptor stud 172 configured to be coupled to the adaptor hub 170. The adaptor stud 172 may be integrally formed with the adaptor hub 170 in an alternative embodiment. A latch mechanism 174 is coupled to the adaptor hub 170 using a latch retainer 176. A calibration device 178 is coupled to the adaptor hub 170 for controlling a relative position of the adaptor hub 170 with respect to the applicator ram 150, as described in further detail below. The calibration device 178 may be integrally formed with the adaptor hub 170 in an alternative embodiment.
The adaptor stud 172 includes a head 180 and a shaft 182 extending from the head 180. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 182 is threaded such that the adaptor stud 172 may be threadably coupled to the applicator ram 150 within the adaptor bore 166. The adaptor stud 172 includes an internal bore 184 extending into the head 180 and/or the shaft 182. The internal bore 184 is configured to receive a portion of the adaptor hub 170 to couple the adaptor hub 170 to the adaptor stud 172. Optionally, the internal bore 184 may be threaded. Alternatively, the internal bore 184 may include crush ribs or other features to create an interference fit with the adaptor hub 170 to secure the adaptor hub 170 to the adaptor stud 172.
In an exemplary embodiment, a height adjustment washer 186 may be provided between the adaptor hub 170 and the adaptor stud 172. The height adjustment washer 186 has a thickness or height 188. The height adjustment washer 186 controls the relative position between the adaptor hub 170 and the adaptor stud 172. In an exemplary embodiment, a family of height adjustment washers 186 may be provided, with each member of the family having a different height 188. One of the family members may be selected and positioned between the adaptor hub 170 and the adaptor stud 172. Depending on the height 188 of the height adjustment washer 186, the position of the adaptor hub 170 with respect to the adaptor stud 172 may be adjusted. Such adjustment controls the position of the applicator ram 150 with respect to the terminator ram 112 (shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft 182 includes a plurality of upper threads 192 and a plurality of lower threads 194 separated by a gap 196 that does not include any threads. The gap 196 provides a feature that allows the vertical position of the adaptor stud 172 to be controlled and adjusted within the adaptor bore 166, as will be described in further detail below. A height of the gap 196 may be selected to control an amount of adjustment of the adaptor stud 172.
The adaptor hub 170 includes a hub chamber 200 that receives the latch mechanism 174 and the ram post 114 (shown in
The calibration device 178 is secured to the adaptor hub 170 using set screws 204. The calibration device 178 has a generally circular shape with an opening 206 therethrough. The calibration device 178 and the adaptor hub 170 together define the crimp height adjustment mechanism 153. A portion of the adaptor hub 170 extends through the opening 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the calibration device 178 constitutes a dial that may be rotated to simultaneously rotate the adaptor hub 170. The height or vertical position of the ram adaptor 160 with respect to the applicator ram 150 may be precisely controlled by rotating the calibration device 178.
In an exemplary embodiment, when assembled, rotation of the calibration device 178 causes rotation of the adaptor hub 170, which also rotates the adaptor stud 172 to adjust the relative position of the ram adaptor 160 with respect to the applicator ram 150. The calibration device 178 includes markings or indicators 210 along an outer perimeter 212 of the calibration device 178. The indicators 210 provide a visual indication of the position of the calibration device 178 with respect to the applicator ram 150. The calibration device 178 has a large diameter, which may be approximately equal to the size of the top 162 of the applicator ram 150. Having such a large diameter allows the indicators 210 to be spread out around the outer perimeter 212, which allows for good visibility of the indicators 210 and easier fine crimp height adjustment.
The rotational position of the calibration device 178 with respect to the applicator ram 150 may be changed to control a relative position of the adaptor hub 170 with respect to the ram body 163. The calibration device 178 is incrementally dialed to control a threaded position of the adaptor stud 172 with respect to the ram body 163 because rotation of the calibration device 178 and the adaptor hub 170 causes rotation of the adaptor stud 172. In an exemplary embodiment, rotation of the calibration device 178 may be controlled incrementally using a pin 214 that is spring loaded against the bottom 208 of the calibration device 178. The pin 214 includes tip 216 that is received in the teeth on the bottom 208 of the calibration device 178. The pin 214 may ensure incremental movement of the calibration device 178 by ensuring the calibration device 178 stops at incremental or predetermined locations with respect to the tip 216. In an exemplary embodiment, the calibration device 178 may be rotated at 0.1 mm increments, with the pin 214 controlling the stepping or incremental movement of the calibration device 178. An audible and/or tactile click may be heard and/or felt as the calibration device 178 is rotated, which is caused by the engagement of the pin 214 with the calibration device 178.
The latch mechanism 174 is slidably received in the hub chamber 200. The latch mechanism 174 includes a base 220 and a lever 222 extending from the base 220. The latch mechanism 174 is received in the hub chamber 200 such that the base 220 rests upon a support surface 224 defined by one of the horizontal surfaces of the hub chamber 200. The base 220 is slidable in a horizontal direction along the support surface 224. The vertical surfaces of the hub chamber 200 define stops for movement of the latch mechanism 174 within the hub chamber 200.
In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptor hub 170 includes pockets 226 (shown in phantom in
The latch retainer 176 holds the latch mechanism 174 within the hub chamber 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch retainer 176 is secured to the adaptor hub 170 using fasteners 232. The latch mechanism 174 is slidable within the hub chamber 200 between the latch retainer 176 and the support surface 224 of the hub chamber 200.
The base 220 includes an opening 234 therethrough. The opening 234 receives the ram post 114 (shown in
Once the ram adaptor 160 is assembled, the ram adaptor 160 is loaded into the adaptor bore 166. The shaft 182 is threadably coupled to the threads of the adaptor bore 166. A set screw 242 is coupled to the applicator ram 150. An end 244 of the set screw 242 extends into the adaptor bore 166 and engages the shaft 182 of the adaptor stud 172. The end 244 is received in the gap 196 between the upper and lower threads 192, 194. The gap 196 is thicker than the set screw 242 to allow the adaptor stud 172 to move longitudinally within the adaptor bore 166 (e.g., vertically within the adaptor bore 166). The height of the gap 196 defines the range of motion of the adaptor stud 172 within the adaptor bore 166.
Rotation of the ram adaptor 160 causes relative movement between the ram adaptor 160 and the applicator ram 150. The adaptor stud 172 may be moved within the adaptor bore 166 until the set screw 242 tops out against the upper threads 192 or bottoms out against the lower threads 194. In the illustrated embodiment, the ram adaptor 160 range of motion of approximately 360° from the set screw 242 topping out against the upper threads 192 and then bottoming out against the lower threads 194. In an exemplary embodiment, 360° of rotation equates to approximately 1.5 mm of travel for the ram adaptor 160 with respect to the applicator ram 150. The ram adaptor 160 may have more travel in alternative embodiments, such as by having a wider gap 196.
During assembly, the terminator ram 112 is plugged into the ram adaptor 160 to couple the applicator ram 150 to the terminator ram 112. The end portion 116 of the ram post 114 is received in the hub chamber 200. The hub chamber 200 includes an upper chamber 246 and a lower chamber 248. The latch mechanism 174 separates the hub chamber 200 into the upper chamber 246 and the lower chamber 248. The flange 120 is received in the lower chamber 248 and captured below the latch mechanism 174. The latch mechanism 174 latches onto the ram post 114 to secure the ram post 114 within the ram adaptor 160. In the latched position, the opening 234 in the base 220 is mis-aligned, or offset, with respect to the flange 120 of the ram post 114. The base 220 of the latch mechanism 174 is received in the post cavity 118. The latch mechanism 174 secures the ram post 114 within the ram adaptor 160 by capturing the flange 120 below the base 220. The shoulder 122 of the flange 120 is captured below the base 220. The base 220 has a catch surface 250 that is positioned vertically above a portion of the flange 120. Removal of the ram post 114 from the ram adaptor 160 is restricted by the latch mechanism 174.
During assembly, the ram post 114 may be jammed into the hub chamber 200 without actuating the lever 222. As the ram post 114 engages the base 220, the latch mechanism 174 may automatically slide to the unlatched position, in which the opening 234 is aligned with the ram post 114. The walls of the base 220 surrounding the opening 234 are ramped to operate as a wedge to force the latch mechanism 174 to shift laterally as the ram post 114 is jammed into the opening 234. Once the flange 120 clears the base 220, the latch mechanism 174 may be automatically returned to the latched position by the springs 228 (shown in
The latch mechanism 174 is movable between a latched positioned (shown in
During operation, movement of the terminator ram 112 along the termination stroke causes the applicator ram 150 to move along the crimp stroke. For example, as the terminator ram 112 is lifted upward, the shoulder 122 engages the bottom of the base 220 and lifts the ram adaptor 160 and applicator ram 150. During the downward portion of the termination stroke, the ram post 114 forces the ram adaptor 160 and the applicator ram 150 in a downward direction.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
