Claims
- 1. Apparatus for inserting wires into the wire-receiving portions of terminals in an electrical connector, said connector being of the type having said wire-receiving portions arranged in a row which extends from one end of the connector to the other end thereof, said machine having a stationary frame, insertion tooling in said frame which is reciprocable along a first path, a carriage in said frame which is reciprocable along a second path which extends normally of said first path, connector holding means on said carriage for holding said connector, indexing means for indexed movement of said holder on said second path through said tooling, and a cable clamp for clamping a cable containing wires which are to be connected to terminals, said apparatus being characterized in that:
- said cable clamp is movable relative to said insertion tooling from an initial position to a final position, said clamp being in alignment with and spaced from said tooling in said initial position and spaced from a connector in said holding means, said clamp being proximate to said connector in said final position and displaced along said second path from said insertion tooling,
- cam means and linkage for moving said clamp during indexing of said connector, said cam means comprising a cam follower carried by said clamp and interengaged with a guide cam effective to move said clamp towards said connector during insertion of the wires to the terminals between one end of said row and a midpoint thereof, and being effective to move said clamp parallel to said connector during insertion of the wires to the terminals between said midpoint and the other end of said row, said linkage comprising a first link arm between said clamp and said carriage, said link arm being pivotally connected to said clamp and pivotally connected to said carriage.
- 2. Apparatus comprising stationary wire insertion tooling, indexing means, a holder for an electrical connector linked to said indexing means for indexed traverse of said connector with respect to said insertion tooling and for successive indexed alignment of the terminals of said connector with said insertion tooling, said wire insertion tooling being operative for connecting individual wires with respective said terminals, and a cable clamp movable with respect to said insertion tooling for clamping a multiple wire cable during connection of the individual wires thereof with said terminals, said clamp carrying a cam follower interengaged with a guide cam which limits said clamp to movement transversely and longitudinally of the direction of movement of said connector during said indexed traverse of said connector with respect to said insertion tooling.
- 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, characterized in that said clamp is pivotally connected to a first link arm, and a pivotal connection is provided between said first link arm and said holder for said electrical connector.
- 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, characterized in that said guide cam comprises a transverse section for indexed traverse of said cam follower and said clamp transversely of said connector holder and a longitudinal section for indexed traverse of said cam follower and said clamp longitudinally of said traverse of said connector holder, one end of said transverse section being continuous with one end of said longitudinal section, whereby said clamp can be moved transversely and longitudinally of said traverse of said connector holder.
- 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, characterized in that said holder is mounted on an elongate slide proximate one end thereof, said first link arm being pivotally connected to a yoke mounted on said slide proximate the other end thereof.
- 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, characterized in that said indexing means is operative on said slide.
- 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, characterized in that said clamp and cam follower are pivotally mounted on a second link arm, said second link arm being pivotally connected to said yoke.
- 8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, characterized in that said clamp and cam follower are pivotally mountable to said second link arm in either of two positions, whereby two orientations of said clamp relative to said holder are possible.
- 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, characterized in that said yoke is mountable to said slide in a plurality of positions along the length thereof proximate the end thereof, whereby the position of said clamp and said cam follower along said guide cam is adjustable independently of said indexing means.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 298,132 filed Aug. 31, 1981, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
298132 |
Aug 1981 |
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