Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to apparatus for applying
a tubular insulating housing to an electrical terminal
secured to the end of a wire.
One such terminal is formed from sheet metal with
a central web portion opposite lateral edges of which are
rolled over axially of the wire to define a pair of
spring arms having free ends which co-operate with the web
resiliently to grip a tab inserted between the arms and
the web.
A problem encountered with such apparatus is in
accurately supporting the terminal in alignment with the
pod immediately prior to application of the housing. This
problem may be exacerbated ~here the terminal is of small
size.
In a prior apparatus, described in our Canadian
B Patent No, 898498 ~7't, a terminal su~port comprises
a pair of parallel fingers having notched ends each o
which engage in and behind respecti~e spring rolls. A
housing support is moved axially towards the terminal
support to force the housing over the terminal via the
terminal front end.
A disadvantage of such apparatus is the difficulty
in positioning (and retaining) the terminal on the fingers
of the support which must often be done manually. Further-
more, axial strain imposed on the wire to locate or retain
the terminal on the support may result in tilting the free
~ end of the terminal out of alignment with the housing.
; According to the ~nvention, apparatus for appl~in~
a tu~ular insulating housing to an electrical terminal
secured to the end of a wlre comprises first and secon~ -
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axiall~ spaced pairs of jaws overlying a terminal supporting
bed, the jaws being relatively movable together transversely -
across the bed to grip opposite lateral sides of a
terminal and ~7ire immediately behind the terminal respect-
ively, ~aws of the first pair of jaws being of generally
V transverse cross-section to raise the terminal above the
bed and to adjust precisely the transverse and rotational .
orientation of the terminal during engagement by the ja~ts,
means to locate a housing in axial alignment with the
terminal and means relatively to move the housing and
the terminal towards each other, the jaws of the first pair
of jaws being separable on initial recei~t of a free end
of the terminal in the housing to permit complete
insertion of the terminal into the housing.
After release of the first jaws the termina1 is
restrained from axial movement with the housing during
the final stages of insertion only by the wire gripped
by the second pair of jaws.
A specific example of apparatus according to the
Zo invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which~
Figure 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of the
apparatus;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 2-2
of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3
of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4
:- of Figure 1;
Figuxe 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5
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of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan vie~l; and
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7
of Figure 1.
The apparatus comprises a rectangular base plate 11
carrying a channel section first support block 12 and
a second support block 13 located forwardly of the first
support block and a through bore 14 axially aligned with
the channel 15 of the first support block. The channel
15 is covered by a plate 19 and an upper part of the
second support block has a channel section 16 extendin~ -
into a for~Jardly projecting part 17 also covered by a
plate 18.
A first paix of jaw blocks 21 are mounted for limited
transverse sliding movement together and apart on plate 19
and are biased together by compression springs 22.
Adjacent ends of the blocks have opposed grooves 23
receiving a plate 24 providing a terminal support bed
and opposed V-section jaws 25 overlying the plate 2
Adjacent rear faces of the blocks are chamfered at
locations below the grooves to provide cam surfaces 26.
A second pair of jaw blocks 31 are mounted for limit~d
transverse sliding movement together and apart on block
. 13 and are biased together by tension spring 32. Wire
gripping jaws 34 are carried by respective bloc]cs and
overlie plate 18. Adjacent rear faces of the blocks are
chamfered providing cam surfaces 33.
A front cover plate 36 is secured to block 13 and
is rebated to accommodate spring 32 and a guide plate 37.
Parallel, axially extending frame members 38 define with
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the plate 24 a channel covered by a guide plate 40 and
open at a top to a pod housing delivery chute 42 carried
by a support 43. A housing insertion ram 44 is mounted
for reciprocal movement alon~ the channel and is connected
through a sleeve mounted return spring 45 to a pneumatic
piston and cylinder 46 carried by bracket supports 49
fixed to base plate 11. A first terminal jaw opening ram
47 having a camming leading end 48 is fixed to a lower ~ .
side of the ram 44 which is rebated at 50 to pxovide a ~ .
clearance for the plate 24.
A second terminal jaw opening ram 52 having a camming
leading end 53 is mounted for relative sliding movement
between the ~irst jaw opening ram 4.4 and plate 19 and is .
connected by an actuating pin 54 to a second pneumatic :
plston and cylinder 55 carried by bracket supports 49.
A third wire jaw opening ram 56 ~s mounted for : -
axial movement on an end of actuating pin 45 which extends
through bore 14 and channel 15 to the pneumatic cylinder
55. A compression return spring 57 is located between an
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enlarged cam head 58 on the ram and a shoulder on the
actuating pin.
Guard plates 61 are mounted on the front o the
apparatus on each side of the jaws and guards 62,63 are
mounted on the base plate on each side of the actuating
pin and return spring.
In operation of the apparatus, a terminal attached
to the end of a wire is laid on and generallv parallel to
the bed bet~een the separated jaws of each pair. The jaws
are then permitted to close by release of pressure from
cylinder 55, the irst jaws grippLng the terminal and the
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second jaws qripping the wire immediately hehind the
terminal. During closure, the first jaws raise the
terminal from the bed and orientate the terminal accurately
as a result of their V-section. The ram 44 is then
advanced by the first piston and cylinder to push a housing
fed by the chute over the free end of the terminal. On
initial receipt of the free end of the terminal in the
housing, the first jaws are separated by engagement
between camming end 48 of ram 47 and cam surfaces 26 on
jaw blocks 21 to release the terminal to permit complete
insertion of the termlnal into the housing, the terminal
being restrained from rearward axial movement during the
final stages of insertion only by the wire gripped by the
second jaws. After complete insertion, the second and
third jaw opening rams are operated during retraction of
the housing ram to separate the second jaws releasing the
wire and terminal and to retain the first jaws separated to
permit location of a further terminal between the jaws.
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