ES368320A1 - Terminal applicator for terminals in strip form - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for crimping electrical connectors 14 to the ends of wires, each connector, prior to crimping, being secured to a carrier belt 2, comprises a pair of crimping dies 186, 188 and 176, 178 relatively movable from a first open position to a second closed crimping position, means 74 for feeding the carrier belt 2 intermittently along a predetermined path to position successive leading connectors secured to the belt 2 between the dies when in their first open position, and means for moving the carrier belt laterally of the feed path when the dies are in their second closed crimping position after crimping the leading connector to a wire end, to separate the crimped connector 10 from the carrier belt 2. A feed support block 72 is slidably mounted on a fixed block 160 and is moved to the right as seen in Fig. 5 by means of a connecting rod 148 which is pivotally mounted between ears 144 on a bracket 146 and which extends through an opening in a frame section 24. The right hand end of the connecting rod 148 is pivotally connected at 150 to a lever 152 which extends upwardly and is pivoted to a bracket 153 fixed to the frame. The upper end of the lever 152 has a cam roller 154 which is engaged by a cam plate 156 mounted on the periphery of an eccentric plate 48 secured to a shaft 50. Thus during each complete revolution of the shaft 50, the cam plate 156 will cause, via the lever 152 and connecting rod 148, the feed mechanism support block 72 to move to the right as seen in Fig. 5. A retaining plate 138 is mounted on the support block 72 and is also moved to the right. In operation, the stripped end 16 of a wire is inserted into the terminal 10 and a clutch 52 engaged to drive plate 48 through a single revolution. During the initial portion of the stroke, the ram 32 moves relatively downwards until lost motion between the ram and a die holding block 192 is taken out. Thereafter the ram 32 moves a further portion of its downward stroke to crimp the terminal 10 on to the wire. During this interval, and while the crimped terminal is being held between the dies, the connecting rod 148 is moved to the right as described above thus pulling the belt 2 away from the terminal 10. The block 72 then returns to its starting position and the ram 32 moves upwardly. An ejector arm 228 then ejects the completed terminal from the crimping zone and the belt feed mechanism is actuated by connecting rod 104 to advance the belt 2 and position an uncrimped terminal between the dies. During the final portion of the cycle, the ram descends partially until the dies surround the uncrimped terminal.