GB1446102A - Wire stripping and crimping apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

1446102 Wire stripping and crimping attachment; shearing ITT INDUSTRIES Inc 15 Aug 1974 [20 Aug 1973] 35964/74 Headings B3A B3W and B3Q [Also in Division H2] An attachment for a conventional press for stripping the insulation from the end portion of an insulated wire and crimping a U-section ferrule forming part of an electrical contact to the bared end portion of the wire comprises a die set consisting of a top plate 32 and bottom plate 34 for attachment respectively to a press ram 38 and a press table 42, a wire clamping mechanism 58, a wire insulation stripping mechanism 60, and a contact feeding mechanism 62. The stripping mechanism is oscillatable between a forward position adjacent to the clamping mechanism and a rearward position. The feeding mechanism sequentially feeds contacts 68 joined to a carrier strip 70 between crimping jaws, each contact having an integral U-section ferrule 72. The stripping mechanism comprises a block 124 slidable on a track 126 fixed to the plate 34. The block is movable by a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 142. The stripping mechanism includes a pair of insulation severing blades 176, 178, Fig. 7, which have opposed notches 181, 182 to define a wirereceiving opening 184. Introduction of air through a hose 198 shifts a piston 194 to move the blade 176 downwardly to sever the insulation on the wire 174. The block 124 is then shifted rearwardly to strip the severed insulation which falls through a passageway 199, Fig. 2, in the block. The severing blades are bevelled to provide cutting faces (215), (216), Fig. 10 (not shown), having cutting face angles of 45 and 75 degrees, respectively. Wires of different size or gauge may be accommodated by altering the stroke of the movable blade 176 using a shaft 218. The shaft has ramps (230), Fig. 11 (not shown), aligned with the shoulder 220 on the blade 176 and each ramp is disposed a distance from the longitudinal axis (232) of the shaft different from the other ramps. Each ramp corresponds to a standard wire gauge which is indicated by indicia about a bore 224 in the clamping mechanism. The upper crimping jaw 50 is an integral part of the connector feeding mechanism 62. The strip 70 passes through a guide 244 and through an opening in the transparent cover 74 when the ram is lowered and a connector is severed from the strip by jaw 50 and is crimped to a bared portion of the wire. When the ram rises a hook (278), Fig. 15 (not shown), engages under the contact 68 to lift the latter out of the lower jaw 52. Further upward movement of the feeding mechanism indexes the strip 70 one position to bring the next connector into alignment under jaw 50. A pneumatic/electrical control system (350), Fig. 24 (not shown), is used to operate the apparatus. Operation.-A wire 174 is inserted through an aperture 175 in the cover 174, through notch 86 in the clamping mechanism and between the blades 176, 178 until it abuts a stop member 166, Fig. 6 (not shown). A foot switch (364) is activated to open a valve (362) and close the clamping mechanism 58, the blades 176, 178 to cut the insulation, and to retract the piston 146 to shift the stripping mechanism and remove the severed insulation from the wire. A switch (164) is actuated to energize a press clutch release solenoid (366) which allows the press to move downwardly carrying a contact 68 on the strip 70 toward the jaw 52. Upon engagement with a stop 132 the jaw 50 shears the contact from the strip and the ferrule 72 is crimped to the wire 174 upon further downward movement of the ram. A rod (322), Fig. 9 (not shown), closes the switch (324) to open valve (362) and stop the flow of air to lines (352), (354) and (356). On the upward stroke of the press the hook 278 lifts the contact 68 out of the jaw 52 and the next contact is advanced under the jaw 50.