US1801278A - Apparatus for producing electrical connecting elements - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1931. c. o. KNUUTI 1,801,278

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 21, 1931. c. o. KNUUTI APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 m 1 w w. H |l.l w F 7, m 1 mm QMWY Q MN 7 I A w 9w Q N\\ .Q W mN Nw .G 1 M QQ.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES OTTO KNUUTI, OF BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- PANY, I1 TCORPORATED, F NEW YORK, N. 5., A CORFGIKAZ GN OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR PRODUCZEG ELEGTEECAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS Application-filed February 19, 1929. Serial No. 341,265.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing electrical connecting elements, and more particularly to apparatus for producing short insulated strap wires for interconnecting electrical apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus whereby insulated electrical connecting elements of predetermined length may be, produced economically and with a minimum amount of manual labor. p i

In accordance with the above object there is provided in one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for producing short insulated strap wires, wherein an insulated electrical conductor is advanced from a supply thereof through a pair of open jaw members, whereupon the movement of .a hand lever in onedirection serves to close the jaw members so as to grip the conductor therebetween. A severing blade movable with oneof the jaw members severs a portion of predetermined length from the end of the conductor. By a further movement of the hand lever in the same direction the severed portion of the conductor is carried into a pair of spaced slotted knives which sever the insulation at predetermined positions spaced from the ends of the conductor and 3e thereafter move apart to strip, the severed end portions of theinsulation, thereby producing a strap wire having bared conductor 1 ends of predetermined length. Upon the release of the hand lever the parts return to their normal or starting positions, whereupon the finished strap wire is ejected and the above described cycle of operation is repeated. V r

A more complete understandingof the invention will be had from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view partly in section of an apparatus'embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section'taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, with the jaw members shown in their open positions;

Figs. 3 and 4; are fragmentary plan and 5 side elevational views, respectively, of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and l 2, with the aw members shown in theirclosed positions;

Flg. 5 1s a fragmentary plan section showing the cam which operates the jaw memhers; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a strap wire produced by the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to i 6, inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

it will be observed that a main supporting projecting upwardly from the supporting frame 10.

The upper jaw memberlt is provided at one end with a portion 18 of reduced width extending downwardly at right angles from the main portion thereof whereby it is secured to the shaft 16 so as to be rotatable therewith. The lower aw member 15 is pivoted at one end upon the shaft 16, the pivoted end thereof being bifurcated, as indicated at 19 (Fig. 3), so as to straddle the reduced portion 18 of the upper jaw member. The up per and lower jaw members are provided with cooperating semi-circular slots or grooves 20-20 for accommodating an insulated electrical conductor 22 drawn from a supply (not shown). A spring pressed pin 23 mounted in a recess 24 provided in the lower jaw memher and hearing upwardly against the bottom of the upper jaw member serves to normally hold the aw members in an open position, as shown in Fig. 2.

Arms 25 25 projecting outwardly from the bifurcated end of the lower aw member are adapted to engage adjustable stop pins 26, 26 threaded in the frame 10 for limiting the counter-clockwise movement of the lower jaw member (Fig. 2). A vertically reciprocable plunger 28bears upwardly against the 7 bottom of the lower jaw member under the pressure of a compression spring 29 whereby the lower jaw member is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the arms 25 engage the stop pins 26. A downwardly projecting arm 30 formed integral. with the upper jaw'member 14 extends through an elongated slot 31 in the frame 10 and into a notch 32 in a horizontal plunger 33 slidably journaled in the frame. A reduced end portion 34 of the plunger 33 projects outwardly from the frame and carries a roller 35 adapted to be'engaged by a face'cam 37 formed at the upper end of an operating lever 38; The lever 38 is secured to a reduced end portion of a horizontalshaft 40 rotatably journaled in the frame 10 and is provided with a suitable handle 41 positioned within convenient reach of an operator. Itwill be observed that upon the movement of the lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1), the plunger 33 is moved to the left by the cam 37 (F 2), thereby moving the upper jaw member 14 in a clockwise direction. The movement of the lever 38is limited in either direction by re silient stops 43 and 44 secured to the frame 10. Secured to an arm 45 projecting transversely from the upper'jawmember 14 is a severing. blade 46 designed and arranged to sever a predetermined length from the end of v the conductor upon the downward movement of the upper jaw-member.

A pair of verticall disposed levers 48-48 are pivoted at one end upon spaced pins 49'49 secured to the frame 10 and projectmg outwardly from the rear face thereof. It

will be noted that the frame 10 is cut away,

I as indicated at 50 (Fig. 1) to permitthe free movement of the levers 48 between the frame and the supporting standard 11; A helical spring 51 secured at opposite ends to pins 52-452 carried by the levers 48 serves to normally urge the levers toward each other against opposite sides of a cam 53 secured to a reduced end portion 54 of the shaft 40. The cam 53 is designed so. that upon the movement of the operating lever 38 in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1), the upper ends of the levers 48 are spread apart in opposition to the tension of the spring 51. The upper end of each of the levers 48 is bifurcated and carries an insulation cutting and stripping knife 56. These knives. are provided with substantially V-shaped notches 57-57 for receiving the conductor, the notcheshaving cutting edges designed'to sever the insulation on the conductor as it is inserted in the grooves by the downward movement of thejaw members as hereinafter described. It will be understood that the severed portions of the insulation are stripped from the ends of the conductor by'the knives of the strippers 56 as they are moved outwardly by the cam 53.

.A pair of oppositely disposed angular guide fingers 5858 are pivoted at one end to opposite sides of the upper jaw member 14 (Fig. 3). The free ends of the guide fingers 58 are slotted, as indicated at 59 (Fig. 4) to accommodate theinsulated conductor 22. A helical spring 60 serves to normally urge the guide fingers 58 toward each other and against stop pins 6161 secured to opposite sides of the lower jaw member 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the guide fingers 58 are spac-ed'from the jaw members so as to accommodate the stripping knives 56 therebetween. By this construction, the guide fingers 58cooperate with the jaw members 14 and 15 to prevent the bending of the conductor when it is insorted in the slots 57 of the strippers. During the stripping operation, the guide fingers 58 are moved outwardly by thestrippers .56 and are returned to their normal positions by the spring-60 upon the returnmovement A pair of ejecting members 62-62 are pivoted at their upper ends to opposite sides of an upwardly extending arm 63 formed integral with theupper jaw member 14. The upper and lower jaw members are provided with spaced slots 6464 for accommodating the lower portions of the ejecting members 62. It will be understood-by referring to Fig. 2 that the ejectingm'embers are provided with reduced lower end portions '65-65' designed to extend downwardly bethe frame 10. The construction is such that duringthe last portion of the counter-clockwise movement of the upper jaw member 14 ig. 2), the ejecting members 62 are'rocked in a counter-clockwise direction due to their engagementv withthe'pins 68, whereby the completed strap wire is ejected from the open jaw members and the cooperating guide fingers 58. After engaging the stop 44, the lever 38 is momentarily released by the operator whereupon a spring pressed plunger (Fig 1) returns the lever to its normal or starting position. I This slight movement of the lever 38 lowers the upper jaw member sufficiently to'release the ejecting members 62 from engagement with the pins 68 whereupon a leaf spring 71 returns the ejecting members to their normal positions. One end of the leaf spring 71 is secured to the arm 63 of the upper jaw member and the opposite end thereof presses against a pin 72 interconnecting the ejecting members.

Means is provided for intermittently advancing a predetermined length of the conductor 22 through the upper and lower jaw lit) with slots 7777 formed in the guide tube j 74. Gripping fingers 7878 are arranged to be freely movable in the slots 76 and 77 and are secured to the free ends of leaf springs 7 97 9 attached to the sleeve 75, the

leaf springs serving to normally hold the gripping fingers disengaged from the conductor, as shown in Fig, 1. By pressing the gripping fingers 78 toward each other the conductor is firmly gripped therebetween and may then be readily advanced through the jaw members 14 and 15 by moving the sleeve toward'the bracket 73. Movement of'the sleeve 75 is limited on the forward stroke by. the bracket 73 and its movement on the return stroke is limited by a stop collar 80 which is adjustable along the tube 7 i whereby the length of feed may be varied to produce strap wires of various lengths. A dog 81 pivoted in av slot 82 formed in the bracket 73 is arranged to grip the conductor so as to prevent movement thereof during the return movement of the sleeve 75. It will be understood, of course, that various other means may be employed for intermittently advancing the conductor. For example, the conductor may be fed by hand against a measuring stop 84 secured to the frame 10.

In the operation of the above described apparatus, a predetermined length of the ends of the conductor.

conductor is advanced through the normally open jaw members 1a and 15 and the cooperating guide fingers 58 in the manner hereinbefore described. The lever 38 is thereafter moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) thus closing the jaw members 14 and 15 and thereafter causing them to be moved downwardly (Fig. 2) to the position shown in Fig. 4. During this movement of the jaw members, a portion of predetermined length is severed from the end of the conductor by the severing blade 46 and the severed portion is inserted in the slots 57 of the strippers 56, whereupon the strippers are simultaneously moved outwardly by the cam 53, thereby stripping the insulation from the Upon the return movement of the lever 38 the strippers 56 are returned to their normal positions by the spring 51, and the jaw members 1 1 and 15 are moved upwardly by the plunger 28, the lower jaw member stopping at the position shown in Fig. 2, and the upper jaw member continuing to move upwardly until the plunger 33 reaches the end of its travel to the right. By this extra movement of the upper jaw member the completed strap wire is released and ejected by the members 62, as hereinbefore described. The lever 38 is then momentarily released whereupon itisreturned to its normal or starting position by the spring pressed plunger 70 (Fig. 1) thereby permitting the ejecting members 62 to return to their normal positions under the pressure of the spring 71.

The completed strap wires, one of which is shown in Fig. 7, comprise a central insulated portion 85 and bared conductor end portions 86-86 of predetermined length, and may be used for interconnecting parts of electrical apparatus. If desired, the stripped sections of insulation may be collected and used as insulating sleeves for lead-in wires in the manufacture of electrical coils and th like.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described is merely a convenient and useful form of'the invention which is capable of various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: i

1. In an apparatus for producinginsulated:

electrical connecting elements from an insulated electrical conductor, a pair of cooperating j aw members for gripping an end portion of the conductor, means carried by one of the jaw members for severing a portion frolnthe conductor, a pan of spaced electrical conductor, means whereby the conductor may be advanced, spaced stripping members having recesses therein for receiving the conductor, a pair of aw members (heposed between said stripping members, resilient meansfor normally holding the jaw members in an open position for receiving the conductor when advanced, means for closing the jaw members for holding the conductor and for moving the conductor into the recesses in said stripping members.

3. In an apparatus for producing an insulated electrical connecting element from an insulated electrical conductor, a pair of spaced stripping members for cutting the insulation at predetermined positions spaced from the respective ends of the conductor section, and means for moving the stripping members outwardly simultaneously to or past the ends of said section to remove the severed end portions of the insulation from the ends of the section.

4. In an apparatus for producing electrical connecting elements from an insulated electrical conductor, spaced apartstripping membershaving recesses for receiving a conductor and for cutting the insulation atthe point of reception, means for moving said stripping members with respect to the conductor for stripping the insulation from theencls thereof, and means for removing the conductor from said stripping members. Y o

5. In an apparatus for producing electrical connecting elements from an insulated electrical conductor, spaced apart'strippingmembers having recesses'for receiving a conductor and forcuttmg the 1nsulation at -the point of reception, means for moving said stripping 7 members with respect tov the conductor for "stripping the insulation from the ends thereof,means for'removing the conductor from said stripping members, and means for discharging the stripped conductor. Y

6. In anapparat'us for producing electrical 1 connecting elements from an'i'nsulated electrical conductor, spaced apart stripping members having recesses for receiving a-conductor :and for cutting the'lnsulation at the polnt of reception, means for placing the conductor in the recesses, means for moving said stripping members wlth respect to the conductor,

and means for holding the conductor against bending. I Y Y Y 7. In an apparatus for producing electrical connecting elements from an insulated elecmeans to remove simultaneously a predetermined portion of insulation from each end of the conductor to produce a straight connecting element.

10.. In an apparatus for producing an electrical connecting element from an insulated electrical conductor, a pair of members for cutting portions of the insulation on the conductor, means 'for holding the conductor in a straight line and for bringing it into engagement with the members, means for moving the membersin opposite directions relative to the conductor holding means to remove 1nsulation from each end of the conductor to producea straight connecting element, and means for ejecting the completed connecting element from said members. 7 a

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of February A. D.

1929. a 4 CHARLES OTTO KNUUTI.

trical conductor, spaced apart stripping members havingrecessesfor receiving a-conductor and for cuttmg the insulation at the point of reception, means for placing the conductor Qto hold it straight and for moving it into enconnecting elements from an insulated. electrical conductor, means for recelvmg the conductor, a gripping member normally disposed adplcent saldrecelvlng means for receiving a portion of the conductor, a plurality ductor and for bringing the conductor portion into engagement With the stripping members, and means carried by said gripping inember and cooperating With-said receiving means for severing the portion from the conductor during its movement imparted by the grippingzmember, and means for moving the stripping, members away from each other and from thegrippmgmember to remove 1nsula :tion from each end of the conductor portion.

7 '9. Inan apparatus for producing an electr calconnectmg element from an insulated electrical conductor, I a pair of stripping members, means for gripping the conductor gagement With the stripping members, and means for moving the stripping members away fromeach other and from the gripping of stripping members, means-for actuating Y said gripping member for ,gr1pp1ngthe con-

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