US2163716A

US2163716A - Electric connector plug assembling machine

Info

Publication number: US2163716A
Application number: US3673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell J Turner
Original assignee: Belden Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Belden Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1935-01-26
Filing date: 1935-01-26
Publication date: 1939-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1956-06-27

Description

June 27, 1939. R. J. TURNER ELECTRIC CONNECTOR PLUG ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l haw/1507".- .ELLSSQMJZUVZQT' June 27, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1935 0 w lv Z 2, WW 7 7 3 3 a w w 3 w a 0 .0 w Z w fi J J y 7 C 4 x x 2 m H 3 g a 4 Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTOR PLUG ASSEBIBLING MACHINE Russell J. Turner, Butler, Pa., assignor to Belden Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,673

11 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for assembling electrical connector plugs and more particularlyto a device for assembling the prongs of a male type electrical connector plug with a body of resilient material such as rubber, which is pro-formed with passageways for receiving and positioning the contactprongs.

The main object of the invention is to provide mechanism for assembling a body part and contact prongs of the type referred to conveniently, rapidly and inexpensively so as to facilitate the production of resilient rubber or like connector plugs on a practical commercial basis.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (two sheets), wherein there is illustrated mechanism for the purpose indicated according to one simple form of the invention.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the axis and prongs of an electrical connector plug, the assembling of which is theobject of the mechanism herein disclosed;

Fig '2 is a side elevation of a simple form of mechanism for the purpose indicated;

Fig. 3 is a. perspective of a plug body holding portion of the mechanism; and

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary plans respectively illustrating successive steps or positions of the mechanism in the operation of assembling a connector plug of the type shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the connector plug illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a body which is formed of resilient material, preferably rubber or rubber compound, which is soft enough to be distortable and resilient enough to have the property of resuming its normal pre-formed shape (or at least as nearly resuming the same as possible) from any distorted position or condition.

Electrical contact prongs are designated II, II. They are provided neartheir outer ends with holes l2, l2, substantially in accord with more or less standardized practice. The inner end portions I3, l3 of the contact prongs are positioned in the body l'fl in recesses l4, M which are formed in the body during the molding thereof. The recesses l4, l4 do not extend entirely through the plug but terminate within theplug body so as to form seats l5, I5 adapted to engage the inner ends of the prongs to prevent the prongs from being pushed rearwardly through the plug body.

The prong receiving recesses l4, l4 open to the front end of the plug body and the opposite or rear end of the latter is provided with a recess or passage 5 which is designed to receive the end portion of a duplex conductor. The wires I1, I! of said duplex conductor are respectively con nected, as indicated at l8, IE to the inner end portions of the contact prongs. One mode of connecting the wires H, I! to the contact prongs may consist in projecting end portions of the bared wires through suitable openings in the inner end portions of the contact prongs and soldering the projecting end portions down against the outer faces of the rear ends of the contact prongs as indicated. The passage i6 communicates with the prong receiving recesses or passages I4 through the agency of holes or openings l9, l9.

It will be evident from a consideration of the structure above explained that the conductor wires must be connected to the contact prongs I I, II before the latter are assembled with the plug body. This circumstance makes it desirable, if not actually necessary, to insert the contact prongs from the rear of the connector plug body by passing the prongs forwardly through the openings I6, I9 and l4 The mechanism herein disclosed effects assemblyof the described connector in the manner indicated and it comprises a base or bed plate 20 supported on suitable end frames or posts 2|, 2|. A guide block 22 is rigidly secured to the bed plate base 20 by any suitable means, for example, bolts, as indicated. The guide post 22 is provided with an aperture 23 extending therethrough and slidably receiving a rod or bar 24. In this instance, the rod 24 is shown as being of circular cross section and the aperture 23 consists of a hole bored to slidably receive such rod. The rod is adapted to be reciprocated through the guide post 22 by means of an operating handle 25 which passes through a slot in the base and is pivoted adjacent its lower end as indicated at 26 on a bracket 21 depending from and securely attached to the base plate 20 in any suitable manner, for example, by means of one or more bolts as indicated. The rod 24 is slotted as indicated at 28 adjacent its outer end to permit the handle 25 to be passed therethrough and the handle is preferably provided with curved operatingedges such as indicated at- 29, 29, where it rests within the-slot ,28 of the slidable rod 24. It will be evident that by rocking the handle or lever 25 on its pivot, the bar 24 will be reciprocated in the guide block 22.

The other end of the reciprocating rod 24 is 3 provided with a built-up head 30 which carries a number of transversely spaced pivot pins 3|.

The latter project upwardly from the top sur,

face 32 of the head 36, said top surface being preferably substantially flat, or at least provided with co-planar bearing surfaces around the re spective pivot pins 3|. A pair of

fingers

33, 33 are pivoted adjacent their rear ends on the respective pivot pins 3i, 3! through the agency of suitably apertured enlargements 3 3, as best indicated in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive. Arms or

extensions

35, 35 are rigidly connected to, and in this instance integrally formed with, the

fingers

33, 33 and said extensions at their rear or free ends are provided with

upstanding pins

36, 36 which are designed to engage the

cam surfaces

37, 37 of a cam bar or plate 38. The latter is carried by the guide post 22, being secured to the top thereof by such means as bolts 39. A suitable spring such as indicated at 40 connected at its opposite ends and stretched between the rear end portions of the

finger extensions

35, 35 serves to yieldingly hold the cam pins 36, 3B in operative engagement with the

cam edges

31, 37,

The

fingers

33, 33 are provided near their forward free ends with latterly outwardly projecting elements 4|, ll'which are preferably provided with

small lip portions

42, 42 so as to form retainers for contact prongs which are adapted to be secured to the fingers by the insertion of the pin elements 41, 4| through the outer end openlugs l2, 12 of the contact prongs. A holder 153 is secured to the forward end of the base plate by any suitable means and it is provided in its upper end with a recess or socket M, the cross-sectional shape of which approximates the shape of the plug body which the holder is intended to receive. The depth of the socket M is preferably slightly greater than one-half the diameter of the plug body so that the plug body will be adequately supported during the assembling operations, which will presently be described. The front wall 35 of the socket 44 is provided with openings such as indicated at 46, 46 which are approximately aligned with the contact prong receivingrecesses M, It of the plug body.

The first step in assembling a connector plug of the type shown in Fig. 1 is to position the body ID in the socket of the holder 43, as indicated in Fig. 4. The next step is to effect movement of the rod 23 and fingers 33 forwardly. The cam surfaces of the cam plate 38 are so shaped that the free ends of the fingers 33 will be steered into the prong receiving recesses l4, It as an incident to the forward reciprocating movement thereof. The pin elements 4|, 41 of the fingers 33 are preferably provided with beveled or inclined front faces 41, 41 so as to facilitate the forward movement of the fingers into and through the prong receiving recesses l4, l4, As the fingers progress into the recesses It, it, they are caused to move towards each other by appropriate shaping of the cam 38 so that the free ends of the fingers will enter and pass through the conductor receiving opening 16, so that in the extreme forward position of the

fingers

33, 33, they will occupy the location indicated in Fig. with respect to the connector plug body ID.

The next step in the operation of assembling the prongs with the plug body is to attach connector prongs H, H with the respective wires I1, I! attached thereto in the manner indicated, by engaging the finger pin means 4|, 4| with the openings I2, l2 in the contact prongs. It will be evident by inspection of Fig. 5 that the

lips

42, 42 serve the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of the contact prongs from the hooks or pins 4|.

means The contact prongs with wires attached being properly applied to the projecting ends of the fingers, the next step is to effect return or rearward movement of the

fingers

33, 33 through the agency of the operating lever handle, with the result that the contact prongs M, ii are pulled into and through the plug body as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. Of course it will be apparent that the cam 38 is soshaped as to cause the free ends of the fingers to follow the course of the respective openings through which the prongs are pulled, it being also understood that due to the resiliency of the body material, the body may be and is distorted (without destroying the resiliency thereof) as an incident to the movement of the fingers or fingers and prongs through the plug body. The

fingers

33, 33 are shaped approximately as shown in the drawings to reduce to the greatest extent feasible the necessary distortion of the plug body, and to facilitate movement of the fingers through the body, they are preferably finished with smooth and more or less polished surfaces. Sharp corners on the fingers are preferably avoided.

When the prongs are pulled through the body to the position in which they are illustrated in Fig. '7, the cam 38 operates to effect such inward movement of the free ends of the

fingers

33, 33 as to disengage the pin portions 3|, ll from the prong apertures l2, l2 so as to free the plug body and prongs from the operating mechanism of the assembling device. The plug body with the prongs seated therein may now be removed from the holder and it is ready for its intended use, except for the seating of the inner ends of the prongs against the bottoms l5, ll: of the prong positioning recesses, which is readily accomplished by applying the required amount of pressure to the outer ends of the prongs so as to cause the latter to move rearwardly in the body.

, The passages l6, l9 and I4 constitute sinuous or tortuous passageways through which the straight contact prongs are pulled, this being permitted by reason of the distortability of the plug body. The opening l6 being centrally disposed in the rear end of the plug body, receives an end portion of the duplex conductor, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and in some instances, the duplex conductor may be built up by means of filler cords or the like to form a substantially round duplex conductor which may conveniently be covered with a sheath of rubber insulation. In such instances, the passage l6 may be of such size as to snugly fit the conductor and the prong positioning recesses l4, M are also preferably of such size that the prong will be firmly held without material rocking or wobbling movement.

The described mechanism is of very simple form and construction but embodies a practicable form of mechanism required for the purpose illustrated. Changes may of course be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which may be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

l, In a machine for assembling an electrical contact prong with an electrical connector plug body having a sinuous passageway extending therethrough for the reception of the contact prong, the combination of a base, a holder on said base for a connector plug body, a finger carried by said base so as to be movable longitudinally through the sinuous passageway in a plug body in said holder. and also laterally so as to be adapted to follow said sinuous passageway, means 1 through said opening to approximately follow the course of said passageway, and means carried by said finger for engaging a contact prong during the return or rearward movement of the finger for pulling such prong into said body.

2. In a machine for assembling an electrical contact prong with an electrical connector plug body having a tortuous passageway extending holder as an incident to the reciprocatory movement of said member, means carried by said finger for engaging a contact prong during the withdrawal of the finger for pulling said prong into said passageway, the pivotal mounting of said finger serving to permit lateral rocking movement of the finger whereby the latter is adapted to more or less' follow the course of said tortuous passageway, means for efiecting said reciprocatory movement of said member and finger, and cam means for causing portions of said fingers to approximately follow the course of said tortuous passageway.

3. In a machine for assembling an electrical contact prong with an electrical connector plug body made of resilient material and having a sinuous passageway formed therein, a base, a holder for positioning a plug body in predetermined relation to said base, a substantially rigid finger mounted on said base for reciprocating movement toward and from said holder and for lateral movement simultaneously with said reciprocating movement, means for efiecting said reciprocating movement of the finger whereby the' finger is adapted to be moved through and withdrawn from the passageway in a plug body in said holder, means for simultaneously effecting said lateral movement of the finger so as to cause the leading end portion of the finger to approximately follow the course of the passageway, and means carried by said finger for engaging a contact prong during the withdrawal of the finger from said passageway for pulling such contact prong into the body, the resiliency of the plug body serving to permit such distortion of a portion of the plug body by the finger and by the prong as may be required for the movement of the fingerandprong in the passageway. I

4. In a machine for assembling'an electrica contact prong with an electrical connector plug body having a sinuous passageway extending therethrough for the reception of the contact prong, the combination of a base, a holder on said base for a connector plug body, a finger carried by said base so as to be movable longitudinally through the sinuous passageway in a plug body in said holder and also .laterally so as to be adapted to follow said sinuous passageway, lever means for actuating said finger so as to move the same forwardly and then rearwardly through said passageway, cam means operative as an incident to the longitudinal movement of said finger to cause a portion of said finger to move laterally during its movement through said opening to approximately follow the course of said passageway, and means carried by said finger for engaging a contact' prong during the return or rearward movement of the finger for pulling such prong into said body.

c 5. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical'contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair .of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug body, a member mounted on the base for reciprocatory 'rnovement toward and from said holder, .a pair of fingers rockably mounted on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector plug body in said holder, and a pair of opposed cams for rocking said fingers to thereby efiect lateral movement of the free end portions thereof in approximate conformity to the courses of the prong receiving passageways.

6. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug body, a member mounted on the base for reciprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers rockably mounted on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector plug body in said holder, and a pair of opposed stationary cams for rocking said fingers as an incident to the reciproeating movement of said fingers to thereby effect lateral movement of the free end portions thereof in approximate conformity to the courses of the prong receiving passageways.

7. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug'body, a member mounted on the base for reciprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers rockably mounted on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector plug body in. said holder, a pair of opposed stationary cams for simultaneously but oppositely rocking said fingers as an incident to the reciprocating movement of said fingers to thereby effect lateral movement of the free end portions thereof in approximate conformity to the courses of the prong receivingpassageways, and means for maintaining cooperative relationship between said fingers and cams.

8. In a machine for assembling a-pa ir of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug body, a member mounted on the base for reciprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted adjacent their rear ends on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector body in said holder, arms connected to said fingers and extending rearwardly therefrom beybnd the pivots thereof, a pair of opposed cams acting on said arms as an incident to thereciproeating movement thereof to eifect rocking of the forward end portions of said fingers in approximate conformity to the courses of the passageways during the movement of the fingers through the passageways.

9. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug body, a member mounted on the base for reclprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted adjacent their rear ends on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a conhector body in said holder, arms connected to said fingers and extending rearwardly therefrom and beyond the pivots thereof, a part having a pair of opposed cams formed on its opposite edges, said part being located intermediate said arms and the cams and acting on said arms as an incident to the reciprocating movement thereof to effect rocking of the forward end portions of said fingers in approximate conformity to the courses of the passageways during the movement of the fingers through the passageways.

10. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having .a pair oif sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base comprising a stationary part having a socket formed therein for receiving, positioning and supporting a connector plug body," a member mounted on the base for reclprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers rocirably mounted on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector plug body in said holder, and a pair of opposed cams for rocking said fingers to thereby effect lateral movement of the free end portions thereof in approximate conformity to the courses of the prong receiving passageways.

11. In a machine for assembling a pair of electrical contact prongs with an electrical connector plug body having a pair of sinuous passageways for receiving said prongs, a base, a holder on the base for positioning a connector plug body, a member mounted on the base for reciprocatory movement toward and from said holder, a pair of fingers rockably mounted on said member and adapted to be reciprocated therewith so as to be projected through and withdrawn from the passageways in a connector plug body in said holder, and means for rocking said fingers to thereby efiect lateral movement of the free end portions thereof in approximate conformity to the courses of the prong receiving passageways.

RUSSELL J. TURNER.