US3339755A

US3339755A - Lead-stacking means

Info

Publication number: US3339755A
Application number: US512869A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schwalm Glendon Henry
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1965-12-10
Filing date: 1965-12-10
Publication date: 1967-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-05
Also published as: NL6616412A; DE1590069B2; DE1590069C3; NL140390B; GB1101790A; FR1501453A; DE1590069A1; ES334332A1

Description

Sept. 1967 G. H. SCHWALM 3,339,755

LEAD-STACKING MEANS Filed Dec. 10, 1965 5 Sheets-Shee't 1 Sept. 5, 1967 G. H. SCHWALM LEAD-STACKING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec 10, 1965 OO OO 00 o o 0 0 0 o o o.

nm mm 3 G. H. SCHWALM LEAD- Sept. 5, 1967 STACKING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1965 11 1 4 -1 r. .4 FLRI 1 United States Patent 'Gfifice 3,339,755 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 3,339,755 LEAD-STACKING MEANS Glendon Henry Schwalm, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Dec. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 512,869 5 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This invention relates to conveyers and particularly to an improved stacking device for stacking relatively long electrical leads that have been carried by a conveyer to a release station. The invention is herein disclosed in conjunction with an automatic lead-making machine of the type described in the US. Patent to Andren, 3,201,848. In the description which follows, reference will frequently be made to the Andren patent for details of the Andren lead-making machine and that machine will be shown and described in the following specification only to the extent necessary for an understanding of the instant invention. It will be understood that where reference is made to the Andren patent, Patent No. 3,201,848 is intended. It will also be understood that the improved stacking apparatus of the instant invention can be used in other lead-making machines or similar devices having a conveyer for long filamentary articles which operate on principles similar to that of the Andren device.

The Andren patent discloses a lead-making machine comprising a conveyer having a plurality of gripping devices thereon. The ends of the individual leads are held in these gripping devices and presented to insulation stripping and terminal crimping mechanisms stationed beside the conveyer. After the terminals have been crimped onto the ends of the leads, the leads are carried to a release station at which they are discharged. The Andren machine produces leads at a relatively high rate so that it is desirable to provide for automatic stacking of the leads at the discharge station of the conveyer. If the leads are relatively long, say ten feet or more in length, they should be arranged in a neat and orderly bundle by the action of the machine itself at the discharge station in order to avoid the necessity of manual sorting or arranging of the leads. Obviously, much of the benefit of a fully automatic lead-making machine would be lost if it were necessary to resort to manual labor to bundle or stack the finished leads produced by the machine.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved stacking device for electrical leads or the like. It is a further object to provide a lead-stacking device which neatly stacks and arranges the leads produced by an electrical lead-making machine at the discharge station of the machine. It is a further object to provide a lead-stacking device of relatively simple construction which is effective to neatly stack finished electrical leads of varying lengths and which does not require adjustment or change for leads of varying lengths.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in one embodiment which is adapted to be used with the lead-making machine of the Andren patent as briefly described above. The numerous wire grippers on the machine function as cooperating pairs, with each pair of grippers holding the ends of an individual lead and with the ends facing in a common direction. The intermediate portion of each lead is looped on one side of the conveyer. As the leads are carried along the conveying path, their ends are presented to the insulation stripping and crimping stations at which insulation is stripped and terminals are secured to the ends. The leads are released at a discharge station at which a stacking device in accordance with the present invention combs them out and arranges them in a neat orderly bundle in a suitable bin or receptacle. This combing operation is achieved by releasing one of the ends of the conveyer at a location upstream from the release station so that the one end of each lead dangles from the conveyer while the other end is carried by one of the gripper jaws towards the release station. Immediately adjacent to the release station, but upstream therefrom, there is provided an endless chain which moves along a path extending transversely of the path of movement of the conveyer and away from the conveyer path. This chain has spaced-apart teeth thereon, the arrangement being such that as the gripped end of the lead is carried over the chain, the dangling portion of the lead falls between two adjacent teeth on the chain. As these two teeth move away from the path of movement from the conveyer, the free end of the lead is carried out or combed in a direction away from the conveyer. Immediately adjacent to the combing mechanism and beneath the release station of the conveyer, there is provided a suitable bin positioned such that the lead being combed out is located in the bin by the combined action of the combing mechanism and the gripping member during its movement towards the release station. When the remaining gripping member arrives at the release station, it is caused to be disengaged from the remaining gripped end of the lead which falls into a trough of the bin and is piled neatly on top of the previously produced leads.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automatic leadmaking machine of the general type shown in the Andren Patent 3,201,848;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the combing mechanism of the instant invention showing its relationship to the conveyor of the lead-making machine;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating the manner in which the combing mechanism and the conveyer function to stack the leads in the trough of the receiving bin;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1, this view showing a mechanism for disengaging one of the gripping members from the leads and for ejecting the leads from the gripping members; and FIGURE 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

A typical lead-making machine in accordance with the teachings of the Andren patent comprises a stationary channel-shaped beam 2 supported by a supporting structure shown in FIGURE 1. An endless chain 5 is mounted on sprockets at each end of the beam and is intermittently indexed so that it moves along a close circuit indicated by the locations of

wire gripping members

4, 6 in FIGURE 1. One of the sprockets and a portion of the chain are shown in FIGURE 1. It will be understood that the other sprocket is located at the right-hand end of the beam as viewed in FIGURE 1. The wire gripping members function as

cooperating pairs

4, 6 and are each provided with a slidable jaw 12 and a fixed jaw 14 as shown in FIGURE 5. The slidable jaws can be moved towardsthe fixed jaws to grip the individual leads as the chain moves from a loading station generally indicated at 8 to discharge or release station generally indicated at 9. It will be noted that the open side of the gripper 4 of each pair faces in opposite direction from the open side of the gripper 6 of the pair and that the ends of an individual lead are gripped by each pair so that these ends will be presented to suitable crimping presses 24 and/or other devices for performing operations on the ends of the wires such as in- As shown in FIGURE 5, each wire gripper comprises a housing with which the fixed jaw is integral and in which a shank portion 18 of the slidable jaw is mounted. This shank portion projects above the housing and is adapted to be engaged by closing devices which are actuated by the levers 22 identified above. Additionally, each gripping member has a separate latch member 16 slidably mounted in the housing which functions to latch the jaw 12 in its clamping position relative to the fixed jaw 14. The jaws are thus closed by depressing the shank 18 and are opened by depressing the latch member 16 as described in detail in the Andren patent.

The driven sprocket of the conveyor chain (not shown in FIGURE 1) is intermittently turned by a shaft 30 extending from a gear box 28, this gear box, in turn, having a suitable input shaft or belt (not specifically shown). A main cam shaft 32 extends parallel to and beneath the beam 2 and beneath a suitable support table 26 on which the presses 24 and other wire-preparing equipment may be mounted. Suitable cams mounted on the shaft 32 intermediate its ends may be used to actuate the presses or the stripping devices as shown in the Andren patent. This cam shaft is utilized in the practice of the instant invention to actuate a release mechanism and ejector mechanism as will be described below.

For purposes of the instant description, it can be assumed that terminals will have been applied to the ends of the leads by the time they reach the location on the conveyor generally indicated at 34. The only remaining operation to be performed is thus to discharge the finished leads from the conveyor and stack them by means of the stacking mechanism which will now be described.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiment, a collecting bin 36 is mounted adjacent to the left-hand end of the conveyor and has a fiat upper surface 38 on its righthand side as viewed in FIGURE 1. This fiat surface extends for a short distance beneath the conveyor and laterally for a substantial distance away from the conveyor. A pocket or

trough

40, 42, 44 is provided adjacent to the fiat surface and has one end 42 located beneath the left-hand end of the conveyor. The pocket extends away from the conveyor but slopes downwardly and is directed generally rightwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 1, towards its outlet 44.

Referring to FIGURE 2, an endless chain 46 is mounted on sprockets 48, 50 immediately adjacent to the side of the collector bin 36 and in a plane extending normally of the upper surface of this collector bin. The sprocket 48 is mounted on a shaft 54 which is driven by means of a belt 52 extending to a pulley on the previously identified shaft 32, the direction of rotation of the shaft 32 being such that the chain moves from right to left on its upper side of the FIGURE 2 and as indicated by the arrow. Chain 46 has a plurality of spaced-apart radially projecting teeth 55 which extend above the surface 38 on the upper side of the chain and which continuously move from left to right during operation of the conveyor as viewed in FIGURE 1. These teeth function to comb the individual leads outwardly and away from the conveyor during operation.

A suitable means is provided at the location 56 on the conveyor for unlatching each of the clamping devices 4 of each

pair

4, 6. This unlatching mechanism can be substantially similar to the unlatching mechanism described in detail below or can be of a construction similar to the unlatching mechanism shown in the Andren patent. At this juncture, it is sufficient to say that as the leads approach the location 56 on the underside of the conveyor chain, the end of each lead which is held in the clamping device 4 is released while the end which is held in the clamping device 6 remains clamped during movement of the chain to the unloading station 9.

After releasing of this one end of each lead and during subsequent movement of the associated clamping devices 6 holding the Other end of the lead towards the unloading station 9, the tooth on the bin 46 which is in the process of moving away from the conveyor will move against the dangling portion of the lead and will comb the lead outwardly until much of its length is supported on the surface 34 as shown with one lead indicated at 10 in FIGURES l and 3. During further movement of the tooth towards the sprocket 50 (i.e., during further move- -ment away from the beam 2), the lead will be combed further until it lies in the trough with its gripped end above the end 42 of the trough and with its free end extending towards, and possibly beyond, the end 44 of the trough. It is understood that with extremely long leads, the portion of each lead delivered to the trough 40 will be neatly laid on the previously delivered leads while the remaining portion of the leads will extend beyond the outlet 44 of the trough to the floor.

At the release station 9, the individual grippers 4 which are still holding the ends of the leads are disengaged by means of a mechanism shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. This mechanism is mounted on a plate 60 supported by suitable bracket means 61 extending from the table 26 and comprises a slide bar 62 pivoted at its lower end 66 to a link 68. Link 68, in turn, is pivotally connected at 70 to a lever 71 on the end of which is mounted a suitable cam follower which is received in an internal cam track of a circular cam 72 (not shown). Since the shaft 32 rotates during operation, the bar 62 is continuously reciprocated against the surface of the plate 60 and is guided along the path of reciprocation by suitable gibs 64.

The bar 62 is provided with gear teeth 84 on its upper surface which engage a pinion 86 mounted on a shaft 88. This shaft extends through bearing blocks 90 on the plate 60 and has a cam 92 on its one end. Cam 92 engages a plunger 94 which is slidably mounted in a bearing 96 integral with the plate 60 and which projects as shown at 98 beyond this bearing at its right-hand end. The plunger 94 is biased by a suitable internal spring, which acts between the bearing block 96 and the plunger, to the left in FIGURE 5 but can be moved rightwardly by the cam 92 against the biasing force of this spring. It will be apparent that during each cycle, the plunger 94 is moved rightwardly in FIGURE 5 and against the latch 16 of a gripping member 4 to release the end of the wire held by the gripping member at this station.

The lead is thus free to drop into the trough, however, in order to insure uniform ejection, it is desirable to provide a pair of ejector fingers 82. These fingers are actuated to move along an arcuate path by means of gear teeth 74 on one side of the bar 62 which engage a gear 76 on the end of the shaft 78. Shaft 78 is rotatably supported at a bearing on the plate 60 and extends beyond this bearing towards the conveyor chain. The fingers 82 extend from the end of the shaft so that during reciprocation of the rack bar 62, the fingers are oscillated and push the wire from between the

jaws

12, 14.

While the speed of the combing teeth relative to the speed of the gripping members on the conveyor is not critical, it will be apparent that these combing teeth must move with a speed such that the individual leads will be combed out during the interval required for movement of an individual gripping member from the location 56 on the conveyor to the discharge station 9. The combing teeth must thus move at a speed several times the speed of the conveyor since the length of the collector bin is several times the distance between the location 56 and the discharge station.

The stacking device shown has the advantage of not requiring adjustment or change of any type for varying lengths of leads. If the leads are relatively short, they will lie entirely in the trough-40 and will be stacked as a neat bundle in the trough so that they can be occasionally removed by an attendant. If the leads are relatively long, they will lie in the trough with their ends projecting beyond the end 44 of the trough and can similarly be removed when the trough is full. In either case, the ends released at the release station 9 will be neatly aligned with each other so that little or no sorting or other arranging is required when they are removed from the trough. The stacking device of the invention is located at one end of the conveyor and does not interfere in any way with the operations being carried out on the wire.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is oflered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor of the type having means for gripping individual electrical leads and carrying said leads along a conveying path to a release station at which said leads are released, the improvement comprising, lead-combing means movable along a path extending laterally of the path of movement of said conveyor, said lead-combing means intersecting said conveying path at a location adjacent to, but upstream from, said release station, the speed of said combing means being suflicient to comb out an individual lead during the interval required for transporting the end of said individual lead from said upstream location to said release station whereby, said leads are combed out and stacked in an orderly arrangement at said release station.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said combing means comprises an endless chain having spaced-apart combing teeth extending therefrom.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyoi' comprises an endless chain having a plurality of spaced-apart wire gripping jaws thereon, said conveying apparatus having means at said release station for opening said jaws.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveying apparatus is of the type having a plurality of cooperating pairs of wire gripping jaws thereon, each pair of jaws being adapted to grip the ends of a single lead, said conveying apparatus including means upstream from said location for opening one of said jaws whereby, one end of each lead is released prior to combing of said lead.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a bin beneath said release station, said bin having a lead-receiving pocket extending laterally from said path and towards said combing means whereby, said leads are positioned in said pocket by the cooperative action of said combing means and said conveyor during movement of each individual gripping means from said location to said release station with concomitant combing of said lead.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1954 France. 5/1960 Russia.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

J. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A CONVEYOR OF THE TYPE HAVING MEANS FOR GRIPPING INDIVIDUAL ELECTRICAL LEADS AND CARRYING SAID LEADS ALONG A CONVEYING PATH TO A RELEASE STATION AT WHICH SAID LEADS ARE RELEASED, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, LEAD-COMBINING MEANS MOVABLE ALONG A PATH EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR, SAID LEAD-COMBINING MEANS INTERSECTING SAID CONVEYING PATH AT A LOCATION ADJACENT TO, BUT UPSTREAM FROM, SAID RELEASE STATION, THE SPEED OF SAID COMBINING MEANS BEING SUFFICIENT TO COMB OUT AN INDIVIDUAL LEAD DURING THE INTERVAL REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORTING THE END OF SAID INDIVIDUAL LEAD FROM SAID UPSTREAM LOCATION TO SAID RELEASE STATION WHEREBY, SAID LEADS ARE COMBED OUT AND STACKED IN AN ORDERLY ARRANGEMENT AT SAID RELEASE STATION.