US3813915A

US3813915A - Bench mounting and actuating apparatus for hand tool

Info

Publication number: US3813915A
Application number: US00303165A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Brehm; W Over
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1972-11-02
Filing date: 1972-11-02
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04
Also published as: FR2205391A1; IT998841B; DE2354660A1; ES420132A1; FR2205391B1; JPS4978298A; BE806753A; BR7308541D0; AU6169373A; AR203185A1; NL7314997A

Abstract

Bench mounting device for a conventional hand tool having two handles comprises a frame on which there is provided a tool head clamping means adapted to clamp the tool in a pre-determined position. A pair of handle closing levers are mounted adjacent to the clamping means on a parallel spaced-apart axis and extend divergently with respect to each other. The ends of these levers are adapted to engage the ends of the handles of the tool so that when the levers are swung towards each other, they will move the handles from their open to their closed positions. The levers are swung by a slide actuator which is movable along a path extending away from, and towards, the clamping means. Rollers on the slide engage the levers to swing them towards each other when the slide moves away from the clamping means.

Description

Unite States Patent [191 Brehm et al.

[ BENCH MOUNTING AND ACTUATING APPARATUS FOR HAND TOOL [75] Inventors: Ronald Carl Brehm, Carlisle;

William Roderick Over, Harrisburg, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,165

[ June 4,1974

' Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerM. J Keenan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-AMP Incorporated 571 ABSTRACT Bench mounting device for a conventional hand tool having two handles comprises a frame on which there is provided a tool head clamping means adapted to clamp the tool in a pre-determined position. A pair of handle closing levers are mounted adjacent to the clamping means on a parallel spaced-apart axis and extend divergently with respect to each other. The ends of these levers are adapted to engage the ends of the handles of the tool so that when the levers are swung towards each other, they will move the handles from their open to their closed positions' The levers are swung by a slide actuator which is movable along a path extending away from, and towards, the clamping means. Rollers on the slide engage the levers to swing them towards each other when the slide moves away from the clamping means.

BENfII-I MOUNTING AND ACTUATING APPARATUS FOR HAND TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tool holders and actuators for hand tools which are affective to convert a conventional hand tool into a semi-automatic bench apparatus. The invention is herein disclosed in embodiments particularly adapted for use with two different types of electrical terminal crimping tools. However, it will be apparent that the principles of the invention can be adapted to the construction of tool holders and actuators for a wide variety of hand tools.

The process of crimping electrical terminals onto wires is a relatively precise and exacting one and close control of the crimping operation is required for the achievement of optimum mechanical and electrical connections between the terminals and the wires. Electrical terminal crimping operations therefore require precisely constructed tooling, either hand tools or automatic orsemi-automatic bench mounted tools. Automatic and semi-automatic terminal crimping apparatus are used wherever large numbers of terminals are to be crimped onto wires and there is economic justification for a relatively high investment in the crimping tooling. On the other hand, where only limited numbers of terminals are to be occasionally crimped onto wires, it is usually considered more economic to perform the crimping operations with relatively simple hand tools.

Circumstances do arise under which intermediate numbers of terminals must be crimped onto wires although the volume is not sufficient to justify installation of automatic or semi-automatic crimping machines; for example, many electrical harness shops use limited numbers of some types of terminals and, while they may have automatic machines for the terminals which they use in large volume, they commonly use hand tools for those special terminals which they use in only limited numbers. It thus becomes necessary for an operator to crimp perhaps several hundred or several thousand terminals onto wires by means of manually actuated hand tools and this type of crimping operation is fatiging on the operator, time consuming, and relatively expensive because of the fact that the production rates are relatively low as compared with those achieved with automatic or semi-automatic crimping machines. Under such circumstances, a simple adapter and actuator for the hand crimping tool would be extremely useful to users of limited numbers ofa particular type of electrical terminal.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved bench mounting means and actuator for a hand tool. A further object is to provide a bench mounting means and actuator for an electrical terminal crimping tool. A further object is to provide a bench mounting means and actuator which is adapted to be used with a variety of specific types of crimping tools. A further object is to provide a bench mounting means and actuator which is particularly designed to apply a relatively high force to the tool handles at the end of the handle closing stroke. A further object is to provide an apparatus which is relatively foolproof in operation, and which permits the achievements of a substantial improvement in the production rate obtainable from a hand crimping tool.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof which is briefly described in the foregoing abstract, which is described in detail below, and which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a frontal view of one embodiment of a tool holder and actuator in accordance with the invention, this view showing the normal positions of the parts.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I but showing a hand tool mounted in the tool head holding means.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the positions of the parts at the conclusion of the operating cycle when the handles have been moved from their open to their closed positions.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the tool head clamping means of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary perspective view of the head of a tool of the type adapted to be mounted in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the parts of an alternative form of tool head clamping means in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary perspective view of the head portion of an alternative form of tool for which the clamping means of FIG. 6 is adapted to be used.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the tool head of FIG. 6A mounted in the clamping means of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram which illustrates the operation of the disclosed embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 5A, a typical hand tool 2 for crimping electrical terminals onto conductors comprises a tool head 4 having a pair of divergently extending handles 6, 6'. The tool head has a frame block 8 to which are attached face plates 10 on each side thereof. The upper ends of the handles 6, 6' are connected to the lower ends of the plates 10 by means of links l2, 12' which are pivoted to the lower ends of the plates and to the handles. The handles are also pivoted to each other at 14 and to a reciprocable ram 16 which extends between the plates 10 and into the tool head block 8. Ram 16 has movable crimping dies 18 on its upper end which are cooperable with fixed crimping dies 20 mounted in the tool head. The disclosed tool also has rachet type full-stroke compelling mechanism 22 pivoted to, and extending between the handles to ensure that when the handles are closed, they will be completely closed before they can be opened so that the terminal being crimped will be fully crimped rather than partially crimped. The general type of hand tool 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A is described in further detail in US Pat. No. 2,914,976.

A tool holder and actuator adapted for use with the hand tool 2 comprises a frame or housing 24 having a backwall 26, sidewalls 28, a base 30, and a topwall 32 the central portion of this top wall being elevated as shown at 34. A transverse frame rib 36 extends between the sides of the elevated portion of the topwall and vertical ribs 38 extend from the backwall as shown. These vertical ribs and the transverse rib 36 serve to support portions of the actuating means and the mounting means for the tool as will be described below.

A tool head mounting means is provided on the upper side of the housing on the topwall portion 34 and comprises a mounting plate 40 having a first vertical plate section 4 2, a horizontally extending plate section 44 integral with the plate sections 42, a depending flange 46 which extends from the rearward edge of the horizontal plate section 44, and an obliquely downwardly extending ear 48. The mounting plate 46 is se cured to the transversely extending frame rib 36 by means of two shoulder screws 50, 50' the reduced diameter ends of which are threaded into the rib 36 so that the shoulders of these screws bear against the plate section 46 of the mounting plate 46. The unthreaded larger diameter portions of the

screws

50, 50 serve as pivotal axis for handle closing levers 76, '76 described below.

A pair of clamping blocks 54, 54' are mounted against the face of the plate section 42 of mounting plate 40, the block 54' being fixed to the block by a fastener 56 while the block 54 is clamped to the plate section 42 by a thumb screw 58. This screw extends through an opening in the block 54, through an elongated slot 64) in the plate section 42 and is threaded into a clamping plate 62 on the rearwardly facing side of the plate section 42. The end of screw 58 normally extends through the left hand end of the slot 60 and a pin 64 mounted in the plate 62 extends into the slot on the right hand side thereof as view in FIG. for reasons which will be explained below.

Blocks 54, 54' have upwardly projecting

ears

66, 66 and a spring band 68 is riveted or otherwise secured to the outwardly facing sides of these ears. The opposed faces 70, 70' of the

blocks

54, 54 have

rectangular bosses

72, 72 thereon which define upwardly facing shoulders adapted to bear against the underside 74 of the tool head frame block 8.

Referring now to H6. 1, when a hand tool of the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A is to be mounted in the tool holder and actuator, the screw 58 is first loosened and then pushed inwardly towards the plate section 42 so that the pin 64 moves out of the slot 60. Thereafter, the block 54 can be moved rightwardly within the limits imposed by the slot 60 and the tool head is positioned between the opposed faces 70, 70 of the

blocks

54, 54. When the tool has been properly located, the operator manipulates the screw 54 to locate the upwardly facing sides of the bosses 72, 72' against the undersides 74 of the head frame block 8 and he then tightens the screw 58 to clamp the clamping block 62 against the rearwardly facing side of plate section 42. After the block has been thus clamped, it cannot move rightwardly or downwardly and the tool will be securly supported in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the handles 6 thereof extending divergently from the lower end of the tool head. The band 68 serves to prevent upward movement of the tool.

The tool handles 6, 6 are swung inwardly towards each other or closed by means of two

handle closing levers

76, 76 which are pivoted at their upper ends as viewed in the drawing on the previously identified shoulder screws 50, 50. These levers are normally resiliently biased by means of torsion springs 78, 78' which surround

sleeves

79, 79 mounted on the shoulder screws 50, 50 and have ends 80, 80' which extend behind the levers and over one edge thereof. The other ends 82 of the springs extend into an opening in the plate section 44 to prevent movement thereof. The springs thus bias the levers to the positions shown in FIG. 1 but permit arcuate movement ofthese levers relatively towards each other to the positions in FIG. 3.

The distal or free ends 84, 84 of the levers are bent outwardly as shown at 84 and upwardly at 86 to define a pocket across which pins 90, 90' extend.

Rollers

88, 88 are mounted on these pins and are adapted to engage the outwardly facing edges 92, 92' of the outer ends of the tool handles 6, 6'. Preferably, the levers are of lengths such that the rollers will engage the handles at the optimum locations for the application of closing force thereto.

The levers are swung inwardly towards each other by means of an actuator comprising a slide 94 which is supported on the surfaces and extensions of the surfaces of the ribs 38, gib plates 96 being mounted on these ribs and having portions extending over the edges of the slide 94 to secure it in its position. As shown best in FIG. 4, a rearwardly extending flange 98 is provided on the lower end of this slide member and the piston rod Hill of a pneumatic piston cylinder 102 is secured to this flange by suitable fastening means as shown. Piston-cylinder M2 is vertically mounted adjacent to the backwall 26 and is secured at its lower end to a web 104 which extends from the backwall. Upon pressurization of the upper side of this piston cylinder, the slide will thus move downwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3. The slide is returned to its normal position when the piston is exhausted by means of a return spring 106 which is anchored at its upper end to the ear 48 of the mounting plate 4-0 and at its lower end to a gusset member 108 which extends between the lower portion of the slide and the flange 98 on the lower end of the slide.

A pair of spaced-apart rollers H0, 110' are mounted on the slide at its upper end on pins 112, 112', these rollers normally bearing against the outwardly facing edges 1114, lid of the handle closing levers 76, 76'. As the side moves downwardly, these rollers thus move relatively over the edges H4, 114' and cause the levers to be swung inwardly and towards each other. It will be noted that the edges 114, M4 are straight, however, these edges can be contoured in the manner of a cam if it is desired to develop a high force on the tool handles at some particular stage of the operating cycle. It should also be noted that during downward movement of the slide member, the distance between the point of contact of the rollers 110, ill) on the edges 114, 114' and the pivotal axis 50, 50' increases so that the mechanical advantage of the apparatus increases as the crimping operation proceeds. This point is discussed below in greater detail.

In operation, after the tool has been clamped in the head clamping means as described above, a terminal is located between the crimping dies and the wire is located in alignment with the terminal between crimping dies. Thereafter, compressed air is admitted by a suitable valve such as a foot valve (not specifically shown) to the upper side of the pneumatic pistoncylinder 102. When the upper side of the piston cylinder is pressurized, the piston rod and the slide move downwardly thereby causing the rollers 110, E10 to travel relatively over the

edges

114, 114 of the levers 76, 76'. The levers are thus swung inwardly and by virtue of the engagement with the lower ends of the

handle

6, 6, the handles are swung inwardly. At the end of the stroke, after the terminal has been crimped onto the wire, the compressed air is exhausted from the cylinder and the slide is returned to its normal position under the influence of the return spring. The dies then move downwardly and the crimped terminal can be removed from the tool head.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a hand tool can be clamped in the tool head clamping means in an extremely short time and that the terminals can be crimped onto wires at production rates which are substantially in excess of the rates which can be achieved by manual operation of the same tool. It will also be apparent that the disclosed form of the invention is relatively simple in construction and thereby provides an extremely efficient and low cost means for increasing the productivity of a given hand tool and reducing the operator fatigue which is usually attendent to the hand tool crimping of terminals on to wires.

The particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is particularly advantageous for terminal crimping operations for reasons which can be explained with reference to FIG. 8 which shows the linear travel of the ends of the levers 76 as a function of the travel of the piston (or slide) during movement of the slide from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3. The data points of this curve assume that a piston having a5 inch stroke is used and that about 7.7 inches of handle travel are required for complete closure of the tool handles (i.e., about 3.35 inches of travel for each handle). It will be apparent from this curve that during the first 3 inches of slide travel (representing 60 percent of the stroke of the piston) the handles are swung through a total of 7 inches of travel or about 90 percent of the total travel required for closure of the handles. During the last two inches of slide or piston travel, the handles move an additional 0.75 inches to their fully closed positions. This piston travel-lever travel relationship is extremely well suited for the crimping of electrical connectors for the reason that during a terminal crimping operation, very little resistance is encountered by the crimping dies during the initial portion of the crimping stroke; the dies first move towards each other and against the terminal and as the terminal is initially deformed, the forces required for the initial deformation are relatively low. As crimping proceeds however, the forces required for continuing the crimping operation rise abruptly along a curve which is similar to the curve of FIG. 8 and at the end of the crimping stroke, the crimping forces required reach their maximum level. The disclosed embodiment of the invention is thus advantageous in that a large portion of the total stroke of the piston is available at the end of the stroke of the handles for the development of the high force required at the end of the crimping operation. Stated another way, very little work is performed on the terminal by the piston during the initial portions of the crimping operation but the amount of work performed in the final stages of the operation rises abruptly. The fact that this work is available is evident from a review of the area under the final portion of the curve of FIG. 8.

It is also advantageous that during the final portion of the crimping operation, the rollers 110 are engagement with the levers 114, 114' adjacent to the lower ends so that a high mechanical advantage is obtained in the roller-lever relationship as well as by virtue of the distance travel-handle travel relationship discussed above.

FIGS. 6, 6A and 7 show an alternative form of tool head clamping means adapted to clamp a tool 116 in the apparatus. This type of crimping tool comprises a pair of closeable tool jaws 118, 118' which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to handles 120, 120'. As with the previous embodiment, these handles extend divergently from the lower end of the tool head and are pivoted to each other adjacent to their upper ends at 122. The jaws 118, 118' are also connected to each other by straps 119 on each face of the jaws, only one such strap being shown in the drawing.

The head clamping means of this alternative embodiment comprises a U-shaped clamping frame 126 having

sides

128, 130 and a web 132 extending between these sides at their left hand ends thereof as view in FIG. 6. The frame 126 is secured to the face of the plate section 42 by means of

screws

138, 139, 141, the screw 138 extending through aligned holes in the

sides

128, 130 and through a round screw hole in the plate section '42, a nut 140 being provided on the end of fastener 138 as indicated. The fastener 141 extends similarly through aligned holes in the ends of the plate sections and through the previous identified slot 60, a nut 143 being provided on the end of this fastener. Fastener 139 extends through additional holes in the plate sections and has a nut disposed between the plate section 130 and plate section 142. As shown, suitable spacers surround the intermediate portions of the

fasteners

139, 141 to support the free ends of the

sides

130, 128 of the frame member 126.

A U-shaped clamping yoke 142 having

arms

144, 146 and a web 148 extends-through an opening 152 in the web 132 of the clamping frame. The ends of the

arms

144, 146 are outwardly turned they are shown at 150, and extend into

slots

154, 156 in the

sides

128, 130 of the fixed clamping frame. The right hand end of slot 154 as viewed in FIG. 6 is enlarged as shown at 158 for reasons which will be explained below.

Clamping yoke 142 is slideably mounted in the clamping frame and can be moved leftwardly from the positions of FIG. 7 by means ofa pin 160 having an enlarged kurnled end. The pin extends through a hole in the yoke or web 148 and a snap ring 161 is affixed to the pin on the inner side of the web 148 to prevent axial movement of the pin relative to the yoke while permitting rotary motion of the pin relative to the yoke. The inner end of the pin 160 extends through the opening 152 and a locking pin extends transversely through and beyond the surfaces of the pin 160. The length of this locking pin is greater than the width of the opening 152 so that the pin 160 can be locked in position as will be explained below.

When a tool of the type shown in FIG. 6A is to be mounted in the tool clamping means of FIG. 6, the han- -dle portion of the pin 160 is first turned until the transverse locking pin clears the marginal edges of the web 148 and the pin 160 is then moved leftwardly. The tool 116 is then positioned beneath the frame 126 and moved relatively upwardly until the inwardly turned ends 136, 136' of the ears 134, 134' engage the upper edge of the plates 119 on the tool, upward movement of the tool beyond this position is being prevented by these inwardly turned ears. Thereafter, the locking yoke 142 is moved rightwardly until the outwardly turned ends 150, 150' of the

arms

142, 144 are located beneath the lower edges of the plates 119. The pin 160 is then rotated until the transverse locking pin is in the position shown in FIG. 7, that is extending laterally beyond the sides of the opening 152.

Obvious modifications of the invention within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, numerous forms of tool head clamping means can be used to clamp different types of hand tools in the apparatus. The invention might be adapted for use with those type of crimping tools which have one fixed, and one movable handle rather than two handles which move relatively towards each other. Alternative forms of actuators can also be provided in accordance with the invention.

We claim:

1. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a pair of normally open handles, at least one of said handles being pivotally mounted on a handle pivot axis and being movable towards the other one of said handles, said tool holder and actuator comprising:

frame means,

tool clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool in a predetermined position with said one handle free for movement towards said other handle,

at least one handle closing lever, said lever being pivotally mounted on said frame means on a lever pivot axis, said lever pivot axis being adjacent to the said handle pivot axis of said tool when said tool is in said tool clamping means, said lever normally extending adjacent to the said one handle of said too], said lever having handle engaging means thereon for engagement with said one handle, and

actuating means for pivotally moving said lever along a path extending generally towards the said other handle of said tool, whereby upon pivotal movement of said lever along said path, said one handle of said tool is moved towards said other handle.

2. A tool holder as set forth in claim 1, said actuating means being movable along a straight line path which extends between said one handle and said other handle, said actuating means comprising lever engaging means engageable with said lever and movable relatively along said lever during movement of said actuating means along said straight line path thereby to move said lever along said path.

3. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 2 which is adapted for use with a hand tool having two movable handles.

4. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and divergently extending closable handles extending from said tool head, said tool holder and actuator comprising:

frame means,

tool head clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool in a pre-determined position with respect to said frame means,

a pair of handle closing levers, said levers have fixed ends which are pivotally mounted on said frame means adjacent to said tool head clamping means, said levers normally extending divergently and being pivotally movable towards each other,

each of said levers having a tool handle engaging means thereon, said tool handle engaging means being engagcable with the said handles of a tool mounted in said tool head clamping means, and

force applying means for pivotally moving said levers towards each other, said force applying means comprising lever engaging means in engagement with said levers adjacent to said pivoted ends of said levers,

said force applying means being reciprocable along a straight line path extending away from, and towards, said fixed ends of said levers whereby, upon mounting a hand tool in said tool head clamping means and upon actuation of said force applying means to cause movement thereof along said path and away from said fixed ends, said levers are swung towards each other and said tool handle engaging means moves said handles towards each other.

5. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 4, said fixed ends of said handle closing levers being pivotally mounted on parallel spaced-apart axis.

6. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, said force applying means comprising a slide member.

7. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, said force applying means comprising a slide and a piston-cylinder for reciprocating said slide along said path.

8. A tool holder as set forth in claim 6, said lever engaging means comprising rollers on said slide member, said rollers bearing against edge portion of said levers.

9. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, said tool handle engaging means on said levers comprising rollers.

10. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, said tool head clamping means comprising a pair of clamping members, at least one of said members being movable with respect to the other one of said members, said members being clampingly engageable with said head of said tool.

11. A tool holder as set forth in claim 10, said clamping members comprising clamping blocks, said clamping blocks being adapted to engage said tool head on opposite sides thereof.

12. A tool holder as set forth in claim 10, said clamping members being relatively movable with respect to each other in telescoping relationship, said members having arm portions adapted to extend on two opposite sides of said tool.

13. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, and said hand tool in combination therewith, said hand tool having its head position clamped in said tool head clamping means.

14. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and closeable handles extending from said tool head, said tool holder and actuator comprising:

frame means,

tool head clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool head in a pre-determined position with said tool handles in pre-determined positions with respect to said frame means,

a reciprocable slide in said frame means, said slide being normally disposed adjacent to the said handles of a tool mounted in said clamping means and adjacent to said tool head clamping means said slide means being reciprocable along a predetermined path away from, and towards, said head, and

handle moving means concatenated with said slide member and said handles, said handle moving means being adapted to engage at least one handle of a tool clamped in said clamping means and to move said handle relatively towards the other one of said handles during movement of said slide away from said clamping means whereby, upon movment of said slide away from said clamping means, said handles are moved relatively towards each other.

15. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 14, said handle moving means comprising means providing an increasing mechanical advantage during movement of said slide away from said clamping means.

16. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 14, which is adapted for use with a hand tool having two movable handles, said handles moving means being adapted to engage both of said handles and move said handles towards each other.

17. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 16, each of said handle moving means comprising a roller, said rollers being engageable with surface portions of said handle.

18. A tool holder and actuator as set forth in claim 16, each of said handle moving means comprising a lever, said levers being pivotally mounted adjacent to said clamping means and extending divergently away from each other, roller means on said slide in engagement with said levers for causing said levers to be swung towards each other during movement of said slide, and roller means on said levers for engagement with said handles to swing said handles towards each other.

19. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and having handles extending divergently with respect to each other from said tool head, said handles being movable along arcuate paths towards each other from open positions to closed positions, said tool holder and actuator comprising:

a frame,

tool head holding means on said frame, said tool head holding means being adapted to hold said head of said tool with said tool handles disposed in predetermined positions with respect to said frame,

a pair of handle closing levers, said levers being pivotally mounted on parallel spaced-apart axis, said axis being located adjacent to said tool head holding means, said levers normally extending divergently from said axis and each handle having a distal end which is disposed laterally outwardly beyond one of said tool handles, each of said levers having handle engaging means on its said distal end engageable with one of said handles,

an actuating slide member, said slide members being normally disposed adjacent to said tool head holding means and being reciprocable along a predetermined path extending away from, and towards, said tool head holding means, said path lying medially between said levers, and

lever engaging means on said slide, said lever engaging means being engageable with each of said levers and being movable relatively along said levers during movement of said slide whereby,

upon placement of a hand tool said tool head holding means and upon movement of said slide away from said tool head holding means, said levers are swung towards each other by said lever engaging means, and said handle engaging means on said levers thereby cause said handles to be moved to said closed positions.

Claims

1. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a pair of normally open handles, at least one of said handles being pivotally mounted on a handle pivot axis and being movable towards the other one of said handles, said tool holder and actuator comprising: frame means, tool clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool in a pre-determined position with said one handle free for movement towards said other handle, at least one handle closing lever, said lever being pivotally mounted on said frame means on a lever pivot axis, said lever pivot axis being adjacent to the said handle pivot axis of said tool when said tool is in said tool clamping means, said lever normally extending adjacent to the said one handle of said tool, said lever having handle engaging means thereon for engagement with said one handle, and actuating means for pivotally moving said lever along a path extending generally towards the said other hanDle of said tool, whereby upon pivotal movement of said lever along said path, said one handle of said tool is moved towards said other handle.

4. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and divergently extending closable handles extending from said tool head, said tool holder and actuator comprising: frame means, tool head clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool in a pre-determined position with respect to said frame means, a pair of handle closing levers, said levers have fixed ends which are pivotally mounted on said frame means adjacent to said tool head clamping means, said levers normally extending divergently and being pivotally movable towards each other, each of said levers having a tool handle engaging means thereon, said tool handle engaging means being engageable with the said handles of a tool mounted in said tool head clamping means, and force applying means for pivotally moving said levers towards each other, said force applying means comprising lever engaging means in engagement with said levers adjacent to said pivoted ends of said levers, said force applying means being reciprocable along a straight line path extending away from, and towards, said fixed ends of said levers whereby, upon mounting a hand tool in said tool head clamping means and upon actuation of said force applying means to cause movement thereof along said path and away from said fixed ends, said levers are swung towards each other and said tool handle engaging means moves said handles towards each other.

14. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and closeable handles extending from said tool head, said tool holder and actuator comprising: frame means, tool head clamping means on said frame means for clamping said tool head in a pre-determined position with said tool handles in pre-determined positIons with respect to said frame means, a reciprocable slide in said frame means, said slide being normally disposed adjacent to the said handles of a tool mounted in said clamping means and adjacent to said tool head clamping means said slide means being reciprocable along a pre-determined path away from, and towards, said head, and handle moving means concatenated with said slide member and said handles, said handle moving means being adapted to engage at least one handle of a tool clamped in said clamping means and to move said handle relatively towards the other one of said handles during movement of said slide away from said clamping means whereby, upon movment of said slide away from said clamping means, said handles are moved relatively towards each other.

19. A tool holder and actuator for a hand tool of the type having a tool head and having handles extending divergently with respect to each other from said tool head, said handles being movable along arcuate paths towards each other from open positions to closed positions, said tool holder and actuator comprising: a frame, tool head holding means on said frame, said tool head holding means being adapted to hold said head of said tool with said tool handles disposed in pre-determined positions with respect to said frame, a pair of handle closing levers, said levers being pivotally mounted on parallel spaced-apart axis, said axis being located adjacent to said tool head holding means, said levers normally extending divergently from said axis and each handle having a distal end which is disposed laterally outwardly beyond one of said tool handles, each of said levers having handle engaging means on its said distal end engageable with one of said handles, an actuating slide member, said slide members being normally disposed adjacent to said tool head holding means and being reciprocable along a pre-determined path extending away from, and towards, said tool head holding means, said path lying medially between said levers, and lever engaging means on said slide, said lever engaging means being engageable with each of said levers and being movable relatively along said levers during movement of said slide whereby, upon placement of a hand tool said tool head holding means and upon movement of said slide away from said tool head holding means, said levers are swung towards each other by said lever engaging means, and said handle engaging means on said levers thereby cause said handles to be moved to said closed positions.