Lloyd E Pelton

US Patent:

55927386, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

Jan 25, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/591736

Inventors:

William L. Reiersgaard - Portland OR
Andrew W. Knebel - Fairview OR
Curtis A. Davis - Portland OR
John M. Reiersgaard - Portland OR
Lloyd E. Pelton - Portland OR

Assignee:

Gaard Automation Inc. - Portland OR

International Classification:

B23P 1900
H01R 43055

US Classification:

29863

Abstract:

A system for attaching electrical contacts to the conductive ends of wires preferably provides simultaneous sorting operations, wherein different contacts from separate batches are simultaneously sorted in consecutive order; preselection operations, wherein contacts stuck together are removed; simultaneous holding operations, wherein presorted contacts from each batch are accumulated in separate, automatically resupplied queues, for rapid subsequent retrieval by the operator; pneumatic transporting operations, wherein contacts are rapidly retrieved from any queue selected and prealigned opposite the crimping jaws of a crimping unit; and two-step crimping operations, wherein prealigned contacts are quickly gripped by partially closed crimping jaws, in the first step, in preparation for the second step of wire end insertion and full crimping. A pneumatic cylinder, which closes the crimping jaws via a cable, is forced by a ratcheting mechanism to complete its full stroke, thus keeping the cable taut compatibly with full cycle crimping jaw operation. A physical restraining mechanism prevents off-axis contact bending during crimping.