Molex Corporation

Anthony J Szumierz

Frank P Chmela

Gerald O'Connell

Maurice Godfrey

A harness making machine includes a transfer system receiving electrical connectors in abutting relation and separates the connectors while moving them from a feed track to a delivery track. The separation provides uniform spacing between terminals for termination of more than one connector in a cycle of machine operation. The feed and delivery tracks are unobstructed, and a pawl carried by a transfer carriage separates the connectors in response to movement of the carriage from the feed track to the delivery track. A shuttle moves the spaced connectors into a nest and the nest is moved to a termination station.

Connector transfer system

Disclosed is an apparatus for spacing a serial succession of electrical connectors along a common centerline progression. The apparatus includes a push bar moveable toward a termination station, which is operative to space the connectors a predetermined amount, assuring alignment with the centerline progression. The push bar includes a plurality of pawl members having connector engaging tips which are receivable within recesses formed in the upper surface of each connector. The pawls are mounted to have a serial succession of increasingly greater displacements measured along the push bar in a direction away from the termination station. The succession of pawl displacements ensures proper predetermined spacing between adjacent connectors, sufficient to place the end terminals of adjacent connectors on a common centerline progression.

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Addison, IL, United States of America

Anthony J Szumierz