Amp LLC

David E Bickford

Matthew M Sucheski

Robert Keith Southard

Earl William Wagner

Daniel T Adlon

Richard V Spong

Stephen M Cerquone

An apparatus is disclosed for automatically making and testing electrical cable assemblies. A novel coupling is provided between the bulk cable contained on a large reel and the logic circuitry of the automated machine so that individual wires within the cable can be identified, inserted into a desired terminal of a connector, and tested. The coupling utilizes a slip ring assembly to communicate with the individual wires of the cable through a connector that has been previously terminated on a pigtail extending from the central core of the reel.

Continuity coupling in a harness making machine

Method of producing a group of wires, W.sub.1, W.sub.2, W.sub.3 . . . W.sub.n, which have predetermined lengths L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3 . . . L.sub.n respectively comprises the steps of guiding the wires from substantially endless sources of wire and locating the leading ends of the wires on a feed roll in parallel side-by-side relationship with each wire disposed between the feed roll and a separate associated pressure roll. The pressure rolls are normally spaced from the feed roll so that they are in a non-feeding position but they can be selectively moved towards the feed roll into a feeding position. The feed roll is started during each of a plurality of wire feeding cycles and during each cycle, at least one of the wires is fed by selectively moving the associated feed roll to its feeding position. During each cycle, the feed roll is rotated through a number of revolutions which feed the wire or wires by a precisely predetermined amount which is related to the length of the shortest wire and to the difference in the lengths of the remaining wires. The feed roll is brought to a complete stop between the successive cycles. When the feed roll is started, at the beginning of each cycle, it is accelerated at a high and ideally constant rate and when the feed roll is stopped at the end of each cycle, it is decelerated at a high and ideally constant rate.

Method for feeding a plurality of wires

High speed wire feeding means comprises a wire feed roll and a pressure roll, the wire feed roll being driven by a printed circuit motor under the influence of control means which maintains a high and constant level of acceleration and deceleration at the beginning and end of the feeding cycle. One embodiment has a single driven feed roll and a plurality of side-by-side pressure rolls for feeding a plurality of wires. This apparatus is capable of producing a bundle of wires having varying lengths in a minimum amount of time.

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Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

David E Bickford