Molex Corporation

Frank P Chmela

Anthony J Szumierz

Jack F Funcik

Thomas P Pellegrino

Anthony R Nugarus

Clarence Kolanowski

Kenneth L Kufner

Gerald O'Connell

Maurice Godfrey

Dushan C Deshich

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.

Apparatus for electrical harness manufacture

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of electrical harnesses in a single machine cycle. A push bar device spaces a plurality of connectors in a predetermined, spaced relation one to another at a first station. The plurality of connectors are moved in longitudinal alignment from a first station to a second station where the connectors are each terminated to wires, for example ribbon cables. The terminated connectors then are moved back toward the first station pulling the cables with the connectors and then the cables are cut at the second station at a predetermined length. A second plurality of connectors can be loaded in predetermined spaced relation at the second station and terminated to the cut cable ends to manufacture a plurality of double-ended harnesses in a single machine cycle.

Electrical harnesses

A machine for crimping a plurality of electrical terminals one at a time onto wire leads. The machine includes a press actuable for up and down movement with a die assembly mounted thereon. The die assembly includes a die shoe with a crimp station whereat a terminal is crimped onto wire lead, a punch holder opposite and spaced from the die shoe mounted on the press for movement therewith having punch means mounted over the crimp station to engage a terminal thereat, and a terminal feed assembly for supporting and feeding a strip of terminals one at a time to the crimp station in response to the movement of the press. An insertion station is located on the die shoe adjacent and aligned with the crimp station. A housing feed assembly is on the die shoe for supporting at least one connector housing indexing the housing at the insertion station. An insertion assembly, which includes means for gripping a terminated wire lead, is provided for inserting the terminated wire lead into a terminal receiving recess formed in the housing at the insertion station.

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Downers Grove, IL, United States of America

Frank P Chmela