The Whitaker Corporation

Amp LLC

Helmuth Kreuzer

Michael Gerst

Karl-Heinz Gloe

The shut height of a crimping die set (9) for crimping an electrical terminal (T) on an anvil (22) to a lead (L) is adjustable stepwise by means of a disc (60) which can be driven by a servo motor (M1) to a plurality of angular positions each setting a theoretical ideal shut height for a particular combination of lead and terminal sizes. Since anvil wear, in particular, and/or minor variations in lead and terminal dimensions can falsify the ideal crimp height set, the actual crimp height achieved, is measured electronically or mechanically, and the height of the anvil (22) is automatically adjusted in accordance with such measurement, by means of a further servo motor (M2) to adjust the shut height of the die set (9) and anvil (22), so that the ideal shut height is achieved.

Method of and apparatus for controlling the crimp height of crimped

Method and apparatus for controlling the crimp height of crimped

An applicator ram (8) driven by a press ram (46) drives an insulation barrel crimping die (10) which is adjustable lengthwise of the rams (8) and a wire barrel crimping die (14) fixed to the applicator ram (8), to crimp electrical terminals (T) to leads (L) in cooperation with an anvil (22). A crimp height adjustment disc (60) is rotatable about a shaft (104) on the applicator ram (8) selectively to interpose first projections (76) on one side of the disc (60) between the press ram (46) and the applicator ram (8) to adjust the shut height of the wire barrel crimping die (14) and selectively to interpose second projections (82) on the other side of the disc (60) between the applicator ram (8) and the insulation barrel crimping die (10) to adjust its shut height. The projections (76 and 82) are so dimensioned and arranged and are provided in such relative numbers that for each different shut height of the wire barrel crimping die (14) a plurality of different shut heights, for the insulation barrel crimping die (10) can be selected by suitably angularly adjusting the disc (60).

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Munster, Germany

Helmuth Kreuzer