Molex Corporation

Kevin J Urness

Peter Ingwersen

Eric J Stenstrom

Douglas L Heisner

Vernon A Smith

Steven F Wright

Thomas P Pellegrino

Russell E Wende

Leonard J Lickus

Robert A Suthard

A machine for producing wire harnesses of the type having multiple connectors terminated to the wires of the harness, the connectors being arranged in serial order along the length of the wire harness and some of the connectors being of two-piece construction is disclosed. The machine includes a reciprocating carriage and a nest that retains a lead connector in place during termination and subsequent advancement of the harness wires. The carriage is received within a termination assembly which has different termination members for different connectors.

Wire harness termination apparatus for programmable connectors

An electrical terminal applicator is disclosed for crimping terminals onto wires, with the terminals being secured on a strip in a side-by-side relationship. An applicator ram is drivable in a first path through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. A crimping die cooperates with the anvil to crimp a portion of the terminal onto a wire during each working stroke of the ram. A track guides the strip in a second path which intersects the first path of the ram and includes a track portion mounted for adjustable movement in a direction transverse to the second path. An adjusting screw is threaded into a transverse hole in the movable track portion for adjusting the position of the track portion in the direction transverse to the second path. A locking set screw is threaded into the transverse hole for jamming against an end of the adjusting screw to lock the adjusting screw and, thus, the track portion in any position of adjustment.

Electrical terminal applicator with improved track adjustment means

An electrical terminal applicator includes an applicator ram drivable by a press ram through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. A first crimping die is mounted on the applicator ram for cooperation with the anvil to crimp a first portion of an electrical terminal onto the insulation of an insulated electrical wire during each working stroke of the applicator ram. A second crimping die is mounted on the applicator ram for cooperation with the anvil to crimp a second portion of the terminal onto a conductive core of the electrical wire during each working stroke of the applicator ram. A first adjusting plate is mounted for rotation about an axis on and extending in the direction of movement of the applicator ram and includes a concentric ramped striking surface for engaging a striker surface operatively associated with the first crimping die, to adjust the shut height of the first die in response to rotating the first adjusting plate. A second adjusting plate is mounted for rotation about the axis and includes a concentric ramped striking surface for engaging a striker surface operatively associated with the second crimping die, to adjust the shut height of the second die independently of adjusting the shut height of the first die in response to independently rotating the second adjusting plate.

Electrical terminal applicator with improved crimp height adjustment

A pitch transition wire guide apparatus for use in wire harness fabrication machines includes a plate member having a wire engaging edge and a corresponding number of open-ended wire guide channels, each extending inwardly from the edge to a closed end. The closed ends of said channels are spaced apart by a centerline spacing different from the centerline spacing of the open ends in said edge. The plate is reciprocably moveable between a first position wherein the open ends are in surrounding engagement with the wires adjacent the edge and a second wire-receiving position wherein said wires are disposed at the closed ends. The guide includes actuation means for moving the plate member between said first and second positions. Actuation of the wire guide causes movement of the wires within their respective channels to alter the centerline spacing thereof. The wire guide is useful for making smooth continuous transitions between production runs of different pitch wire harnesses. It is also useful for making pitch transition wire harnesses wherein a common group of wires are terminated to at least two connectors, each one containing terminals spaced apart at different centerline spacings.

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St. Charles, IL, United States of America

Kevin J Urness