Artos Engineering Company

Ragnar Gudmestad

Gerald E Blaha

Kenneth A Wollermann

Thomas J Kratoska

John D Butler

Robert O Dusel

James J Berres

Magnus R Randar

Terry R Kroening

Leon J Gorski

John E Conrardy

Sven O Sandblom

A programmable wire stripper is provided for cutting and stripping selectively variable length insulation portions from the end of wire segments presented at a workstation. The stripper includes a base frame mounted in fixed relation to the workstation and a carriage mounted on the base frame for movement toward and away from the workstation by a first drive. A turret is mounted on the carriage for movement relative thereto. The turret has a plurality of individual mounting positions and an insulation cutting mechanism is mounted on the turret at each of the mounting positions for movement between open noncutting and closed cutting positions. A second drive is provided for moving the turret to place any selected mounting position and its associated cutting mechanism at the workstation. A first actuator is provided to effect closing of the cutting mechanism. A gripper is provided on the carriage and movable between open nongripping and closed gripping positions and a second actuator is provided for effecting movement of the gripper between the open and closed positions. A third actuator is provided on the carriage for moving the gripper toward and away from the workstation.

Apparatus for cutting, conveying and programmably stripping wire segments

Wire processing apparatus comprises a wire selector/feed mechanism for feeding a selected one of a plurality of different wire strands lengthwise into a wire insertion mechanism which then presents a wire segment severed by a wire cutter mechanism laterally to the infeed ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart conveyor units of a conveyor mechanism. Each conveyor unit comprises a support frame on which a conveyor belt assembly is mounted. The conveyor belt assembly is adjustably positionable on the support frame to enable wire segment end portions of desired length to project from the conveyor belt assembly. The wire selector/feed mechanism comprises a wire selector device including a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates having pairs of aligned holes for releasably supporting the wire strands. The wire selector/feed mechanism further comprises a wire feed device located between the plates which receives and feeds a selected strand to a passage in the wire insertion mechanism defined by a pair of elongated resilient blades. Two (inboard and outboard) pushbars in the wire insertion mechanism, each independently operable by a separate pushbar actuator acting through a mechanical linkage, extend and retract to laterally move wire in the passage into the conveyor mechanism. The inboard pushbar also operates the wire cutter mechanism. The outboard pushbar actuator also operates a blade separator member. The pushbar actuator can operate in different modes to provide standard-length or extra-long wire segments.

Wire processing apparatus having pushbar and conveyor mechanisms

A pair of wire feed clamps are affixed to parallel flights of a pulley-supported steel cable which is axially driven back and forth by an oscillatably rotatable cable drum whereby the wire feed clamps, which reciprocably move in opposite directions, feed a wire strand along a first path. The cable drum is driven by a drive rod reciprocably movable by an orbiting crank pin on a support member which is adjustably mounted on a motor-driven rotatable feed crank. Crank pin orbit determines drive rod stroke, cable drum position, wire feed clamp spacing and travel, and wire segment length. A locking mechanism releasably locks the support member (crank pin) in desired adjusted positions. Two laterally spaced-apart conveyor assemblies, each having conveyor clamps for receiving the wire strand, convey severed wire segments along a second path perpendicular to the first. A motor-driven rotatable threaded shaft adjustably moves the two conveyor assemblies relative to each other to accommodate wire segments of different lengths. A mechanism on one conveyor assembly engages and moves an associated wire feed clamp during conveyor adjusting movement and correspondingly changes the spacing between the wire feed clamps i.e., wire segment length. The locking mechanism unlocks to enable conveyor adjusting movement to change crank pin orbit. An electronic control system controls wire processing and repositioning operations.

Adjustable apparatus for cutting and conveying wire segments of various

A small, simple, accurate, low-cost wire cutting and stripping apparatus includes a wire feed mechanism which periodically feeds a measured length of an insulated wire strand to a wire cutter/stripper mechanism which clamps the wire strand, severs it and scores the insulation, axially separates the wire segment cut from the wire strand and strips the scored insulation during such axial separation. The wire feed mechanism is driven intermittently by a continuously rotating electric motor through an electrically-operated wire feed clutch/brake, the clutch mechanism of which engages in response to an electric signal from a timer switch (start wire feed) and which disengages in response to an electric signal from an electric wire measuring encoder (measure and stop wire feed). The wire cutter/stripper mechanism includes a stationary pair of separable clamps, a movable pair of separable bladed cutter/stripper heads and a movable pair of separable clamps. A barrel cam is periodically rotated for one revolution by the continuously rotating electric motor through a solenoid-operated one-revolution clutch in response to an electric signal from the encoder (wire feed stopped, make one cam revolution). The barrel cam has two cam tracks and drives two linkages. One (clamp/cut) linkage simultaneously closes (and subsequently simultaneously reopens) both pairs of clamps and the pair of cutter/stripper heads. The other (strip/return) linkage extends (and subsequently retracts) the movable pair of clamps and the movable pair of cutter/stripper heads so that the former moves a greater distance than the latter along the wire path.

Wire feeding, cutting and stripping apparatus having clutch-operated

This cord hanking machine has two turntables coaxially mounted on a carrier, each having pair of coiling posts spaced to opposite sides of its axis and projecting away from the other turntable. The carrier swings about an axis transverse to the coinciding axes of the turntables to carry each turntable alternately to a coiling station and to a tying station. Gripper jaws at the outer end of each post open to clamp a straight stretch of cord presented to the turntable at the coiling station. As that turntable rotates, an oscillating cord guide adjacent to the coiling station guides the cord into a coil around its posts. At the tying station a tying machine moves bodily toward the turntable and places a wire tie around the coiled cord on it. During tying, a claw on the tying machine engages behind the coil, and as the tying machine retracts from the turntable the hank is thereby drawn off of its posts.

Automatic cord hanking machine

An insulated wire cutting and stripping machine comprising substantially identical upper and lower tool holders and permitting rapid replacement of blades and rapid changes of distance between blades on each holder for stripping off different lengths of insulation from wire ends. The upper and lower tool holders firmly hold the cutting and stripping blades with a clamp and screw. Each blade is on an assembly slideably engaged with an assembly carrying another blade on the same holder and sliding of the assemblies with respect to one another thus changes the distances between these blades.

Quick change wire cutting and stripping blade tool holder

Apparatus and method for making a wire lead which comprises a pair of insulated stranded conductors encased in an insulating jacket, with a two-pronged plug at one end and either untwisted or twisted bare or tinned wires with or without terminals at the other end. The apparatus comprises mechanisms to cut and convey a cable segment, strip the insulating jacket from both ends and trim cut the exposed insulated wires, preshape them, strip and twist the stranded wires at the plug end, attach the plug at that end, and strip and perform appropriate processing operations at the other end, i.e., twist, tin, or terminate. The wire shaping mechanism for preshaping the wires at the plug end of the cable segment also helps position the wires during further processing and includes wire shaping and holding devices movable by an auxiliary conveyor, an inserter for directing the wire ends into releasable engagement with a wire shaping device, an actuator for causing the wire shaping device to effect wire bending, a wire release mechanism, and a reset mechanism for resetting the wire shaping device. The mechanism for stripping and twisting the end of a stranded wire comprises a gripping device (such as the above-described wire shaping device or a conveyor clamp) which prevents axial and rotational movement of the wire, blades for severing the wire insulation, and a rotatable and axially movable spinner head which releasably grips, rotates, and axially removes the severed piece of insulation, simultaneously twisting the stranded conductors in the process.

Apparatus and method for production of wire leads

Apparatus and method for making a wire lead which comprises a pair of insulated stranded conductors encased in an insulating jacket, with a two-pronged plug at one end and either untwisted or twisted bare or tinned wires with or without terminals at the other end. The apparatus comprises mechanisms to cut and convey a cable segment, strip the insulting jacket from both ends and trim cut the exposed insulated wires, preshape them, strip and twist the stranded wires at the plug end, attach the plug at that end, and strip and perform appropriate processing operations at the other end, i.e., twist, tin, or terminate. The mechanism for stripping and twisting the end of a stranded wire comprises a gripping device which prevents axial and rotational movement of the wire, blades for severing the wire insulation, and a rotatable and axially movable spinner head which releasably grips, rotates, and axially removes the severed piece of insulation, simultaneously twisting the stranded conductors in the process.

Apparatus and method for stripping wire leads

Apparatus for making a wire lead which comprises a pair of insulated stranded conductors encased in an insulating jacket, with a two-pronged plug at one end and either untwisted or twisted bare or tinned wires with or without terminals at the other end. The apparatus comprises mechanisms to cut and convey a cable segment, strip the insulating jacket from both ends and trim cut the exposed insulated wires, preshape them, strip and twist the stranded wires at the plug end, attach the plug at that end, and strip and perform appropriate processing operations at the other end, i.e., twist, tin, or terminate. The wire shaping mechanism for preshaping the wires at the plug end of the cable segment also helps position the wires during further processing and includes wire shaping and holding devices movable by an auxiliary conveyor, an inserter for directing the wire ends into releasable engagement with a wire shaping device, an actuator for causing the wire shaping device to effect wire bending, a wire release mechanism, and a reset mechanism for resetting the wire shaping device.

Wire shaping mechanism for production of wire leads

Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for simultaneously drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for simultaneously severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments; and conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station. The apparatus further includes conveyor clamp actuator mechanisms for causing the conveyor clamps to initially receive sets of wire segments from the feed clamps for conveyance and to subsequently release the finished leads for deposit at the collecting station.

Wire lead clamping mechanism for wire lead production apparatus

Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station; processing mechanisms including wire cutter and stripper mechanisms for accurately trimming both ends of the wire segments in the sets simultaneously and for stripping insulation therefrom simultaneously and terminal attachment mechanisms for simultaneously attaching terminals to both ends of the wire segments in the sets; and a wire gathering mechanism for each processing mechanism for accurately guiding the ends of the sets of wire segments therethrough and for holding the sets against displacement during processing.

Wire gathering mechanism for wire lead production apparatus

Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for simultaneously drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for simultaneously severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments; and conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station.

Wire straightening mechanism for wire lead production apparatus

Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for repeatedly drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire simultaneously from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands as they are drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for repeatedly severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length simultaneously from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping successive sets of wire segments received from the feed clamps; conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps so that the ends of the wire segments in the sets pass through processing mechanisms, and conveyor clamp actuator mechanisms for causing the conveyor clamps to initially grip sets of wire segments for conveyance and to subsequently release sets of the finished leads at a collecting station. The processing mechanisms include wire cutter and stripper mechanisms for accurately trim cutting both ends of the wire segments in the sets simultaneously and for stripping insulation therefrom simultaneously, and terminal attachment mechanisms for simultaneously attaching terminals to both ends of the wire segments in the sets. The apparatus further comprises a wire gathering mechanism for each processing mechanism for accurately guiding, positioning, and securing the ends of the sets of wire segments in the processing mechanism and for holding the segments against displacement during processing.

Apparatus for producing sets of accurately and identically sized wire

A wire feeding unit and an associated wire length measuring unit advance supply wire through a cutting zone and at the same time the advanced supply wire is guided by a wire transfer system across transversely spaced endless conveyor chains of a wire propelling conveyor. The feeding unit is automatically stopped when it has advanced a measured length of the supply wire and the transfer system tensions the advanced supply wire while it is held against lengthwise displacement by the stopped feeding unit. The wire transfer system then engages the stopped and tensioned wire length with gripping jaws on the conveyor chains, the gripping jaws are closed, and the supply wire is severed in the cutting zone. Tensioning of the advanced supply wire prevents it from sagging between the transversely spaced conveyor gripping jaws and thereby avoids undesirable length variations of the cut off portion of the supply wire. The mechanism for severing the supply wire in the cutting zone is laterally adjustable to clear the adjacent end of the cut off wire length during subsequent advance movement of the conveyor chains.

Method for producing electrical conductors of measured length

A rotary wire stripping machine for removing insulation from the end of an insulated wire including a reciprocating carriage which supports a rotating stripping head. The rotating stripping head includes a central bore for receiving the end of a wire and a pair of cutting blades which are movable radially inwardly to cut the insulation of the end of the wire. The reciprocating carriage may be moved from a first position wherein the stripping head receives the end of the wire to a second position wherein the blades pull insulation off the end of the wire.

Growing community of inventors

West Allis, WI, United States of America

Ragnar Gudmestad