Automatic connector presser

Abstract

A pressing tool for electrical connectors, or the like, including an elongated housing, an anvil carried by the housing adjacent one end thereof, a presser carried by and movable relative to the housing toward and away from the anvil along a presser path perpendicular to the anvil, an elongated handle extending longitudinally of the housing and accessible from the exterior thereof, means connecting the handle to the housing for producing longitudinal movement of the handle relative to the housing in response to lateral movement of the handle relative to the housing, and means for converting such longitudinal movement of the handle relative to the housing into movement of the presser along the presser path toward the anvil. Reversed movement of the handle is prevented until the presser has been moved a predetermined distance toward the anvil. A track means conveys successive connectors to be pressed into a pressing chamber which is so inclined relative to the track means that each connector is separated from the succeeding connector. An interceptor means prevents movement of a connector from the track means into the pressing chamber when intermittent operation is desired. The anvil is cantilevered toward the track means and the pressing chamber is open sided for easy access to a connector in the pressing chamber. With this construction, several different types of connectors may be processed with left handed and right handed orientations, without any need for attachments, or interchangeable parts.