The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1996
David A College, Annville, PA (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A machine (10) for processing electrical wires (80) during the manufacture of a product includes a wire feed mechanism (28) and a wire movement measuring mechanism (82). A wire guide apparatus (122) is disposed between the feed and measuring mechanisms to limit lateral movement of the wire (80). The wire guide apparatus (122) includes wire guiding surfaces (228, 248) that are adjustable to accommodate wires having different outside diameters within a range of diameters. The wire guide apparatus (122) includes a block (128), attached to the machine (10), having a fixed guide surface (200) and two opposed rails (132,134) in sliding engagement with the block. Each of the sliding rails (132, 134) includes a movable guide surface (228, 248) that cooperates with the fixed guide surface (200) to constrain lateral movement of the wire (80) during feeding. A manually operated eccentric mechanism (136, 146, 154) is coupled to the block (122) and arranged to move the rails (132, 134) and their respective movable guide surfaces (228, 248) toward or away from the fixed guide surface (200) to accommodate a specific wire diameter.