Electrical connector wire trim and press apparatus

A press apparatus for pressing a wire into an associated connector, the connector being carried on an elongated strip, the connector having an opening at a top thereof and being stored on the strip in a side-ways orientation, the connector being fed into the press on the strip, the press apparatus comprising:

• a feed path having a twisted section adapted to receive the connector on the strip in the side-ways orientation and to rotate the connector to position the opening of the connector in an upward orientation;
• a guide portion defining a conveyance path and a conveyance direction for the connector;
• means for one-way feeding the connector in the conveyance direction;
• means for preventing reverse movement of the connector in a direction opposite the conveyance direction;
• a reciprocating press, the reciprocating press having a die operably connected thereto, the reciprocating press configured to reciprocate to move the die to press the wire into the connector when the wire is positioned above the connector opening;
• and
• means operably connecting the one-way feed means and the reciprocating press.

A press apparatus for pressing a wire into an associated connector, the connector being carried on an elongated strip, the connector having an opening at a top thereof and being stored on the strip in a side-ways orientation, the connector being fed into the press on the strip, the press apparatus comprising:

• a feed path, the feed adapted to receive the connector on the strip in the sideways orientation and to reorient the connector to position the opening of the connector in an upward orientation;
• a guide portion defining a conveyance path and a conveyance direction for the connector, the guide portion having opposing walls;
• a one-way feed assembly to feed the connector in the conveyance direction and to prevent reverse movement of the connector opposite the feed direction, the feed assembly including a retaining portion and a feed portion disposed opposite the retaining portion;
• a wire guide for positioning the wire above the connector opening;
• a reciprocating press, the reciprocating press having a die operably connected thereto, the reciprocating press configured to reciprocate to move the die to press the wire into the connector when the wire is positioned above the connector opening;
• a linkage operably connecting the feed assembly and the press wherein movement of the reciprocating press advances the connector along the conveyance path to position the connector opening below the die for pressing a wire into the opening;
• and
• a strip separator disposed downstream of the reciprocating press for separating the connector from the strip.