Connector processing machine

A connector processing machine for processing connector housings of connector assemblies, the connector processing machine comprising:

• a platform having a center mounting plate including a punching zone above the center mounting plate;
• a feeder mechanism coupled to the platform, the feeder mechanism including a housing track for supporting and guiding the connector housings between a loading zone and the punching zone, the feeder mechanism including a feeder rail and a carriage sliding along the feeder rail, the feeder mechanism including a feeder actuator coupled to the carriage to slide the carriage along the feeder rail between a pickup position and a drop off position, the feeder mechanism including a walking beam coupled to the carriage and movable by the carriage between the loading zone and the punching zone, the walking beam including fingers configured to engage the connector housings to advance the connector housings along the housing track from the loading zone to the punching zone;
• a housing runner punch assembly at the punching zone, the housing runner punch assembly including a housing runner cutter assembly and a housing runner actuator operably coupled to the housing runner cutter assembly, the housing runner cutter assembly being coupled to the walking beam and movable with the walking beam, the housing runner cutter assembly including housing runner cutters configured to cut housing runners between the connector housings to separate the connector housings from each other;
• and
• a cover runner punch assembly at the punching zone, the cover runner punch assembly including a cover runner cutter assembly and a cover runner actuator operably coupled to the cover runner cutter assembly, the cover runner cutter assembly including cover runner cutters configured to cut cover runners between covers of the connector housings to separate the covers from each other.

A method of processing connector assemblies having connector housings with covers connected by housing runners and cover runners, the method comprising:

• loading batches of the connector housings onto a housing track at a loading zone;
• moving a walking beam to the loading zone and engaging the connector housings with fingers of the walking beam;
• moving a carriage supporting the walking beam on a feeder rail from the loading zone to a punching zone;
• cutting the cover runners from between the covers using a cover runner punch assembly to separate the covers from each other;
• and
• cutting the housing runners from between the connector housings using a housing runner punch assembly to separate the connector housings from each other.