Cable clamping and orienting apparatus

#The present invention relates to automated termination of multiple electrical wires of a multiwire cable in an electrical connector. Apparatus is disclosed which orients the cable during termination of its wires, so that when all terminations are completed, the cable will be closely proximate the connector and will project at a desired angle from the connector.

#An electrical connector for terminating multiple conductor electrical cable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,335, and includes two parallel rows of electrical contacts. The contacts of a plug version of the connector resiliently engage those of a receptacle version, when the two versions are intermated. The contacts of each version have wire receiving and connecting portions, each in the form of a resilient plate provided with a slot. An insulted conductor of the cable is trimmed to length and inserted in the slot. The conductor tends to widen the slot. Since the plate is resilient, the sides of the slot provide resilient jaws which resist widening of the slot. As a result, the jaws slice through the insulation of the conductor and resiliently engage opposite sides of the wire.

#Suitable apparatus have been developed for trimming and inserting the conductors into the connector contacts, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,803,695; 3,864,802; and 3,995,358. Each disclosed apparatus requires an operator to grasp a pair of conductors and insert them into the apparatus. Then the apparatus is actuated, either manually or automatically, to trim the conductor and transfer the trimmed wires into the connector. One type of apparatus requires all conductor pairs to be placed in the apparatus, followed by simultaneous or mass termination of the conductors in the connector contacts. A second type senses each pair of conductors and thereby is automatically triggered to trim and insert the pair into a corresponding pair of connector contacts. While an operator is in the process of selecting and grasping the next pair of conductors, the apparatus of the second type has automatically moved, relative to the connector, in registration with the next pair of connector contacts into which the next pair of conductors will be inserted.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective of a cable directing clamp, as a preferred embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a reduced perspective of the clamp, shown in FIG. 1, coupled to a wire trimming and inserting apparatus.

#FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged plan views in section of a cable gripping portion of the clamp, illustrating its operation.

#FIG. 1 more particularly shows a cable clamping and orienting mechanism or apparatus 1 comprising a base 2 on which is mounted a cam plate 4 machined with a cam slot or groove 6 in the thickness of the plate. A roller follower 8, adapted for displacement along the slot 6, projects from an elongated arm 10, at one end of which is a cable grip or clamp 12 pivotally mounted by a pin 14 which passes through the clamp 12 and a slotted clevis 16 on the end of the arm 10. The opposite end 18 of the arm 10 is mounted in a slotted, enlarged clevis 20 and is pivotable on a pin 22 which passes through the end 18 and is mounted by the clevis 20.

#The mechanism 1 is shown in FIG. 2 mounted on a wire trimming and inserting apparatus 24 including a frame and being of the type in which a pair of wire trimming and inserting mechanisms 26 are mounted on a common carriage 28 in the form of a U-shaped yoke. The yoke is removably secured to an internally threaded drive block 30 which meshes with an elongated worm gear drive shaft 32 coupled to the output shaft of an electrically driven stepping motor 34. The precise increment of rotation of the motor 34 will advance the yoke 28 an increment of displacement along the axis of the worm gear 32. The mechanisms 26 will be incrementally advanced lengthwise of and along the opposite sides of an electrical connector 36 mounted removably on an anvil 38 mounted on the frame between the mechanisms 26.

#The mechanisms 26 are serially advanced along the length of the connector in successive increments of displacement corresponding to successive wire receiving and connecting electrical contacts along the opposite sides of the connector 36. An electrical cable 40 having multiple pairs of insulated wire conductors 42 are adapted for electrical connection to the rows of contacts in the connector 36. An operator selects a pair of conductors 42, which are color coded for identification, and presents them to the mechanisms 26. The pair of conductors are sensed, and the mechanisms 26 then are actuated to trim the presented conductors to desired lengths and insert them into corresponding connector contacts, one in each row of contacts. The mechanisms are then incrementally displaced or advanced to the next pair of contacts in which additional conductors 42 are to be connected. Further details of the apparatus 24 are contained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,874 Ser. No. 929,742, filed July 31, 1978.