Apparatus for automatically inserting an electrical contact into an electrical connector

An apparatus for automatically inserting at least two electrical contacts of the type having a retention portion into an electrical connector adapted to retain the contacts in corresponding spaced cavities formed in the connector, said apparatus comprising:

• guide means for guiding the contacts from a loading position to their respective unloading position and into their respective cavities of the connector,
• said guide means including a slide rod (162) having a contact receiving passage (176) therethrough mounted for reciprocation between the contact loading position and the contact unloading position, said contact receiving passage receiving a contact when registered with the loading position and communicating a contact when registered with the unloading position,
• propelling means operatively associated with said guide means for controllably propelling the contacts, said guide means guiding the propelled contacts into their respective cavities, and
• indexing means for moving the connector relative to the guide means so that the cavities of the connector are successively aligned with said guide means so that the contacts are propelled into their corresponding cavities.