Block loader

Apparatus for positioning terminals on the ends of a plurality of leads in a connector housing having a linear row of terminal receiving cavities at a fixed spacing comprises:

• holding means for holding said leads at said fixed spacing proximate to said terminals, said holding means comprising gripping means which grip said leads to prevent axial movement of said leads, said leads being gripped along a straight line perpendicular to the axes of the leads,
• aligning means adjacent to said holding means, said aligning means comprising first and second comb members, said first comb member having teeth defining cradles therebetween having said fixed spacing of said cavities, said cradles being profiled to receive said terminals, said second comb member having teeth profiled to enter said cradles and bear against said terminals, said combs being arranged to move toward each other so that their respective teeth intermesh, said combs moving generally perpendicular to the axes of the leads,
• connector advance means for releasably gripping a connector with said cavities facing said holding means and advancing said connector toward said holding means, whereby,
• upon holding said leads in said holding means with said terminals spaced from said gripping means, and upon moving said combs so that said teeth intermesh with said teeth of said second comb bearing against said terminals in said cradles and said terminals extending slightly beyond said combs, and upon advancing a connector so that the terminals partially enter the cavities, said combs are retracted and said connector is further advanced toward said holding means until said terminals are fully inserted in said cavities in said connector.