Conductor escapement apparatus

Apparatus for rearranging a contiguous array of end portions of elongated insulated conductors in an array in which the conductors are on predetermined centers, said apparatus comprising:

• a guideway for receiving end portions of a plurality of insulated conductors which extend from a cable and which are disposed contiguously in a substantially planar array, said guideway including a first portion which is inclined at a first angle to a horizontal axis and which receives the array, and a second portion including an exit from which conductors of the array are discharged seriatim, said second portion being inclined at a second angle to the horizontal axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle;
• feed means for urging the array along said guideway toward said exit;
• a carrier including a plurality of conductor-receiving nests which are spaced apart on the predetermined centers and gate means associated with each of said nests, said carrier including a plurality of spaced, upstanding teeth with said nest being formed between adjacent teeth and with each of said teeth having an outwardly facing crown surface, which is formed at an angle transverse of sidewalls that define said teeth, said gate means including a wedge-shaped portion of each tooth which is formed between said crown surface and one of said sidewalls of each said tooth;
• p1 mounting means for supporting said carrier for movement in a direction past said exit to allow each said nest and each said crown surface to be aligned seriatim with said exit and to cause said gate means to be oriented in a direction in which the carrier is moved, the direction of movement of said carrier being inclined to at least said second portion of said guideway;
• and
• means for moving said carrier to align each of said nests with said exit, whereupon said feed means is effective to cause each successive leading conductor in said guideway to be disposed fully within the aligned nest, and to align each said crown surface with said exit, said angle of said crown surface being such that subsequent to the descent of each leading conductor into an aligned nest said gate means of the succeeding tooth protrudes into said exit of said guideway to prevent the inadvertent descent of the following conductor, and wherein said second portion of said guideway cooperates with each successive crown surface that is aligned with said exit to prevent entrapment of the leading conductor in the guideway between said each successive crown surface and surfaces which define said second portion of said guideway.