Method and apparatus for contact insertion

Apparatus for inserting the end of a wire into a connector comprising

• a support,
• mounting means on said support for mounting a connector having at least one connector aperture for receiving a wire end,
• an insertion head mounted to the support for motion relative to said mounting means,
• a roller frame support mounted to the insertion head for motion between an insertion position and a retracted position,
• first and second wire drive roller frames having first and second wire drive rollers rotatably mounted therein respectively, said wire drive roller frames being mounted to said roller frame support for relative motion between a first position in which the rollers of said frames are mutually displaced and a second position in which said rollers are mutually juxtaposed for grasping and driving a wire positioned therebetween,
• means on said roller frame support for guiding a wire end to said rollers,
• a protective quill mounted to said insertion head and having an end thereof positioned adjacent said rollers at a side thereof remote from said means for guiding, said quill having first and second parts mounted for motion between a first position in which said quill parts are displaced from one another and a second position in which said quill parts are mutually adjacent to form a protective sheath for a wire end, and
• a quill turret, said quill being mounted on said turret, a second quill mounted on said turret, means for mounting said turret to said insertion head for motion between a first position in which said first mentioned quill is postioned adjacent said rollers and a second position in which said second quill is positioned adjacent said rollers, and means for rotating said turret to selectively position one or the other of said quills adjacent said rollers.

Apparatus for inserting a wire end into a connector comprising

• a support,
• an insertion head mounted on said support for motion toward and away from a connector into which a wire end is to be inserted,
• a pair of rollers mounted to said insertion head for motion between a first position in which said rollers are mutually adjacent to grasp a wire therebetween and a second position in which said rollers are displaced from one another,
• a pair of funnel parts mounted to said insertion head for motion between a first position in which said funnel parts are mutually adjacent to one another for guiding a wire end to and between said rollers and a second position in which said funnel parts are displaced from one another, and
• a pair of quill parts mounted to said insertion head for motion between a first position in which said quill parts are mutually adjacent to one another and adjacent to said rollers so as to receive a wire end grasped by said rollers and driven therefrom, and a second position in which said quill parts are mutually displaced from one another.

Apparatus for inserting a wire end into a connector aperture comprising

• a support,
• an insertion head traversing carriage mounted on said support for motion in a first direction,
• an insertion head base,
• means for mounting the insertion head base to the carriage for motion in a plane perpendicular to said first direction, and
• a wire drive assembly carried by said insertion head base, said wire drive assembly comprising
• a roller frame support connected to said insertion head base,
• first and second wire drive roller frame parts carrying first and second rollers respectively, said roller frame parts being pivoted to said roller frame support for motion between a first position in which said rollers are adjacent to one another to grasp a wire therebetween and a second position in which said rollers are mutually displaced to allow a wire to move laterally from between said rollers,
• first and second funnel parts pivoted to said roller frame support for motion between a first position in which said funnel parts are adjacent each other and adjacent the rollers to form a guide funnel for guiding a wire to and between said rollers, and a second position in which said funnel parts are mutually displaced from one another,
• a quill carrier,
• a plurality of quills mounted on said quill carrier, each said quill comprising first and second quill parts movably mounted to said carrier for motion between a first position in which parts of each quill are adjacent one another to provide a wire end protective sheath and a second position in which parts of each quill are displaced from one another to allow a wire to move laterally from between said quill parts,
• means for mounting said quill carrier to said insertion head base for motion between a plurality of discrete positions in each of which a different one of said quills is positioned adjacent to and in alignment with said rollers,
• quill drive means for moving said quill parts between said first and second positions thereof,
• means for moving said quill carrier to a selected one of said discrete positions, roller drive means for rotating said rollers, and
• means for driving said wire drive roller frame parts and said funnel parts between said first and second positions thereof.

Apparatus for inserting a wire end into a connector aperture comprising:

• an insertion head base,
• a pitch yoke pivotally mounted to the base for motion between a forward position and a retracted position about a pitch axis,
• a pair of wire drive roller frames pivoted to the pitch yoke about a common longitudinal axis for motion between a closed position and a laterally open position,
• first and second rollers rotatably carried by said wire drive roller frames,
• means on said base for rotating said rollers, and
• a pair of funnel blocks pivoted to said pitch yoke about an axis coaxial with said longitudinal axis for motion between closed and laterally open positions, each said funnel block having a tapered surface cooperating with the tapered surface of the other funnel block to form a wire guide entry funnel.