US 5,471,863 AGranted

Precision crimping apparatus

AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation

InventorCraig W. Hornung

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Abstract

The present invention is a crimping tool that utilizes a die member having a die opening for receiving a terminal therein to be crimped. The tool includes a crimping station that is within the die opening. The terminals are arranged on a carrier strip and are automatically fed into crimping position within the opening of the die while the terminal remains in position on the carrier strip. The feeding mechanism pivots the strip of terminals away from the crimping dies, feeds the strip of terminals one position, and then pivots the strip back into position so that the next terminal is moved into crimping position within the crimping die opening. A single cam member is provided that is moved by a linear actuator, such as an air cylinder, and effects and controls all functional operating motions for the mechanisms of the tool, including actuating the crimping dies and operating the terminal feed mechanism.

Claims16

Dependent claims

In a tool for crimping an electrical terminal having an axis onto the end of an electrical conductor, said tool having a frame, a crimping station within said frame, a major axis through said crimping station, and being of the type that receives electrical terminals spaced on a carrier strip having a length, moves said strip longitudinally of its length to position a terminal in alignment with said crimping station, and removes said terminal from the carrier strip after crimping onto said conductor,

(a) a crimping apparatus comprising:
a die member having an opening and a plurality of die ways therein intersecting said opening, said opening having a wall forming a continuous surface completely encircling said crimping station;
a plurality of crimping dies arranged in said die ways to move toward said crimping station and into crimping engagement with a terminal in position therein with its axis co-axial to said major axis;
a die actuating member having continuous inner surface completely encircling said die member and said crimping station, said die actuating member arranged to effect said movement of said crimping dies within said die ways;
and
(b) a terminal feed mechanism arranged to move said carrier strip substantially laterally of its length so that a said terminal is moved substantially axially along said major axis into said position in said crimping station.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.