Apparatus for installing a length of wire

An apparatus for installing a length of wire between two crimps, the apparatus comprising:

• a wire output guide;
• a crimp punch tool located in front of the wire output guide;
• a first actuator operatively connected to the crimp punch tool;
• a wire cutter tool adjacent to the crimp punch tool;
• a second actuator operatively connected to the wire cutter tool;
• and
• a wire gripper including:
• a wire gripper actuator having a movable part with a free end, the movable part being selectively movable between an elongated position and a retracted position, wherein the wire gripper actuator is a pneumatic linear actuator connected to a pneumatic source;
• a seat in registry with the free end;
• wherein the wire is held by frictional engagement between the free end of the movable part and the seat when the movable part is at the elongated position, and
• wherein the wire gripper actuator includes:
• a position sensor located on the wire gripper actuator, the position sensor generating signals indicative of the position of the free end with reference to the seat;
• a flow regulator operatively connected to the wire gripper actuator;
• and
• a bypass valve selectively movable between an opened and a closed position in response to the signals received from the position sensor;
• whereby the bypass valve is moved to the opened position when the free end of the wire gripper actuator is proximate the seat.