Wire transfer system having wire singulating device
AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation
InventorAaron Scott Will
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wire singulating device includes a carrier member and a retention feature. The carrier member has a front edge and an opposite rear edge. The front edge defines an opening to a slot that extends at least partially towards the rear edge. The carrier member is configured to move relative to a wire bundle that includes plural wires such that the front edge engages the wire bundle. The slot is configured to receive one wire of the wire bundle therein. The retention feature is coupled to the carrier member and juxtaposed relative to the slot to retain the wire within the slot as the carrier member moves away from the wire bundle to separate the wire from the wire bundle.
Claims20
A wire singulating device comprising:
- a carrier member having a front edge and an opposite rear edge, the front edge defining an opening to a slot that extends at least partially towards the rear edge, the carrier member configured to be moved relative to a wire bundle that includes plural wires such that the front edge of the carrier member engages the wire bundle, the slot configured to receive one wire of the wire bundle therein;
- and
- a retention feature coupled to the carrier member and juxtaposed relative to the slot to retain the wire within the slot as the carrier member is moved away from the wire bundle to separate the wire from the wire bundle, wherein the retention feature is a retractable pin that is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the retractable pin in the deployed position protruding from the front edge a greater distance than when the retractable pin is in the retracted position and at least partially covering the opening of the slot to block access to the slot, the retractable pin in the retracted position allowing access to the slot for at least one of reception of the wire in the slot or removal of the wire from the slot.
A wire singulating device comprising:
- a carrier member having a front edge and an opposite rear edge, the front edge defining an opening to a slot that extends at least partially towards the rear edge, the carrier member configured to be moved relative to a wire bundle that includes plural wires such that the front edge of the carrier member engages the wire bundle, the slot configured to receive one wire of the wire bundle therein;
- and
- a retention feature coupled to the carrier member and juxtaposed relative to the slot to retain the wire within the slot as the carrier member is moved away from the wire bundle to separate the wire from the wire bundle, wherein the retention feature includes at least one of a leaf spring or a torsion spring extending at least partially into the slot, the retention feature engaging the wire and applying a biasing force on the wire against an inner wall of the slot to retain the wire within the slot.
A wire transfer system comprising:
- a bin holding a wire bundle that includes multiple wires in engagement with one another;
- a wire singulating device including a carrier member that has a front edge and an opposite rear edge, the front edge defining an opening to a slot that extends at least partially towards the rear edge, the slot sized to receive only a single wire of the wire bundle therein;
- and
- a transfer arm holding the wire singulating device and configured to move the wire singulating device towards and away from the bin, wherein, as the transfer arm moves toward the bin, the front edge of the carrier member engages the wire bundle and one of the wires of the wire bundle is received in the slot, the wire being retained in the slot as the transfer arm moves away from the bin to separate the wire from the wire bundle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.