Electrical harness manufacturing method and apparatus
US4631823A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 1984 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53004
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically making harnesses such as those used for electrically interconnecting a plurality of spaced-apart, separate connection points. Insulated wire is fed through a press position where terminals are attached to the wire conductor. The insulation is displaced from a portion of the wire where a terminal is to be attached, thereby baring the conductor. A terminal is brought adjacent the bared conductor from a supply of terminals and crimped to the conductor. A wire feeding mechanism advances the wire so that the section having a terminal crimped thereto is removed from the press position and a new portion is brought into the press position for the attachment of another terminal. The automatic process is repeated until a pre-determined number of terminals are attached to the conductor at which time the wire can be severed to complete the manufacture of the harness. The apparatus has a control means which is programmable so that one of a variety of harness configurations can be set up and manufactured repetitively. The control means also enables the apparatus to operate in different modes such as one-step, one-cycle or continuous-cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.