Wire feed mechanism and method used for fabricating electrical connectors
US6530511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49218
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Wire from a wire source is supplied to create a predetermined amount of slack wire in a predetermined configuration and to maintain that slack wire configuration. Some of the slack wire is withdrawn from the configuration and advanced for use in forming an electrical connector. As wire is withdrawn from the slack wire configuration, additional wire is supplied to renew and maintain that configuration. A characteristic of the slack wire configuration is sensed to control the amount wire supplied. In this manner, the mass and rotational effects of unwinding wire from a spool while simultaneously advancing that wire are avoided, thereby avoiding wire slippage and allowing the constituent components of the connector, such as bulges of a twist pin connector, to be more precisely located during fabrication.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.