Method and apparatus for connecting electrical wires

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The device of the present invention comprises moving head 25, aligning means 26, connecting means 27, and clamping mechanism 24.
Wires 3 are acted upon by each of these elements to produce the finished product.
Moving head 25 is in association with a pair of carrier belts 5a and 5b upon which is mounted embracer 7.
Embracer 7 is provided with a recess for receiving connector holder 8 to carrying clamp 14 which wires 3 are attached.
Rods 9a and 9b pass slidably through the sides of embracer 7 and are fixed to connector holder 8.
Springs 11a and 11b are mounted between the downstream side of embracer 7 and abutments 10a and 10b.
Aligning means 26, in the form of separator 12, is mounted on the upstream ends of rods 9a and 9b.
Aligning means 26 comprises a comb-like plate having spaced apart slots therein.
It is mounted transversely to the direction of movement of wires 3; each of wires 3 passes through a single slot thereof.
Connecting means 27 comprises pressure plate 17 and table 18.
These elements are adapted for motion in direction D to engage or disengage wires 3.
On Table 18 is mounted junction device 2 which carries connector tabs 1 thereon.
Presser 4 is affixed to pressure plate 17 and, on its surface facing junction device 2, has projections 21 and grooves 19.
These are complementary to connecting tabs 1 on junction device 2.
Clamping mechanism 24 consists of pinching roller 16 and wire holder 15.
As in the case of connecting means 27, these two elements are movable toward and away from each other.
Preferably, roller 16 is covered with a resilient material in order to accept different sizes of wire and to exert its clamping action thereon.
In operation, head 7 is brought to the upstream side of clamping mechanism 24.
Wires 3 are attached to clamp 14 which is then locked onto connector holder 8.
Holder 8 is placed in the recess in embracer 7.
Both clamping mechanism 24 and connecting means 27 are in their open positions.
The carrier drive (not shown) is activated and head 25 is moved in direction X as shown in FIG