Device for attaching terminal applicators to cassettes

Abstract

A system (10) is provided for mounting an electrical terminal applicator (12) to a cassette (14, 180) containing a plurality of terminals. The system (10) includes a support plate (110) for fixedly mounting to the applicator (12) and a yoke (150) releasably mounted to the support plate. The yoke (150) and support plate (110) define a mounting therebetween that provides at least one degree of freedom of movement of the support plate relative to the yoke in a mounted state. The yoke (150) is further configured to be movably mounted to the cassette (14) with at least one additional degree of freedom of movement.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to crimping systems and, more particularly, to an improved system or apparatus for mounting a terminal applicator to a terminal-holding cassette. [Background technology]

[0002] A crimping or termination system for securing terminals to electrical conductors typically includes an applicator configured to feed terminals from a mounted cassette to a predetermined position for crimping the terminals to the conductors. The applicator must be precisely mounted to a crimping press or terminator (also called a leadmaker) that provides the necessary force to crimp the terminals. A cassette holding a reel containing a plurality of terminals is removably coupled to the applicator and can be exchanged with other cassettes to change the type of terminals fed to the applicator. Typically, before use, the applicator and cassette combination is coupled together and then mounted or attached to the terminator. Once mounted, an alignment operation is performed that relies on some degree of free play between the applicator and the terminator. Once aligned, the applicator is fixedly attached to the terminator in the desired position, for example by a clamping mechanism. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Existing solutions for connecting applicators to cassettes are costly to manufacture and more difficult to use than necessary. Thus, there is a need for a new mounting or coupling system that provides quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the applicator and cassette, while providing the appropriate degrees of freedom required for plugging and aligning the applicator with the terminator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for mounting a terminal applicator to a cassette containing a plurality of terminals. The system includes a support plate for fixedly mounting to the applicator and a yoke releasably mounted to the support plate. The yoke and support plate define a movable mounting therebetween providing at least one degree of freedom of the support plate relative to the yoke in an attached state. The yoke further defines a second movable mounting for mounting to the cassette with at least one degree of freedom.

[0005] A support plate for mounting a terminal applicator to a cassette containing a plurality of terminals and a crimping press according to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a slot formed through the support plate and extending from a first end toward a second end opposite the first end. The slot is sized to receive a fastening element for fixing a position of the support plate relative to the crimping press. At least one of the projections or recesses of the support plate defines a mounting portion at the second end of the body. The mounting portion includes a resiliently mounted locking element for removably mounting the support plate to the terminal cassette. The mounting portion provides at least one degree of freedom of the support plate relative to the cassette when mounted to the cassette.

[0006] According to another embodiment, there is also provided a yoke for mounting an electrical terminal applicator to a cassette including a plurality of terminals. The yoke includes a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm defining an opening therebetween for receiving a support plate of the applicator in an assembly orientation. The yoke further includes a mounting portion configured to selectively attach to a support plate disposed within the opening. The mounting portion provides at least two degrees of freedom of movement of the support plate relative to the yoke when attached to the yoke.

[0007] Another system for mounting an electrical terminal applicator to a cassette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a support plate for fixedly mounting to the applicator and a gripper assembly associated with the cassette. The gripper assembly includes a pair of opposing mounting arms movable relative to one another between closed and open positions to releasably capture the support plate therebetween. The gripper assembly is configured such that the support plate possesses multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to the cassette when the support plate is engaged between the mounting arms in the closed position.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, a gripper assembly for mounting a terminal applicator to a cassette comprises a first side defining a first mounting arm and a second side defining a second mounting arm. The first and second mounting arms are movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position to releasably capture therebetween a support plate associated with the applicator. The assembly further comprises a resilient element biasing the first and second mounting arms toward the closed position and an actuator configured to selectively bias the first and second mounting arms from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the resilient element.

[0009] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a crimping system including a support plate assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a support plate in the process of being loaded into a crimping press according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of a support plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support plate of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a top view of a yoke or yoke plate according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the yoke shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top view of a yoke mounting block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the yoke mounting block shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a top view of the support plate assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of the support plate assembly of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a top view of a support plate assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed or retracted position. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the support plate assembly of FIG. 11 with the locking mechanism of the support plate assembly in a locked position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the support plate assembly of FIGS. 11 and 12 with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of a support plate assembly and locking mechanism according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a top view of a support plate assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure in an open or deployed position. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a top view of the support plate assembly of FIG. 15 in a closed or retracted position. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a support plate assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with respect to an exemplary system for crimping terminals to conductors. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a system 10 for performing a termination or crimping operation generally includes an applicator assembly or applicator 12 configured to deliver a plurality of terminals contained on a reel of a cassette 14 (only a portion of which is shown) to a crimping location, for example, at the end of a conductive wire to be terminated. Once positioned, the applicator 12 deforms and crimps the terminals to the conductor in response to a compressive force applied via a terminator or crimping press 16, a portion of which is shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, the applicator 12 is attached to the cassette 14 via a support plate assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The support plate assembly includes a first member embodied as a support base or plate 110 fixedly attached to the applicator assembly, a second member embodied as a yoke plate or yoke 150 movably mounted to the support plate, and a third member embodied as a yoke mounting block 180 movably mounted to the yoke 150 and fixedly mounted to the cassette 14. Referring again to Figure 2, in operation, the support plate 110 (and the attached applicator assembly and cassette) is selectively fixedly mounted to the terminator 16. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by a spring-loaded bolt or pin 17 that is axially movable relative to the base 18 of the terminator. As shown, the pin 17 may be held upward in an unlocked or unclamped position and the support plate 110 may be placed over the pin in the direction of its slotted holes to receive the pin 17. Once the support plate is in the desired position, the pin 17 may be released from the unlocked position and urged downward into clamping contact with the support plate 110 to secure the support plate 110, and thereby the applicator 12 and cassette 14, to the terminator 16.

[0012] 3 and 4, the support plate 110 includes a generally rectangular body 112 having a plurality of generally parallel sides. Each lateral side of the body 112 defines a respective yoke mounting flange 114, 116 embodied as a recessed step formed along each lateral side of the body and having a thickness less than a thickness of another portion of the body. As described in more detail herein, the flanges 114, 116 are configured to be slidably received in corresponding channel-like features of the yoke 150. The body 112 further defines a first terminator connection slot 118 formed at a first end 120 thereof and extending therethrough in a direction generally parallel to the lateral sides of the body (i.e., longitudinally of the body). The slot 118 is configured to receive a terminator mounting bolt or pin, such as the pin 17 of the terminator 16 shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the slot 118 may be defined by stepped side walls of the body 112 that form flanges 119, 119' that extend around the periphery of the slot and project in a direction toward its center. A recess 121 in the slot 118 located above the flanges 119, 119' provides space for the recessed receipt of a head of a tightening bolt or pin of the terminator, the underside of which contacts the opposing top surfaces of the flanges 119, 119' when the support plate 110 is locked or secured to the terminator.

[0013] As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, a portion of the slot 118 defined by a portion of the flange 119 is wider than another portion of the slot 118 defined by a portion of the flange 119'. Note that the narrower portion of the slot 118 is located at the end opposite the open end of the slot. This makes it easier to insert the support plate 110 onto the pin or bolt of the terminator with less precision required, while further translation of the support plate 110 relative to the pin centers the support plate on the pin as it approaches the second closed end of the slot. The free ends of the lateral portions of the body 112 that define the slot 118 include tapered surfaces 115, 117 at the top and / or bottom surfaces of the body that taper in a direction opposite to the direction of installation of the support plate 110 onto the terminator pin. This allows the support plate 110 to be more easily installed on the terminator since any small height differences between the support plate 110 and the terminator are absorbed by these tapered flange ends.

[0014] A yoke attachment or attachment mechanism is formed at a second end 122 of the body 112 opposite the first end 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the yoke attachment is defined as a slot or recess 123 formed in the second end 122 of the body 112 in a direction toward the first end 120. The sides of the body 112 defining the recess 123 include inner opposing sidewalls 124, 126 facing the recess 123. Each end of these sides may also taper in thickness in a direction toward the second end of the body, as shown. A locking mechanism or element 128 may be disposed or defined on the opposing sidewalls 124, 126. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the locking mechanisms 128 includes a spring-loaded ball detent, or a ball-nose spring plunger, disposed in a respective hole formed in each sidewall 124, 126. As shown, a portion of each ball detent extends from side walls 124, 126 into recess 123. In other embodiments, other types of resilient or non-resilient protruding or locking mechanisms may be provided without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0015] The yoke attachment, including the recess 123, is configured to engage and attach to a yoke or yoke plate 150. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the yoke 150 comprises a generally U-shaped body 152 having a central portion 154 and two attachment arms or protruding ends 156, 158 extending therefrom. An opening 160 is defined between the arms 156, 158 and is sized to receive the second end 122 of the support plate 110. Specifically, each arm 156, 158 includes a slot or channel 157, 159 formed therein and sized to slidably receive a corresponding flange 114, 116 of the support plate 110. As described further herein, the channels 157, 159 and / or the flanges 114, 116 are sized to allow some play or freedom between the yoke 150 and the support plate 110 attached to one another, e.g., in the lateral and longitudinal directions.

[0016] The central portion 154 of the body 152 includes a support plate mounting post or protrusion 164 that extends into the opening 160. The mounting protrusion 164 is sized to be received by the yoke mounting recess 123 defined in the support plate 110 as the support plate 110 is inserted into the yoke 150 in an insertion or assembly direction. Opposite lateral side walls 165, 166 of the mounting protrusion 164 feature recesses or indentations 168 formed therein that are sized to receive or engage spring-loaded ball detents of the locking mechanism 128 of the support plate 110 to removably and movably mount the yoke 150 to the support plate 110. As will be described with respect to FIG. 9, this movable mount allows for some movement between the support plate 110 and the yoke 150 in the mounted state. Although the illustrated arrangement includes a resilient locking mechanism disposed on the support plate 110 and a corresponding recess or receptacle formed in the yoke 150, a reverse arrangement may be implemented without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, a reversal of the arrangement of the female mounting portion formed on the support plate 110 and the male mounting protrusions on the yoke 150 may be implemented without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0017] 4 and 6, embodiments of the present disclosure include provisions for ensuring that the support plate 110 can be installed in only one orientation on the yoke 150 or cassette. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished by modifying the dimensions of one of the mounting flanges 114, 116 and / or one of the channels 157, 159 of the support plate 110 such that a given flange can only be inserted into one of those channels. In other embodiments, the support plate 110 may include features extending from or formed in the support plate 110, such as one or more protrusions or keyways 163 that allow for only one installation orientation of the support plate 110 relative to the yoke 150.

[0018] 5 and 6, the body 152 of the yoke 150 further includes a mechanism for mounting to a yoke mounting block 180. As shown, two slotted holes or slots 182 are formed through the end 162 of the central portion 154 opposite the opening 160. In one embodiment, the slots 182 are arcuate in profile, with each arc defined about a common axis of curvature. This allows the yoke 150 (and the support plate 110 attached to the yoke 150) to be pivotally movable relative to the yoke mounting block 180, as described in more detail herein. Additionally, each slot 182 may define a counterbore (or countersink) defined along the length of the arc to receive the head of a fastener configured to pass through the slot 182, thereby ensuring that the top surface of the support plate assembly 100 remains generally flat. The end 162 of the body 152 further defines a curved or arcuate outer surface or sidewall 170, which may be defined about the same axis of curvature as the slot 182. An opening 175 is formed through the body 152 and is generally disposed between the end 162 and the support plate mounting projection 164. The sidewall of the opening 175 includes a bore 177 defined therethrough and extending through the end 162 generally in the longitudinal direction of the yoke. As shown in FIG. 6, at least the end 162 of the body 152 may include a thickness that is less than a thickness of the arms 156, 158 and / or the mounting projection 164.

[0019] 7 and 8, the yoke mounting block 180 includes a body 182 having provisions for fixedly mounting to a cassette, such as the portion of cassette 14 shown in FIG. 1. In an exemplary embodiment, these features include countersunk through holes 184 configured to receive fasteners for attachment to the cassette. The body 182 further includes a stepped profile with a flange portion 186 extending from a body portion 188. The flange portion 186 defines a recessed area 190 for receiving at least the thinned end 162 of the yoke 150. A threaded hole 192 is formed in the flange portion 186 for receiving a fastener engaged through the arcuate slot 182 of the yoke 150. A sidewall 191 defining the recessed area 190 is arcuate in profile and has a radius of curvature generally equal to and / or coaxial with the slot 182 and / or the arcuate outer surface 170 of the yoke 150. This allows the yoke 150 to pivot and / or rotate relative to the mounting block 180, but is fixed to the mounting block 180 in lateral and longitudinal directions of relative motion. The yoke mounting block 180 further defines a bore 194 formed in a sidewall 191 of the recessed area 190. The bore 194 may be axially aligned with the bore 177 of the yoke 150 such that a movable end of a spring-loaded ball plunger 200 (see FIG. 9 ) extending through the bore 177 is engageable with the bore 194. The bores 177, 194 are formed such that, when axially aligned, the yoke 150 is aligned or centered relative to the yoke mounting block 180, and the ball plunger 200 selectively locks the yoke in this position.

[0020] 9 and 10, the support plate assembly 100 is shown in a possible assembled state prior to engagement with a terminator. As indicated by the arrows, the support plate-to-yoke and yoke-to-mounting block attachment mechanisms described above allow multiple degrees of freedom between the yoke mounting block 180 and the support plate 110 and / or yoke 150. In particular, the ball detent attachment described above provides the support plate with a limited amount of play or translation in the lateral or side-to-side direction in addition to the longitudinal direction (i.e., insertion and removal directions) and within the channel defined by the yoke. Similarly, the arcuate slots in the yoke and correspondingly shaped recesses in the mounting block allow the yoke and support plate to pivot relative to the mounting block and thereby relative to the cassette mounted thereto. As discussed above, these at least three degrees of freedom of motion ensure proper alignment of the applicator assembly 100 relative to the terminator prior to securing the applicator assembly to the terminator via the clamping operation described above. Additionally, support plate assemblies according to embodiments of the present disclosure are easily separable, and more specifically, the yoke can be easily and quickly removed from the support plate (i.e., by application of a pulling force that overcomes the resilient ball detent engagement). This makes it easier to, for example, replace a cassette holding one type of terminal with a cassette containing terminals of a different type, as compared to prior art configurations.

[0021] Figures 11-17 show further embodiments of the present disclosure that can be used with the above-described crimping system 10 of Figure 1. It should be understood that, where applicable, all features of the preceding embodiments can be utilized in combination with the features shown and described with respect to the embodiment of Figures 11-17 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, however, detailed descriptions of such applicable features will not necessarily be repeated herein.

[0022] 11, a support plate 210 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is selectively retained within a closed gripping assembly (or yoke) 250. The support plate 210 defines one or more keying features including an exterior chamfered corner 222 and an exterior radiused corner 224. The keying features are formed or defined in a mating end 212 of the support plate 210 and engage corresponding keying features of the gripping assembly 250. The support plate 210 may further define a pair of optional retention features or recesses 226 formed in its sides and configured to receive corresponding features of the gripping assembly 250. As shown throughout the figures, the mating end 212 of the support plate 210 may be tapered in both width and thickness. Support plate 210 may further include features similar to support plate 110, including side mounting flanges defining stepped slots for receiving spring-loaded bolts or pins 17, the details of which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0023] 11 , in the installed position, the support plate 210 is received in a complementary opening or cavity 251 defined by the gripper assembly 250. The gripper assembly 250 includes corresponding complementary keying features including inner chamfered corners 252 and inner radiused corners 254 defining its cavity 251 for engaging with the keying features 222, 224 of the support plate 210. The gripper assembly 250 further defines an optional pair of retention features embodied as protrusions 256 for engaging complementary retention recesses 226 of the support plate 210. Thus, when included with the retention features, the gripper assembly 250 will only fully engage and retain a support plate properly positioned within the cavity 251. Similarly, corresponding or matching keying features may be used to only allow mating of cassettes associated with the gripper assembly 250 with predetermined support plates and / or applicators, thereby ensuring that only desired combinations can be assembled in the field.

[0024] The gripper assembly 250 includes an expandable jaw or gripping end 260 having opposing sides 258, 259 defining a pair of mounting arms 262, 264, respectively. The sides 258, 259 and mounting arms 262, 264 are movable relative to one another to selectively open (see FIG. 15) and close (see FIG. 16) the gripper assembly 250. In one embodiment, the gripper assembly 250 may include an actuator 300 (e.g., a rotary actuator) secured to the gripper assembly 250 and having a selectively rotatable cam or head 305 disposed within an opening 257 defined between the gripper assembly sides 258, 259. The cam 305 is oval in shape so that, in the orientation shown, its minor diameter fits between the sides of the opening 257 and the sides 258, 259 of the gripping assembly 250 remain biased toward the abutted or closed position under the force of a spring or other resilient biasing element (see FIG. 12). The cam 305 may be rotated (e.g., 90 degrees) within the opening 257 to engage the opening at either end of its major axis and bias or drive the sides 258, 259 to an open or expanded position. In the open position, the gripping member 250 may receive the support plate 210 between its mounting arms 262, 264 in an assembly or insertion orientation. Once installed, the gripping assembly 250 may be closed as shown in FIG. 11 and the optional retention features 226, 256 may be engaged to secure the support plate 210 relative to the gripping assembly along an axis corresponding to the insertion or assembly orientation.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 12, each side 258, 259 of the gripper assembly 250 is pivotally mounted to its base about a respective pivot point 253, with a further mounting point 255 shown having a slotted opening that allows the arms 262, 264 to pivot relative to one another in response to rotation of a cam 305. See FIGS. 15 and 16. An optional brace 240 may be provided to mechanically couple the mounting points 253, 255 to one another. With continued reference to FIG. 12, the rearwardly projecting ends of each side 258, 259 engage and support a resilient element disposed therebetween, such as a compression spring 261. The compression spring 261 acts to bias each arm 262, 264 to the illustrated closed position by its resilient return force that urges the rear ends of the sides 258, 259 generally apart from one another.

[0026] In the closed position shown, the support plate 210 possesses multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to the gripper assembly 250, including in each of the directions shown in FIG. 9. For example, the channels described above with respect to the previous embodiment may be defined in the mounting arms 262, 264 of the gripper assembly 250 to provide multiple degrees of relative movement of the support plate 210. Similarly, since the mounting arms 262, 264 are held in the closed position by resilient elements, the associated resilient closing or biasing forces may be selected to enable the support plate 210 to bias the arms 262, 264 generally apart in response to the application of sufficient force. This allows the support plate 210 to float within the gripper assembly 250 during the alignment procedure described above and prior to the fastening of the support plate 210 to the terminator base 18 by the pins 17, as described in detail above.

[0027] A locking mechanism 270 is provided to selectively prevent the arms 262, 264 from opening. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism 270 includes a pivoting lever 272 having a free end that can be actuated by a user and an operative end that includes a blocking protrusion 274 that extends perpendicularly from the operative end into the space between the sides 258, 259 of the grip assembly 250. With the blocking protrusion 274 in the locked position shown in FIG. 12, the rear ends of the sides 258, 259 are prevented from being further biased toward each other and against the force applied by the spring 261, thereby preventing the arms 262, 264 from being biased away from each other to the open position. 13, with the support plate 210 in a partially installed position relative to the gripper assembly 250, the lever 272 may be biased or rotated to an unlocked condition or position by a user or by a mechanical actuation. In the unlocked position, the projection 274 no longer prevents the sides 258, 259 of the gripper assembly 250 from converging in response to actuation of the cam 305 or in response to the support plate 210 biasing the arms 262, 264 outwardly during an alignment operation, for example.

[0028] 14 illustrates a gripper assembly 350 including a locking mechanism 370 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The locking mechanism 370 includes a movable slide 372 mounted between sides 358, 359 of the gripper assembly 350. The slide 372 is biased to a locked position by a plurality of resilient elements or springs 371. In the locked position, locking projections 373 of the slide engage corresponding locking recesses 374 on each side 358, 359 of the gripper assembly 350 to prevent their relative movement in the locked position. In response to placement of the cassette on the applicator, the slide 372 is biased rearward, as indicated, for example, by engagement of its protruding tab 375 with a cam 305 or other component. Movement of slide 372 disengages locking projections 373 and recesses 374, allowing gripper assembly 350 to open and close for selective engagement with support plate 310. Gripper assembly 350 may further include a brace 340 disposed on slide 372 to help maintain the position of the slide, spring 371 and sides 358, 359.

[0029] 15, a gripper assembly 450 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in an open or deployed position in response to engagement of a cam 305 with each side 458, 459 of the assembly. Each side 458, 459 defines a locking mechanism including a respective hook-shaped protrusion 421 extending from an inner surface of a receiving space 451 defined between arms 462, 464 of the gripper assembly 450. The exemplary support plate 410 includes a corresponding locking mechanism embodied as a protruding stem 412 and associated head 414 extending from a recess 415 formed in an opposite end face of the support plate. As shown, the recess 415 is sized to receive the protrusion 421 as the protrusion 421 is biased between the exemplary open and closed positions shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

[0030] The locking mechanism of the support plate 410 and the gripper assembly 450 are configured such that, with the support plate in a fully installed position within the receiving space, closing the gripper assembly by actuation of the cam 305 as shown in Figure 16 captures the head 414 of the locking mechanism within a recess defined between the projections 421. In the closed position, the support plate 410 may be capable of some movement along the insertion axis, but excessive movement is constrained by the respective contours of the head 414 and projections 421. The support plate 410 is further provided with additional freedom of movement against the aforementioned spring bias that holds the arms 462, 464 in the closed position.

[0031] The embodiment of FIG. 17 includes a gripping assembly 550 and a support plate 510. The support plate 510 includes a keying recess 515 sized to receive a protruding end 520 on each side 558, 559 of the gripping assembly 550. The recess 515 and end 520 are sized to be complementary to one another, thereby allowing the support plate 510 to be fully seated between the arms 562, 564 of the gripping assembly 550 in the insertion direction, with their respective opposing surfaces abutting one another in the seated state. Similarly, the recess 515 and end 520 further define opposing surfaces in a direction transverse to the insertion direction, i.e., in a lateral direction. The complementary recess 515 and end 520 may thereby be adapted to limit or prevent the arms 562, 564 from opening or closing. This allows for further selective keying configurations between the gripper assembly and the support plate, which can inhibit or disable the function of the gripper assembly when associated with a particular support plate. As noted above with respect to other embodiments, the embodiment of FIG. 17 also allows for relative movement between the plate 510 and the gripper assembly 550 in response to application of sufficient force to urge the arms 562, 564 outward during an alignment operation, and / or allows for free space to be defined between the channels and flanges of the arms and plate, as described above.

[0032] As discussed above, these degrees of freedom ensure proper alignment of the associated applicator assembly with respect to the terminator prior to securing the applicator assembly to the terminator by the clamping operation described above. Furthermore, the gripper assembly is still quickly and easily separable from the support plate by opening the opposing gripper arms. This makes it easier to replace, for example, a cassette holding one type of terminal with a cassette containing another type of terminal, as compared to prior art arrangements.

Claims

1. An electrical terminal applicator support plate (110), comprising: a body (112) including at least one of a protrusion or a recess that defines a mounting portion (123); a locking element (128) disposed on the mounting portion (123) for removably attaching the support plate (110) to a cassette (14); Equipped with the locking element and the mounting portion provide at least one degree of freedom of movement of the support plate relative to the cassette when attached to the cassette. An electrical terminal applicator support plate (110).

2. 2. The electrical terminal applicator support plate of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises a recess defined in a first end of the body and sized to receive a complementary mounting protrusion coupled with the cassette.

3. 3. The electrical terminal applicator support plate of claim 2, wherein the locking element includes a movable end disposed at least partially within the recess and movable transverse to the assembly direction between a locked position and an unlocked position.

4. 4. The electrical terminal applicator support plate (110) of claim 3, wherein said movable end of said locking element (128) is resiliently mounted to said support plate (110) and biased toward said locked position.

5. The electrical terminal applicator support plate (110) of claim 4, wherein the locking element (128) comprises a spring loaded ball detent.

6. 3. The electrical terminal applicator support plate of claim 2, wherein the locking elements include first and second locking elements extending from respective opposed walls of the recess and configured to engage respective first and second recesses associated with the cassette.

7. 2. The electrical terminal applicator support plate (110) of claim 1, wherein the body (112) defines a pair of mounting flanges (114, 116) extending between first and second ends (120, 122) of the body and sized to be slidably received in respective channels (157, 159) coupled with the cassette (14).

8. 8. The electrical terminal applicator support plate (110) of claim 7, further comprising an applicator mounting mechanism (118) defined by the body (112) and configured to engage a corresponding mechanism (17) coupled to the electrical terminal applicator (12) to fix a position of the support plate (110) relative to the applicator (12).

9. 9. The electrical terminal applicator support plate (110) of claim 8, wherein the applicator attachment mechanism (118) comprises a slot formed through the body (112) and extending from a second end of the body (112) toward the first end (120) opposite the second end, the slot (118) being sized to receive a fastening element (17) coupled with the applicator (12).

10. A system (10) for applying an electrical terminal applicator (12) to a cassette (14) containing a plurality of terminals, comprising: a first member (110) coupled to the applicator (12); a second member (150) coupled to said cassette (14) and releasably attachable to said first member (110); Equipped with the first member and the second member define a first moveable mount (123, 164) therebetween that provides at least one degree of freedom of the first member (110) relative to the second member (150) in an attached state; System (10).

11. the first member (110) comprises a support plate for fixed attachment to the applicator (12), and the second member (150) comprises a yoke releasably attached to the support plate; the first movable attachment (123, 164) between the support plate and the yoke includes a locking element (128), the locking element being biased between a locked position and an unlocked position as the support plate moves relative to the yoke; The system (10) according to claim 10.

12. the yoke (150) comprises a pair of mounting arms (156, 158) extending from a body (152) of the yoke, each mounting arm defining a channel (157, 159) configured to engage the support plate (110) received in an opening (160) defined between the two mounting arms; the support plate includes a body (112) defining a pair of mounting flanges (114, 116) each sized to be insertable into one of the respective channels formed in the mounting arm of the yoke in an assembly orientation; The system (10) of claim 11.

13. The yoke (150) includes a support plate mounting projection (164) extending from the body (152) into the opening (160); the support plate (110) defines a recess (123) at a first end thereof sized to receive the mounting protrusion of the yoke when the support plate is attached to the yoke; The system (10) of claim 12.

14. the mounting projection (164) includes a recess (168) configured to receive a movable end of the locking element (128) to selectively attach the support plate (110) to the yoke (150); the movable end of the locking element is at least partially disposed within the recess and is movable transversely to the assembly direction between the locked position and the unlocked position. The system (10) of claim 13.

15. The system (10) of claim 14, wherein the movable end of the locking element (128) is resiliently mounted to the support plate (110) and biased toward the locked position.

16. 12. The system (10) of claim 11, further comprising a yoke mounting block (180) pivotally mounted to the yoke (150), the yoke mounting block configured to be fixably mounted to the cassette (14).

17. The yoke (150) includes at least one arcuate slot (182); the yoke mounting block (180) is attached to the yoke by fasteners disposed through the slotted holes (182) such that the yoke mounting block is movable relative to the yoke in a direction defined by the slotted holes (182); 17. The system (10) of claim 16.

18. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the yoke mounting block includes a first hole configured to align with a corresponding second hole in the yoke to center the yoke relative to the yoke mounting block with a fastener disposed through the first hole and a second hole.

19. A yoke (150) for mounting a terminal applicator (12) to a cassette (14) containing a plurality of terminals, comprising: a first mounting arm (156) and a second mounting arm (158) defining an opening (160) therebetween for receiving a support plate (110) of the applicator (12) in an assembly orientation; a mounting portion (164) configured to be selectively attached to the support plate (110) disposed within the opening (160); Including, the mounting portion provides at least two degrees of freedom of movement of the support plate relative to the yoke (150) when attached to the yoke (150). York (150).

20. The yoke (150) of claim 19, further comprising at least one slotted hole (182) sized to receive a fastener for pivotally mounting the yoke to the cassette (14).

21. 1. A system for applying an electrical terminal applicator to a cassette containing a plurality of terminals, comprising: a support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) for fixed attachment to said applicator (12); a gripper assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) coupled to said cassette (14) and including a pair of opposing mounting arms (262, 264, 362, 364, 462, 464, 562, 564) movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position to releasably capture said support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) between the mounting arms; Equipped with the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) retains multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to the cassette (14) when held between the loading arms (262, 264, 362, 364, 462, 464, 562, 564) in the closed position; system.

22. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) defines a slot (118) configured to receive a corresponding fastening element (17) coupled with the applicator (12) to fix a position of the support plate relative to the applicator.

23. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) further comprises a first side (258, 358, 458) that defines a first mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562) of the pair of opposing mounting arms and a second side (259, 359, 459) that defines a second mounting arm (264, 364, 464, 564) of the pair of opposing mounting arms, the first side and the second side being rotatable relative to one another to move the mounting arms between the closed position and the open position.

24. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) further comprises a resilient element (261) biasing the mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562, 264, 364, 464, 564) toward the closed position.

25. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the elastic element (261) comprises a compression spring disposed between the first side (258, 358, 458) and the second side (259, 359, 459) of the gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550).

26. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the gripper assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) further comprises a locking mechanism (270, 370) for selectively locking the mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562, 264, 364, 464, 564) in the closed position.

27. 26. The system of claim 25, further comprising an actuator (300) operative to urge the first mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562) and the second mounting arm (264, 364, 464, 564) from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the elastic element (261).

28. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the actuator (300) comprises a rotary actuator for rotating a cam that engages the first side (258, 358, 458) and the second side (259, 359, 459) of the gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) to bias the mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562, 264, 364, 464, 564) toward the open position.

29. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) is sized to receive the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) in only a single orientation.

30. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the gripper assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) and the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) define complementary keying features (252, 254, 256, 222, 224, 226, 421, 414, 515, 520) that engage with the support plate in an installed position within the gripper assembly.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the keying features (256, 226) define opposing faces in a direction generally transverse to an insertion direction of the support plate (210) within the gripper assembly (250).

32. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the keying features (515, 520) define opposing faces in a direction generally parallel to the insertion direction.

33. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein when the support plate (510) is disposed between the mounting arms (562, 564) of the gripping assembly (550), the keying mechanism (525, 520) prevents one of movement of the mounting arms to the closed position or movement of the mounting arms to the open position.

34. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the keying mechanism (256, 226) prevents movement of the support plate (210) in a direction opposite an insertion direction of the support plate when the mounting arms of the gripper assembly (250) are in the closed position.

35. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the keying mechanism (421) comprises a hook-shaped protrusion defined on each of a first side (458) defining a first mounting arm (462) of the gripping assembly and a second side (459) defining a second mounting arm (464) of the gripping assembly, and a protruding head (414) defined on the support plate (410), the protruding head being captured between the hook-shaped protrusions when the first mounting arm (462) and the second mounting arm (464) are in the closed position.

36. A gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) for mounting a terminal applicator (12) to a cassette (14) containing a plurality of terminals, comprising: a first side (258, 358, 458) defining a first mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562); a second side (259, 359, 459) defining a second mounting arm (264, 364, 464, 564), said first mounting arm and said second mounting arm being movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position to releasably capture therebetween a support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) coupled to said applicator (12); a resilient element (261) biasing the first mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562) and the second mounting arm (264, 364, 464, 564) towards the closed position; an actuator (300) for selectively biasing the first mounting arm (262, 362, 462, 562) and the second mounting arm (264, 364, 464, 564) from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the elastic element (261); A gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550).

37. 37. The gripper assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) of claim 36, further comprising a locking mechanism (270, 370) for selectively locking said mounting arms (262, 362, 462, 562, 264, 364, 464, 564) in said closed position.

38. 37. The gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) of claim 36, wherein the gripping assembly is adapted to provide the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) with multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to the gripping assembly when the support plate (210, 310, 410, 510) is captured within the gripping assembly.

39. The first side (358, 458) and the second side (359, 459) of the gripper assembly define a keying mechanism (421, 520) that engages with the support plate (410, 510) in an installed position, the keying mechanism comprising: a first surface facing a complementary surface (414, 515) of the support plate (410, 510) in a direction generally transverse to an insertion direction of the support plate within the gripper assembly; a second surface facing the complementary surface (414, 515) of the support plate (410, 510) in a direction generally parallel to the insertion direction; The gripping assembly (450, 550) of claim 36, comprising:

40. 40. The gripping assembly (250, 350, 450, 550) of claim 39, wherein the keying mechanism (421) comprises a hook-shaped protrusion defined on each of the first side (458) and the second side (459) adapted to capture a portion (414) of the support plate (410) therebetween in the closed position of the mounting arms (462, 464).

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