Crimp Tool Terminal Holder With Linear and Rotational Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crimping hand tools lack sufficient degrees of freedom to precisely control the positioning and orientation of terminals, leading to potential faulty terminations.

Innovation Solution

A terminal holding device with a base and a movably mounted terminal holder, featuring slots and projections that allow linear and rotational movement, enabling precise alignment of terminals relative to the crimping hand tool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed-point rotated locator is used, then the terminal positioning is simplified, but the positioning precision and orientation control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal positioning simplicityVSAvoidterminal positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The locator body is made movable relative to the mounting base through a pivot connection, allowing dynamic adjustment of the terminal holder's position and orientation. This enables the terminal to be precisely positioned in the die region while maintaining ease of operation through controlled movement degrees.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds an additional degree of freedom by allowing the locator body to pivot relative to the mounting base, transforming the fixed-point rotation into a multi-dimensional positioning system. This enables precise control of terminal orientation and position that was not achievable with single-axis rotation alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If manual positioning of small terminals is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning mechanism complexityVSAvoidterminal positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal holder acts as an intermediary device between the operator and the small terminal. It provides terminal receiving areas that guide and secure the terminal in the correct position, making it easy to handle small terminals while achieving precise positioning without complex direct manipulation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system is segmented into distinct functional components: a mounting base for attachment to the crimping tool, a movable locator body for positioning adjustment, and terminal receiving areas for securing the terminal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4264748B1Terminal holding device for crimp hand tool
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
  • EP4264748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4264748B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4264748B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A terminal holding device (40, 140, 240, 340), a crimping hand tool (10) and a method of positioning a terminal (36) in a die assembly of a crimping hand tool (10). The terminal holding device (40, 140, 240, 340) includes a base (42, 142) having at least one slot (64, 164) provided therein. A terminal holder (44, 144) is movably mounted on the base (42, 142). The terminal holder (44, 144) has terminal receiving areas for receiving terminals therein. The terminal holder (44, 144) has at least one mounting projection (32, 94, 194) extending therefrom. The at least one mounting projection (32, 94, 194) of the terminal holder (44, 144) is positioned in the at least one slot (64, 164) of the base (42, 142). The at least one slot (64, 164) is configured to allow the at least one mounting projection (32, 94, 194) to be moved in a linear direction relative to the base (42, 142) and rotated in the slots (64, 164), allowing the terminal holder (44, 144) and the terminals to be properly positioned relative to the crimping hand tool (10).