ELECTRICAL HARNESS TERMINATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus of automatically terminating connector pieces to a plurality of insulated wires in which insulated wires of desired lengths are prepared. Right connector pieces (R) are terminated to the right ends of the cores of said insulated wires and left connector pieces (L) are terminated to the left ends of the core conductors of the insulated wires or the left ends of the insulated wires may remain unterminated. Right connector pieces each having terminals fixed thereto are displaced from an initial position to a terminating position. The right connector pieces are terminated to the right core conductor ends of the insulated wires at the terminating position. The right connector piece terminated to the right core conductor ends of said insulated wires are displaced to the initial position which results in pulling the insulated wires out of a wire supply against a resilient tension which is applied to the insulated wires for withdrawal toward said wire supply. The insulated wires are pushed down at the intermediate position between the initial-position and the terminating position to a predetermined lowest level against the resilient tension. A selected insulated wire or wires which are desired to have the longest length are held at the lowest level while allowing the other insulated wires to resiliently rise up to a predetermined second lowest level, thus measuring the second longest length of wire. This measuring operation is repeated until all the insulated wires are clamped and set at of their desired lengths. The insulated wires are then cut at their left ends and the left connector pieces are optionally terminated to the left core conductor ends of said insulated wires, or they remain unterminated.