Two reel terminal cart

Abstract

A terminal reel cart that supports two reels of terminals and two terminal applicators such that the terminal applicators can be loaded with the strip of terminals and moved into position relative to a terminal station of a wire processing system. The terminal reel cart supports the reels of terminals and the terminal applicators. The reel cart includes a plurality of wheels that allow the cart to be easily moved throughout a processing facility. The reel cart includes a pair of paper take up reels that are each driven by a motor and collects the paper backing from the strip of terminals. The paper take up reels are driven by a drive motor on the wire processing system.

Claims

1. A terminal reel cart for minimizing the downtime of loading a wire processing system by having a first side and a second side of alternating terminal applicator systems, comprising: a support body having a plurality of wheels; a first support shaft extending from the support body and configured to rotatably support a first terminal reel; a second support shaft extending from the support body and configured to rotatably support a second terminal reel; a first terminal applicator mount extending from the support body to support a first terminal applicator; a second terminal applicator mount extending from the support body to support a second terminal applicator; a first paper take-up reel shaft extending from the support body to rotatably support a first paper take-up reel; a second paper take-up reel shaft extending from the support body to rotatably support a second paper take-up reel; a first terminal guide supported by the support body and positioned to guide a first continuous strip of terminals on the first terminal reel towards the first terminal applicator; and a second terminal guide supported by the support body and positioned to guide a second continuous strip of terminals on the second terminal reel towards the second terminal applicator; whereby the first terminal reel, first terminal applicator, first paper take-up reel shaft, and the first terminal guide are accessible when the second side of the terminal reel cart is positioned to load and run the wire processing system, and the second terminal reel, second terminal applicator, second paper take-up reel shaft, and the second terminal guide are accessible when the first side of the terminal reel cart is positioned to load and run the wire processing system.

2. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, wherein accessing the first side does not interfere with the operation of the wire processing system when the second side is positioned to load the wire processing system.

3. The terminal reel cart of claim 2, wherein the first terminal reel and the first terminal applicator can be replaced with a third terminal reel and a third terminal applicator and a third continuous strip of terminals on the third terminal reel can be loaded into the third terminal applicator to pre-load the third terminal applicator on the first side while the second terminal applicator system on the second side is in operation with the wire processing system.

4. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, wherein the first terminal guide further comprises a first switch that alternates between an empty state and a non-empty state based on the presence of the first continuous strip of terminals within the first terminal guide, whereby the switch being in an empty state indicates that the first continuous strip of terminals has been depleted from the first terminal reel.

5. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminal applicator mounts are a tray having a plurality of walls that retain one of the first and second terminal applicators.

6. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminal applicator mounts include a permanent magnet that magnetically retains one of the first and second terminal applicators.

7. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminal applicator mounts include an applicator baseplate to retain one of the first and second terminal applicators.

8. The terminal reel cart of claim 1, further comprising a first locking bracket and a second locking bracket supported by the support body, wherein the first locking bracket couples the terminal reel cart to the wire processing system when the first side of the terminal reel cart is positioned to load and run the wire processing system and the second locking bracket couples the terminal reel cart to the wire processing system when the second side of the terminal reel cart is positioned to load and run the wire processing system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the disclosure. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a terminal reel cart that is used to support two reels of terminals and two terminal applicators;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the terminal reel cart;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the terminal reel cart;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the terminal reel cart;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the terminal reel cart;

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal reel cart;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the terminal reel cart installed within a wire processing system;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view showing the reel cart positioned within the wire processing system;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another illustration of the terminal reel cart positioned within the wire processing system;

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view of the terminal reel cart of FIG. 2;

(12) FIG. 11 is a magnified, partial section view taken along 11 of FIG. 10; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a terminal reel cart similar to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) FIG. 1 illustrates a terminal reel cart 10 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The terminal reel cart 10 includes a support body 12 mounted to a series of caster wheels 14. The caster wheels 14 allow the entire terminal reel cart 10 to be moved to a desired location in a working environment.

(15) The terminal reel cart 10 supports a first terminal reel 16A and a second terminal reel 16B that each include a continuous strip of terminal 2 wound thereon. Each of the terminal reels 16A, 16B is positioned between a pair of support plates 18 and is rotatably mounted to a shaft 20 that is supported along one of a first face surface 22A and a second face surface 22B of the support body 12, as shown in FIG. 3.

(16) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support body 12 supports a first terminal applicator holder 26A and a second terminal applicator holder 26B that are each mounted near the top end 28 of the support body 12 by a generally vertical support bracket 30. The terminal applicator holders 26A, 26B are shown in the Figures to be mounted on an opposite side of the support body 12, but could alternatively be mounted on the same side. The terminal applicator holders 26A, 26B of the present disclosure are configured to receive any number of different types of terminal applicators 6 (shown in FIG. 10). Similarly, the terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B can also be of various different configurations, such as a tray (FIG. 1) or a magnetic holder (FIG. 12), or an applicator baseplate, for example.

(17) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 10, the terminal reel cart 10 includes a first terminal guide 32A and a second terminal guide 32B that each guide a strip of terminals from one of the terminal reels 16A, 16B to one of the terminal applicators supported on the terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B. The terminal guides 32A, 32B each include an inner guide member 34 and an outer guide member 36 that combine to define an inlet 38 that receives the strip of terminals 2 from one of the terminal reels 16A, 16B. The strip of terminals 2 is fed through the inlet 38 and passes through a terminal chute 40 before passing over an upper curved portion 42 and into the terminal applicator 6. It is contemplated that the inner guide member 34 or the outer guide member 36 could be eliminated in some embodiments of the terminal reel cart 10.

(18) When a terminal applicator 6 is supported on a terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B, the strip of terminals 2 passes through the terminal chute 40 such that the strip of terminals 2 can be loaded into the terminal applicator 6 when the terminal applicator is supported on the terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B. When the terminal applicator 6 is removed from the terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B and installed into the wire processing system, as will be described, the strip of terminals 2 may remain supported after the terminal applicator is positioned in its desired location.

(19) It should be recognized that while the Figures generally depict the terminal chute 40 as pivoting away from each respective face surface 22A, 22B when a strip of terminals 2 is loaded therein, alternative configurations to accommodate the strip of terminals 2 would be readily recognized in the art.

(20) It should also be recognized that while the Figures generally depict the terminal applicator holder 26A, 26B being positioned on the opposite face surface 22A, 22B as compared to the terminal reel 16A, 16B, terminal guide 32A,32B, and paper take-up reel 44A,44B, the terminal applicator holder may also be positioned on the same face surface as the terminal reel, terminal guide and paper take-up reel.

(21) As illustrated in FIG. 10, the terminal reel cart 10 includes a first paper take-up reel 44A and a second paper take-up reel 44B (not shown). Since the strip of terminals 2 often includes a paper separator strip 3, the paper take-up reels 44A, 44B receive this paper separator strip 3 and collects it for later disposal. The paper take-up reels 44A, 44B are each supported about a shaft 46 that extends through the support body 12, as best shown in FIG. 8. Each shaft 46 extends through a drive wheel 48 and receives a locking collar 50 of a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a spring member and a support plate that rotatably connects the shaft 46 and drive wheel 48, while also allowing for slippage between the two mechanisms when required. Further details of the paper take-up reel and clutch is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,626, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 9, the wire processing system 52 includes a support table 54 that supports the various wire processing equipment used to apply terminals to strips of wire or other processing equipment. A drive motor mounted beneath the support table 54 drives the drive wheel 56 and in turn engages the drive wheel 48 of the terminal reel cart 10. Rotation of the drive wheel 48 causes rotation of the paper take-up reels 44A, 44B to accumulate the paper backing strip 3 from the strip of terminals 2. Alternatively, a separate drive motor could be included on the terminal reel cart 10 to cause rotation of the paper take-up reels 44A, 44B to collect the paper backing strip 3.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 9, when one of the terminal reels 16A, 16B is being utilized, the other terminal reel is positioned outside of or away from the wire processing system 52. As a result of the presently disclosed configuration, the terminal reel 16A, 16B that faces away from the wire processing system 52 (16A in FIG. 9) can be removed, replaced, and threaded while the other terminal reel (16B in FIG. 9) is being utilized by the wire processing system 52, uninterrupted. The two-reel terminal cart of the present disclosure thus allows for simultaneous use and loading of the terminal reel cart 10 at any time. This may pertain to loading and using two different types of terminals and terminal applicators, or redundant types of terminals and terminal applicators, all contained on and supported by the terminal reel cart 10.

(24) Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal reel cart 10 includes a locking bracket 60 mounted to each of the face surfaces 22A, 22B of the support body 12. The locking bracket 60 is used to securely couple the terminal reel cart 10 to the wire processing system 52, as can be seen in FIG. 7. The locking bracket 60 is shown to include an attachment slot 62 as an exemplary structure to facilitate coupling the terminal reel cart 10 to the wire processing system 52.

(25) As stated previously, FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the position of the terminal reel cart 10 relative to the wire processing system 52. When the terminal reel cart 10 is positioned as shown, interaction between the drive wheel 50 and the drive wheel 48 causes the drive wheel 48 to rotate the paper take-up reel 44A to collect paper separator strip 3 of the terminal reel, as described. Once the terminal reel 16A, 16B has been emptied, the cart can be removed, rotated 180 on its caster wheels 14, and reinstalled with another terminal applicator 6 with the strip of terminals 2 already installed. The embodiment of the drawing Figures allows two separate terminal reels 16A, 16B to be positioned within the wire processing system for easy replacement as desired.

(26) FIG. 12 illustrates an alternate embodiment in which each of the applicator holders 26A, 26B includes a permanent magnet mounting member 70. The permanent magnet mounting member 70 is attached to the support bracket 30 and is used to secure one of the terminal applicators 6 in the transport and storage position. The terminal applicators can be removed when desired and installed in the application system described previously.

(27) It should be recognized that while the Figures generally depict a terminal reel cart 10 that supports two independent terminal applicator and terminal reel setups, the present disclosure can readily be expanded to include additional surfaces and corresponding terminal applicators. For example, a triangular support body having three face surfaces could be used to provide a terminal reel cart 10 having three terminal applicator and terminal reel setups.