Apparatus for assembling grommet to lead

(19)

(11)

EP 0 881 720 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	21.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/29

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	02.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/49

(21)	Application number: 98109293.5

(22)	Date of filing: 22.05.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: H01R 43/00

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

30.05.1997 EP 97401208

(71)	Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
	Wilmington, DE 19808 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Soriano, Louis 13400 Aubagne (FR) Daugy, Bruno 83470 St. Maximin (FR)

(74)	Representative: Reuteler, Raymond Werner
	AMP International Enterprises Ltd., AMPèrestrasse 3 9323 Steinach/SG 9323 Steinach/SG (CH)

(54)	Apparatus for assembling grommet to lead

(57) A grommet assembly apparatus comprises a grommet mounting device (32) having an expansion sleeve (68) for receiving grommets (14) thereon. Grommets (14) are transferred from a grommet feed channel (44) onto the expansion sleeve (68) by a movable transfer pin (56) having a pointed tip (58) that inserts into the expansion sleeve cavity (70). Compressed air is provided in the expansion sleeve cavity (70) to prevent the grommet pinching between the cavity and pin, thereby ensuring a smooth insertion of the grommet over the expansion sleeve (68).

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