US3769855A

US3769855A - Barrier guard

Info

Publication number: US3769855A
Application number: US00293210A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Sebastian; D Walker
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1972-09-28
Filing date: 1972-09-28
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06

Abstract

A barrier guard attachable about an operating station of a machine has a front wall portion with a slot defined therein and dual side wall portions connected with, and disposed at an angle to, the front portion. The width of the slot is slightly larger than the width of the portion of the article desired to be inserted through the guard and into the location of operation, but the width of the slot is substantially less than the length of a first path of direct access from the slot to the location of operation of the station such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the slot will not reach the location of operation of the station. The dual side wall portions define a channel having first and second openings at either end thereof, each opening being of a width which is greater than the final width of the inserted article portion, but which is substantially less than the length of a second path of direct access through the channel and to the location of operation such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the channel will not reach the location of operation of the station. The channel opening nearer the location of operation is disposed substantially above the channel opening remote from the location of operation in order to provide a gravity assist to the removal of the finished article from the location of operation along the second direct access path defined by the channel through the guard.

Description

United States Patent Sebastian et al.

[ Nov. 6, 1973 BARRIER GUARD [75] Inventors: Ronald Joseph Sebastian,

Harrisburg; David Albert Walker, Steelton, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1972 21 App]. No.:293,210

[52] U.S. Cl. 74/612 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6p 1/02 [58] Field of Search 74/612, 608; 83/398, 83/478, 544

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,447,987 3 1923 Johnson 74/612 3,019,751 2/l962 Fichcra 74/612 X Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Attorney-William J. Keating et al.

57 ABSTRACT A barrier guard attachable about an operating station ofa machine has a front wall portion with a slot defined therein and dual side wall portions: connected with, and disposed at an angle to, the front portion. The width of the slot is slightly larger than the width of the portion of the article desired to be inserted through the guard and into the location of operation, but the width of the slot is substantially less than the length of a first path of direct access from the slot to the location of operation of the station such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the slot will not reach the location of operation of the station. The dual side wall portions define a channel having first and second openings at either end thereof, each opening being of a width which is greater than the final width of the inserted article portion, but which is substantially less than the length of a second path of direct access through the channel and to the location of operation such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the channel will not reach the location of operation of the station. The channel opening nearer the location of operation is disposed substantially above the channel opening remote from the location of operation in order to provide a gravity assist to the removal of the finished article from the location of operation along the second direct access path defined by the channel through the guard.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BARRIER GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theinvention The present invention broadly relates to a barrier guard attachable about an operating station of a ma chine, and more particularly is concerned with a barrier guard which prevents access by the fingers of an operator to the location of operation of the station while, at the same time, allows insertion of at least a portion of an article through the guard and into the location of operation and removal of a finished article from the location of operation and through the guard without orientation of the finished article prior to its removal.

2. Description of the Prior Art Barrierfgurads are generally known in the prior art, for example, the guards described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 25,423, and 3,541,654. These guards are of the general type having a slot defined in a front wall portion which faces the operating station, through which slot an article is inserted into the location of operation, and, after the operation is performed, from which slot the article is withdrawn.

In the case where the final width of the article portion inserted through the guard, as a result of the operation performed thereon, is greater than the original width of the article, the width of the slot must be substantially greater than the final width of the article portion if the article portion is to be readily withdrawn through the slot. However, the greater the width of the slot, the greater the likelihood that the finger of the operator can be extended through the slot in the guard and into the location of operation of the station. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a slot in the guard having a width as small as possible in order to minimize or prevent ac cess therethrough by the operators finger and also to provide the shortest possible path of direct access from the slot to the location of operation since, in the case the latter, the closer to the location of operation the operator can hold the article the more quickly the opera tor will be able to properly align the inserted article portion with the location of operation of the station. Thus, if the width of the slot, defined in the guards found in the prior art, is only slightly greater than the width of the article inserted therethrough, and if the final width of the inserted article portion is substantially greater than the original width of the inserted article portion, the final width of the article portion must be initially oriented in alignment with the length wise direction of the slot prior to removal of the article portion back through the slot.

The necessity of orientation of the finished article with the guard slot greatly diminishes the finished article production rates which an operator can achieve when the prior art guards are used in conjunction with production machines OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The barrier guard of the present invention eliminates the need for orientation of the finished article prior to its removal through the guard without significantly affecting the rate of finished article production which would be achieved in the absence of the barrier guard about the operating station of the machine.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a barrier guard which prevents access by the fingers of an operator to the location of operation of an operating station while, at the same time, the interposition of such guard between the fingers of the operator and the operating station would not substantially affect the finished article production rate capability of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barrier guard which has no moving parts which would in itself create a safety hazard for the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrier guard to be utilized about the crimping station of a terminal applicator machine wherein oftentimes the terminal which is crimped onto the end of a lead wire has a final width that is substantially greater than the width (or diameter) of the lead wire.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a barrier guard which has an exit path defined therethrough in such manner to provide a gravity assist to the removal of a finished article from the location of operation of the station through the guard.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a barrier guard wherein the exit path is nonlinear which thereby minimizes the volume of empty space between the guard and the station, and, therefore, minimize the quantity of materials required to construct the guard.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof wherein a barrier guard has a front wall portion with a slot defined therein and dual side wall portions connected with, and disposed at an angle to, the front wall portion. The width of the slot is slightly larger than the width of the portion of the article desired to be inserted through the guard and into the location of operation, but the width of the slot is substantially less than the length of a first path of direct access from the slot to the location of op eration of the station such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the slot will not reach the location of operation of the station. The dual side wall portions define a channel having first and second openings at either end thereof, each opening being of a width which is greater than the final width of the inserted article portion, but which is substantially less than the length of a second path of direct access through the channel and to the location of operation such that the fingers of the operator when extended through the channel will not reach. the location of operation of the station. The channel opening nearer the location of operation is disposed substantially above the channel opening remote from the location of operation in order to provide a gravity assist to the removal of the finished article from the location of operation along the second direct access path defined by the channel through the guard.

.Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in' conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purpose of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the course of the following detailed description reference will be frequently made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal applicator machine having attached thereto about its operating station a barrier guard incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the barrier guard and also, in conjunction with the guard, showing in schematic form the operating station of the terminal applicator machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the barrier guard taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and also, in conjunction with the guard, showing in schematic form the operating station of the terminal applicator machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the barrier guard of FIG. 2 and also, in conjunction with the guard, showing in schematic form the operating station of the terminal applicator machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at in FIG. 1 a terminal applicator machine having an operating station 12 with a barrier guard 14 forming the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to the machine 10 about the station 12. For a detailed description of a similar terminal applicator machine reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,184,950.

The operating station 12 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4) includes a vertically reciprocable crimping die 16 and a fixed anvil 18 which supports the leading terminal 20 of a strip 22 of interconnected terminals 20 at the time an end of a lead wire 24 is held in alignment with the leading terminal 20 by an operator and the crimping die 16 is actuated to crimp the terminal 20 to the lead wire 24 in a known manner.

The barrier guard 14 (see also FIG. 2) may be molded from a transparent plastic which allows an unobstructed view of the station 12 by the operator and is attachable about the operating station 12 of the machine 10 by any suitable conventional means, such as by screws 26 which fit through holes 28 in the guard 14.

The barrier guard 14 has a front wall portion 30 with a slot 32 defined therein. The slot 32 has an upper vertically-directed portion 34 which merges into a middle horizontally-directed portion 36 which extends to the right of the portion 34 and, in turn, merges with lower vertically-directed portion 38 which opens at the lower edge 40 near the lower right hand corner 42 of the front wall portion 30. The upper vertically-directed portion 34 and middle horizontally-directed portion 36 together define a desired article-inserting position 44 along the slot 32 at which position 44 the longitudinal axis of the lead wire 24 may be substantially aligned with the location of operation 46 of the operating station 12 and the terminal 20 positioned at that location 46 prior to the performance of the crimping operation at the location of operation 46 of the station 12.

The width W, of the slot 32 at any position therealong is substantially less than the length L, of a first path I, of direct access from the slot 32 to the location of operation 46 of the station 12 such that the fingers of the operator (not shown) may only be extended through the slot 32, at any position therealong, and toward the location of operation 46 through a distance along the first direct access path P, which is substantially less than the length L, of the first direct access path P,. Furthermore, the width W, of the slot 32, at any such position therealong, is sufficiently greater than the original width W of the lead wire 24 which facilitates rapid and accurate insertion of the wire 24 through the slot 32 at the desired article-inserting position 44 of the slot 32 and into the location of operation 46 of the station 12. However, the width W of the slot 32 is less than the final width W, of the terminal 20 crimped to the end of the wire 24 which, if not totally preventing removal of the wire 24 from the location of operation 46 through the slot 32 at approximately the desired position 44 of the slot 32 where the wire 24 was inserted, would, at a minimum, impede rapid removal of the crimped wire 24 from the location of operation 46 through the slot 32 without initially orienting the final width of the terminal 20 crimped on the wire 24 with the lengthwise direction of the slot 32 prior to removal of the wire 24 through the slot 32 in such case where the lengthwise direction of the slot 32 is greater than the final width W, of the terminal 20.

The barrier guard 14 also has dual

side wall portions

48,50 which are connected with, and disposed at an angle to, the front wall portion 30. The dual

side wall portions

48, 50 form a channel 52 having a first opening 54 defined at the outer and lower end of the channel S2. The width W, of the first opening 54 is greater than the final width W, of the terminal 20 crimped on the wire 24. The channel 52 also has a second opening 56 defined at the inner and upper end of the channel 52. The width W of the second opening 56 is at least approximately equal to that width W, of the first opening 54. The channel 52 establishes a second path P of direct access from the first opening 54 via the second opening 56 to the location of operation 46 of the station 12. The length L of the second direct access path P is greater than the length L, of the first direct access path P,. The width W, of the first opening 54 is substantially less then the length L of the second direct access path P such that the fingers of the operator may only be extended through the first opening 54 and toward the location of operation 46 via the second opening 56 through a distance along the second direct access path P which is substantially less than the length L of the second direct access path P Also, the length of theterminal 20 as measured along the longitudinal axis of the wire 24 is less than the respective lengths of the first and

second channel openings

54, 56.

The following Table I suggests the appropriate width W, of the slot 32 for a given length L, of the first access path P, and the appropriate width W, of the first channel opening 54 for a given length L for the second direct access path P TABLE I Maximum width of slot (or opening in guard) (in inches) 6% t0 7% "A; 7% to l2% 1% 12% to 15% 1% 15% to 17% 1 /5! 17% to 31% 2% Over 31% 6 *Based on Table 0-10 published on Saturday, May 29, 197] on page 10,646 of the Federal Register, Vol, 36, No. 105.

The slot 32 defined in the front wall portion 30 extends along a third path at least from the articleinserting position 44 to a position adjacent to the first channel opening 54, the third path following the middle horizontally-directed portion 36 and the lower vertically-directed portion 38 of the slot 32. The third path parallels the second direct access path P defined by the channel 52. Therefore it is apparent that the second direct access path P is nonlinear which thereby minimizes the volume of empty space between the barrier guard and the station, and, therefore, minimizes the quantity of materials required to construct the guard.

Once the crimping operation has beenperformed at the location of operation 46 of the station 12, the wire 24 and its attached terminal may be removed from the location of operation 46 by moving the wire along the third path defined by the slot 32 which movement thereof concurrently moves the crimped terminal 20, without any initial orientation thereof, along the sec ond direct access path P from the location of opera tion 46 via the second channel opening 56 to the first channel opening 54 and out of the barrier guard 14 which thereby achieves rapid and unobstructed re moval of the crimped terminal 20 through the guard 14 from the location of operation 46 of the station 12. Furthermore, when the terminal 20 attached to the wire 24 has been moved into the second opening 56 the operator may release the wire 24 and the force of gravity will insure that the wire falls through the first opening 54 since the first channel opening 54 is disposed substantially below the second channel opening 56.

Although the barrier guard comprising the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above as applied to a terminal applicator machine, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is generally applicable with other types of machines which in the performance of an operation on an article cause a part of the article to have a final width which is substantially greater than the original width of the article.

Further, it is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the barrier guard described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A barrier guard attachable about an operating station of a machine for preventing access by the fingers of an operator to the location of operation of said station while, at the same time, allowing insertion of at least a portion of an article through said guard and into said location of operation and removal of a finished article from said location of operation and through said guard with a part of said finished article, as a result of the operation performed on said article portion at said station, being ofa final width substantially greater than the original width of said article, said guard comprising: a front wall portion having a slot defined therein, through which slot, at a desired article-inserting position thereof, the longitudinal axis of said article may be substantially aligned with said location of operation, the width of said slot, at any position therealong, being substantially less than the length of a first path of direct access from said slot to said location of operation such that the fingers of the operator may only be extended through said slot, at any such position therealong, and toward said location of operation through a distance along said first direct access path which is substantially less than said length of said first direct access path, said width of said slot, at any such position therealong, being greater than said original width of said article which facilitates rapid and accurate insertion of said article portion through said slot at said desired article-inserting position of said slot and into said location of operation, said width of said slot being less than said final width of said part of said finished article which, if not totally preventing removal of said finished article from said location of operation through said slot at approximately said desired article-inserting position of said slot, would, at a minimum, impede rapid removal of said finished article from said location of operation through said slot without initially orienting said final width of said finished article part with the length-wise direction of said slot prior to removal of said finished article through said slot in the case where said length of said slot is greater than said final width of said finished article part; and dual side wall portions connected with, and disposed at an angle to, said front wall portion, said dual side wall portions forming a channel having a first opening defined at an outer end thereof, the width of said first opening being greater than said final width of said finished article part, said channel also having a second opening defined at an inner end thereof, the width of said second opening being at least approximately equal to that of said first opening, said channel establishing a second path of direct access from said first opening via said second opening to said location of operation, the length of said second direct access path being greater than said length of said first direct access path from said slot at approximately said desired article-inserting position thereof to said location of operation, said width of said first opening being substantially less than said length of said second direct access path from said first opening via said second opening to said location of operation such that the fingers of the operator may only be extended through said first opening and toward said location of operation via said second opening through a distance along said second direct access path which is substantially less than said length of said second direct access path, the length of said finished article part as measured along the longitudinal axis of said article being less than the respective lengths of said first and second channel openings,

said slot defined in said front wall portion extending along a third path at least from said articleinserting position to a position adjacent to said first channel opening, said third path paralleling said second direct access path from said first channel opening via said second channel opening to said location of operation,

whereby said finished article may be removed from said location of operation by moving said finished article along said third path defined by said slot which movement thereof concurrently moves said finished article part, without any initial orientation thereof, along said second direct access path from said location of operation via second channel opening to said first channel opening to thereby achieve rapid and unobstructed removal of said finished article through said barrier guard from said location of operation of said station.

2. A barrier guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second path from said location of operation via said second channel opening to said first channel opening is nonlinear which thereby minimizes the volume of empty space between said barrier guard and said station, and, therefore, minimizes the quantity of materials required to construct said guard.

3. A barrier guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first channel opening is disposed substantially below said second channel opening in order to provide a gravity assist to the removal of said finished article from said location of operation of said station through said guard.

4. A barrier guard as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first channel opening is disposed substantially below said second channel opening in order to provide a gravity assist to the removal of said finished article from said location of operation of said station through said guard.

Claims

1. A barrier guard attachable about an operating station of a machine for preventing access by the fingers of an operator to the location of operation of said station while, at the same time, allowing insertion of at least a portion of an article through said guard and into said location of operation and removal of a finished article from said location of operation and through said guard with a part of said finished article, as a result of the operation performed on said article portion at said station, being of a final width substantially greater than the original width of said article, said guard comprising: a front wall portion having a slot defined therein, through which slot, at a desired article-inserting position thereof, the longitudinal axis of said article may be substantially aligned with said location of operation, the width of said slot, at any position therealong, being substantially less than the length of a first path of direct access from said slot to said location of operation such that the fingers of the opErator may only be extended through said slot, at any such position therealong, and toward said location of operation through a distance along said first direct access path which is substantially less than said length of said first direct access path, said width of said slot, at any such position therealong, being greater than said original width of said article which facilitates rapid and accurate insertion of said article portion through said slot at said desired article-inserting position of said slot and into said location of operation, said width of said slot being less than said final width of said part of said finished article which, if not totally preventing removal of said finished article from said location of operation through said slot at approximately said desired article-inserting position of said slot, would, at a minimum, impede rapid removal of said finished article from said location of operation through said slot without initially orienting said final width of said finished article part with the length-wise direction of said slot prior to removal of said finished article through said slot in the case where said length of said slot is greater than said final width of said finished article part; and dual side wall portions connected with, and disposed at an angle to, said front wall portion, said dual side wall portions forming a channel having a first opening defined at an outer end thereof, the width of said first opening being greater than said final width of said finished article part, said channel also having a second opening defined at an inner end thereof, the width of said second opening being at least approximately equal to that of said first opening, said channel establishing a second path of direct access from said first opening via said second opening to said location of operation, the length of said second direct access path being greater than said length of said first direct access path from said slot at approximately said desired article-inserting position thereof to said location of operation, said width of said first opening being substantially less than said length of said second direct access path from said first opening via said second opening to said location of operation such that the fingers of the operator may only be extended through said first opening and toward said location of operation via said second opening through a distance along said second direct access path which is substantially less than said length of said second direct access path, the length of said finished article part as measured along the longitudinal axis of said article being less than the respective lengths of said first and second channel openings, said slot defined in said front wall portion extending along a third path at least from said article-inserting position to a position adjacent to said first channel opening, said third path paralleling said second direct access path from said first channel opening via said second channel opening to said location of operation, whereby said finished article may be removed from said location of operation by moving said finished article along said third path defined by said slot which movement thereof concurrently moves said finished article part, without any initial orientation thereof, along said second direct access path from said location of operation via second channel opening to said first channel opening to thereby achieve rapid and unobstructed removal of said finished article through said barrier guard from said location of operation of said station.