US3704496A

US3704496A - Machine for assembling contact sockets for electrical connections of the plug-and-socket type

Info

Publication number: US3704496A
Application number: US838488A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lev Vasilievich Kuznetsov; Zunya Mikhalevich Slavinsky; Vasily Alexeevich Kalachev; Alexandr Leonidovich Krupin; Nikolai Alexandrov Aristarkhov; Eduard Jurievich Popkov; Vladimir Alexandrovich Trutnev; Nikolai Petrovich Bulychev
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-02
Filing date: 1969-07-02
Publication date: 1972-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-05
Also published as: GB1308447A; FR2055802A1; FR2055802B1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the manufacture of electrical connections of the plug-and-socket type, and, more particularly, it relates to machines for assembling multi-wire contact sockets. A machine disclosed in the specification perform a complete operating cycle of assembling a multi-wire contact socket for a plug-and-socket connection and comprises an assembling mandrel mounted in a mandrel head carried by a rotary work table and a plurality of operation performing mechanisms mounted about this table, the mechanisms including those for applying the rings and the sleeves of the sockets to be, for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wire, for applying the end pieces onto the preassembled sockets and for inwardly offsetting the predetermined portions of the pre-assembled sockets. The assembling mandrel cooperates with all said mechanisms in succession, this interaction being effected and controlled by the motiondistributing mechanism of the machine.

Description

United States Patent Kuznetsov et al.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CONTACT SOCKETS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS OF THE PLUG-AND-SOCKET TYPE Inventors: Lev Vasilievich Kuznetsov, ulitsa Filed:

Beketova, 20, kv. 15; Zunya Mikhalevich Slavinsky, ulitsa Beketova,

July 2, 1969 Alexeevich Appl. No.: 838,488

US. Cl ..29/25.19, 29/628, 29/630 A,

Int. Cl ..H0lj 9/06, HOlj 9/10, l-l0lj 9/46 Field of Search ..29/25.19, 630 A, 628, 629,

[451 Dec. 5, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,107,966 10/1963 Bon Homme ..339/241 3,128,529 4/1964 Cropp et a1. ..29/25. 19 X 3,229,356 l/l966 Bon l-lomme ..29/630 A Primary Examiner-John F, Campbell Assistant Examiner-Donald P. Rooney Att0rneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz and Nissen [5 7 ABSTRACT The present disclosure relates to the manufacture of electrical connections of the plug-and-socket type, and, more particularly, it relates to machines for assembling multi-wire contact sockets.

A machine disclosed in the specification perform a complete operating cycle of assembling a multi-wire contact socket for a plug-and-socket connection and comprises an assembling mandrel mounted in a mandrel head carried by a rotary work table and a plurality of operation performing mechanisms mounted about this table, the mechanisms including those for applying the rings and the sleeves of the sockets to be, for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wire, for applying the end pieces onto the pre-assembled sockets and for inwardly offsetting the predetermined portions of the pre-assembled sockets. The assembling mandrel cooperates with all said mechanisms in succession, this interaction being effected and controlled by the motion-distributing mechanism of the machine.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 5 I972 SHEET 2 BF 8 mxwfm PATENTED DH: 5 m2 saw u or 8 SHEET 5 OF 8 FIG? MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING CONTACT SOCKETS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS OF THE PLUG-AND-SOCKET TYPE The present invention relates to the manufacturing of electrical plug-and-socket connections, and, more particularly, it relates to machines for assembling contact sockets for electrical connections of this type.

Known in the art are devices for assembling multiwire contact sockets of the Hyperboloid type with the help of an assembling mandrel.

These known devices have the following disadvantages, such as limited production capacity not in excess of 300 sockets per hour (which is a result of a great percentage of manual operations involved), the fact that the possibility of the wire bending longitudinally while being threaded into the slots of the assembling mandrel is not positively prevented, the necessity to use wire of very specific characteristics; the absence of means for checking up the quality of the successive operating steps.

These disadvantages bring about greater production costs on account of a large amount of labor required and substantial costs of the initial materials.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate these disadvantages.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a machine which should perform a complete operating cycle of assembling a multi-wire contact socket for electrical connections of the plug-andsocket type, such cycle including the steps of applying the ring and the sleeve of the socket-to-be, of step-bystep feeding and cutting of wires, of bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wires, of applying the end piece and of offsetting inwardly the specified portion of the pre-assembled socket.

This object is accomplished in a machine for assembling multi-wire contact sockets for electrical connections of the plug-and-socket type, the assembling being performed with the help of assembling mandrels, in which machine, according to the present invention, each one of the assembling mandrels is mounted in a mandrel head carried by a rotary work table, the mandrel being adapted for sequential interaction with a plurality of operation-performing mechanisms disposed about said rotary table work, said plurality of mechanisms including those for applying the rings of said contact sockets, for applying the sleeves of said contact sockets, for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wires, for applying the end pieces of said contact sockets and for offsetting inwardly the predetermined portions of the pre-assembled contact sockets, the above-described interaction being controlled by the motion-distributing mechanism of the machine.

It is advisable in a machine according to the present invention for said mandrel head to include a springbiased hollow cylinder of which the internal wall surface is adapted to guide the reciprocations of a springbiased rod member having therein a socket for mounting said assembling mandrel, the upper end portion of said cylinder being adapted to support a washer serving as an abutment for the ring of a contact socket being assembled.

It is also advisable that said mechanisms for applying, respectively, the rings and the sleeves of the sockets-tobe should include each an accumulator of the respective parts (rings and sleeves) supplied from the respective feeders of these parts, and a slide adapted to engage a successive part coming from said accumulator and to transfer said part to the assembling area, i.e. to a position where said part can be put onto said mandrel.

It is also advisable that said mechanism for step-bystep feeding and cutting of wires should include a reciprocating rod having a plurality of wire-guiding members mounted therein, said members forming an assembly capable of varying its axial length in the course of the step-by-step feeding of said wires; and also a plurality of wire supply reels mounted for rotation on their respective support spindles; a stationary blade and a movable blade for cutting the lengths of said wires and a clamp member for ensuring uniform feeding of said wires.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention said wire-guiding members include a-plurality of apertured members mounted alternatively with a plurality of resilient members.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention said wire-guiding members include a plurality of telescopically arranged tubular members having helical compression spring mounted therein.

It is also advisable in a machine embodying the present invention for said mechanism for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wires to include a die member receiving therein a spring-biased punch member, said punch member carrying a springbiased needle adapted to control interaction between said assembling mandrel and said mechanism for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of wires.

It is also advisable that said mechanism for applying the end pieces of said contact sockets should include means for accumulating end pieces supplied from a feeder of said end pieces; means for positioning each successive one of said end pieces so that the tail portion thereof should face upwardly; and a plurality of retaining prisms adapted to retain said successive piece in a position of assembling thereof with said contact socket.

it is also advisable that said mechanism for inwardly offsetting the predetermined portions of the pre-assembled contact sockets should include a spring-biased hollow member with an internal guide surface; said member receiving thereinside a rotor transmitting rotation to at least one working head which carries two rollers, one of said two rollers being adapted to effect inward offsetting of the adjacent end portions of said ring and said end piece of a pre-assembled contact socket, the other one of said two rollers being adapted for interaction with said internal guide surface of said hollow member, so as to control the radial depth of this inward offsetting.

It is also advisable for a machine embodying the present invention to include a motion distributing mechanism that should comprise cam shafts carrying cams arranged and shaped to ensure the proper succession and timing of the operating steps performed by the machine.

A machine embodying the present invention provides for all-through automation of the whole operation of assembling a multi-wire contact socket for an electrical connection of the plug-and-socket type, and, consequently, provides for greater efficiency in performing this operation. In a preferred embodiment of the machine the mechanism for step-by-step feeding of wires has not a single spot in which the passage of the wires being fed would be unrestricted, whereby any unwanted bending of the wires is positively prevented. As a result, a machine embodying the present invention can handle wires of cheaper grades, not only those drawn to high specifications.

Practical tests which have been performed with a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention have shown that production rate of this machine was 600 sockets per hour, as the very minimum.

The present invention can be better understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: t

' FIG. 1 is a general view of a machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 same, as in FIG. 1, (top view);

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism; 1

FIG. 4 same, as in FIG. 3, (top view);

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mandrel head;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ring positioning mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, in which the wires are guided by apertured wire guides alternating with resilient members;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another modification of the mechanism for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, in which the wires are guided by telescopic tubular members with helical springs;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism for bending the upper end portions of the wires;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the end piece positioning mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the contact socket inwardly offsetting mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled contact socket.

Referring now to the drawings: supported by the top baseplate 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the machine, embodying the invention, and disposed about the rotary work table 2 are the following operation-performing and mechanisms and interlocks in a succession demanded by the complete operating cycle of the machine: a ring-positioning mechanism 3 with its feeder 4, a sleeve-positioning mechanism 5 with its feeder 6, a mechanism 7 for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, a mechanism 8 for bending the upper end portion of the wires, an end-piece positioning mechanism 9 with its feeder 10, a no end-piece interlock, a mechanism 12 for offsetting inwardly the predetermined portions of pre-assembled sockets and a mechanism 13 for removing the finally assembled sockets. Supported by the rotary table 2 of the machine are mandrel head 14 carrying cylindrically shaped mandrels 15 provided with inclined slots, the number of the slots and the angle of their inclination corresponding to a desired number of the wires in an assembled contact socket and the angle of inclination of these wires in the socket.

Situated on the operating side of the machine are a box 16 into which the assembled contact sockets are delivered and the control panel 17 of the machine.

Mounted inside the framework of the machine is its drive system 18 with its motion-distributing mechanism, actuated by an electric motor 19 through a Vee-belt transmission 20.

The drive system (FIGS. 3 and 4) includes a reducing gear mounted inside a casing 20 and a bottom baseplate 21 supporting the motion-distributing mechanism with includes camshafts 22 carrying earns 23 that effect reciprocations of the actuators of the respective operation-performing mechanisms through the cam follower rods 24. The camshafts 22 extend radially from the central shaft 25.

The central shaft 25, mounted inside its housing 26, effects step-by-step rotation of the rotary table.

The mandrel head (FIG. 5) has the body 27, a hollow cylinder 28 and a spring 29 for returning the cylinder 28 into its initial position. A spring-biased rod 39 extends internally of the cylinder 28, the upper portion of this rod having a socket for mounting an assembling mandrel 15 which can be secured in the head by a nut 31. Another nut 32 secured a specially-shaped washer plate 33 to the face end of the hollow cylinder 28, the butt end 34 of the washer plate 33 serving in operation as an abutment for the ring of a socket being assembled.

The ring positioning mechanism (FIG. 6) of the machine herein described comprises a ring accumulator 35 mounted in an upright 36 supported by a base 37 and a spring-biased slide 38 reciprocating along a guide 39 mounted on the base 37. The slide 38 is reciprocated by an arm 40 connected with the follower rod 24. The mechanism also includes a ring ejector 41 retained by a collet clamp 42 in a crossbar 43 permanently connected with a spring-biased actuator rod 44.

A microswitch 45 the no-ring interlock attached to an upright 46 is positioned to switch off the drive of the machine when no ring is applied onto the mandrel. The sleeve-positioning mechanism 5 (FIG. 2) is constructed similarly to the abovedescribed ring positioning mechanism (FIG. 6).

The mechanism for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires (FIG. 7) includes a reciprocating rod 47 inside which are stacked alternatively resilient members 48 and apertured wire guides 49. Bent tubes 50 are arranged in an annular row and mounted in the sockets provided in the upper end portion of the rod 47. Brackets 51, angularly spaced about the periphery of the rod 47, carry on their spindles wire supply spools 52. Each one of the spools 52 has attached thereto an annular perforated member 53 made of a dielectric material, while contact members 54 mounted on the brackets 51 are positioned to engage the perforations in the members 53. An annular retainer 55, mounted on the upper end portion of the rod 47, carries a series of spring-biased clamps adapted to retain the wires as the latter are unwound from the spools.

The rod 47 is operatively connected with a resilient plunger 56 interacting with the respective one of the actuator rods of the motion distributing mechanism of the machine. The reciprocations of the rod 47 are guided by a movable bracket 57 supported by a base 58. Received inside an opening provided in the bracket 57 is a spring-biased movable wire-cutting blade 59, whereas the stationary blade 60 is mounted within a socket in the base 58.

A spring-biased wire clamp 61 is mounted in a bracket 62.

Illustrated in FIG. 8 is another modification of the mechanism for step-by-step feeding and cutting of wires, different from the one previously described. In this modification motion of the wires is guided by telescopic tubular members 63 having helical springs 64 mounter thereinside.

The mechanism for bending the upper end portions of the cut lengths of the wires (FIG. 9) includes a die member 65 receiving thereinside a punch 66 with a spring-biased needle 67.

The mechanism for positioning end pieces, illustrated in FIG. 10, includes an accumulator 68 for the supply of the end pieces, mounted on the housing 69, an end piece indexing member 70 rotated through a gear couple (not shown in FIG. and an arm 71 interacting with the respective one of the follower rods of the motion distributing mechanism of the machine. The mechanism illustrated in FIG. 10 alsoincludes a pair of retaining prisms 72 carried, respectively, by

slides

73 and 74 which are actuated by an arm 75 cooperating with one of the follower rods of the motion distributing mechanism of the machine.

A socket bushing 76 mounted in an aperture of a bracket 77 is meant for accurately positioning an end piece, when the latter is being press-fit onto a pre-assembled contact socket. The interlock 11 (FIG. 2) responsive to the absence of an end piece in a contact socket being assembled is constructed similarly to the no-ring interlock of the ring-positioning mechanism, described above.

The contact socket offsetting mechanism (FIG. 11) includes a spring-biased hollow cylinder 78 with an internal conical wall portion, the cylinder 78 receiving thereinside a rotor 79 carrying two working head 80, incorporating each a follower roller 81 and an offsetting roller 82. The rotor 79 receives rotation from an individual electric motor and a Vee-belt (not shown in FIG. 11), a shaft 83 and gears 84 and 85. A springbiased pin 86 extends centrally of the rotor 79. The cylinder 78 is vertically reciprocated by means of an actuator 87 driven by the respective one of the follower rods of the motion-distributing mechanism of the machine.

The mechanism 13 (FIG. 2) for removing the assembled contact sockets includes a trough inside which is mounted a slide having a slot made therein, through which the wider portion of a mandrel can extend in the socket-removing position of the slide.

The machine herein described operates, as follows.

Rings from the feeder 4 (FIG. 1) of the ring-positioning mechanism (FIG. 6) are supplied onto the ring accumulator 35, on which a vertical stack of the rings is formed. The bottom ring of the stack drops into the port provided in the slide 38 and is carried by the slide its during working stroke into the assembly area. The ejector 41 pushes the ring from the port of the slide 38 through an opening in the stationary guide 39 and puts it onto the cylindrically shaped tail portion of the raised mandrel (FIG. 1), till the ring engages the top butt end 34 (FIG. 5) of the washer 33 of the mandrel head.

Then the mandrel, together with the ring put thereupon, is lowered, and the table is rotated to bring the mandrel toward the sleeve positioning mechanism 5 (FIG. 2).

If a ring is not put onto the mandrel 15 (FIG. 1), the ejector 41 (FIG. 6) engages the microswitch 45 of the no-ring interlock, and the drive of the machine is switched off.

The operation of the sleeve positioning mechanism 5 (FIG. 2) is altogether similar to that of the ring positioning mechanism (FIG. 6).

After a sleeve has been put onto the mandrel, the latter is brought by the successive rotating step of the rotary table toward the mechanism (FIG. 7) for stepby-step feeding and cutting of wires.

The wires are fed in the following manner. The mandrel head together with the mandrel are brought into their raised position, till the upper end face of the sleeve, now put about the mandrel, engages the bottom face of the stationary blade 60, while the wires unwound from the supply spools 52 pass through the row ,of the tubes 50 and through the wire guides, i.e.

through the resilient members 48 stacked alternatively with the apertured wire guiding members 49, wherefrom they project into the apertures of the movable blade 59. Then the wires are clamped by the clamp 61 through the annular retainer 55 with its springbiased clamping members, whereafter the rod 47, together with the

members

48 and 49, is driven down through a distance equal to a desired length of wire pieces to be cut. This downward motion of the rod 47 brings about compression of the resilient members 48, whereby the spacing between the apertured members 49 is reduced, and the wires, their motion restricted in all directions but the downward one, go through the apertures in the movable blade 59 into the apertures in the stationary blade 60,wherefrom they are directed by the slots of the mandrel in desired directions, till the ends of the wires project beyond the edges of the sleeve.

After this is achieved, the mandrel head (FIG. 5) is raised still more, together with the mandrel, and the top face end of the washer 33 drives the ring upward onto the sleeve, the ring in its motion bending the free ends of the wires and compressing them between itself and the periphery of the sleeve. Thus, the ring is press-fit onto the sleeve, with the bent wires interposed and secured therebetween. The ring is driven to the middle of the sleeve. Then the wire clamp 61 (FIG. 7) is raised, followed by the rod 47, whereafter the bracket 57, together with the movable blade 59 are displaced in relation to the stationary blade 60, whereby all the wires are cut.

Should any single one of the wires fail to be fed for assembly with the socket, the ring 53 attached to the respective one of the spools 52 should fail to turn during the downward motion of the rod 47, whereby the respective contact 54 would not be operated, and the corresponding control circuit would stop the machine.

After the wires have been assembled with the socket, the mandrel with this pre-assembled socket is lowered, and the successive rotary step of the table brings it to the mechanism (FIG. 9) for bending the upper ends of the wires.

The mandrel is raised together with the pre-assembled socket which is operated upon in succession by the spring-biased needle 67, the spring-biased punch 66 and the die 65. This successive operation results in the upper end portions of the wires being bent to a desired shape: first, roughly, then finally.

After the upper ends of the wires have been thus bent, the mandrel and the pre-assembled socket carried thereby are lowered, and the next rotary step of the table brings them toward the end-piece applying mechanism (FIG. 10).

The end pieces are supplied from the feeder 10 (FIG. 1) into the tubular end-piece accumulator 68 (FIG. 10), wherefrom they drop in succession, one end piece per operating cycle, into the socket of the rotary indexing member 70. The member 70 is rotated to position the successive end piece, so that its tail portion should face upwardly. In this position the end piece is transferred into the socket 76, where it is retained by the spring-biased prisms 72. Then the mandrel is raised, together with the pre-assembled socket, and the endpiece is press-fit onto the tail portion of the sleeve, till the leading face end of the end-piece engages the face end of the ring.

Then the prisms 71 are moved apart to release the end piece, and the mandrel is driven downward, together with the socket assembly, now including the end piece. Then the mandrel is brought to the interlock l 1 (FIG. 2) which either establishes the presence of the end piece or de-energizes the drive of the machine in case no end piece has been assembled with the contact socket. The operation of this no-end-piece interlock is similar to that of the interlocks responsive to the absence of the rings and the sleeve, which has been already described in the above paragraphs.

For the adjacent end portions of the ring and the end piece of the pre-assembled socket to be offset inwardly, the mandrel, together with the pre-assembled socket are raised, till the socket engages the spring-biased rod of the offsetting mechanism (FIG. 11). Then the spring-biased hollow cylinder 78 is lowered, and its internal conical wall portion engages the follower rollers 81, whereby the working heads 80 are driven toward the central axis of the cylinder, and the offsetting rollers 82 are driven toward each other. As a result, the work projections of the rollers 82 ofi'set the adjacent end portions of the ring and the end piece of the pre-assembled socket inwardly to a desired radial depth, about the whole periphery of the socket. This done, the cylinder 78 is raised, whereas the pre-assembled socket and the mandrel carrying it are lowered, whereafter the successive rotary step of the table brings the mandrel to the mechanism 13 (FIG. 2) effecting removal of the now assembled contact socket from the mandrel.

The removing operation is, as follows. The mandrel and the socked carried thereby are raised, and the slide mounted for reciprocation inside the trough, is driven toward the mandrel, till the slide is positioned under the bottom end face of the socket, while the mandrel extends through the slot of the slide.

Then the mandrel is lowered, while the slides retains the socket and thus drives it off the mandrel, whereafter the released socket slides by gravity down the trough of the removing mechanism into the box 16 (FIG. 1) for ready sockets.

The finally assembled contact socket, produced as a result of the abovedescribed sequence of operations and shown in FIG. 12, includes the end piece 88, the ring 89, the sleeve and the wires 91.

What we claim is:

1. Machine for. assembling multi-wire contact sockets for electrical connections of the plug-andsocket type, comprising; at least one assembling mandrel mounted in a tail spindle, a rotary work table rotatable in step-by-step motion about a vertical axis; said tail spindle being positioned in a socket in said table; an assembling mandrel having a spindle being vertically reciprocatable relative to said rotary table, a cam shaft follower rod connected to said mandrel for imparting said reciprocatory motion thereto; a plurality of operative means comprising: means for conveying a plurality of rings to an accumulator, and means for conveying said rings from said accumulator onto the assembling mandrel; means for conveying a plurality of socket sleeves to the accumulator, and means for conveying said sleeves onto the assembling mandrel; means for feeding and cutting in step-by-step sequence a plurality of wires, said means including an assembly of wire guides having spools, a stationary blade and a movable blade, said wires being simultaneously introduced into the sleeves through slots in said assembly mandrel; means for bending the upper end portions of said wires, said means including a central plunger and a bush slidable thereon so as to bend the end portions of said wires while raising the spindle of the rotary work table; means for supplying end pieces to the accumula-- tor, and means for subsequently assembling said end pieces on the socket sleeves; means including a rotor and offsetting rollers inwardly offsetting the butt joints between the rings and the end pieces; and a motion distributing device providing the sequential interaction between the assembling mandrel and each of said operative means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said tail spindle comprises a hollow cylinder, a spring-biased rod guidingly supported on the internal surface of said cylinder and having a socket receiving said assembling mandrel, the upper end portion of said cylinder supporting an end cap providing an abutment for the ring of a contact socket being assembled.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the means conveying said rings and sleeves each comprises the accumulator, and a feeder having a slide adapted to engage a socket element conveyed from its respective accumulator and transfer said element to a position for assembling onto said mandrel.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for the step-by-step feeding and cutting of said wires includes a reciprocating rod, a guide for stacking said wires inside said rod, a plurality of tubes and spools having wires spaced about the periphery of the rod, a ring formed of a dielectric material being attached to each spool, said ring adapted to interact with an electric contact; a clamp member feeding said wires comprising a ring having spring retainers, and said movable and stationary blades for cutting said wires.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said wire guides are alternatively stacked resilient members and die members.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact socket offsetting means includes a spring-biased feeler having a rotor, actuating at least one working head with two rollers, one roller offsetting the butt 5 joints betweensaid ring and said end piece and the other roller cooperating with said feeler to control radial depth of offsetting.

10. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said motion distributing device includes a central shaft and a plurality of cam shafts extending from the central shaft, said cam shafts carrying cams cooperating with a plurality of actuator rods of said operative means.

Claims

1. Machine for assembling multi-wire contact sockets for electrical connections of the plug-and-socket type, comprising; at least one assembling mandrel mounted in a tail spindle, a rotary work table rotatable in step-by-step motion about a vertical axis; said tail spindle being positioned in a socket in said table; an assembling mandrel having a spindle being vertically reciprocatable relative to said rotary table, a cam shaft follower rod connected to said mandrel for imparting said reciprocatory motion thereto; a plurality of operative means comprising: means for conveying a plurality of rings to an accumulator, and means for conveying said rings from said accumulator onto the assembling mandrel; means for conveying a plurality of socket sleeves to the accumulator, and means for conveying said sleeves onto the assembling mandrel; means for feeding and cutting in step-by-step sequence a plurality of wires, said means including an assembly of wire guides having spools, a stationary blade and a movable blade, said wires being simultaneously introduced into the sleeves through slots in said assembly mandrel; means for bending the upper end portions of said wires, said means including a central plunger and a bush slidable thereon so as to bend the end portions of said wires while raising the spindle of the rotary work table; means for supplying end pieces to the accumulator, and means for subsequently assembling said end pieces on the socket sleeves; means including a rotor and offsetting rollers inwardly offsetting the butt joints between the rings and the end pieces; and a motion distributing device providing the sequential interaction between the assembling mandrel and each of said operative means.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said wire guides are telescopically arranged tubes having helical springs.

7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for bending the upper end portions of said wires comprises a die and a spring-biased punch including a spring-biased needle bending said wires upon the spindle being raised.

8. A machine according to claim 1, comprising means for positioning end pieces supplied to said accumulator, and tilting means for orienting the tapered end portions thereof to face upwardly, and retaining prisms positioning each end piece in position for assembly.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact socket offsetting means includes a spring-biased feeler having a rotor, actuating at least one working head with two rollers, one roller offsetting the butt joints between said ring and said end piece and the other roller cooperating with said feeler to control radial depth of offsetting.