Recent improvements of the Kloften & Kloften

Carrier Strip Splicer.

Issue No. 3. April 24, 1992

The following improvement has been made (since our second "list of improvements" of March 3, 1992 which follows enclosed):

1. Improved control of the wire feed.

When using the feature under (2) in the enclosed list, it was sometimes a little difficult to maintain the wire between the two carrier ends, due to the curvature of the wire stemming from the winding on the spool.

A patent application was recently filed covering a feature which will eliminate this problem.

By closing the upper right jaw before (or just after) starting to feed the solder, the wire is fed through a channel formed by the two carrier ends and the two carbon brushes. Thereby one is assured that it will stay in the proper position.

The patent application includes a feature whereby the upper carbon brush is kept a little above the top surface of the carrier, to give the wire more room to move (in case the carrier thickness should be less than the thickness of the wire). This is achieved by moving a shim to the edge of the left carrier strip when the left, upper jaw is lowered.

The operating procedure is now as follows:

1. When the left upper jaw is lowered the shim comes forward (if used).

2. When the right hand jaw assembly is lowered, the step motor starts (when the Micro Switch is activated).

It is good practice to let the motor feed a couple of steps before closing the carbon brush fully, to avoid the possibility of the wire hitting the upper brush.

3. The rest is automatic. When the timer for the step motor times out, the following takes place:

o The shim retracts

o The right sliding bar is pushed to the left, and

o The heating current goes on.

A kit with the necessary instructions has been prepared for the up-dating of existing splicers.