Stripping machine for electrical conductors

Claim 2

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, follower control means having first and second sections, cutter means having first and second cutter sections, each of said cutter sections including cutter follower means and a cutter blade, gripping means having first and second gripper sections, each of said gripper sections including gripper follower means and a gripping jaw, said gripping means being adapted to move away from said cutter means in a direction parallel to the axis of the conductor in response to a longitudinal force exerted thereon by said follower control means, means for driving said follower control means against said follower means, means for forcing said first and second cutter blades into the insulation of the conductor when said first section of said follower control means is driven against said cutter follower means and for maintaining said cutter blades in their cutting position when said second section of said follower control means is driven against said cutter follower means, means for forcing said first and second gripping jaws against the conductor when said first section of said follower control means is driven against said gripper follower means, the force of said gripping jaws against said conductor being sufficient to allow the conductor to move longitudinally with said gripping means while said gripper follower means is in contact with said first section of said follower control means, means for reversing the direction of movement of said follower control means and means for repositioning said cutter means and said gripping means as said follower control means assumes its initial position.

Claim 3

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a longitudinally actuatable control member having a first section of nonuniform cross-sectional area and a second section of uniform cross-sectional area, said first section being located at one end of said control member, cutter follower means, gripper follower means, means for driving said control member longitudinally against said follower means, means for cutting an end section of insulation on the conductor when said cutter follower means is in moving contact with said first section of said control member and for holding said cut end section of insulation when said cutter follower means is in contact with said second section of said control member, longitudinally movable means for gripping the conductor with increasing pressure when said gripper follower means is in moving contact with said first sectiOn of said control member, said gripper follower means affording increasing resistance to the relative movement of said control member and said gripper follower means as the conductor is gripped with increasing force, means for guiding the longitudinal motion of said gripping means and the conductor gripped therein in the direction of motion of said control member as said resistance increases, means for reversing the direction of movement of said control member and means for repositioning said follower means as said control member assumes its original position.

Claim 4

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a longitudinally actuatable control member having a first section of nonuniform cross-sectional area and a second section of uniform cross-sectional area, said first section being located at one end of said control member, cutter follower means, gripper follower means, means for driving said control member longitudinally against said follower means, means for cutting an end section of insulation on the conductor when said cutter follower means is in moving contact with said first section of said control member and for holding said cut end section of insulation when said cutter follower means is in contact with said second section of said control member, longitudinally movable means for gripping the conductor with increasing pressure when said gripper follower means is in moving contact with said first sectiOn of said control member, said gripper follower means affording increasing resistance to the relative movement of said control member and said gripper follower means as the conductor is gripped with increasing force, means for guiding the longitudinal motion of said gripping means and the conductor gripped therein in the direction of motion of said control member as said resistance increases, means for reversing the direction of movement of said control member and means for repositioning said follower means as said control member assumes its original position.

Claim 5

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a control member having a first section of one geometrical form and a second section of another geometrical form, means for circumferentially cutting the insulation of the conductor at a location a predetermined distance from the end thereof, means for gripping the conductor at a greater predetermined distance from the end thereof, cutter control means for operating said cutting means when the first section of said control member is advanced thereagainst and for maintaining said cutting means in its cutting position when the second section of said control member is advanced thereagainst, gripping control means for increasing the gripping force exerted on the conductor by said gripping means when the first section of said control member is advanced thereagainst, the force acting on said gripping means in a direction parallel to the axis of the conductor increasing as said gripping force increases, said gripping means being adapted to move the conductor gripped therein away from said cutting means before the first section of said control member loses contact with said gripping control means, means for driving said control member and means for restoring the control member, said cutting means and said gripping means to their initial positions after stripping.

Claim 6

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a control member having a first section of one geometrical form and a second section of another geometrical form, means for circumferentially cutting the insulation of the conductor at a location a predetermined distance from the end thereof, means for gripping the conductor at a greater predetermined distance from the end thereof, cutter control means for operating said cutting means when the first section of said control member is advanced thereagainst and for maintaining said cutting means in its cutting position when the second section of said control member is advanced thereagainst, gripping control means for increasing the gripping force exerted on the conductor by said gripping means when the first section of said control member is advanced thereagainst, the force acting on said gripping means in a direction parallel to the axis of the conductor increasing as said gripping force increases, said gripping means being adapted to move the conductor gripped therein away from said cutting means before the first section of said control member loses contact with said gripping control means, means for driving said control member and means for restoring the control member, said cutting means and said gripping means to their initial positions after stripping.

Claim 7

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a control member having a tapered section, cutter follower means, gripper follower means, said gripper follower means and cutter follower means being disposed in tandem along the axis of said control member, means for longitudinally advancing the tapered section of said control member against said follower means, means for circumferentially cutting an end section of insulation on an electrical conductor when the tapered section of said control member advances and displaces said cutter follower means and for trapping said cut end section of insulation when said cutter follower means advances and loses contact with the tapered section of said control member, means for gripping the conductor with increasing pressure when the tapered section of said control member advances and displaces said gripper follower means, means for mounting said gripping means in movable relationship to said cutting means, the force exerted upon said gripping means in a direction parallel to the axis of the electrical conductor increasing with increase in the displacement of said gripper follower means until said gripping means and the conductor gripped therein moves away from said cutting means and the cut end section of insulation trapped thereby, means for reversing the direction of motion of said control member, after the cut end section of insulation has been removed and means for repositioning said cutting means and said gripping means as said control member is returned to its starting position.

Claim 8

In a machine for removing the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a control member having a tapered section, cutter follower means, gripper follower means, said gripper follower means and cutter follower means being disposed in tandem along the axis of said control member, means for longitudinally advancing the tapered section of said control member against said follower means, means for circumferentially cutting an end section of insulation on an electrical conductor when the tapered section of said control member advances and displaces said cutter follower means and for trapping said cut end section of insulation when said cutter follower means advances and loses contact with the tapered section of said control member, means for gripping the conductor with increasing pressure when the tapered section of said control member advances and displaces said gripper follower means, means for mounting said gripping means in movable relationship to said cutting means, the force exerted upon said gripping means in a direction parallel to the axis of the electrical conductor increasing with increase in the displacement of said gripper follower means until said gripping means and the conductor gripped therein moves away from said cutting means and the cut end section of insulation trapped thereby, means for reversing the direction of motion of said control member, after the cut end section of insulation has been removed and means for repositioning said cutting means and said gripping means as said control member is returned to its starting position.

Claim 9

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said gripping means includes first and second gripping jaws and in which said gripper follower means includes a plurality of coacting follower members, said gripping jaws being adapted to travel inwardly toward the conductor to be gripped when said followers are driven outwardly by the advancing control member.

Claim 10

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 5 in which said gripping jaws include staggered segments to afford intermeshing and tHereby reduce the area of the region between said gripping jaws as said gripping jaws travel toward one another.

Claim 11

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said cutting means includes first and second cutter blades each having an edge of a shape and size suitable for use with the size of conductor being stripped, and in which said cutter follower means includes a plurality of coacting follower members, said cutter blades being adapted to travel inwardly upon the conductor to be stripped when said followers are driven outwardly by the advancing control member.

Claim 12

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said mounting means includes first and second guide members, said guide members being disposed in a direction parallel to the axis of said control member to provide longitudinal movement of said gripping means with respect to said cutting means.

Claim 13

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said gripping means includes first and second gripping jaws, said gripping jaws including staggered segments to afford intermeshing to reduce the area of the region between said gripping jaws as said gripping means grips said conductor with increasing pressure.

Claim 14

A stripping machine as set forth in claim 2 in which said gripping means includes first and second gripping jaws and in which said gripper follower means includes a plurality of coacting follower members, said gripping jaws being adapted to travel inwardly toward the conductor to be gripped when said followers are driven outwardly by the advancing control member.

Claim 15

In a cable stripping apparatus, in combination, a cutting mechanism including cutting members mounted for transverse movement toward one another to cut and trap an end section of insulation to be stripped from a conductor disposed between said cutting members and cam follower means arranged to close and open said cutting members when moved transversely relative to one another; a gripping mechanism including jaw members mounted for transverse movement toward one another to grip and hold the main body section of a conductor disposed between said jaws and cam follower means arranged to close and open said jaw members when moved transversely relative to one another; means for movably mounting said gripping mechanism to afford longitudinal movement thereof away from said cutting mechanism when said cutting members and jaw members are closed to draw said main body section of said conductor away from said trapped end section to remove said end section from the conductor, drive means for actuating said cam followers, said drive means including a section of varying cross-sectional dimension to progressively close said cutting and gripping mechanisms as it passes between said respective cam followers and a section of uniform dimension to hold said cutting members closed when disposed between the cam followers of said cutting mechanism, said jaw members being arranged to close upon said main body of the conductor when the cam followers thereof progress part way over the drive section of varying cross-sectional dimension whereby further transverse closing action of the jaw members is prevented and continued longitudinal movement of the drive section imparts longitudinal movement of the jaw members and the main section of the conductor away from the trapped section thereof to be stripped.

Claim 16

In a cable stripping apparatus, in combination, a cutting mechanism including cutting members mounted for transverse movement toward one another to cut and trap an end section of insulation to be stripped from a conductor disposed between said cutting members and cam follower means arranged to close and open said cutting members when moved transversely relative to one another; a gripping mechanism including jaw members mounted for transverse movement toward one another to grip and hold the main body section of a conductor disposed between said jaws and cam follower means arranged to close and open said jaw members when moved transversely relative to one another; means for movably mounting said gripping mechanism to afford longitudinal movement thereof away from said cutting mechanism when said cutting members and jaw members are closed to draw said main body section of said conductor away from said trapped end section to remove said end section from the conductor, drive means for actuating said cam followers, said drive means including a section of varying cross-sectional dimension to progressively close said cutting and gripping mechanisms as it passes between said respective cam followers and a section of uniform dimension to hold said cutting members closed when disposed between the cam followers of said cutting mechanism, said jaw members being arranged to close upon said main body of the conductor when the cam followers thereof progress part way over the drive section of varying cross-sectional dimension whereby further transverse closing action of the jaw members is prevented and continued longitudinal movement of the drive section imparts longitudinal movement of the jaw members and the main section of the conductor away from the trapped section thereof to be stripped.

Claim 17

In a machine for stripping the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a cutting mechanism including a plurality of cutting members mounted for transverse movement with respect to a conductor disposed therebetween to cut and trap an end section of the insulation thereof, a plurality of cutter cam followers for controlling the inward and outward transverse movement of said cutting members, a plurality of crossmembers for connecting said cutter cam followers to said cutting members to move said cutting members inwardly in accordance with the outward transverse motion of said cutter cam followers, a gripping mechanIsm including a plurality of gripping members mounted for transverse movement with respect to a conductor disposed therebetween to grip and hold the main body section of the insulation thereof, a plurality of gripper cam followers for controlling the inward and outward transverse movement of said gripping members, a plurality of crossmembers for connecting said gripper cam followers to said gripping members to move said gripping members inwardly in accordance with the outward transverse motion of said gripper cam followers, means for mounting said gripping mechanism for longitudinal movement with respect to said cutting mechanism after said end section of insulation has been cut and trapped and said main body section of insulation has been gripped and held, cam control means having a driving section for imparting an outward transverse motion to said cam followers when said driving section is advanced therebetween and a dwell section for holding said cam followers a predetermined distance apart when said dwell section is advanced therebetween, said cutting mechanism being arranged to cut an end section of insulation on the conductor when the driving section of said cam control means is driven between said cutter cam followers and to trap the cut end section of insulation when the dwell section of said cam control means is driven between said cutter cam followers, said gripping mechanism being arranged to grip, hold and longitudinally displace the electrical conductor before said gripper cam followers come into contact with the dwell section of said cam control means.

Claim 18

In a machine for stripping the insulation from the end of an electrical conductor, in combination, a cutting mechanism including a plurality of cutting members mounted for transverse movement with respect to a conductor disposed therebetween to cut and trap an end section of the insulation thereof, a plurality of cutter cam followers for controlling the inward and outward transverse movement of said cutting members, a plurality of crossmembers for connecting said cutter cam followers to said cutting members to move said cutting members inwardly in accordance with the outward transverse motion of said cutter cam followers, a gripping mechanIsm including a plurality of gripping members mounted for transverse movement with respect to a conductor disposed therebetween to grip and hold the main body section of the insulation thereof, a plurality of gripper cam followers for controlling the inward and outward transverse movement of said gripping members, a plurality of crossmembers for connecting said gripper cam followers to said gripping members to move said gripping members inwardly in accordance with the outward transverse motion of said gripper cam followers, means for mounting said gripping mechanism for longitudinal movement with respect to said cutting mechanism after said end section of insulation has been cut and trapped and said main body section of insulation has been gripped and held, cam control means having a driving section for imparting an outward transverse motion to said cam followers when said driving section is advanced therebetween and a dwell section for holding said cam followers a predetermined distance apart when said dwell section is advanced therebetween, said cutting mechanism being arranged to cut an end section of insulation on the conductor when the driving section of said cam control means is driven between said cutter cam followers and to trap the cut end section of insulation when the dwell section of said cam control means is driven between said cutter cam followers, said gripping mechanism being arranged to grip, hold and longitudinally displace the electrical conductor before said gripper cam followers come into contact with the dwell section of said cam control means.