Method of preparing electrical cables for soldering

Claim 1

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: positioning heat shield means over plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing an area of plastic which is to be removed; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on unshielded plastic to cause the same to vaporize and expose conductors; and emersing the exposed conductors in an ultra-sonic bath to remove residue of plastic from the conductors and to remove infra-red absorbing material from the conductors to thereby condition the exposed conductors for soldering.

Claim 2

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: positioning heat shield means over plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing an area of plastic which is to be removed; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on unshielded plastic to cause the same to vaporize and expose conductors; and emersing the exposed conductors in an ultra-sonic bath to remove residue of plastic from the conductors and to remove infra-red absorbing material from the conductors to thereby condition the exposed conductors for soldering.

Claim 3

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: positioning heat shield means over plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing an area of the plastic which is to be removed; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on the unshielded plastic in said area to cause the same to vaporize and expose conductors, the area being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on boTh sides of the area; at a point spaced from said exposed conductors in said area positioning heat shield means over the plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing a narrow strip-like section of the plastic for removal; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on said strip-like section to cause the plastic of the section to vaporize and expose conductors, the section being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the strip-like section; and while maintaining heat in the plastic and in the conductors located between said strip-like section and said exposed area at a level sufficient to break the bond between the plastic and conductors, gripping last said plastic and pulling the same over the conductors into said exposed area and thereby exposing other portions of the conductors for soldering.

Claim 4

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: positioning heat shield means over plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing an area of the plastic which is to be removed; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on the unshielded plastic in said area to cause the same to vaporize and expose conductors, the area being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on boTh sides of the area; at a point spaced from said exposed conductors in said area positioning heat shield means over the plastic which is to remain on the cable while exposing a narrow strip-like section of the plastic for removal; focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on said strip-like section to cause the plastic of the section to vaporize and expose conductors, the section being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the strip-like section; and while maintaining heat in the plastic and in the conductors located between said strip-like section and said exposed area at a level sufficient to break the bond between the plastic and conductors, gripping last said plastic and pulling the same over the conductors into said exposed area and thereby exposing other portions of the conductors for soldering.

Claim 5

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising steps of: focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on plastic of the cable to cause the same to vaporize the plastic and expose conductors; and immersing the exposed conductors in an ultra-sonic bath to remove residue of plastic and to remove infra-red absorbing materials from the conductors to thereby condition the exposed conductors for soldering.

Claim 6

The method of removing insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising steps of: focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on plastic of the cable to cause the same to vaporize the plastic and expose conductors; and immersing the exposed conductors in an ultra-sonic bath to remove residue of plastic and to remove infra-red absorbing materials from the conductors to thereby condition the exposed conductors for soldering.

Claim 7

The method of inboard stripping of insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on plastic in an area to be removed to cause the plastic to vaporize and expose conductors, the area being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the area; focusing the radiant energy of at least on infra-red heat source on a narrow strip-like section spaced from said exposed conductors, the energy causing the plastic of the section to vaporize and expose conductors, the strip-like section being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the strip-like section and while maintaining heat in the plastic and in the conductors located between said strip-like section and said exposed area at a level sufficient to break the bond between the plastic and conductors, gripping last said plastic and pulling the same over the conductors into said exposed area and thereby exposing other portions of the conductors for soldering.

Claim 8

The method of inboard stripping of insulating plastic from the conductors of a flat cable, comprising the steps of: focusing the radiant energy of at least one infra-red heat source on plastic in an area to be removed to cause the plastic to vaporize and expose conductors, the area being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the area; focusing the radiant energy of at least on infra-red heat source on a narrow strip-like section spaced from said exposed conductors, the energy causing the plastic of the section to vaporize and expose conductors, the strip-like section being located inboard of the ends of the cable so that there is insulating plastic on both sides of the strip-like section and while maintaining heat in the plastic and in the conductors located between said strip-like section and said exposed area at a level sufficient to break the bond between the plastic and conductors, gripping last said plastic and pulling the same over the conductors into said exposed area and thereby exposing other portions of the conductors for soldering.