Method and apparatus for removing insulation from wires intermediate the ends thereof

Claim 2

Apparatus for stripping insulation from the metallic core of a wire at a location intermediate the ends of the wire, said apparatus comprising: wire supporting means for supporting an intermediate portion of said wire in an operating zone, a plurality of insulation slitting knives in said zone, said knives being normally spaced from said wire and being movable radially towards, and into the insulation of, said wire, means for causing relative axial movement of said wire with respect to said knives while said knives extend into said insulation thereby to form axial slits in said wire, insulation cutting blade means for circumferentially cutting said insulation at each end of said axial slits, thereby to form a plurality of separate insulation segments and, means for flexing said segments thereby to separate said segments from said metallic core.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slitting knives are axially spaced along said wire at a predetermined distance from said insulation cutting blade means, said apparatus including means for feeding said wire said predetermined distance after forming of said slits.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insulation cutting blade means comprises two sets of insulation cutting blades, each of said sets comprising two blades, the two blades of each set being normally in opposed relationship on opposite sides of said wire, the two blades of each set being movable towards said wire to cut said insulation.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for moving said sets of blades towards each other along said wire, said sets comprising said means for flexing said segments.

Claim 6

Apparatus for stripping insulation from a wire intermediate the ends thereof comprising: frame means, wire supporting means on said frame means for supporing a portion of said wire, insulation slitting means on said frame means, said insulating slitting means being located in an insulation slitting zone and being operative to form a plurality of axially extending slits of predetermined length in said insulation, first and second sets of insulation cutting and removing blades, said sets being located in an insulation cutting and removing zone which is spaced from said insulation slitting zone, the blades of each set being on opposite sides of said wire and said first set being spaced from said second set by a distance which is no greater than said predetermined length. first blade moving means for moving the blades of each set towards said wire to circumferentially cut said insulation, second blade moving means for moving said sets towards each other, wire advancing means for axially advancing said wire through said frame means for a distance equal to the distance between said insulation slitting zone and said insulation cutting and removing zone, and actuating means for sequentially actuating said insulation slitting means, said wire advancing means, said first blade moving means, and said second blade moving means whereby, axially extending slits are formed in said wire in said insulation slitting zone, said wire is advanced to locate said slits in said insulation cutting and removing zone, said insulation is circumferentially cut at each end of said slits and the portion of insulation between said sliTs is removed upon movement of said pairs of blades towards each other.

Claim 7

Apparatus for stripping insulation from a wire intermediate the ends thereof comprising: frame means, wire supporting means on said frame means for supporing a portion of said wire, insulation slitting means on said frame means, said insulating slitting means being located in an insulation slitting zone and being operative to form a plurality of axially extending slits of predetermined length in said insulation, first and second sets of insulation cutting and removing blades, said sets being located in an insulation cutting and removing zone which is spaced from said insulation slitting zone, the blades of each set being on opposite sides of said wire and said first set being spaced from said second set by a distance which is no greater than said predetermined length. first blade moving means for moving the blades of each set towards said wire to circumferentially cut said insulation, second blade moving means for moving said sets towards each other, wire advancing means for axially advancing said wire through said frame means for a distance equal to the distance between said insulation slitting zone and said insulation cutting and removing zone, and actuating means for sequentially actuating said insulation slitting means, said wire advancing means, said first blade moving means, and said second blade moving means whereby, axially extending slits are formed in said wire in said insulation slitting zone, said wire is advanced to locate said slits in said insulation cutting and removing zone, said insulation is circumferentially cut at each end of said slits and the portion of insulation between said sliTs is removed upon movement of said pairs of blades towards each other.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wire supporting means comprises a pair of aligned collets.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wire supporting means comprises first and second aligned collets, said insulation slitting means being on said first collet, each of said first and second sets of insulation cutting and removing blades being on one of said collets.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said insulation slitting means comprises a plurality of insulation slitting knives, said knives being mounted on said wire supporting means and being movable radially towards said wire and into the insulation thereof, and means for causing relative axial movement of said wire with respect to said knives to form said slits.