Method and apparatus for stripping shielded flat cable

Claim 1

A method of preparing the end of shielded flat multiconductor cable for termination, the cable comprising a plurality of side by side insulated conductors in a coplanar array surrounded by a conductive shield which is surrounded by a continuous insulative outside jacket, the cable having opposed side edges and opposed flat external surfaces extending therebetween, the method comprising the steps of, simultaneously cutting the opposed edges of said cable in the plane of the conductors between said end and a predetermined distance therefrom, said cutting being accomplished by a pair of cutting blades which penetrate the outside jacket and said shield, cutting into the opposed flat external surfaces transversely of the cable at substantially the predetermined distance from said end, said cutting substantially penetrating said outside jacket without cutting said shield, removing the outside jacket for said predetermined distance from said end, folding the shield so exposed back against the outside jacket of said cable.

Claim 2

A method of preparing the end of shielded flat multiconductor cable for termination, the cable comprising a plurality of side by side insulated conductors in a coplanar array surrounded by a conductive shield which is surrounded by a continuous insulative outside jacket, the cable having opposed side edges and opposed flat external surfaces extending therebetween, the method comprising the steps of, simultaneously cutting the opposed edges of said cable in the plane of the conductors between said end and a predetermined distance therefrom, said cutting being accomplished by a pair of cutting blades which penetrate the outside jacket and said shield, cutting into the opposed flat external surfaces transversely of the cable at substantially the predetermined distance from said end, said cutting substantially penetrating said outside jacket without cutting said shield, removing the outside jacket for said predetermined distance from said end, folding the shield so exposed back against the outside jacket of said cable.

Claim 4

An apparatus for preparing the end of a shielded flat multiconductor cable for termination, the cable comprising a plurality of side by side insulated conductors in a coplanar array surrounded by a conductive shield which is surrounded by a continuous insulative outside jacket, the cable having opposed side edges and opposed flat external surfaces extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising, guide means defining an axial feed path for said cable, said guide means confining said cable against movement transversely of its axis in the plane of the cable, a pair of cutting blades flanking said feed path on opposite sides thereof, said blades being arranged to cut the opposed edges of said cable in the plane of the conductors, said blades being arranged to penetrate said outside jacket and said shield, confining means for restricting said cable against movement transverse to the plane thereof in the vicinity of the cutting blades.

Claim 5

An apparatus for preparing the end of a shielded flat multiconductor cable for termination, the cable comprising a plurality of side by side insulated conductors in a coplanar array surrounded by a conductive shield which is surrounded by a continuous insulative outside jacket, the cable having opposed side edges and opposed flat external surfaces extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising, guide means defining an axial feed path for said cable, said guide means confining said cable against movement transversely of its axis in the plane of the cable, a pair of cutting blades flanking said feed path on opposite sides thereof, said blades being arranged to cut the opposed edges of said cable in the plane of the conductors, said blades being arranged to penetrate said outside jacket and said shield, confining means for restricting said cable against movement transverse to the plane thereof in the vicinity of the cutting blades.