Orbiting blade coaxial cable cutter/stripper

The method of cutting and stripping an outer covering layer from a cable, or the like, with apparatus having a single blade having a circular opening surrounding a cutting edge which is moved in an orbital path about the central axis of the cable to effect cutting, said method comprising:

• a) clamping said cable to fix the axial position thereof;
• b) engaging said covering layer between a pair of movable gripping members to essentially fix the radial position of said central axis at a position closely adjacent said cutting edge;
• c) moving said blade to move said cutting edge in said orbital path, thereby severing a slug from said covering layer;
• d) stopping movement of said blade with said cutting edge engaged in said outer layer;
• and
• e) moving said blade and said gripping members simultaneously axially of said cable to strip the severed slug of said covering material from said cable.

In apparatus having a chassis at ground potential, a pair of movable, electrically conducting gripping members in electrical communication with said chassis and thus at ground potential, said gripping members having opposed end portions on opposite sides of an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said members to move said end portions toward and away from said axis, and a conducting member removably supported with unobstructed surface portions at equal distances from and on opposite sides of said central axis, the method of calibrating the positions of said end portions to be equally spaced from and on opposite sides of said central axis, said method comprising;

• a) positioning said gripping members with said end portions spaced outwardly from said conducting member;
• b) moving one of said gripping members in a series of equal steps from a first reference position until the end portion of said one member contacts said conducting member, thereby placing said conducting member at ground potential;
• c) electrically storing the position of said one member when it contacts said conducting member;
• d) removing said one of said gripping members from contact with said conducting member, thereby again insulating said conducting member from ground potential;
• e) moving the other of said gripping members in a series of equal steps from a second reference position until the end portion of said other member contacts said conducting member, thereby again placing said conducting member at ground potential;
• and
• f) electrically storing the position of said other member when said conducting member is again placed at ground potential, whereby placing said members at said stored positions effectively calibrates the positions of said members at equal distances from said central axis.

Clamping means for engaging and fixing the axial position of a cable, or the like, during sequential cutting and stripping operations in the removal of a portion of a covering layer of said cable, said clamping means comprising:

• a) first and second jaws having respective, first and second engagement surfaces;
• b) support means upon which said jaws are mounted for reciprocal, linear movement of said engagement surfaces toward and away from one another to engage and release said cable;
• c) first and second, essentially identical, linear gear racks carried by said first and second jaws, respectively;
• d) a motor having an output shaft selectively rotatable in opposite directions;
• e) a pinion gear carried by said output shaft for rotation therewith, said pinion being engaged on opposite sides by said first and second racks, whereby equal and opposite motion is imparted to said engagement surfaces by rotation of said pinion gear.