Apparatus and method for stripping wire leads

Apparatus for processing a wire comprising a stranded conductor covered with insulation comprising:

• means including at least one movable blade for transversely cutting said insulation at a location inwardly from one end of said wire to provide a cut portion of insulation;
• means for effecting cutting movement of said blade;
• rotatable, axially movable, releasable clamp means for releasably gripping, rotating and axially moving said cut portion of insulation;
• means for effecting gripping of said cut portion by said clamp means and for rotating and axially moving said clamp means with said cut portion therein away from said blade and to effect rotation and axial movement of said cut portion of insulation relative to the stranded conductor therewithin so as to twist said stranded conductor and remove said cut portion of insulation from said one end of said wire;
• and means for holding said wire to prevent axial and rotational movement thereof relative to said blade during rotational and axial removal of said cut portion of insulation.

Apparatus for cutting and removing a cut portion of insulation from an end of an insulated stranded conductor wire and to effect twisting of the stranded conductor therewithin, comprising:

• means including at least one movable blade for transversely cutting said insulation at a location inwardly from one end of said wire to provide a cut portion of insulation;
• means for effecting cutting movement of said blade;
• a hollow rotatable shaft;
• a hollow spinner head mounted on and rotatable with said shaft;
• a pair of relatively movable insulation gripping clamp members pivotably mounted within said spinner head and pivotably movable between an open position and an insulation gripping position;
• means for biasing said clamp members to open position;
• means for axially moving said shaft and said spinner head thereon relative to said blade and toward, around, and away from said end of said conductor;
• means for rotating said shaft and said spinner head thereon;
• clamp actuator means mounted on said shaft and axially movable relative thereto into a position wherein said clamp actuator means is releasably engageable with said clamp members to move said clamp members to said gripping position;
• means for effecting engagement of said clamp actuator means with said clamp members to cause said clamp members to grip said cut portion of insulation while said clamp members are disposed and rotating therearound, and for maintaining said clamp actuator means in engagement with said clamp members while said clamp members are moved away from said blade and axially away from the end of said conductor thereby effecting stripping and twisting of said stranded conductors;
• and an insulation ejection rod disposed within said hollow shaft and axially movable relative thereto whereby said cut portion of insulation is ejected from said clamp members after said clamp members reopen.

A method of processing a wire comprising a stranded conductor covered with insulation comprising the steps of:

• cutting into said insulation by means of a blade to provide a cut portion of insulation;
• maintaining said blade adjacent said stranded conductor after cutting into said insulation;
• rotating said cut portion of insulation relative to said stranded conductor therewithin to effect twisting of said stranded conductor;
• and axially moving said cut portion of insulation relative to the twisted conductors to effect stripping while maintaining said wire axially stationary relative to said blade.

A method of processing a wire comprising a stranded conductor covered with insulation comprising the steps of:

• cutting into said insulation by means of a blade at a location inwardly from an end of said wire to provide a cut portion of insulation;
• maintaining said blade adjacent said stranded conductors after cutting into said insulation;
• gripping said wire to prevent rotational and axial movement of said wire relative to said blade;
• gripping said cut portion of insulation;
• and rotating and axially removing said cut portion of insulation from said end of said wire to effect twisting of the stranded conductor therewithin and stripping of insulation therefrom.