Flat cable preparation tool assembly

A tool assembly for preparing a flat cable for termination in a mass termination connector, said assembly being adapted for mounting on a bench press of the type having a bed and a ram which reciprocates relative to said bed, said tool assembly comprising:

• an upper support attached to said ram;
• a lower support for supporting said cable and positioned on said bed;
• a series of regularly spaced, aligned punches extending from said upper support for forming a series of windows in the flat cable insulation with one window between each adjacent pair of conductors;
• and
• a cutter means extending from said upper support and terminating short of said punch dies for severing each conductor between adjacent windows whereby the selective limitation of the stroke of said ram results in preparation of said cable for either daisy chain or, alternatively, dead end connection.

A tool assembly for use with a prime mover, such as a bench press, to prepare a flat cable for its termination in a mass termination connector, said assembly comprising:

• upper and lower supports, at least one of which is adapted for attachment to said prime mover, for reciprocal movement relative to one another;
• punch means carried by one of said supports for forming a series of windows in the flat cable insulation between adjacent conductors of the flat cable, said windows being aligned in a row extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the cable;
• cutter means carried by one of said supports for severing the conductors of said flat cable adjacent said windows, said punch means having a position relative said cutter means wherein said punch means extends further toward the support which does not carry the punch means than the cutter means extends toward the support which does not carry the cutter means, said supports being movable relative to one another between an open position in which a flat cable disposed between said supports is not punched or cut and a closed position in which said windows are punched;
• and
• means for selectively preventing said cutter means from severing said conductors when said punch means forms said windows whereby a single tool assembly selectively prepares flat cables for either daisy chain connection or dead end connection.