Apparatus and method for removing a slug of insulation along a length of insulated wire

Apparatus for center notching an insulated wire comprising:

• a. a machine frame;
• b. at least one pair of cutting blades having respective radiused cutting edges adapted to transversely slice the insulation of the insulated wire;
• c. means mounted in the machine frame for cooperatively reciprocating the cutting blades to sequentially circumferentially slice the insulation and to withdraw from the insulated wire;
• d. tool holder means mounted in the machine frame for reciprocation along a first line transverse to the insulated wire;
• and
• e. jaw means mounted to the tool holder means for reciprocating along a second line relative to the tool holder means, the second line being perpendicular to the first line, the jaw means including knife means for longitudinally penetrating the insulation of the insulated wire, the tool holder means and jaw means reciprocating sequentially along the first and second lines to translate the knife means in rectangular paths to longitudinally penetrate the insulated electrical conductor and to strip the penetrated insulation from the conductor.

Apparatus for stripping insulation of a predetermined length from an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. first and second plates located on opposite sides of a first plane passing longitudinally through the axis of the insulated electrical conductor;
• b. drive means for oppositely reciprocating the plates along a first line perpendicular to the first plane;
• c. first and second pairs of jaws mounted in the respective plates with a jaw being located in each of the quadrants around the axis of the insulated electrical conductor, each jaw having a front end defining a knife edge that is proximate to the insulated electrical conductor, the knife edges of the jaws of each pair being in facing operative relationship and being adapted to longitudinally penetrate the length of insulated electrical conductor;
• and
• d. linkage means for retaining the pairs of jaws in the respective plates and for reciprocating the jaws within the respective plates along a second line parallel to the first plane between an open configuration wherein the jaw knife edges of each pair are spaced apart farther than the diameter of the insulated electrical conductor and a closed configuration wherein the knife edges of each pair are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the insulation of the insulated electrical conductor.

A method of center notching an insulated electrical conductor comprising the steps of:

• a. providing two pairs of generally flat cutting blades having respective radiused cutting edges adapted to transversely cut the insulation;
• b. placing the pairs of cutting blades in respective first planes perpendicular to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor at predetermined locations along the insulated electrical conductor;
• c. oppositely translating the pairs of cutting blades in their respective planes to respective closed positions wherein the cutting blades radiused cutting edges cooperate to slice the insulation and to define a slug of insulation;
• d. oppositely reciprocating the pairs of cutting blades longitudinally along the insulated electrical conductor from their respective first planes to tear any insulation connecting the slug insulation with the parent insulation adjacent the slug, the blades of each pair remaining flat and coplanar while being oppositely reciprocated;
• e. withdrawing the cutting blades from the insulated electrical conductor;
• f. longitudinally penetrating the slug of insulation from diametrically opposed sides to form two hollow cylindrical halves of insulation;
• and
• g. stripping the two insulation halves transversely from the conductor.

A method of center notching an insulated electrical conductor comprising the steps of:

• a. circumferentially slicing the insulation at predetermined spaced location along the insulated electrical conductor to define a slug of insulation;
• b. providing first and second pairs of jaws with each pair of jaws being on opposite sides of a first plane passing longitudinally through the axis of the insulated electrical conductor, each pair of jaws having respective operatively facing knife edges;
• c. translating the first and second pairs of jaws toward a first plane passing longitudinally through the axis of the insulated electrical conductor until the knife edges are substantially coincident with the first plane;
• d. translating the jaws of the first and second pairs thereof toward a second plane passing longitudinally through the axis of the insulated electrical conductor and perpendicular to the first plane until the knife edges have penetrated the slug of insulation to within close proximity of the conductor;
• and
• e. stripping the two insulation halves transversely from the conductor.

A method of center notching an insulated electrical conductor comprising the steps of:

• a. circumferentially slicing the insulation at predetermined spaced locations along the insulated electrical conductor to define a slug of insulation;
• b. longitudinally penetrating the slug of insulation from diametrically opposed sides to form two hollow cylindrical halves of insulation;
• c. stripping the two insulation halves transversely from the conductor;
• and
• d. gripping the insulated electrical conductor on opposite sides thereof while the knife edges penetrate the insulation.

A method of center notching an insulated wire comprising the steps of:

• a. circumferentially slicing the insulated wire at predetermined locations therealong to define a slug of insulation;
• b. providing four knife edges adapted to longitudinally penetrate the insulation of the slug of insulation;
• c. locating the four knife edges in respective quadrants around the axis of the insulated wire;
• d. translating the knife edges toward a first plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the insulated wire until the knife edges are generally coincident therewith;
• e. translating the knife edges toward a second plane passing though the axis of the insulated wire and perpendicular to the first plane to penetrate the insulation of the slug until the knife edges are in close proximity to the wire conductor;
• f. translating the knife edges away from the first plane;
• and
• g. translating the knife edges away from the second plane,
• so that each of the knife edges undergoes a four stroke cycle to strip the slug of insulation from the insulated wire.