Conveyor mounted precision wire stripping machine

A machine for cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors comprising:

• a. bottom base means for supporting the machine and including a bottom base;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocation in first directions therealong, wherein bearing means is fastened to the bottom base for reciprocatingly supporting the base plate means thereon, and wherein first actuator means is fastened to the bottom base means for reciprocatingly stroking the base plate means along the bottom base, wherein the base plate means comprises a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bearing means fastened to the bottom base;
• c. a common plate supported on the base plate means;
• d. cutterhead means for opening and closing along the common plate in second directions perpendicular to the first directions;
• e. second actuator means for opening and closing the cutterhead means along the common plate;
• f. blade means clamped in the cutterhead means for performing selected operations on the insulated electrical conductor in accordance with the reciprocations of the base plate means and the cutterhead means;
• and
• g. decelerator means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base for cushioning the base plate to smooth stops at the ends of the reciprocating strokes thereof in at least one direction.

A machine for cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors comprising:

• a. bottom base means for supporting the machine including a bottom base;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base for reciprocation in first directions therealong, with bearing means fastened to the bottom base for reciprocatingly supporting the base plate means thereon, and first actuator means for reciprocatingly stroking the base plate means along the bottom base, wherein the base plate means comprises a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bearing means fastened to the bottom base;
• c. a common plate supported on the base plate means;
• d. cutterhead means for opening and closing along the common plate in second directions perpendicular to the first directions;
• e. second actuator means for opening and closing the cutterhead means along the common plate;
• f. blade means clamped in the cutterhead means for performing selected operations on the insulated electrical conductor in accordance with the reciprocations of the base plate means and the cutterhead means;
• g. first adjustment means for setting the travel of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate relative to the bottom base in a first direction;
• and
• h. first decelerator means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base to cushion the base plate to smooth stops at the ends of the reciprocating strokes in the first direction.

A machine for cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors comprising:

• a. bottom base means for supporting the machine including a bottom base;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base for reciprocation in first directions therealong, with bearing means fastened to the bottom base for reciprocatingly supporting the base plate means thereon, and first actuator means for reciprocatingly stroking the base plate means along the bottom base, wherein the base plate means comprises a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bearing means fastened to the bottom base;
• c. a common plate supported on the base plate means;
• d. cutterhead means for opening and closing along the common plate in second directions perpendicular to the first directions;
• e. second actuator means for opening and closing the cutterhead means along the common plate, wherein the second actuator means comprises:
• i. cam means rotatably mounted in the common plate for opening and closing the cutterhead means in accordance with cam rotation;
• ii. a second fluid cylinder mounted to the base plate for providing reciprocating strokes;
• and
• iii. cutterhead drive means interposed between the cam means and the second fluid cylinder for oscillating the cam means in response to the reciprocating strokes of the second fluid cylinder;
• and
• f. blade means clamped in the cutterhead means for performing selected operations on the insulated electrical conductor in accordance with the reciprocations of the base plate means and the cutterhead means.

A machine for cutting and stripping insulated electrical conductors comprising:

• a. bottom base means for supporting the machine;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocation in first directions therealong;
• c. a common plate supported on the base plate means;
• d. cutterhead means for opening and closing along the common plate in second directions perpendicular to the first directions;
• e. blade means clamped in the cutterhead means for performing selected operations on the insulated electrical conductor in accordance with the reciprocations of the base plate means and the cutterhead means;
• and
• f. knockout means for guiding the insulation stripped from the insulated electrical conductor away from the blade means, wherein the knockout means comprises:
• i. a bar attached to and upstanding from the common plate;
• ii. a rod adjustably received within the bar;
• and
• iii. an inverted U-shaped plate joined to the rod and adjustably positionable over and straddling the insulated electrical conductor to be cut and stripped,
• so that the stripped insulation does not interfere with subsequent electrical conductors to be cut and stripped.

Apparatus for processing an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. bottom base means for mounting the apparatus to a selected frame member independent of the apparatus;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocating along a first axis parallel to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor in a forward direction toward the insulated electrical conductor and in a backward direction away from the insulated electrical conductor, wherein the base plate means comprises:
• i. a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bottom base means;
• and
• ii. stop plate means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base means for limiting the length of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate on the bottom base means in the forward direction, wherein the stop means is adjustable to thereby permit variable setting of the length of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate on the bottom base means in the forward direction;
• c. first actuator means for providing reciprocating strokes to the base plate means along the bottom base means;
• d. a common plate supported above the base plate means;
• e. cutterhead means supported on the common plate for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• f. drive means for opening and closing the cutterhead means in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of the base plate means;
• and
• g. blade means clamped to the cutterhead means for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor to perform selected operations thereon.

Apparatus for processing an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. bottom base means for mounting the apparatus to a selected frame member independent of the apparatus;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocating along a first axis parallel to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor, wherein the base plate means comprises:
• i. a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bottom base means;
• and
• ii. stop means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base means for limiting the length of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate on the bottom base means in at least one direction;
• c. first actuator means for providing reciprocating strokes to the base plate means along the bottom base means;
• d. a common plate supported above the base plate means;
• e. cutterhead means supported on the common plate for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• f. drive means for opening and closing the cutterhead means in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of the base plate means;
• g. blade means clamped to the cutterhead means for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor to perform selected operations thereon;
• and
• h. decelerator means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base means to cushion the base plate to smooth stops at the end of the base plate reciprocating strokes in at least one direction.

Apparatus for processing an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. bottom base means for mounting the apparatus to a selected frame member independent of the apparatus;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocating along a first axis parallel to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor, wherein the base plate means comprises:
• i. a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bottom base means;
• and
• ii. stop means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base means for limiting the length of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate on the bottom base means in at least one direction;
• c. first actuator means for providing reciprocating strokes to the base plate means along the bottom base means;
• d. a common plate supported above the base plate means, and bracket means for supporting the common plate above the base plate;
• e. cutterhead means supported on the common plate for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the cutterhead means comprises a pair of cutterhead slides guided for reciprocation on the common plate;
• f. drive means for opening and closing the cutterhead means in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of the base plate means, wherein the drive means comprises dual cam means rotatably mounted in the common plate for imparting reciprocating motion to the cutterhead slides;
• and
• g. blade means clamped to the cutterhead means for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor to perform selected operations thereon.

Apparatus for processing an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. bottom base means for mounting the apparatus to a selected frame member independent of the apparatus;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocating along a first axis parallel to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor, wherein the base plate means comprises:
• i. a base plate reciprocatingly supported by the bottom base means;
• and
• ii. stop means for coacting between the base plate and the bottom base means for limiting the length of the reciprocating strokes of the base plate on the bottom base means in at least one direction;
• c. first actuator means for providing reciprocating strokes to the base plate means along the bottom base means;
• d. a common plate supported above the base plate means;
• e. cutterhead means supported on the common plate for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• f. drive means for opening and closing the cutterhead means in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of the base plate means, wherein the drive means comprises:
• i. rack means for sliding on the base plate;
• ii. second actuator means mounted to the base plate for imparting reciprocating strokes to the rack means in timed sequence with the reciprocation of the base plate on the bottom base means;
• iii. gear means meshing with the rack means for being rotated thereby;
• and
• iv. cam means rotatably mounted in the common plate for being rotated by the gear means;
• and
• g. blade means clamped to the cutterhead means for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor to perform selected operations thereon.

Apparatus for processing an insulated electrical conductor comprising:

• a. bottom base means for mounting the aparatus to a selected frame member independent of the apparatus;
• b. base plate means supported on the bottom base means for reciprocating along a first axis parallel to the axis of the insulated electrical conductor;
• c. first actuator means for providing reciprocating strokes to the base plate means along the bottom base means;
• d. a common plate supported above the base plate means;
• e. cutterhead means supported on the common plate for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• f. drive means for opening and closing the cutterhead means in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of the base plates means;
• g. blade means clamped to the cutterhead means for opening and closing therewith over the insulated electrical conductor to perform selected operations thereon;
• and
• h. knockout means for constraining portions of the processed insulated electrical conductor from interfering with the blade means, wherein the knockout means comprises:
• i. rod means adjustably positioned above the insulated electrical conductor;
• and
• ii. a generally U-shaped plate having downwardly extending knockout legs that straddle the insulated electrical conductor adjacent the blade means,
• so that portions of the processed insulated electrical conductor are constrained by the knockout legs to fall away from the blade means.

A tool holder for accurately clamping blades for processing insulated electrical conductors comprising:

• a. a base having a central portion, the central portion having an accurate upper surface;
• and
• b. a top having legs with accurate opposed inner side surfaces and a top wall with an accurate inner top surface, the free ends of the top legs being fit over the base central portion;
• so that the base central portion upper surface and the inner side surfaces and top surface of the top cooperate to define an accurate cavity for rigidly receiving the processing blades.

A method of processing insulated electrical conductors comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a pair of cooperating blades adapted to circumferentially slice the insulation of an insulated electrical conductor;
• b. clamping the blades in respective cutterhead slides;
• c. accurately aligning the cutterhead slides on a common plate for precise reciprocation therealong;
• d. providing a pair of cams in contact with respective cutterhead slides;
• and
• e. rotating the cams to reciprocate the cutterhead slides toward the insulated electrical conductor to close the blades thereover to slice the insulation and away from the sliced insulated electrical conductor.

A method of stripping insulated electrical conductors comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a pair of cooperating blades adapted to circumferentially slice the insulation of an insulated electrical conductor;
• b. clamping the blades in respective cutterhead slides;
• c. accurately aligning the cutterhead slides with each other on a common plate for precise reciprocation therealong;
• d. providing a pair of cams in contact with respective cutterhead slides;
• e. providing a base plate that supports the cams and cutterhead slides;
• f. stroking the base plate in a first direction parallel to the insulated electrical conductor;
• g. rotating the cams to reciprocate the cutterhead slides toward the insulated electrical conductor to close the blades thereover to slice the insulation;
• h. stroking the base plate in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• and
• i. rotating the cams to translate the cutterhead slides away from the insulated electrical conductor to open the blades.

In combination with a machine for processing insulated electrical conductors, an improved cutterhead comprising:

• a. a common plate;
• b. a pair of cutterhead slides mounted on the common plate for reciprocation toward and away from the insulated conductor;
• and
• c. cam means mounted to the common plate for reciprocating the cutterhead slides, wherein the cam means comprises a pair of cams rotatably mounted in the common plate, one cam being in driving contact with a respective cutterhead slide.

In combination with a wire processing machine having cutterhead slides with respective yokes that reciprocate toward and away from each other to close and open wire processing blades over a wire,

• improved means for clamping the blades to the cutterhead slides comprising:
• a. a tool holder assembly slidingly supported on each yoke, at least one wire processing blade being clamped in the tool holder assembly;
• and
• b. means for adjusting the tool holder assembly with infinite resolution on the yoke toward and away from the wire.

In combination with a wire processing machine having cutterhead slides with respective yokes that reciprocate toward and away from each other to close and open wire processing blade over a wire,

• improved means for clamping the blades to the cutterhead slide comprising:
• a. a tool holder assembly slidingly supported on each yoke, at least one wire processing blade being clamped in the tool holder assembly, wherein the tool holder assembly comprises:
• i. a tool holder having an accurate cavity for aligning and holding at least one wire processing blade;
• ii. a support in sliding contact with the yoke and adapted to receive the tool holder;
• and
• iii. latch means for releasably locking and unlocking the tool holder to the support;
• and
• b. means for adjusting the tool holder assembly with infinite resolution on the yoke toward and away from the wire.