Wire insulation cutting and stripping apparatus

Apparatus for severing a layer of insulation, or the like, which covers an elongated wire-like member, said apparatus comprising:

• a) clamping means movable radially inwardly with respect to said member to exert a clamping force upon said insulation at a first position, holding said member in a fixed axial position;
• b) blade means having at least one cutting edge movable radially inwardly with respect to said member to cut partially through said insulation at a second position, spaced axially from said first position;
• c) severing means movable axially with respect to said member to exert an axial pulling force on said insulation sufficient to server the latter at said second position;
• d) motive power means coupled to each of said clamping means, blade means and severing means to apply a first motive force to said clamping means, a second motive force to said blade means and a third motive force to said severing means, said third motive force being variable over a range proportionate to the force required to move said severing means;
• and
• e) power varying means for automatically increasing said first motive force proportionately to said third motive force over the full range of said third motive force, whereby said clamping force is great enough to hold said member in said fixed axial position at the maximum of said axial pulling force exerted by said severing means.

Apparatus for cutting at least partially through a covering layer of material on an elongated, wire-like member, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a pair of blades, each having a cutting edge;
• b) a first support member;
• c) a pair of arms individually mounted upon said first support member for pivotal movement with respect thereto about spaced first and second axes;
• d) a pair of second support members to which said blades are respectively, fixedly attached, each of said second support members being pivotally attached to respective ones of said pair of arms for pivotal movement of said second support members with respect to said arms about respective third and fourth axes, spaced from one another and from said first and second axes;
• and
• e) means for constraining movement of said second support members, in response to simultaneous, equal movement of said arms in opposite directions over an operating range about said first and second axes, to substantially linear paths with said blade edges moving toward and away from one another.

In apparatus for cutting at least partially through a covering layer of material on an elongated, wire-like member and exerting an axial pulling force on said layer to strip a severed portion thereof from said member, clamping means for exerting a radial force on said layer to prevent axial movement of said member as said pulling force is applied, said clamping means comprising:

• a) a fixed frame;
• b) a pair of arms pivotally mounted upon said fixed frame for movement about respective, spaced, parallel, first and second axes;
• c) means for imparting movement to said arms about said first and second axes;
• d) a pair of clamp members, each having a clamping surface, said clamp members being respectively pivotally mounted to said arms for movement about respective third and fourth axes parallel to one another and to said first and second axes;
• and
• e) means constraining movement of said clamp members, as said arms are moved about said first and second axes, to parallel, straight-line paths, toward and away from one another, said constraining means comprising a pair of linearly telescoping members respectively mounted upon and moveable with said clamp members.

In apparatus for cutting at least partially through a covering layer of material on an elongated, wire-like member and exerting an axial pulling force on said layer to strip a severed portion thereof from said member, clamping means for exerting a radial force on said layer to prevent axial movement of said member as said pulling force is applied, said clamping means comprising:

• a) a fixed frame;
• b) a pair of arms pivotally mounted upon said fixed frame for movement about at least one axis;
• c) means for imparting movement to said arms about said at least one axis;
• d) a pair of clamp members, each having a clamping surface, and a pair of pivotal mountings by which said clamp members are respectively pivotally mounted to said arms at positions spaced from said at least one axis for movement with said arms about said at least one axis and relative to said arms about said pivotal mountings of said clamp members to said arms;
• and
• e) means constraining movement of said clamp members and said clamping surfaces, as said arms are moved about said at least one axis, to parallel, straight-line paths, toward and away from one another.