# US 5,343,605 A · Wire marking, cutting and stripping apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,605 A - Document ID: US5343605A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/022,954 - Filed: 1993-02-25 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1991-09-26 - Assignees: Eubanks Engineering Company - Inventors: Greg Nazerian; Ronald Bailey; Jack L. Hoffa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343605A ## CPC - H02G 1/1256: {using wire or cable-clamping means} - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/5193: Electrical connector or terminal - Y10T 29/53209: Terminal or connector - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom comprising first structure operable to mark the wire; second structure operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire; the wire extending between and movable between the first and second structures, the first and second structure comprising separate stand-alone devices; and control structure, including an external computer, operatively connected with the first and second structures for controlling operation of the first and second structures in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, and/or to control wire marking, wire cutting, and insulation stripping length. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, and characterized in that changes in timing of markings by operation of said first means can occur while said second means operates to complete cutting and severing of wire associated with prior markings, thereby to reduce or eliminate wire waste, e) said control means including a computer located externally of said first and second means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said computer is located at a station relative to which said first and second means are movable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means is located externally of said first and second means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a programmed computer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The combination of claim 4 wherein said computer is located externally of said first and second means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a microprocessor to control marking of the wire, said control means connected with said microprocessor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said control means includes circuitry to transmit command signals and status signals between said first and second means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The combination of claim 3 wherein said control means includes circuitry to transmit command signals and status signals between said control means and said first means between said control means and said second means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said wire has markings thereon and spaced at intervals along the wire length between said first means and second means, said markings produced by said first means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9 wherein said wire includes sections cut by said second means, and at locations between said markings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means is positioned at a location from which said wire is driven toward said second means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9 wherein said first means is positioned at a location from which said wire is driven toward said second means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 including drive means at said second means for interruptedly driving the wire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The combination of claim 9 wherein said control means includes circuitry to store command information to produce successive spaced markings on the wire at times t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 by said first means, and to store command information to produce delayed cutting of the wire by said second means and between said spaced markings, at time t.sub.3, where t.sub.3 is after t.sub.1 and t.sub.2. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The combination of claim 13 wherein said control means includes circuitry to store command information to produce successive spaced markings on the wire at times t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 by said first means, and to store command information to produce delayed cutting of the wire by said second means and between said spaced markings, at time t.sub.3, where t.sub.3 is after t.sub.1 and t.sub.2, and said control means including circuitry to control driving of the wire at a rate to bring said space between said markings into position for wire cutting at t.sub.3. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The combination of claim 13 wherein said control means stores a signal or signals causing said first and second means to mark and cut the wire simultaneously. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a wire marker and an actuator to cause said marker to mark the wire, and said second means includes a wire cutter and an actuator to displace the cutter to cut the wire. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The combination of claim 17 wherein said control means is operatively connected with said actuators. ### Claim 19 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means to control operation of said second means to in turn control insulation strip length, f) said control means including external computer means operable to prevent wastage of marked wire. ### Claim 20 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means to control said first means for marking the wire, f) said control means including external computer means operable to prevent wastage of marked wire. ### Claim 21 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means to control said second means for cutting the wire, f) said control means including external computer means operable to prevent wastage of marked wire. ### Claim 22 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, f) said control means including external computer means operable to prevent wastage of marked wire. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The combination of claim 22 including means controlled by said control means for attaching terminals to wire cut ends produced by operation of said second means. ### Claim 24 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, and f) said control means including external computer means for controlling the time sequence of the operation of said first and second means so that no wire is wasted when changing from one program to another. ### Claim 25 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, to control operation of said second means to in turn control insulation strip length, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the distance between the marks on the wire and to produce at least two different programmed distances between marks on a single wire. ### Claim 26 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the distance between the marks on the wire, f) and said control means including external computer means for controlling the time sequence of the operation of said first and second means so that no wire is wasted when changing from one program to another. ### Claim 27 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the selection of characters to be marked on the wire. ### Claim 28 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, to control operation of said first means to in turn control the distance between the marks on the wire, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the selection of characters to be marked on the wire. ### Claim 29 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means including memory means to store data associated with at least two programs for controlling said first and second means, to control operation of said first means to in turn control the distance between the marks on the wire and to produce at least two different programmed distances between marks on a single wire, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the selection of characters to be marked on the wire. ### Claim 30 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means to control operation of said second means to in turn control insulation strip length, and to control operation of said first means to in turn control the selection of characters to be marked on the wire. ### Claim 31 In a system for marking elongated wire and for cutting the wire and stripping insulation therefrom, the combination comprising a) first means operable to mark the wire, b) second means operable to cut the marked wire and to strip insulation from the wire, c) the wire extending between and movable between said first and second means, said first and second means comprising separate stand-alone devices, d) and control means operatively connected with said first and second means for controlling operation of said first and second means in time sequence relation to wire movement therebetween, e) said control means including programmable means to control operation of said first means to in turn control the selection of characters to be marked on the wire. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The combination of claim 28 wherein said control means including external computer means operable to prevent wastage of marked wire. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The combination of claim 32 including means controlled by said control means for attaching terminals to wire cut ends produced by operation of said second means.