PORTABLE PNEUMATIC WIRE CUTTER

Abstract: A two cycle cutter assembly (10) for severing the end of a multiconnector flexible cable (18). The assembly employs an air cylinder (36) to supply a down stroke to a guillotine carbide blade (32) as a prescribed length of a cable (18) is presented between the cutting blades (30, 32).

Description: PORTABLE PNEUMATIC WIRE CUTTER BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an article of manufacture for cutting insulated wire. More specifically, it refers to a portable high speed pneumatically actuated insulated wire cutter. 2. The Prior Art Prior art such as U.S. Patent 4,130,040 describes cutter assemblies for multiconductor flat flexible cable. The cutter described in this reference is a bench press assembly performing the cutting operation in a series of separate steps rather than in any continuous process. Cutting machines for paper such as U.S. 2,388,332 and for fabric such as U.S. 3,735,657 cannot be employed for continuously and rapidly cutting specified lengths of wire cable. A need exists for a machine that will continuously cut multiconductor flat flexible cable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our invention is a multiple strand wire cutting assembly having optional multiple guiding systems so that several different widths of multiple strand cable can be cut simultaneously at the same length. Our assembly consists of a housing supporting pressure rollers and feed rollers accommodating multiple strand wire from a feed reel. The wire is fed to a pair of guillotine type cutting blades. The upper blade is supported on a frame and is movable with respect to that frame by virtue of a cylinder rod actuated by an air cylinder. A handle on one side of the cutting device provides the stroke for actuating the air cylinder and causing the upper blade to descend and cut the multistrand wire at a predetermined length. Reversal of the handle moves the cylinder rod upward and reverses the process. This device provides a portable assembly t6r easily and quickly cutting specified lengths of multistrand insulated wire so that the wire can be used in various electrical connectors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is perspective of the cable cutting machine assembly. Figure 2 is a partial view of the left side elevation showing the adjustment plate. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of the right side of the assembled components. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the assembled components. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of this invention where multiple feed reels are mounted on the feed frame. Figure 6 is a partial view of the left side elevation showing a variant actuating mechanism. Figure 6a is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism of Figure 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The pneumatic wire cutter assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 contains a feed reel 12 mounted on a reel support 14. Alternately the reel can be mounted separate from the assembly 10. The reel support in turn is mounted on frame 16. Multiple strand wire 18 is fed from the feed reel 12 under a guide roller 20. The wire 18 then feeds over and under respectively the two supporting bars 22 and 24 and between feed roller 26 and pressure roller 28 to the cutting blades, 30 and 32. The lower blade 30 is permanently mounted on the base plate 40 within support frame 42, and the upper movable blade 32 moves within support frame 42. The blades are preferably made of carbide steel. The wire is severed after a predetermined length of wire 18 has moved forward and stopped between the cutting blades 30 and 32. Thereafter, cylinder rod 34, activated by the air cylinder 36 supported on mounting block 38, moves down to force blade 32 into the wire so that a clean cut is made. The air cylinder 36 and its mounting block 38 are supported through blade support frame 42 on a horizontal mounting plate 40. The support frame 42 is mounted perpendicularly to the horizontally positioned mounting plate 40. The left side of the assembly shown in Figure 2 contains the contact roller 44 and contact stop 46 which are actuated by movement of the handle 48. The amount of cable fed through the assembly 10 is determined by the setting on the adjustment plate 50. The nut plate 52 contains two nuts 54 and 56 for mounting the adjustment plate 50 in a prescribed position in the adjusting grooves 58 and 60. The grooves are callibrated for various wire lengths. The further the adjustment plate 50 is moved downward the greater the distance the wire will travel before stopping and therefore, the longer will be the length of wire cut. An air switch 62 is mounted on the adjustment plate 50. The air hose 66 connects the air cylinder 36 to the air switch. The air source connector 68 provides the air to the air cylinder 36 by way of hose 70 and switch 62. Hose 72 leads to the contact stop air switch assembly 64 and hose 74 leads from that assembly to the air cylinder 36. Air pressure of 70-100 psi is adequate to perform the cutting function of this machine. A break ball bearing 76 supports a gear 78 that connects to the bearing on the shaft 82 to the handle 48. Figure 3 shows the cutting blades in more detail. Top blade 32 rides within a support frame 42. The shaft 34 is attached to the top blade 32 by way of the alignment block 80. Blade 32 moves up and down in response to actuation of the air cylinder 36. Knife blade 30 remains fixed in the bottom of support 42 which in turn is attached to the base plate 40. Figure 4 shows the release spring 92 which acts in response to movement in the direction of the arrows of the pressure release 94. Movement of pressure release 94 releases the pressure roller 28 so that the wire 18 can be moved freely within the assembly. Figure 4 also shows the guide rods 86, 88 and 90 over which the wire 18 feeds into the area between the knife blades 30 and 32. A collar 96 is located below the locking bearing 76. A tray 84 is positioned below the wire 18 as it moves into the assembly. A plate 95 over the wire is also shown. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which more than one feed reel 12; namely 12a, b, c, d, e and f are mounted on the reel support 14. The cumulative width of these wires cannot exceed the width between the two sides of the frame 16 and the width of the cutting blades 30 and 32. Under normal circumstances no more than wires 18a-f will be cut simultaneously. The cutting blades will simultaneously cut all adjacent wires presented. An alternate means of actuating the cutting blade 32 is shown in Figures 6 and 6a. This actuating means consists of a leaf spring 47 and an up stroke activator screw 45 mounted on the handle 48' by means of mounting plate 43. Movement of the handle 48' in a clockwise direction from the stop 49'a, 49'b or 49'c to the contact roller 44' and contact stop 46' causes both actuation of the downward and upward stroke of the blade 32. Similar to the air switch mechanism shown in Figure 2, the air switch 62' is mounted on the adjustment plate 50'. The air hose 66' connects the air cylinder 36' to the air switch 62'. In contrast to the air stop switch of Figure 2, the air stop switch 64 is mounted adjacent to the air switch 62'. The air hose 71 feeds air to switch 64'. Pressure of the leaf spring 47 on the contact roller 44' forces air into the cylinder 36' which moves the blade 32 downward in the first cycle. The pressure of the screw 45 on the roller 46' brings air out of the cylinder 36' and moves the blade 32 upwards in the second cycle. At the same time air moves from the reservoir 68' through hose 72' to the air cylinder 93 which forces a plunger into the pressure release roller 94'. Movement of pressure release roller 94' releases the pressure roller 28 so that the wire 18 can be moved freely within the assembly. As with the actuating assembly of Figure 2, the length of wire fed through the assembly 10 is determined by the setting on the adjustment plates 50' and 50'a. The nuts 54' and 56' hold the plates 50' and fro'a in a prescribed position in the adjusting grooves 60' and 58' respectively. The pneumatic wire cutter assembly 10 normally rests on frame supports 98. The entire unit is sufficiently light to be able to be carried by the normal operator. Although the Figures 1 through 6 show a handle 48 and a manual rotation of that handle it is also possible to attach an electrical apparatus so that actuation of the air switches can be carried out electrically. The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Thus the above described embodiment should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A two cycle cutter assembly for severing an end of a multiconductor flexible cable, said assembly comprising a frame member having two upright side members capable of supporting at least one feed reel containing multiconductor flexible cable, multiple cable guide or support members and a horizontal mounting plate connecting said side members, a cable feed roller supported between said upright side members on a shaft piercing both said side members, an air cylinder mounted on said frame above said horizontal mounting plate, a blade support mounted on said frame between said air cylinder and said horizontal mounting plate, a bottom knife blade fixidly mounted within said blade support and an upper knife blade movable within said blade support in response to actuation of said air cylinder, an adjustment plate attached to one of said upright side members controlling maximum movement of said cable during a first cycle of said cutter, said adjustment plate being movable on said same side member within multiple adjustment grooves, the position of said adjustment plate in said grooves determining the maximum movement of said cable, said cable being capable of moving from said reel and between said upright side members to a position between said knife blades in response to actuation of said feed roller, and said cable capable of being severed after reaching the point of said maximum movement. 2. A cutter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said feed roller is actuated by moving a handle in a clockwise direction, said handle being mounted on a shaft, geared to said feed roller. 3. A cutter assembly according to claim 1 wherein multiple cable feed reels are mounted on said frame member and multiple cables are severed simultaneously. 4. A cutter assembly according to claim 2 wherein the upper knife blade moves downward in response to said clockwise movement of the handle, said movement causing contact with an air switch. 5. A cutter assembly according to claim 2 wherein the upper knife blade moves downward in response to said clockwise movement of the handle and upwards in response to a counterclockwise movement of said handle, each movement causing contact with a separate air switch. 6. A cutter assembly according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the upper knife blade moves downward and then upwards in response to a clockwise movement of the handle said movement causing contact with two adjacent air switches.

Inventors: ECKELT, PETER, TAYLOR, JR., JAMES ALEXANDER
Applicants: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Application year: 1982
Main classification: H01R43
IPC codes: H02G1