Multiple blade set strip apparatus for cable and wire

Abstract: The method of processing wire (10) to cut the wire into sections and to strip sheathing from the wire to expose wire ends at opposite ends of the sections, and by operation of wire feed means (21a) and cutter means, the steps that include operating the feed means and cutter means to displace the wire endwise along an axis to a first position; sever the wire thereby to form wire forward and rearward sections, the forward section having a rearward end portion; and, the rearward section having a forward end portion, and; stripping sheathing from the forward section rearward portion and from the rearward section forward portion thereby to expose wire ends at the portions; the cutter means including three blade pairs (13a,13b; 16a,16b; 17a,17b), each pair including two blades located at opposite sides of the axis (12), both blades (13a,13b) of one pair being displaced toward the wire to sever the wire, and both blades of the remaining two pairs being displaced toward the wire sections to strip sheathing from the rearward and forward portions during controlled endwise displacement of the sections.

Description: This invention relates generally to wire or cable severing, as well as stripping sheathing from severed wire sections; and more particularly, it concerns unusual advantages, method and apparatus to effect severing of a wire or cable into two sections, and stripping of sheathing off ends of both sections, with minimal motions of severing and stripping elements and in minimum time. There is continual need for equipment capable of severing wire or cable into sections, and also capable of rapidly and efficiently stripping sheathing off ends of those sections. It is desirable that these functions be carried out as a wire or cable travels along generally the same axis, i.e. progresses forwardly, and that multiple wire and cable sections of selected length be produced, each having its opposite ends stripped of sheathing, to expose bare metal core wire at each end. Further, it is desirable that simple, radial and axial stripping adjustments be achieved upon multiple wire sections. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide apparatus and method meeting the above need. The word "wire" will be used to include cable within its scope, and vice versa. The invention in both apparatus and method aspects is claimed in the claims which proceed from the disclosure in US-A-2934982. US-A-2934982 describes wire cutter and insulation stripping apparatus in which the wire feeding mechanism, which feeds wire into the cutting mechanism, is disconnected during cutting and stripping of the wire, the wire being severed and then the insulation being cut before the wire is moved axially. The invention refers to a method according to claim 1. Basically, the method involves processing the wire into sections as by displacing the wire endwise along an axis to a first position; severing the wire thereby to form wire forward and rearward sections, the forward section having a rearward end portion, and the rearward section having a forward end portion; the sections are then separated axially endwise; then the sheathing of both sections is cut; and then the sections are further separated axially relatively endwise to pull sheathing slugs off the wire end portions to expose wire cores. In this regard, the cutter means typically may include three blade pairs, each pair including two blades located at opposite sides of the axis, both blades of one pair being displaced toward the wire to sever the wire, and both blades of the remaining two pairs being displaced toward the wire sections to strip sheathing from the rearward and forward portions during controlled endwise displacement of the sections. Both blades of one pair are typically displaced into overlapping relation to sever the wire, and both blades of each of the remaining two pairs are displaced to cut only into opposite sides of the sheathing and to strip sheathing from the end portions of the sections as the sections are displaced endwise simultaneously. Another object is to displace the two sections endwise, thereby to displace wire incorporating one of the sections to the first position. In addition, the method may include the step of further separating the sections axially relatively endwise after the blades of the remaining two pairs have been displaced toward the wire sections to cut into the sheathing, thereby to pull sheathing slugs off the wire end portions to expose the wire end cores. Yet another object is to guide displacement of the wire endwise along the axis, at locations between blade pairs; and in this regard, both of the forward and rearward sections may be so guided. A further object is to carry out separation of the forward and rearward wire sections by advancing one section and retracting the other section, relative to the one blade pair; and the method typically involves carrying out further separation of the sections by further advancing the one section and further retracting the other section, relative to each one blade pair. The invention further refers to an apparatus according to claim 15. Forward and rearward pairs of endless conveyors are typically employed, each pair of conveyors defining a wire gripping zone, such zones maintained in alignment with the wire sections during separation of the latter. Means is further provided to maintain one conveyor of each pair laterally displaced relatively toward the other conveyor of the pair to clamp the wire sections between the conveyors of the pairs during the further separation of the wire sections, and operating the conveyor pairs in endless relation to effect the relative separation in a longitudinal direction. As will also be seen, the blades of the first cutter means typically have positions of relative overlap to sever the wire, in response to operation of the first drive means; and the blades of the second and third cutter means typically have positions of penetration only into the sheathing of the section end portions and to such depths as to enable stripping of the sheathing end portions in response to the controllable driving of the conveyor means. In addition, novel and unusually effective apparatus is provided to advance the three sets of blades simultaneously toward the wire to first sever, and subsequently strip wire sheathing, at multiple axial locations, wire sections being axially displaced while severing blades are closed, and prior to closure of sheath stripping blades toward the sections. These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: DRAWING DESCRIPTION Figs. 1 a --1 f are diagrammatic views showing steps in the method of wire or cable processing; Fig. 2 is a side view elevation showing wire displacing and processing apparatus; Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view, taken in elevation, showing wire belt displacing drive apparatus; Fig. 5 is an elevation showing spring urging of wire drive belts; Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken in elevation to show sheathing stripping actuator structure; Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 6 but showing the blades in advanced positions; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 mechanism; Fig. 9 is an end view showing wire severing blades in wire severing position, as in Fig. 1 b ; Fig. 10 is an end view like Fig. 9 showing the sheathing stripping blades, in sheathing stripping position, as per Fig. 1 d ; Fig. 10 a is a view showing stripping blade edge penetration into wire sheathing; Fig. 11 is a view like Figs. 9 and 11, but showing all blades in retracted position, as in Figs. 1 a and 1 f ; and Fig. 12 is an end view taken on lines 12-12 of Fig. 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to Figs. 1 a --1 f , they show in diagrammatic form the positions of both wire severing and sheathing stripping blades, during various steps in the wire processing procedure or method. In this regard, the "wire" 10 (meant to also refer to cable) has a metal core 11 a and a tubular sheathing 11 b about the core. The wire is shown extending axially longitudinally in Figs. 1 a --1 f , the axis being located at 12. First cutter means is provided to include, or may be considered to include, multiple blades. See for example the two wire-cutting blades 13 a and 13 b of a first set, located or carried for movement laterally toward and away from the wire axis 12. A first drive for controllably simultaneously enabling or advancing the blades toward one another, laterally oppositely (see arrows 14 a and 14 b in Fig. 1 b ), is shown at 15. That drive is also operable to retract the blades 13 a and 13 b away from one another. Second and third cutter means are also provided, for sheathing stripping, and each may be considered to include multiple blades located for movement toward and away from the axis 12. See for example the second set of two blades 16 a and 16 b , and the third set of two blades 17 a and 17 b . Blades 16 a and 16 b are located or considered to be controllably simultaneously displaced, as by drive 18, laterally oppositely, toward one another (see arrows 19 a and 19 b in Fig. 1 d ), the drive also operable to retract the blades 16 a and 16 b away from one another. Similarly, the blades 17 a and 17 b are located or carried to be controllably displaced, simultaneously, laterally oppositely toward one another (see arrows 20 a and 20 b in Fig. 1 d ), and drive 18 may be used for this purpose. Thus, blades 16 a and 16 b may be displaced toward one another at the same time and to the same extent as blades 17 a and 17 b are displaced toward another, as is clear from Fig. 1 d . The latter shows that the blades 16 a and 16 b , and 17 a and 17 b , do not sever the wire but may closely approach the wire while cutting into sheathing 11 for stripping purposes. Brief reference to Figs. 9-11 show the blades 16 a and 16 b to have V-shape, as do wire severing blades 13 a and 13 b , and blades 17 a and 17 b . Note edges 16 a ' and 16 a " and 16 b ' and 16 b " (of blades 16 a and 16 b ) cutting into the sheathing in Fig. 10 a to approach the wire core from four sides for efficient stripping, while leaving the core uncut. Similar functioning of blade edges 17 a ' and 17 a ", and 17 b ' and 17 b " also takes place, as in Fig. 1 d . Fig. 1 a shows displacement of the wire axially endwise and longitudinally, as by a conveyor means 21 a to the first position as shown. Fig. 1 b shows the step of severing the wire thereby to form wire forward and rearward sections 10 a and 10 b , the blades 13 a and 13 b being advanced laterally to accomplish complete severing at locus 22, as shown. Note that wire forward section 10 a has a rearward end portion 10 aa ; and the wire rearward section 10 b has a forward end portion 10 bb . Fig. 1 c shows the step of controllably separating the two sections 10 a and 10 b axially endwise oppositely, as to the positions shown, in which the end portions 10 aa and 10 bb are spaced from the closed-together blades 13 a and 13 b . Guides 24 and 25, provided between the blade sets, serve to accurately guide the wire and the sections 10 a and 10 b during the cutting and severing operation, as is clear from Figs. 1 a --1 f . Note the tapered entrances 24 a and 25 a to the guides to receive and center the forwardly advanced wire. Wire drives 21 a and 21 b are controllably operated to engage and separate the two sections 10 a and 10 b , as indicated in Figs. 1 a and 1 c . Fig. 1 d shows a sub-step included within the step of stripping sheathing from the forward section rearward portion and from the rearward section forward portion thereby to expose wire ends at the portions. Note that blades 16 a and 16 b are simultaneously advanced laterally oppositely, as to blade edge positions described above as respects Fig. 10 a , and as blades 17 a and 17 b are also simultaneously advanced laterally oppositely (as to the same extent if such stripping is to be equal for each wire section). Note that blades 13 a and 13 b now extend in laterally overlapping condition due to operation of drives 15 and 18 as one, i.e., equal rightward lateral displacement for blades 13 a , 16 a and 17 a , and equal leftward lateral displacement for blades 13 b , 16 b and 17 b ; however, they may be separately driven so as not to extend in such relation, as shown. Blades 13 a , 16 a and 17 a may be connected together to move rightwardly to equal extent; and blades 13 b , 16 b and 17 b may also be connected together to move leftwardly as one, for extreme simplicity. Fig. 1 e shows operation of the wire drives to further endwise separate the wire sections 10 a and 10 b so as to pull or strip two sheathing end portions 11 b ' and 11 b " from the wire sections 10 a and 10 b , thereby to expose the wire core end portions 11 a ' and 11 a ". The stripped sheathing end portions 11 b ' and 11 b ", or slugs, are allowed to drop out from between the pairs of guides 24 and 25 which may be split, as shown, to provide slug drop-out openings, and may be movable to facilitate such drop out. Fig. 1 f shows all blades laterally retracted and the wire rearward section 10 b fully advanced into position corresponding to Fig. 1 a position for controlled length endwise positioning to be processed, as in Figs. 1 b --1 e to provide an exposed core end at its opposite end. Thus, controlled length wires (or cables), with exposed core lengths at each end of each wire, is efficiently and rapidly and controllably provided. See master control 35 to control all the driving, as described, and to be described. Referring now to Figs. 2-8, one form of apparatus to accomplish the above operations (Figs. 1 a -1 f ) is shown in detail. A frame is provided, as at 40-44 and 44 a , to mount two conveyors 45 and 46, which may be considered as included within the wire drives 30 and 31, as mentioned. Such conveyors may include two rearwardly positioned endless belts 47 and 48, and two forwardly positioned endless belts 49 and 50. The belts provide stretches, as at 47' and 48', which are adapted to sidewise flatly grip the wire 10 (and specifically the wire rearward section 10 b ) for endwise advancement and retraction, as during separation of the sections 10 a and 10 b in Fig. 1 c ; and stretches 49' and 50' are adapted to sidewise grip the wire 10 (and specifically the wire forward section 10 a ) for endwise advancement and retraction. The belts 47 and 48 are driven to advance or retract the wire section 10 a as from a drive motor 52 (see Fig. 4). The output shaft 53 of the motor drives belt 54, as via a pulley 55, and belt 54 drives shafts 56 and 57. Shaft 56 drives another shaft 58, through gearing 59 and 60, to drive shaft 58 and upper conveyor belt 47 counter-clockwise; whereas lower shaft 57 and lower belt 48 are driven clockwise in Fig. 2. This drives the wire forwardly; whereas when motor 52 is reversed, the wire is driven rearwardly. Additional axles or shafts for the conveyor belts 47 and 48 appear at 58 a and 57 a . Fig. 2 shows conveyor rotors 60 and 61, and 62 and 63. These carry the belts 47 and 48. Axles 58 a and 57 a are driven by drive belts 64 and 65 extending between pulleys on the shafts 58 and 58 a , and 57 and 57 a , as shown. Accordingly, when the belt stretches 47' and 48' are closed against opposite sides of the wire 10, and the motor 52 is operating, the wire is displaced endwise. Means is provided to move the conveyor belt stretches 47' and 48' toward one another to clutch the wire, and away from one another to de-clutch the wire. See for example in Figs. 3-5 the motor or drive 66 carried by a frame part 67 to rotate a vertical screw shaft 68, as via motor output shaft 69, pulley 70, belt 71, and pulley 72 on the screw shaft 68. The screw shaft has screw thread engagement at 73 and 74 with frame members 75 and 76. Frame member 76 supports the ends of shafts 58 and 58 a , via member extension 76 a , as at 58' and 58 a '; whereas frame member 75 supports the ends of shafts 57 and 57 a , via member extension 75 a , as at 57' and 57 a '. Screw threading interfit at 74 is oppositely "handed" relative to threading interfit at 73, so that when shaft 68 is rotated in one direction about its axis, the frame members 75 and 76 are displaced toward one another, whereby conveyor stretches 47' and 48' may clamp the wire; and when the shaft 68 is rotated in the opposite direction about its axis, the members 75 and 76 are displaced away from each other, and the wire is de-clutched. The bearing supports at 80 and 81 for shafts 58 and 57 are made loose enough to accommodate such up/down movement of those shafts at the conveyor belt drive locations. Note also couplings at 110 and 111. Tension springs 90 and 91 are provided (see Fig. 5) between fixed frame structure 92 and shoulders 76 a ' on 76 a to yieldably urge the structures 76 and 76a, and the belt stretch 47' downwardly; and similarly, tension springs 93 and 94 are provided between fixed frame structure 95 and shoulder 75 a ' on 75 to yieldably urge the structure 75 and 75 a and the belt stretch 48' upwardly. This provides clearance "take-up" for better control of wire gripping or clamping. The forward conveyor unit 46 embodies conveyor belt drive and up/down movement the same as described in connection with unit 45 in Figs. 3-5. The drive motor 52 a for driving the belt stretches 49' and 50' forwardly and reversely is seen in Fig. 3, as is the motor 66 a to control belt clamping of the forward wire section. Mechanism between the motors 52 a and 66 a , and the respective forward conveyor belts 49 and 50, is the same as above described mechanism between motors 52 and 66 and the respective rearward conveyor belts 47 and 48; however, the motors 52 and 52 a are typically operated simultaneously, either to drive the wire or wire sections forwardly, as in Figs. 1 a and 1 f , or to drive the wire sections endwise oppositely, as in Figs. 1 c and 1 e . A master control to control all drives, in a pre-programmed manner, is seen at 125. Referring to Fig. 11, the wire severing blades 13 a and 13 b are fully laterally retracted, as are the wire sheathing stripping blades 16 a and 16 b . Blades 17 a and 17 b are in axial alignment with blades 16 a and 16 b , and are not shovn. Note V-angled blade edges 13 a ' and 13 a ", and blade edges 13 b ' and 13 b ". The blades 13 a , 16 a and 17 a at one side of the wire 10 are interconnected by axially extending carrier rod 80; and the blades 13 b , 16 b and 17 b at the opposite sides of the wire are interconnected by axially extending carrier rod 81, laterally spaced from rod 80. Rods 80 and 81 are relatively movable laterally toward one another to effect wire severing, as by blades 13 a and 13 b (see Fig. 9 and also Fig. 1 b ). Rods 80 and 81 are further laterally movable toward one another to effect penetration of the blade edges 16 a ' and 16 a ", and 16 b ' and 16 b " into the sheathing (as in Figs. 10 and 10 a ), and as also seen in Fig. 1 d . Thereafter, the wire forward and rearward sections 10 a and 10 b are separated as in Fig. 1 e to endwise strip the slugs 10 aa and 10 bb , off the wire cores, as also seen in Fig. 11. Dropping of the slug is also seen in Fig. 11, as is lowering of a wire guide lower sector B of guide 11 b ", to release the slug. The upper guide sector is shown at A. A drive 130 is operable to lower and raise sector B. Means to effect the described lateral movement of the blade carrier rods 80 and 81 in shown in Figs. 3, and 6-8. As seen, a laterally extending lead screw 90 is rotatable by a drive motor 91, carried by frame part 92. See connecting shaft 93. As screw 90 rotates in one direction about its axis 90 a , nuts 94 and 95 on the screw threads travel axially pppositely (see arrows 96 and 97) to move rod 80 to the right and rod 81 to the left, as in Figs. 9 and 10. See connectors 98 and 99 connecting nut 94 with rod 81, and connectors 100 and 101 connecting nut 95 with rod 80. A pair of parallel lead screws 90 may be utilized for these purposes, as see in Fig. 8, each driven by the motor 91, with one lead screw associated with blades 16 a and 16 b , and the other associated with blades 17 a and 17 b . Balanced force transmission to the two sets of blades is thereby effected. See also frame elements 110-116 supporting the structure, as indicated. Bearings appear at 117 and 118. An additional tubular wire guide is seen at 119.

Claims: A method of processing wire (10) to cut the wire into sections (10 a ,10 b ) and to strip sheathing (11 b ) from the wire to expose wire ends (11 a ",11 a ') at opposite ends of the sections (10 a ,10 b ) including the steps of: a) displacing the wire (10) endwise along an axis (12) to a first position; b) severing the wire by a first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) thereby to form wire forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ), the forward section having a rearward end portion (10 aa ), and the rearward section having a forward end portion (10 bb ), and c) penetrating the sheathing (11 b ) of the wire forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) by other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) spaced axially from said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) to a predetermined depth; the method being characterised by: d) the other blade means having positions of penetration into said sheathing, only; e) the penetrating of the sheathing being effected by controllably displacing the other blade means to a selected depth by a drive means, the drive means being controlled by a master controller in a pre-programmed manner; f) separating said sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially relatively endwise prior to penetrating into the sheathing of both sections simultaneously, and, after penetrating the sheathing, g) further separating said forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially relatively endwise to pull sheathing (11 b ',11b") from the forward section rearward portion (10 aa ) and from the rearward section forward portion (10 bb ) thereby to expose wire ends (11 a ",11 a ') at said portions. A method of processing wire as claimed in claim 1 in which steps b) and c) are effected by a cutter means including three blade pairs, (13 a ,13 b ,16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) each pair including two blades (13 a ,13 b ;16 a ,16 b ;17 a ,17 b )located at opposite sides of said axis (12), both blades of one pair (13 a ,13 b ) being displaced toward the wire (10) to sever the wire, and both blades of the remaining two pairs (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) being displaced toward the wire sections (10a,10b) to penetrate said sheathing (11 b ). A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein both blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) of said remaining two pairs of blades are simultaneously displaced toward the wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) to cut into the sheathing (11b) of both sections (10 a ,10 b ) simultaneously. A method as claimed in any preceding claim including displacing the two sections (10 a ,10 b ) endwise, thereby to displace wire incorporating one of the sections (10 a ,10 b ) to said first position. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein both blades (13 a ,13 b ) of said one pair of blades are displaced into overlapping relation to sever the wire (10), and both blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) of each of the remaining two pairs of blades are displaced to cut only into opposite sides of the sheathing (11 b ) to strip sheathing from said end portions (10 aa ,10 bb ) of said sections (10 a ,10 b ), as said sections are displaced endwise simultaneously. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, including separating both said forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially relatively endwise after said step b) severing of the wire (10) and prior to said step e) cutting. A method as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 6 as dependent on claim 2 including further separating said forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially relatively endwise after said blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) of the remaining two pairs of blades have been displaced toward the wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) to cut into the sheathing (11 b ), thereby to pull sheathing slugs (11 b ',11 b ") off said wire end portions to expose said wire ends (11 a ',11 a "). A method as claimed in claim 7 including allowing dropping of said stripped wire slugs (11 b ',11 b ") downwardly. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, including guiding one or more of said displacements of the wire (10) or wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) endwise along said axis (12), at locations between said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) and said other blade means (16 a ,16 b or 17 a ,17 b ). A method as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 9 as dependent on claim 2 wherein said separating of the forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) is carried out by advancing one section (10 a ) and retracting the other section (10 b ), relative to said one blade pair (13 a ,13 b ). A method as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein said further separating of the forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ) is carried out by further advancing one section (10 a ) and further retracting the other section (10 b ), relative to said one blade pair (13 a ,13 b ). A method as claimed in claim 11, including means (21 b ,21 a ) for advancing said one section (10 a ) and retracting said other section (10 b ), said means including forward and rearward pairs of endless conveyors (49,50,47,48), each pair of conveyors defining a wire gripping zone (49',50',47',48'), and including the step of maintaining said zones in alignment with said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) during said further separating of the sections axially. A method as claimed in claim 12, including maintaining at least one conveyor of each pair (49,50;47,48) displaced relatively toward the other conveyor of said pair to clamp the wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) between said conveyors of said pairs during said further separation of the wire sections, and operating said conveyor pairs (49,50,47,48) in endless relation to effect said relative separation. A method as claimed in claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 13 as dependent on claim 2, wherein the blades (13 a ,13 b ) of said one pair of blades have V-shaped edges (13 a ',13 a ",13 b ',13 b ") and the blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) of said remaining two pairs of blades have V-shaped edges (16 a ',16 a ",16 b ',16 b ",17 a ',17 a ",17 b ',17 b ") to cut into the sheathing (11 b ). Apparatus for carrying out the method of any of the preceding claims comprising processing longitudinally axially extending wire (10) that includes a core (11 a ) and protective structure (11 b ) extending about the core, the apparatus comprising: a) blade drive means (15,18) for driving a first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) for relative movement laterally to sever the wire (10) to form forward and rearward sections (10 a ,10 b ); and b) the blade drive means (15,18) being also for driving other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) spaced axially from said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) for relative movement laterally to penetrate said protective structure (11 b ) to a predetermined depth; c) said first and other blade means being operatively interconnected to move laterally to first sever the wire (10) and to then penetrate said protective structure (11 b ) to said predetermined depth; and d) wire drive means (21 a ,21 b ) for displacing said wire (10) axially endwise to position the wire for severing by said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ); characterised by: e) said wire drive means (21 a ,21 b ) operating to displace said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially oppositely relatively endwise after said severing by said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) and prior to simultaneous penetration of said protective structure (11 b ) of both said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) by said other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ; f) said wire drive means being arranged to further displace said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ), after severing by said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) and after simultaneous penetration of said protective structure (11 b ) of both said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) by said other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ), to effect stripping of protective structure (11 b ) from said wire sections (10 a ,10 b ), in the form of slugs (11 b ',11 b "); g) the other blade means having positions of penetration into said protective structure, only; and h) a master controller arranged to control the blade drive means (15,18) in a pre-programmed manner to controllably displace the other blade means to penetrate the protective structure to a selected depth. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said wire (10) has a longitudinal axis (12), said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) having a first cutting edge (13 a ',13 a ";13 b ',13 b ) and said other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) having another cutting edge (16 a ',16 a ",17 a ',17 a ";16 b ',16 b ",17 b ',17 b "), said cutting edges being differentially spaced from said axis (12) as said first and other blade means (13 a ,13 b ,16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) are simultaneously moved toward said axis (12) prior to said severing of the wire (10). Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein said first blade means includes a first set of blades (13 a ,13 b ), and said other blades means includes second and third sets of blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ). Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, including wire guides (24,25) between said first and second blade means (13 a ,13 b ,16 a ,16 b ), and between said first and third blade means (13 a ,13 b ,17 a ,17 b ), said guides (24,25) including elements (A) that remain in guiding position, and other elements (B) movable out of guiding position to allow dropping of protective structure slugs (11 b ',11 b ") stripped from wire ends (10 aa ,10 bb ). Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, including drive means (130) operatively connected with said other elements (A) to effect movement thereby into and out of wire guiding position. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 in which: a) said first, second and third blade means each includes multiple blades (13 a ,13 b ,16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) located for movement toward said axis (12), the apparatus including: b) a first drive means (15;80,81,90,94,95) for controllably displacing said multiple blades (13 a ,13 b ) of said first blade means toward said axis (12) to sever the wire (10). c) and additional drive means (18;80,81,90,94,95) for controllably displacing said multiple blades of said second and third blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) toward said axis (12) to cut into said protective structure (11 b ), said second and third blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) respectively located at axially opposite sides of said first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) and axially spaced therefrom, d) the wire drive includes a conveyor drive means arranged to controllably drive a conveyor means so as to i) position the wire (10), to be severed by said first blade means, (13 a ,13 b ), thereby to produce forward and rearward wire sections, (10 a ,1 0b ) ii) relatively displace said sections (10 a ,10 b ) axially, into positions to enable penetration of the blades of said second and third blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) into said protective structure (11 b ), for subsequent stripping of said structure from a rearward portion of the forward section (10 a ) and from a forward portion of the rearward section (10 b ), as during controlled endwise displacement of said sections (10 a ,10 b ) by said conveyor means (47,48,49,50). Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said blades (13 a ,13 b ) of said first blade means have positions of relative overlap to sever the wire (10), in response to operation of said first drive means (15;80,81,90,94,95). Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein said blades (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) of said second and third blade means have positions of penetration only into said protective structure (11 b ) of said section end portions (10 aa ,10 bb ) to enable stripping of said end portions in response to said controllable driving of said conveyor means (47,48,49,50). Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein said conveyor means (47,48,49,50) includes forward and rearward pairs of endless conveyors (49,50,47,48) to respectively engage and displace the wire sections (10 a ,10 b ), while the blades (13 a ,13 b ) of the first blade means are closed in overlapping relation. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, including actuator means (66,66 a ,68,69,70,71,72,75,76) to maintain at least one conveyor of each pair displaced relatively toward the other conveyor of said pair, to clamp the wire sections (10 a ,10 b ) between the conveyors during further separation of the sections (10 a ,10 b ) and during protective structure stripping. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein said conveyors comprise endless belts (47,48,49,50) and driven by the conveyor drive means (52;52 a ) to controllably advance and retract said belts endlessly. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said actuator means includes a rotary screw (68), a drive (66;66 a ) to rotate the screw (68) and follower means (33,34,75,76) to convert rotary motion of the screw (68) into linear motion acting to displace the conveyor or conveyors (47,48,49,50). Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 26 wherein said blades (13 a ,13 b ) of the first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) have V-shaped edges (13 a ',13 a ",13 b ',13 b "). Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 27, wherein the blades of each of the other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) have V-shaped edges (16 a ',16 a ",16 b ',16 b ",17 a ',17 a ",17 b ',17 b "). Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said edges of the blades of the first blade means (13 a ,13 b ) are closer to said axis (12) than said edges of the other blade means (16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ), as said blades (13 a ,13 b ,16 a ,16 b ,17 a ,17 b ) approach said axis (12) for wire severing and protective structure stripping.

Inventors: HOFFA JACK L, HOFFA, JACK L.
Applicants: EUBANKS ENG CO, EUBANKS ENGINEERING COMPANY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H02G1
IPC codes: H02G1