Abstract:
The invention relates to a stripping tool ( 1 ) comprising at least one stripping jaw. A cutting element ( 10, 11 ) is exchangeably assembled with the stripping jaw under use of a mounting groove ( 56, 57 ). Preferably, mounting and dismounting is performed along mounting axes ( 58, 59 ) having an orientation perpendicular to a pivot plane of the pliers jaws ( 3, 4 ). The inventive stripping tool ( 1 ) comprises an exchange position in which the mounting and dismounting of the cutting elements ( 10, 11 ) is possible, in particular through a cutaway ( 62, 63 ) of a side wall ( 64, 65 ) of the pliers jaws ( 3, 4 ). If the exchange position is left a movement of the cutting element ( 10, 11 ) is blocked by a securing element ( 66 ) formed by the side wall ( 64, 65 ) so that a securing of the position of the cutting element ( 10, 11 ) is provided. In the exchange position it is easy to disassemble the cutting element ( 10, 11 ) and to assemble a new cutting element wherein no additional measures (as the release of a screwed connection, a dismounting of the stripping unit and the like) are required for disassembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending German Patent Application No. EP 14 177 831.6 entitled “Zangenteil”, filed Jul. 21, 2014. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a pliers part for pliers, in particular stripping pliers. The pliers part comprises a storage unit in which it is possible to store an accessory part (in particular a cutting element, a clamping element and/or a crimping element of the pliers). Furthermore, the invention relates to pliers or stripping pliers which comprise a pliers part of this type. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Pliers can be built with accessory parts, in particular exchange parts. An accessory part of this type might e.g. be exchangeable cutting elements as cutting knifes, exchangeable clamping elements as clamping jaws and/or exchangeable crimping elements as crimping dies. An exchange of an accessory part of this type might be required due to wear and/or might be required in order to process work pieces of different geometries and types with the pliers. It is e.g. possible that different crimping dies, clamping jaws or cutting knifes are used which have cutting edges, die surfaces or clamping surfaces with differing contours. A problem might be the storing of the accessory parts. In the simplest case the user carries the accessory parts loosely around or the user stores the accessory parts in a tool box. 
         [0004]    The publication WO 2008/116787 A1 (corresponding to US 2010/0101379 A1) discloses a magazine for accessory parts being built by crimping die halves. The magazine is drum-shaped with a plurality of accommodating chambers located at locations distributed in circumferential direction. In each of the accommodating chambers a pair of crimping die halves is stored. In a state in which the crimping die halves are assembled on the crimping pliers the crimping die halves are introduced into the accommodating chamber of the magazine. This is done by introducing the front surface of the crimping pliers (where the crimping die halves are located) into the accommodating chamber. The crimping die halves each comprise snap lugs located in an end region being freely accessible from the front side. The snap lugs can be latched with spring biased latching hooks of the magazine. If a pair of crimping die halves is latched with the magazine in this way, it is possible to withdraw the crimping pliers from the magazine. With the withdrawal of the crimping pliers from the magazine the crimping die halves remain in the magazine which is due to the latching with the latching hooks. Accordingly, the crimping die halves are held in the magazine for their storage. However, it is required that the crimping die halves are connected with the pliers head by a suitable coupling. The couplings (without any additional securing during the withdrawal of the crimping pliers from the magazine) have to provide a sliding disassembling movement of the crimping die halves with respect to the pliers head. Subsequent to a removal of a formerly used couple of crimping die halves as explained from the magazine it is possible to introduce the crimping pliers (now not being equipped with crimping die halves) into another accommodating chamber of the magazine for a coupling with another couple of crimping die halves located in this accommodating chamber. The coupling is again provided by a sliding movement between the crimping pliers and the crimping die halves. A release of the crimping die halves from this accommodating chamber is provided by a manually caused release of the latching hook of the magazine from the snap lugs of the crimping die halves. The magazine according to WO 2008/116787 A1 is formed separately from the crimping pliers. 
         [0005]    The publication DE 201 00 031 U1 proposes a storage of accessory parts built by crimping die halves directly at hand levers of crimping pliers. For this purpose, the two hand levers have guiding grooves on their sides facing towards each other and extending from the end regions of the hand levers. It is possible to introduce two crimping die halves one behind the other into each of the guiding grooves. The position of the crimping die halves within the guiding grooves is secured by latching spheres which extend into the guiding groove under the bias of a spring. At their bottom sides the crimping die halves each comprise a latching recess into which in the secured position of the crimping die halves the latching spheres engage. Pliers jaws of the crimping pliers have corresponding guiding grooves into which a couple of crimping die halves used for crimping is slit from the front surface of the crimping jaws in a mounting direction having an orientation radial to the pivot axis of the crimping jaws. In the operating state the crimping die halves are also secured at the pliers jaws by spring-biased latching spheres. 
         [0006]    The publication US 2013/0097786 A1 building the closest prior art discloses multifunctional pliers used for crimping, stripping and cutting of cables. The pliers comprise a holding unit for screwdriver inserts (so-called “bits”) as well as a for a cutting knife. Whereas the holding unit for the screw driver inserts is pivotally held at a hand lever of the multifunctional pliers, the other hand lever comprises a base body. The base body comprises a U-shaped cross-section which is open towards the aforementioned hand lever. A lid is pivotably held at the base body in an end region facing away from the pliers head. The lid comprises recesses in the type of blind holes. If the lid is closed, these recesses open into the interior chamber of the hand lever, wherein the interior chamber is defined by the base body and the lid. It is possible to insert or plug screwdriver inserts into these recesses. The screwdriver inserts are held in the recesses by friction or by magnetic forces. Held in this way the screwdriver inserts are stored in the inner chamber of the hand lever. 
         [0007]    Further prior art is known from DE 93 00 908 U1, DE 296 13 051 U1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,502 B1. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention proposes a pliers part which might be used for any pliers. Here, pliers might be any tool, wherein manual actuating forces are produced by two hand levers under a pivoting movement of the hand levers relative to each other and wherein by actuation by the hand levers (if applicable geared-up or geared-down by a transmission) a workpiece is processed with the pliers. The pliers parts are in particular designated for cable stripping pliers. 
         [0009]    According to the invention, the pliers part is formed with at least two pieces, namely a base body and a lid. The base body might be built with one part or a plurality of parts. The base body comprises an open cross-section. It is possible to at least partially close the open cross-section by the lid which is built by one part or a plurality of parts. The lid and the open cross-section of the base body together limit an inner chamber of the pliers part. It is possible to locate at least one accessory part in this inner chamber. It is possible that the accessory part is loosely located in the inner chamber or that the accessory part is fixed in the inner chamber. By means of the lid it is possible to provide that the accessory part cannot be lost from the inner chamber of the pliers part. It is also possible that the inner chamber is at least partially sealed by the lid so that the inner chamber and the accessory parts located therein are protected against contaminations and/or damages. It is also possible that the lid provides an optically appealing closure of the inner chamber and contributes to the design of the outer surface of the pliers part. By the choice of the outer shape of the lid and the base body it is (despite of the storage of the accessory part in the inner chamber of the pliers part) possible to provide an outer contour which is comfortable for the hand of the user. This is in particular of interest if the pliers part is built by a hand lever. 
         [0010]    It is possible that the accessory part comprises separate holding means, in particular a protrusion, a recess, a pin or bolt or a latching or locking element by which the accessory part is held in the inner chamber of the pliers part. However, according to the invention the accessory part (built by an exchangeable cutting element, clamping element or crimping element) is held in the inner chamber for storage in the pliers part by one and the same holding mechanism also used for holding the accessory part in its operating state at the pliers head. Accordingly, there is no need for equipping the accessory part with different holding mechanisms
       on the one hand for the fixation of the accessory part in the operating state at the pliers head and   on the other hand for providing the holding effect for the storage in the pliers part.       
 
         [0013]    For one embodiment of the invention, the pliers part comprising the storage unit is built by the pliers head. In this case it is also possible that the pliers part wherein the storage unit is integrated is built by a pliers jaw. 
         [0014]    For another embodiment, the pliers part is built by a hand lever. 
         [0015]    In the case that it is not intended to store the accessory part loosely within the inner chamber, it is e.g. possible to hold the accessory part at the base body of the pliers part. This might e.g. be provided by latching of the accessory part with the base body, by screwing the accessory part with the base body or by inserting the accessory part into a mounting groove formed by the base body. 
         [0016]    However, according to one embodiment of the invention the accessory part is held at the lid. This embodiment leads to the advantage that the accessory part is easily accessible when swinging the lid into its open position or when disassembling the lid. It is even possible that a plurality of lids is associated with the pliers, wherein the lids are exchangeable and wherein different accessory parts are held at the exchangeable lids. Accordingly, the user is able to equip the pliers with a lid with accessory parts being suitable for the upcoming use, whereas other accessory parts (which are not of interest at present) might be stored at another lid which might e.g. be put into a tool box. 
         [0017]    For the attachment and bearing of the lid at the base body of the pliers part there are a lot of different options. To name only some non-limiting examples, the lid might be screwed, riveted or clipped with the base body, slit into the base body and the like. For one inventive embodiment, the lid is pivotably linked with the base body of the pliers part. In this case, the lid might be brought into a closed position, wherein the lid at least partially closes the base body of the pliers part, and into an open position in which the lid has been pivoted away from the base body of the pliers part and which provides the option to remove or introduce accessory parts from and into the lid or the base body of the pliers part. 
         [0018]    For one embodiment of the pliers part, in the closed position the lid is latched or locked with the base body. 
         [0019]    There are a lot of options for the design of the holding mechanism between the accessory part and the base body or the lid. According to one proposal of the invention, the accessory part is held at the pliers part by a dovetail joint. Here, the base body or the lid forms a mounting groove or a mounting element of the dovetail joint. The dovetail joint between the accessory part and the lid or the base body is assembled along a mounting axis which has an orientation vertical to a pivot plane of the hand levers and/or pliers jaws of the pliers. Here, the feature “dovetail joint” also covers contours of the mounting element and the mounting groove which do not have the exact form of a “dovetail” but provide a positive-locking engagement under the formation of at least one suitable undercut. The inventive positive-locking connection by a kind of dovetail joint with the positive-locking engagement of a mounting element into a mounting groove on the one hand provides a simplified introduction along the mounting axis defined by the mounting groove. On the other hand, the positive-locking engagement provides an exact definition of the orientation of the accessory part relative to the lid or the base body of the pliers part. In the case that the same dovetail joint is used for holding the accessory part in the operating state at the pliers head, the dovetail joint provides a good accommodation and transfer of forces between the pliers head and the accessory part. 
         [0020]    There are a lot of options for securing the accessory part with respect to the lid or the base body when using a dovetail joint. If applicable, the friction between the mounting groove and the mounting element might be sufficient for securing. It is also possible that a latching or locking unit is used for securing. For a particular suggestion according to the invention, the accessory part is held at the lid of the pliers part. Here, the accessory part builds the mounting element of the dovetail joint, whereas the lid forms the mounting groove of the dovetail joint. In the closed position of the lid, the exit of the mounting element of the accessory part from the mounting groove of the lid is blocked by an inner wall of the base body limiting the inner chamber. This embodiment builds a very simple but reliable securing of the position of the accessory part in the mounting groove of the lid. 
         [0021]    There are also a lot of options for arranging the lid at a hand lever which for one embodiment builds the pliers part according to the invention. It is possible that the lid closes a front surface of the hand lever facing away from the head of the pliers. The lid might comprise an enlarged surface area (and might provide the option to store an increased number of accessory parts) if the lid is located in the region of a longitudinal surface of the hand lever. If the lid is e.g. located on a side of the hand lever which in assembled state faces away from the other hand lever, it is possible to freely remove the lid from the hand lever or pivot the lid in outer direction, wherein the movement is not limited or blocked by the other hand lever. The corresponding applies if the lid is assembled on a side of the hand lever having a normal vector with an orientation vertical to the pivot plane of the hand levers. 
         [0022]    However, according to one embodiment of the invention, the lid is located on the side of the base body which faces towards the other hand lever in the assembled state of the hand levers. This embodiment in particular bases on the finding that this side of the hand lever is not biased by the hand of the user during the application of hand forces upon the two hand levers. Accordingly, the lid is not biased by hand forces. On the other hand, the demands concerning the contour shape of the lid for provided good haptics of the stripping tool might be at least reduced for this type of arrangement of the lid. In some cases, this embodiment of the invention also uses the finding that a sufficient intermediate space remains between the hand levers for spread hand levers in order to assemble and disassemble the lid or pivot the lid in opening or closing direction. 
         [0023]    The accessory part might be assembled with the hand lever along any mounting axis (e.g. along the longitudinal axis of the hand lever with the insertion of the accessory part into a mounting groove). For one embodiment, the accessory part is assembled or disassembled along a mounting axis having an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hand lever. A mounting process along a mounting axis with this orientation is very simple which is in particular due to the fact that the mounting process is not blocked by the other hand lever. A disadvantage of the embodiment according to publication of DE 201 00 031 U1 is that here it is necessary to successively introduce the crimping die halves into the guiding groove of the hand lever. In the case that a crimping die half is required which has at first been introduced into the guiding groove, there is the need to first remove the crimping die half subsequently introduced into the guiding groove from the hand lever before being able to slide the required crimping die half out of the guiding groove. With the inventive mounting process and dismounting process of the accessory part along the mounting axis having an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hand lever it is e.g. possible to locate a plurality of holding mechanisms for the accessory part (in particular mounting grooves) one besides the other at the hand lever. In this case it is possible to selectively remove accessory parts each held by a holding mechanism or in a mounting groove selectively along the mounting axis without the need to remove other accessory parts. 
         [0024]    For one embodiment, the lid is pivotably supported at the base body in its end region facing towards the pliers head. This embodiment uses the fact that the two hand levers assembled to the pliers comprise an open position with a free intermediate space having approximately the shape of a segment of a circle. When linking the lid with the end region facing towards the pliers head at the base body, also the lid might be brought into an open state with respect to the base body in which the lid and the base body are arranged similar as a segment of a circle. Here, the two segments of a circle (on the one hand built between the hand lever and on the other hand built between the lid and the base body) are lying within each other in a way that for a given opening angle of the hand levers a maximum of the opening angle of the lid with respect to the base body results. 
         [0025]    According to the invention, it is possible that the pliers part is used for pliers. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the invention suggests cable stripping pliers wherein a pliers part of the above described type is used. The stripping pliers comprise a stripping unit. During a cutting stroke it is possible to change an operating state of the stripping unit in a pivot plane under the actuation of a drive built with the hand levers. Furthermore, in a stripping stroke the stripping unit is moveable by the drive along a stripping axis. A cutting element building the accessory part is exchangeably mounted with the stripping unit. Here, the mounting of the cutting element with the stripping unit is done under use of a mounting groove wherein a mounting element is slid into the mounting groove under the build-up of a positive lock. For one embodiment, the stripping unit comprises the mounting groove, whereas the mounting element is provided on the cutting element. Accordingly, a dovetail joint between the cutting element and the stripping unit built with the mounting element and the mounting groove is used. The base body and the lid of the pliers part comprise a mounting element or a mounting groove which is formed correspondent to the mounting element or the mounting groove of the stripping unit. Under use of its mounting element or mounting groove the cutting element is also held at the mounting element or mounting groove of the lid or the base body under the build-up of a dovetail joint in the inner chamber of the pliers part. 
         [0027]    Advantageous developments of the invention result from the claims, the description and the drawings. The advantages of features and of combinations of a plurality of features mentioned at the beginning of the description only serve as examples and may be used alternatively or cumulatively without the necessity of embodiments according to the invention having to obtain these advantages. Without changing the scope of protection as defined by the enclosed claims, the following applies with respect to the disclosure of the original application and the patent: further features may be taken from the drawings, in particular from the illustrated designs and the dimensions of a plurality of components with respect to one another as well as from their relative arrangement and their operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different claims independent of the chosen references of the claims is also possible, and it is motivated herewith. This also relates to features which are illustrated in separate drawings, or which are mentioned when describing them. These features may also be combined with features of different claims. Furthermore, it is possible that further embodiments of the invention do not have the features mentioned in the claims. 
         [0028]    The number of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description is to be understood to cover this exact number and a greater number than the mentioned number without having to explicitly use the adverb “at least”. For example, if an element like for example a cutting element, a cable stripping jaw or a mounting groove is mentioned, this is to be understood such that there is exactly one element or there are two elements or more elements. Additional features may be added to these features, or these features may be the only features of the respective product. 
         [0029]    The reference signs contained in the claims are not limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims. Their sole function is to make the claims easier to understand. 
         [0030]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  shows cable stripping pliers in an insertion position with an open storage unit in a top view. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIG. 1  in the insertion position with an opened storage unit in a section parallel to the plane of illustration of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in the insertion position with a cable inserted and with closed storage unit in a section parallel to the plane of illustration of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a cutting and clamping position in a section parallel to the plane of illustration of  FIG. 1 , wherein compared to  FIG. 3  the hand levers have been partially closed over a cutting stroke. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIGS. 1 to 4  in a section parallel to the plane of illustration of  FIG. 1  in a cable stripping position, wherein compared to  FIG. 4  the hand levers have been further closed over a cable stripping stroke. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIGS. 1 to 5  in a section parallel to the plane of illustration of  FIG. 1  in an exchange and removal position, wherein compared to  FIG. 5  the hand levers have been further closed. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIGS. 1 to 6  in a three-dimensional view with the cutting element demounted. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  shows a cutting element in a three-dimensional view. 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  in an exploded view shows a cutting element and the associated cable stripping jaw. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  shows a top view on cable stripping pliers with a hand lever, which is formed with a separate casing. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  in a partially-cut three-dimensional view shows another embodiment of cable stripping pliers. 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  in a changed partially-cut three-dimensional view shows the cable stripping pliers according to  FIG. 11 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  shows a pliers head of other cable stripping pliers with storage units for accessories integrated into the pliers head with the storage units shown in an open position here. 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  shows the pliers head according to  FIG. 13 , with the storage units shown in a closed position here. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0046]    In the figures a cable stripping tool  1  in the shape of hand-operated cable stripping pliers  2  is shown without the invention being intended to be limited to hand-operated cable stripping pliers  2 . The cable stripping pliers  2  have two pliers jaws  3 ,  4 . Between the two pliers jaws  3 ,  4  a cable stripping unit  5  is accommodated, which is formed with two cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7 . The cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  are pivotally connected to each other in an end portion through a joint  8  with a pivot plane  9  having an orientation parallel to the plane of illustration according to  FIG. 1 . The cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  in their free end portions each carry a cutting element  10 ,  11 . The pliers jaws  3 ,  4  are pivotally connected to each other in the pivot plane  9  through a joint  12 . Due to a contact of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  with the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  and/or the cutting elements  10 ,  11  via contact surfaces  13 ,  14  of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  a pivoting movement of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  towards each other coincides with a pivoting of the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7 . The pivot angle of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  is smaller than the pivot angle of the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  because the distance of the contact surfaces  13 ,  14  from the joint  12  is larger than the distance of the contact surfaces  13 ,  14  from the joint  8 . Furthermore the cable stripping unit  5  with the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  is relatively slidable along a cable stripping axis  15  without a change of the pivot angle, which is provided by the formation of a sliding contact in the region of the contact surfaces  13 ,  14 . The common pivoting of the pliers jaws  2 ,  4  on the one hand and the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  on the other hand towards each other forms a cutting or clamping stroke, while the movement of the cable stripping unit  5  along the cable stripping axis  15  without a change of the pivoting angle forms a cable stripping stroke. 
         [0047]    A drive  16  causes the cutting stroke as well as the cable stripping stroke. For the embodiment shown, the drive  16  is realized with two hand levers  17 ,  18  and a gear connection inserted between the hand levers  17 ,  18  and the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  and the cable stripping unit  5 . During a working stroke of the hand levers  17 ,  18  with a pivoting of the hand levers  17 ,  18  towards each other the gear connection subsequently provides the cutting stroke and the cable stripping stroke. 
         [0048]    The hand lever  18  forms a storage unit  19 , which serves for the storage of further pairs of cutting elements  10   a ,  11   a ;  10   b ,  11   b . The cutting elements  10   a ,  11   a ;  10   b ,  11   b  may be exchanged for the cutting elements  10 ,  11  mounted with the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7 . For the embodiment shown the storage unit  19  also stores clamping jaws  20   a ,  20   b ;  21   a ,  21   b , which may be exchanged for clamping jaws  20 ,  21 , which are preferably elastically, which may be insertable into the outer end portion of the grooves of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  and which hold and fix the cable inserted into the cable stripping pliers  2 . While the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  in the state mounted with the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  have a comparably large extension in the direction vertically to the plane of projection of  FIG. 1 , their extension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inserted cable is comparably small. In the storage unit  19  the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  may be stored in a space-saving way without the need of an enlargement of the extension of the hand lever  18  vertically to the plane of illustration if the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  are stored with their extension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cable (for the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  mounted into the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 ) in the direction of the thickness of the hand lever  18  (that is, vertical to the plane of illustration according to  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0049]    The construction and the kinematics of the cable stripping pliers  2  and the gear connection of the drive  16  may be seen from the cutaway view according to  FIG. 2 : The hand lever  17  and the pliers jaw  3  are unmovably connected to each other. With the pliers jaw  3  and the hand lever  17  therefore an unmovable or rigid pliers part  22  is formed. By the joint  12  the pliers jaw  4  is pivotally supported on the pliers part  22  in the pivot plane  9 , which here is achieved by a bolt  23  fixed to the pliers part  22 . By a joint  24  the hand lever  18  is pivotally supported on the pliers part  22  in the pivot plane  9 , which here is achieved by a bolt  25 . By a joint  26  an end portion of a pressure lever  27  is linked to the hand lever  18 , which here is achieved by a bolt  28  fixed to the hand lever  18 . In the other end portion of the pressure lever  27 , via a mount  29  a roller  30  is pivotally supported on the pressure lever  27  in the pivot plane  9 . The roller  30  rolls off a guide contour  31 , which has a guide contour portion  32  (especially approximately quadrant-shaped), a guide contour portion  33  (especially straight and oriented approximately coaxial to the cable stripping axis  15 ) and a guide contour portion  34  (especially oriented approximately parallel the longitudinal axis of the pressure lever  27 ). 
         [0050]    A bolt  35 , by which the joint  8  of the cable stripping unit  5  is formed, also serves for the jointed connection of the cable stripping unit  5  with a draw shackle  36 . The draw shackle  36  has only one translatory degree of freedom along the cable stripping axis  15 . This degree of freedom is provided by a guiding of the draw shackle on the one hand by an elongated recess  37  of the draw shackle  36 , in which the bolt  23  is guided essentially free of play perpendicular to the cable stripping axis  15 . Furthermore the degree of freedom is provided by passing of the end portion of the draw shackle  36  facing away from the joint  8  through a guiding recess  38  of a wall  39  of the hand lever  17  having an orientation perpendicular to the cable stripping axis  15 . The cable stripping stroke with a movement of the draw shackle  36  along the cable stripping axis  15  is achieved by the bias of a spring  40 . For the embodiment shown the spring  40  is formed by a pressure spring wound in a coil-like way, which winds around the draw shackle  36  with several windings. One spring base of spring  40  is supported on the wall  39  while the other spring base is supported on the draw shackle  36 , for example in the region of a ledge  41  of the draw shackle  36 . A roller  43  is pivotally supported on the draw shackle  36  in the pivot plane  9  via a mount  42 . 
         [0051]    In the following a working stroke of the cable stripping pliers  2  is explained on the basis of  FIGS. 3 to 6 : 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  shows the cable stripping pliers  2  in an insertion position. Without an application of hand forces onto the hand levers  17 ,  18  the hand levers  17 ,  18  as well as the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  and the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  take on the opening position to be seen in  FIG. 3 . This is achieved by a spring  85  which is preloaded also in the opening position and which acts upon the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  and with them the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  and the hand levers  17 ,  18  in an opening direction. In this insertion position it is possible to insert a cable  44  into a bit  45  formed by the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  and the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  with the cutting elements  10 ,  11  affixed thereto. The cable stripping jaw  7  and/or the cutting element  11  optionally has a distance element  46 , which upon insertion of the cable  44  into the bit  45  is brought into contact with a front surface of the cable  44 . This results in a defined distance of knives  47 ,  48  of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  from the front surface of the cable  44 . 
         [0053]    Beginning from this insertion position according to  FIG. 3 , a clamping and cutting stroke is achieved by a movement of the hand levers  17 ,  18  towards each other until the cutting position according to  FIG. 4  is achieved. The movement of the hand lever  18  towards the hand lever  17  during the cutting and clamping strokes leads to the result that the pressure lever  27  is moved in the direction of the guiding contour  31 . While in the start portion of the guiding contour portion  32  the roller  30  can still roll off the guiding contour  31  without applying significant forces to the pliers jaw  4 , the inclination of the guiding contour portion  32  changes with continued rolling movement of the roller  30  along the guiding portion. In this way, an increasing force is applied by the pressure lever  27  upon the pliers jaw  4 , so that an increasing force is applied to the pliers jaw  4  which is directed towards a pivoting of pliers jaw  4  towards the pliers jaw  3 . After closing the bit  45 , on the one hand the clamping force for the outer surface of the cable  44  evoked at the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  and on the other hand the cutting and contact forces of the knives  47 ,  48  of the cable stripping unit  5  counteract the actuating force generated by the pressure lever  27  and the roller  30  on the guiding contour portion  32  of the guiding contour  31 . In the cutting position according to  FIG. 4  the roller reaches the transition between the guiding contour portions  32 ,  33 . In this cutting position according to  FIG. 4 , the roller  30  of the pressure lever  27  touches the roller  43  of the draw shackle  36 . 
         [0054]    In the cutting position according to  FIG. 4 , the connecting axis between the joint  26  and the mount  29  of the pressure lever  27  forms an angle with the cable stripping axis  15  which is smaller than 90°. If in a subsequent cable stripping stroke to induce the stripped position according to  FIG. 5  the actuating force applied upon the hand lever  18  is further increased, the orientation of the pressure lever  27  described above leads to a longitudinal force in the pressure lever  27  resulting in a force component which has an orientation parallel to the cable stripping axis  15 . This force component is transmitted onto the roller  43  and therefore onto the draw shackle  36  by the roller  30  through a rolling contact. The force component causes a displacement of the roller  43  and the draw shackle  36  under increasing bias of the spring  40  along the cable stripping axis  15 . Due to the coupling of the cable stripping unit  5  in the region of the joint  8 , this is accompanied by a sliding movement of the cable stripping unit  5  relative to the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 . Furthermore this cable stripping stroke is accompanied by a rolling movement of the roller  30  along the guiding contour portion  33 , which again causes a growing pivoting of the pressure lever  27  with a reduction of the angle of the connecting axis of the joint  26  and the mount  29  with respect to the cable stripping axis. The force characteristics for this cable stripping stroke are influenced by the preloading and stiffness of the spring  40  and the friction characteristics for the sliding movement of the cable stripping unit  5  relative to the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  in the region of the contact surfaces  13 ,  14 . Additionally, to influence the force characteristics, a further spring  49  may act upon the pressure lever  27 . The cable stripping stroke explained above leads to the result that (after having severed the insulation by the knives  47 ,  48  within the cutting stroke) the knives  47 ,  48  are moved in a closed state relative to the cable  44  with a cable  44  generally being fixed in the region of the clamping jaws  20 ,  21 , so that the axial portion cut free on the end side of the insulation is pulled off the conductor. The maximum cable stripping stroke is defined by the length of the guide contour portion  33 .  FIG. 5  shows the stripped position. In the stripped position the roller  30  has reached the transition region between the guiding contour portions  33 ,  34 . 
         [0055]    With a further closing of the hand levers  17 ,  18 , the roller  30  then can than roll off the guiding contour portion  34 , at which point preferably the guiding contour portion  34  has an orientation approximately parallel to the connecting axis of the joint  26  and the mount  29 . This on the one hand results in the hand levers  17 ,  18  being able to be closed further without further significant application of hand forces upon the hand levers  17 ,  18 . On the other hand, the roller  30  then no longer forms an abutment for the pliers jaw  4 , so that the spring  40  can transfer the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  and the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  back to the opening position. In this way, a removal position according to  FIG. 6  is reached, in which the stripped cable  44  may be removed from the bit  45  now open again and the axial portion of the insulation drops out of the bit  45 . At the same time the removal position according to  FIG. 6  is an exchange position, which will be detailed in the following. When reaching the removal and exchange position according to  FIG. 6 , the working stroke of the cable stripping pliers  2  is ended. 
         [0056]    With the removal of the hand forces applied to the hand levers  17 ,  18 , the hand levers  17 ,  18  (caused by the springs  40 ,  39 ) return to the opened position. In this way, the insertion position according to  FIG. 3  is again reached and another cable  44  can be stripped with the cable stripping pliers  2 . 
         [0057]    Optionally, the cable stripping pliers  2  are equipped with another tool, that is, a cutting mechanism  50 , which is also operated by operating the hand levers  17 ,  18  and which encompasses two knives  51 ,  52 . By closure of the hand levers  17 ,  18  the knives  51 ,  52  completely sever a cable inserted into the cutting mechanism  50  (for the design of the cutting mechanism and its connection to the hand levers via a gear drive cp. also the prior art given above). 
         [0058]    The contact surface  14  for the cable stripping jaw  7  is formed directly by the pliers jaw  3 . On the contrary, the contact surface  13  for the other cable stripping jaw  6  is formed by a support element  53 , which by an adjustment element  54  can be shifted in such a way that depending on the position of the support element  53  a change in the pivot angle of the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  with respect to the pivot angle of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  is possible. In this way, via the adjustment element and the setting of the position of the support element  53  it can be set how deep the knives  47 ,  48  cut into the cable  44 , to be able to accommodate different thicknesses of insulation. For the embodiment shown, the adjustment element extends through a guide slit  55  of the pliers jaw  4 , so that the latter may be displaced along the guide slit  55  by the user from the outside. The adjustment element  54  via contact surfaces inclined with respect to the guide slit  55  in the way of a double wedge operates the support element  53 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  shows the cable stripping pliers  2  in a three-dimensional view in the removal and exchange position. It can be seen that the front surfaces of the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  facing away from the joint  8  are each equipped with mounting grooves  56 ,  57 . The longitudinal axes of the mounting grooves  56 ,  57  each form mounting axes  58 ,  59 . In the direction of the mounting axes  58 ,  59  mounting elements  60 ,  61  of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  may be inserted into the mounting grooves  56 ,  57  of the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7 . The mounting grooves  56 ,  57  in the area of their bottom have extensions with which undercuts are formed. Accordingly, the mounting elements are realized as protrusions with extensions at their end sides, which engage with the undercuts of the mounting grooves  56 ,  57 , forming a positively locked connection to accommodate any forces in the pivot plane  9 . A securing of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  against the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  generally is achieved through the friction between the mounting grooves  56 ,  57  and the mounting elements  60 ,  61 . Preferably, the mounting grooves  56 ,  57  as well as the mounting elements  60 ,  61  each have a cross section which in a rough approximation is T-shaped. The positively locking engagement of the mounting element  60 ,  61  into the mounting groove  56 ,  57  may also be formed by a dovetail joint  86 . 
         [0060]    The cutting element  10 ,  11  with its mounting element  60 ,  61  can only be inserted into the mounting groove  56 ,  57  in the exchange position according to  FIG. 7 , because in the exchange position the mounting groove  56 ,  57  is accessible through a recess or a cutaway  62 ,  63  of a side wall  64 ,  65  of the pliers jaw  3 ,  4  having an orientation parallel to the pivot plane  9 . If the cable stripping pliers  2  leave the exchange position according to  FIG. 7 , the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  with the cutting elements  10 ,  11  held thereon are moved forwards with respect to the side wall  64 ,  65 , so that the cutting elements  10 ,  11  are no longer accessible. It is rather the case that outside of the exchange position the cutting elements  10 ,  11  are caught between the side walls  64 ,  65  of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  so that these (apart from possible play), cannot move along the mounting axes  58 ,  59  in a undesired way outside of the exchange position. As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , only one side wall of the pliers jaw may be equipped with a recess  62 ,  63 , through which then mounting and demounting are performed, while the other side wall of the same pliers jaw is not equipped with such a recess. Therefore outside of the exchange position the side wall  64 ,  65  forms a securing element  66 , which blocks the cutting element  10 ,  11  in the direction of the mounting axis  58 ,  59 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 8  in a three-dimensional view in an exemplary way shows the cutting element  11  (while for the other cutting element  10  the same applies as appropriate). The cutting element  11  is e.g. formed by a knife  48  with a straight cutting edge, while it is possible to employ different cutting edges, for example with at least one concave cutting edge or two knife knifes placed behind each other with a straight cutting edge each while the cutting edges are aligned in a V shape or lamella-like knives. The knife  48  has been encased with a holding body  67  made of plastic. The holding body  67  on the side facing away from the knife  48  forms a contact surface  68 , by which the cutting element  11  may be supported on a corresponding contact surface  14  of the pliers jaw  3 . Furthermore, in  FIG. 8  the mounting element  61  can be seen which is formed with a ledge with a T-shaped extension in its end portion. Furthermore, in the side region of the holding body  67  handling surfaces  69  may be provided, which simplify manual handling of the cutting element  11 . For example, the handling surfaces  69  may be roughened, to facilitate gripping by hand. It is possible that in the side region of the holding body  67  a guiding groove  70  is present, which is open in the direction of the related cable stripping jaw  7 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 9  shows a cable stripping jaw  7  with an associated cutting element  11  in a demounted state. The mounting axis  58  has an orientation vertical to the plane of illustration. The cable stripping jaw  7  has a guiding groove  71 , too. With the mounting of the cutting element  11  to the cable stripping jaw  7 , the guiding grooves  70 ,  71  complement one another so that a continuous straight guiding groove is formed. This commonly formed guiding groove serves for accommodating the distance element  46 , which grips around the cable stripping jaw in a U-shape on the side oriented towards the bit  45 , whereby angled portions formed on the end sides of the vertical arms of the U enter into the guiding grooves  70 ,  71 . The distance element  46  is movable along guiding grooves  70 ,  71  for changing the length of the axial region of the insulation which is to be removed. Supplementary, a latching or locking or other fixing of a set position of the distance element may be provided which is not shown here (in this regard cp. e.g. DE 20 2008 014 111 U1). It is possible that in a demounted state the distance element  46  is put onto the guiding groove  70  of the cutting element  11  or the guiding groove  71  of the cable stripping jaw  7  and then the cutting element  11  is mounted with the cable stripping jaw  7 . In this way the distance element  46  is caught in the common guiding groove formed with the guiding grooves  70 ,  71  in such a way that it cannot be lost. It is understood that the cable stripping jaw  6  and the cutting element  10  are formed correspondingly, possibly mirrored. The cutting elements  10 ,  11  for the two cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  may also be formed identically, where these may then be mounted in a reverse orientation with the different cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7 . 
         [0063]    As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , at least one of the hand levers  17  may be equipped with a casing  72 , which may be able to be slipped onto a base body of the hand lever, attached adhesively or in any other way to it. By the casing  72  an elasticity may be defined to induce a soft grip feeling. It is possible that by the casing  72  (for example by choice of shape or color) an individualization of the cable stripping pliers  2  for different customers is achieved. It is also possible that through the casing an adaptation to different sizes of hands of the user of the cable stripping pliers  2  is achieved. 
         [0064]    As can be seen especially from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hand lever  18  which forms the storage unit  19  (which especially is the movable hand lever) is built with a base body  73 . The base body  73  serves for applying and transferring operating forces and therefore has a corresponding stiffness. In the region of the storage unit  19  the base body  73  is U-shaped in rough approximation, where the opening of the U has an orientation in the direction of the other hand lever  17 . The U-shaped cross section of the base body  73  is here formed with a base arm  74  and two side arms  75 ,  76  oriented approximately parallel. By the base body  73  an interior chamber  79  open in the direction of the hand lever  17  is formed. In the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hand lever  18  the interior chamber  79  of the base body  73  is limited on the one hand by a wall and on the other hand by a wall  78  of the hand lever  18  on the end side. The interior chamber  79  can be closed by a lid  80 . The lid  80  is linked to the base body  73  via a pivot mount  81  outside the interior chamber  79  in the end portion facing towards the pliers head of the cable stripping pliers  2 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show different positions of the lid  80 , while  FIG. 3  shows a closed position of the lid  80 . The base body  73  in the region of the wall  78  placed in the free end portion of the hand lever  18  forms a snap lug  82 . In the closed position of the lid  80  according to  FIG. 3  an elastic angled portion  83  of the lid  80  locks or latches with the snap lug  82 , in which way the closed position of the lid  80  is secured against unintended opening. On the inner side of the lid  80 , mounting grooves  84  are provided, which have an orientation vertical to the pivot plane  9  and to the plane of movement of the hand levers  17 ,  18  as well as to the pivot plane of the lid  80 . Cutting elements  10 ,  11  to be stored for an exchange may be inserted into the mounting grooves  84 . While for an open lid  80  the cutting elements  10 ,  11  may be slid out of the mounting grooves  84  without further actions, it is not possible for the cutting elements  10 ,  11  to leave the mounting grooves  84  when the lid  80  is closed, because the leaving of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  is blocked by the walls of the base body  73  forming the side arms  75 ,  76 . The mounting grooves  84  are, according to the mounting grooves  56 ,  57 , formed in such a way that the mounting elements  60 ,  61  of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  may be used. The mounting grooves  84  set a mounting axis  88 , which has an orientation perpendicular to the pivot plane  9  in which the hand levers  17 ,  18  are pivoted and has an orientation vertical to the plane of illustration according to  FIG. 1 . In the storage unit  19  the cutting elements are also held by dovetail joints  87 . Additionally, it is possible to store clamping jaws  20 ,  21  in the storage unit  19 . For this purpose on its inside the lid  80  can also have matching accommodation or mounting grooves. 
         [0065]    For the embodiment shown, the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  are provided with the mounting grooves  56 ,  57 , while the cutting elements  10 ,  11  are provided with the mounting elements  60 ,  61 . It is also possible that the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  have the mounting elements  60 ,  61 , while the mounting nuts  56 ,  57  are provided on the cutting elements  10 ,  11 . 
         [0066]    Within the scope of the present invention, an “exchange position”, in which only mounting and demounting of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  is possible, encompasses a discrete position as well as a position region. It is also possible that there are several exchange positions. 
         [0067]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of cable stripping pliers  2 , which, barring further remarks, may generally be realized according to the cable stripping pliers  2  according to the  FIGS. 1 to 10 . In  FIG. 11  the cable stripping pliers  2  are shown partly cut. Here parts of the hand levers  17 ,  18  and the pliers jaws  3  have been cut away. For this embodiment, the operating position of the cable stripping pliers  2  may not be changed only by actuation of the drive  16  formed with the hand levers  17 ,  18 , which is responsible for applying the operating forces for processing the work piece, especially for the severing of the insulation in the cutting stroke and the stripping in the cable stripping stroke. Rather a manual change of an operating position and especially the manual inducement of an exchange position is possible also by another drive  89 , which can be operated without pivoting the hand levers  17 ,  18  and which is not used for processing the work piece. The other drive  89  is formed with a manual operating element  90 . For the embodiment shown, the operating element  90  is formed with the bolt  35 , which is here led out of a housing of the cable stripping pliers  2  through a slit (not shown) or which is freely accessible from the outside. It is possible that the operating element  90  is guided by a slit in a housing related to the rigid pliers part  22  along the cable stripping axis  15 . In the insertion position of the cable stripping pliers  2  shown in  FIG. 11  the operating element  90  is manually displaced in the direction of the cable stripping axis  15 . This leads to a shift of the draw shackle  36  along the cable stripping axis  15 . Here the forces manually applied must be sufficient to overcome the force of the spring  40 . While the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 , the pressure lever  27  and the hand levers  17 ,  18  during this operation of the drive  89  may keep their position, the movement of the draw shackle  36  due to the coupling via the joint  8  also leads to a movement of the cable stripping unit  5  along the cable stripping axis  15 . Therefore, there will be a relative shift between the cable stripping jaws  6 ,  7  and the cutting elements  10 ,  11  mounted on them on the one hand and the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  on the other hand until the cutting elements  10 ,  11  are placed in the region of the recesses  62 ,  63  of the side walls  64 ,  65  of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 . In this way an exchange position is reached in which the cutting elements may be demounted along the mounting axis  58 ,  59  and new cutting elements  10   a ,  10   b  may be mounted. 
         [0068]    It is possible that (to keep up an exchange position induced in this way) the operating element  90  still has to have pressure applied on it manually, so that the spring  40  is not able to cause a movement out of the exchange position. However, it is also possible that in the exchange position induced in this way a locking or latching mechanism  91  comes into effect, which secures the exchange position. In this way, the locking or latching mechanism may lock or latch any construction element which is moved for the inducement of the exchange position. If a latching mechanism is used, this may generate a latching force which is larger than the force generated by the spring  40 . In this case, overcoming of the latching force is achieved by complementing the force of the spring  40  with loosening forces applied manually to the operating element  90 , which are directed away from the exchange position. For the case that a locking mechanism is employed, a locked position may be left by manual removal of a locking element. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 11 and 12  only show an exemplary embodiment of a locking or latching mechanism  91  without the invention being intended to be limited to this embodiment. Here, the draw shackle  36  in the end portion which extends through the recess  38  in the wall  39  of the hand lever  17  is equipped with two axially distanced bores  92 ,  93 . By means of a locking element  94  which can be inserted into the bores  92 ,  93  (here a wire bracket) different axial positions of the draw shackle  36  can be secured. For the embodiment shown, a positively locked securing and therefore locking of the exchange position is possible by inserting the locking element  94  into the bore  92  according to  FIG. 12 . As can also be seen from  FIG. 12 , by operating the drive  89  removal of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  is also possible in the insertion position of the pliers jaws  3 , 4  and the hand levers  17 ,  18 , so that as an alternative an exchange is possible in the insertion position and in the removal position. 
         [0070]    It is also possible, however, that the exchange is only possible in an exchange position induced by the drive  89 , in which case a removal position may entirely be dispensed with and removal may be performed in the insertion position. 
         [0071]    According to the invention, in at least one of the drives  16 ,  89  a movement-controlled freeing of the cutting elements  10 ,  11  is used. 
         [0072]    It is possible that in the storage unit  19  also cutting elements  51 ,  52  of the cutting mechanism  50  to be disposed for an exchange are stored. 
         [0073]    Alternatively or cumulatively to an integration of the storage unit  19  into a hand lever  18 , a storage unit  19  may also be integrated into a pliers head  95 . For the shown embodiment according to  FIG. 13  storage units  19   a  and  19   b  are integrated into the pliers head  95 . The storage unit  19   a  is integrated into the pliers part  22 , here the pliers jaw  3 . On the contrary, the storage unit  19   b  is integrated into the movable pliers jaw  4 . The pliers jaws  3 ,  4  each have a recess  96   a ,  96   b , which can (at least partly) be closed by a lid  80   a ,  80   b.    
         [0074]    For the embodiment shown, the lids  80   a ,  80   b  are pivotally linked to the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  in the region of a joint  97   a ,  97   b , where the pivot axis of the joint  97   a ,  97   b  has an orientation vertical to the plane of illustration according to  FIG. 13  and to the pivot plane  9  of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 . On the lids  80   a ,  80   b , accessories such as the cutting elements  10 ,  11 , the clamping jaws  20 ,  21  and/or knives  51 ,  52  are detachably held, as this has been described for the storage unit  19  located in the region of the hand lever  18 . Preferably these accessories are held on the lid  80   a ,  80   b  by a dovetail joint  87   a ,  87   b . For this purpose the lids  80   a ,  80   b  may have mounting grooves  84  having undercuts, the longitudinal axes of which define a mounting axis  88 , which has an orientation vertical to the pivot plane  9  of the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 . It is understood that of the two storage units  19   a ,  19   b  only one storage unit may be provided on a pliers head. 
         [0075]    For the embodiment shown, the recess  96   a  of the storage unit  19   a  is located between the front end portion of the pliers jaw  3  (on which the clamping jaw  21  is held) and the joint  24 . At least partly, the recess  96   a  extends laterally with respect to the cable stripping jaw  7  which is guided slidably with respect to the pliers jaw  3 . Preferably a wall not shown in  FIG. 13  on the one hand provides the bottom of the recess  96   a . On the other hand this wall provides a sliding surface for a sliding guidance of the cable stripping jaw  7  with respect to the pliers jaw  3 . Contrary to that, the storage unit  19   b  is placed approximately in the region of the joint  12 , that is, to the side of the latter. 
         [0076]    The lids  80   a ,  80   b  may in their closed position according to  FIG. 14  be locked, latched or secured otherwise on the pliers jaws  3 ,  4 , without this being shown in detail in the  FIGS. 13 and 14 . It is also possible that
       the lids  80   a ,  80   b  are not pivotally mounted on the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  but are detachable,   the accessories are not held on the lid, but on the pliers jaws  3 ,  4  in the interior chambers  96   a ,  96   b  and/or   the lids  80   a ,  80  are pivotable in another direction (for example around a pivot axis, which lies in the plane of projection according to  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) or are detachable or mountable in another direction.       
 
         [0080]    The storage units  19 ,  19   a ,  19   b  are each formed in a pliers part  98 , where this is preferably realized as a hand lever  18 , a pliers jaw  3 ,  4  or a pliers head  95 . The storage unit  19  serves for storing at least one accessory part  99  or different accessories parts, which may be for example a cutting element  10 ,  11 , a clamping jaw  20 ,  21 , a knife  51 ,  52  and/or a crimping die for crimping pliers. 
         [0081]    Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.