Wire stripper with double wedge spring loaded gripper
First Claim
1. For use with wire of the type having an inner core and an outer covering, a wire stripper for removing an end portion of the covering from the core, said stripper comprising:
- blade means for cutting substantially through the covering in a substantially radial direction, said blade means being positioned and dimensioned to provide clearance between itself and the core to avoid contact with the core;
gripping means positioned axially outwardly of the blade means for gripping wire to be stripped;
said gripping means including an axially slidable gripper housing, gripper jaw means, and first and second biasing means;
said housing having an axial passageway extending therethrough for receiving the wire, and portions defining a chamber which surrounds the passageway and has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers toward the blade means;
said jaw means being dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of gripper jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an axially extending inner grip surface for gripping the wire;
said first biasing means urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; and
said second biasing means urging the jaws axially inwardly toward the blade means; and
actuating means for engaging the housing and moving it axially outwardly, to tighten the jaws around the wire and pull the wire away from the blade means to in turn strip said end portion of the covering from the core.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wire gripper (48) includes a housing (50,52,56) that defines a chamber (62) which has sidewalls (64) that taper in an axial direction. Jaws (66) are closely and slidably received into chamber (62). Axial spring (74) biases jaws (66) axially outwardly relative to chamber (62). Radial springs (78) bias jaws (66) toward sidewalls (64). A double-acting cylinder (94) moves housing (50,52,56) axially outwardly to tighten jaws (66) around a wire (200), and axially inwardly to move jaws (66) against jaw stop (88) to open jaws (66). Preferably, axial movement of wire (200) pulls pivoting blades (6,8) closed. Gripper (48) may be modified to cut or punch wire (200) rather than grip it.
21 Citations
31 Claims
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1. For use with wire of the type having an inner core and an outer covering, a wire stripper for removing an end portion of the covering from the core, said stripper comprising:
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blade means for cutting substantially through the covering in a substantially radial direction, said blade means being positioned and dimensioned to provide clearance between itself and the core to avoid contact with the core; gripping means positioned axially outwardly of the blade means for gripping wire to be stripped;
said gripping means including an axially slidable gripper housing, gripper jaw means, and first and second biasing means;
said housing having an axial passageway extending therethrough for receiving the wire, and portions defining a chamber which surrounds the passageway and has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers toward the blade means;
said jaw means being dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of gripper jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an axially extending inner grip surface for gripping the wire;
said first biasing means urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; and
said second biasing means urging the jaws axially inwardly toward the blade means; andactuating means for engaging the housing and moving it axially outwardly, to tighten the jaws around the wire and pull the wire away from the blade means to in turn strip said end portion of the covering from the core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for gripping wire comprising:
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an axially slidable gripper housing having portions defining a chamber which has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers in a first axial direction; gripper jaw means dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of gripper jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an axially extending inner grip surface for gripping the wire;first biasing means for urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; second biasing means for urging the jaws in said first axial direction; and actuating means for engaging the housing and moving it in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, to tighten the jaws around the wire. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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27. Apparatus for gripping wire and the like, comprising:
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an axially slidable gripper housing having portions defining a chamber which has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers in a first axial direction; gripper jaw means dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of gripper jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an axially extending inner grip surface for gripping the wire; and
said gripper jaws projecting out from the housing and the chamber defined thereby in said first axial direction;a jaw stop positioned in said first axial direction relative to the jaws; first biasing means for urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; second biasing means for urging the jaws in said first axial direction; and actuating means for engaging the housing and moving it in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, to tighten the jaws around the wire;
said actuating means including means for moving the housing in said first axial direction to move the jaws against the stop and inwardly relative to the chamber to in turn allow the first biasing means to move the jaws radially outwardly to release a wire around which the jaws have been tightened. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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28. Apparatus for gripping wire and the like, comprising:
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an axially slidable gripper housing having portions defining a chamber which has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers in a first axial direction;
said housing having an axial passageway that opens onto a radial end surface of the housing and communicates with the chamber; and
said passageway having an outer portion that tapers inwardly from said radial end surface toward the chamber to facilitate insertion of a wire into the passageway, and an inner portion which communicates said outer portion and the chamber and which has sidewall means that is dimensioned to closely receive wire to be gripped and that is made from a self-lubricating plastic to provide a bearing surface for axial sliding movement of the wire relative to the housing;gripper jaw means dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of gripper jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an axially extending inner grip surface for gripping the wire;first biasing means for urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; second biasing means for urging the jaws in said first axial direction; and actuating means for engaging the housing and moving it in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, to tighten the jaws around the wire.
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31. Apparatus for radially engaging wire, comprising:
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an axially slidable jaw housing having portions defining a chamber which has generally axially extending sidewall means that tapers in a first axial direction; jaw means dimensioned to be slidably and closely received into the chamber defined by the housing;
said jaw means including a plurality of jaws, each of which has a tapered outer surface that slidingly engages said sidewall means and an inner surface for engaging the wire;first biasing means for urging the jaws radially outwardly toward said sidewall means; second biasing means for urging the jaws in said first axial direction; and actuating means for engaging the housing and moving it in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, to close the jaws around the wire.
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Specification