Abstract: A tool has outer gripping jaws 12, 19 to grip a cable 20, and inner jaws with cutting edges 30 which penetrate the cable.The inner jaws are initially located for sheath penetration and are then displaced axially to strip the cut portion of the sheath of the core of the cable. In the axial movement the inner jaws are guided along tracks on the adjacent faces of the outer jaws and at least one of these tracks 100 is relieved at 102 so that during the axial movement the cutting jaws separate. This enables the tool to operate satisfactory even when the jaws converge towards the axis on which they are pivoted.

Abstract: Integrated circuit components are loaded in Indian file in carrier tube and retained in position by headed pin at each end of the tube. The invention provides a spring bale to locate the tube in position on a support pillar, along which the tubes are fed under gravity, the spring bale providing a cam track for automatic engagement with a pin head so as to displace the pin to a position in which the chips can feed as the tube is assembled to the pillar without requiring any separate manipulative action.

Abstract: A combination tool is provided (FIG. 1) for carrying out all of the operations necessary to connect a telephone jack to the appropriate cable, by first cutting the cable to the length using cutting blades provided on the tool, and then stripping the insulation sheet from the cable by stripping blades also provided on the tool, subsequently crimping the jack to the cable using a punch and die crimping set also provided on the tool. The tool comprises a pair of parts 10, 12 which are generally parallel to one another and are closed together by a lever 40 using a fulcrum and roller system.