Abstract: A wire stripping apparatus for stripping insulation material (48) from an insulated electrical conductor (50) includes a first stripping blade (40) having a first cutting tip configuration (44, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72) and a second stripping blade (42) supported in opposing relation to the first stripping blade (40) having a second set of cutting tip configuration (46, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) different from the first set of cutting tip configuration (44, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72) encompasses and uniformly strips an insulation slug from a periphery of the insulated conductor (50).

Abstract: A machine (40) is disclosed for crimping a terminal (12) onto a wire (10) thereby forming a crimped wire assembly (32). The machine includes a crimping bar 64 and a mating anvil (60) for performing the crimping operation. A terminal feed unit (70) is provided for feeding a strip (24) of terminals. The machine includes a wire guiding device (80) having an upper half (82) attached to the crimping bar (64) and a lower half (84) attached to the anvil (60). Each of the upper and lower halves include two wire guide members (88) that slide toward and away from a central axis (116) extending through the barrel (22) of the terminal (12) to be crimped. The ends of the four wire guide members (88), each having a quarter of a conical surface (118) formed thereon, are arranged so that the four surfaces form a complete conical section for guiding the wire (10) as it is being inserted into the barrel (22) of the terminal (12).

Abstract: A powered hand tool (10) is disclosed for crimping terminals (30) onto a conductor. The tool includes a linear actuator (18) for driving a cam (64) along a linear path (272). The cam (64) has camming surfaces (90, 92) that interact with a pair of followers (192, 194) to first cause the crimping mechanism (16) to crimp the terminal and then, early in the return stroke, to open the crimping mechanism (16) so that the crimped terminal (30) can be removed and the next terminal fed into position during the remainder of the return stroke. The cam (64) includes two part camming surfaces (94, 96 and 98, 100), both parts of which are tracked by the followers (192, 194) while performing the crimping operation. Once the followers reach a certain point along the camming surfaces (90, 92) a gate member (68) moves one of the parts (96, 100) out of alignment so that upon the return stroke the followers (192, 194) return by a different path, thereby opening the crimping mechanism early in the return stroke.

Abstract: A crimping tool has a movable die attached to a reciprocable slide member for movement toward and away from a fixed die. A pair of rollers are journaled for rotation in pivotable links carried by the slide member. An actuating mechanism includes a wedge which is movable between the pair of rollers to drive the rollers apart and into engagement with a pair of ramps, thereby moving the slide member and the movable die toward the fixed die. A biasing mechanism is selectively operable to bias the slide member and the movable die either toward or away from the fixed die with a relatively small force during times when the wedge is withdrawn from between the rollers.