Abstract: A wire stripper (10) for stripping an outer insulative jacket from a cable (12) includes a frame (14) which carries a cable clamp (16) for releasably clamping the cable. The frame also carries a slitting mechanism (43) which includes a rotatable blade carrier (46) and a central passage (48) through which the cable passes. The blade carrier includes a pair of blades (60--60) each radially movable within a separate one of a pair of diametrically opposed slots (56--56) so as to circumferentially slit the insulative jacket when the blade carrier is rotated in a first direction. A gripping mechanism (94) is slidably mounted to a pair of rails (100--100) carried by the frame for gripping a portion of the cable downstream of the blade carrier so as to pull the severed portion of the outer insulative jacket from the cable when the gripping mechanism is displaced by a lever (108).

Abstract: A wire straightener (10) for accommodating different size wires (12) includes first and second wire-bending stations (15a) and (15b) located on opposite sides of a central member (14). Each of the wire-bending stations (15a,15b) includes a pair of opposed, complementary contours (56,60), the individual length of which, and the spacing relative to the other contour, may be adjusted. Extending between the contours (56,60) along their respective lengths is a wire-receiving passage (62) which communicates with the wire-receiving passage in the other station. The opposed, complementary contours (56,60) of each wire-bending station are orthogonal to those of the other station so that as the wire is forced through the wire-receiving passage (62), the wire is bent in each of two orthogonal planes, causing it to be straightened upon exiting the second station.