Abstract: A cable cutting and stripping tool is disclosed. The tool has a pair of pivotally connected levers relatively moveable between open and closed positions. Each lever includes a handle portion and a jaw portion disposed on opposite sides of the pivot. The levers have coacting cable severing blades adapted to sever a cable in a shearing action. The levers further include a pair of coacting shield insulation cutting and stripping cutters. The levers also include a coacting pair of sheath and conductor insulation cutting and stripping cutters. A process of preparing a coaxial cable for attachment of a connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for stripping a microcoaxial cable having an outside diameter of four millimeters or less. The tool is operable for precisely stripping the jacket, shield and dielectric layers of the microcoaxial cable under field conditions. The tool comprises a fixed gripping portion that holds and supports the cable both proximal and distal to the portion to be stripped. A blade portion rotatably mounted to the fixed gripping portion has a double action. When the blade portion is depressed, a plurality of blades mounted thereon cuts into the microcoaxial cable to precise and adjustable depths. A 360° rotation of the blade portion relative to the fixed gripping portion cleanly severs the respective layers of the cable. The respective severed layers of the cable are removed by hand to expose the underlying layer and the central conductor thereby providing a stripped portion of microcoaxial cable to which a microcoaxial cable connector can be attached.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing coating material from a tubing is disclosed that includes a tool body, a tubing support, a slider support, a slider accommodated with the slider support, and a blade attached to the slider, wherein the tubing support, the slider support, and the slider are accommodated with the tool body. The apparatus can be utilized to remove protective coating materials from steel tubing, by placing the tubing on the tubing support, lowering the blade to the tubing, and rotating the apparatus around the tubing.

Abstract: A spiral cut craft tool and method of making a spiral cut is provided. The spiral cut craft tool has a housing with a cutting guide in the housing. A cutting edge is provided that is projecting into the cutting guide. The cutting edge is coupled to the housing. The cutting guide is adapted to constrain a hollow straw having a centerline from lateral movement at the cutting guide while also allowing the straw to be rotated about the centerline. The cutting edge cuts a spiral cut in the hollow straw when the housing is rotated about the centerline of the hollow straw.

Abstract: An adjustable cable slitting tool for longitudinally slitting optical fiber buffer tubes and other precision cables includes a T-shaped body and a guide that slides relative to the body to hold and guide the cable to be slit in a guide channel. A slitting blade is mounted on a blade carriage that can be precisely adjusted with an adjustment screw to control the depth the slitting blade projects into the guide channel. A scale and indicator marks allow the desired depth of cut to be adjusted with precision by comparing indicator marks on the adjustment screw with the scale and other indicator marks on the tool body. The adjustment screw has a tapered portion that drives the blade carriage through a single contact point via a ball bearing. A deformable pad material in contact with a threaded portion of the adjustment screw acts as both a friction adjustment and part of the backlash prevention mechanism.

Abstract: A cable-stripping tool comprising two parts (1, 3; 7) which can rotate relative to one another about an axis and of which a first part (1, 3) carries a cutting blade (17) in the vicinity of said axis and a second part (7) of which carries a hook which can move axially and which is biased towards an end position relative to the cutting blade by means of a first spring means (50). A cam disc (5) is non-rotatably connected to the first part (1, 3) and can be moved axially along said first part; wherein the cam disc has around its periphery mutually spaced engagement formations (70′, 70″) which are intended to co-act with a cam follower (60) carried by the second part (7). A second spring means (4) is adapted to bias the cam disc axially into contact with the cam follower (6). A third spring means (5 1) is adapted to rotationally bias the second part (7) relative to the first part (1, 3).

Abstract: A cable-stripping tool comprising two parts (1, 3; 7) which can rotate relative to one another about an axis and of which a first part (1, 3) carries a cutting blade (17) in the vicinity of said axis and a second part (7) of which carries a hook (22) which can move axially and which is biased towards an end position relative to the cutting blade by means of a first spring means (50), wherein the hook has a concave side which faces towards the cutting blade and which functions to receive the cable to be stripped, and wherein the hook also includes a generally axially orientated stem (20) with which the hook is connected to the tool The spring means act against a body (40) which can be moved axially towards and away from said end position by means of said second part; wherein the spring means (50) is adapted to bias the body (40) to its end position, wherein the body (40) carries a latching device (47, 48) which is able to latch with a co-acting formation (2a) on the stem (20), and wherein the latching device (

Abstract: A cable-stripping tool includes two parts that can be moved linearly in relation to each other, each of said parts including an opening (43, 23) which can accommodate a cable when in mutual alignment. One part (1) carries a cutting blade (3). Spring means (5) function to bias the parts (1, 2) in a direction away from each other, so as to enable the two tool parts (1, 2) to be brought together against the spring bias in mutual positions in which the cable to be stripped can be inserted into the tool.

Abstract: A tool for stripping a microcoaxial cable having an outside diameter of four millimeters or less. The tool is operable for precisely stripping the jacket, shield and dielectric layers of the microcoaxial cable under field conditions. The tool comprises a fixed gripping portion that holds and supports the cable both proximal and distal to the portion to be stripped. A blade portion rotatably mounted to the fixed gripping portion has a double action. When the blade portion is depressed, a plurality of blades mounted thereon cuts into the microcoaxial cable to precise and adjustable depths. A 360° rotation of the blade portion relative to the fixed gripping portion cleanly severs the respective layers of the cable. The respective severed layers of the cable are removed by hand to expose the underlying layer and the central conductor thereby providing a stripped portion of microcoaxial cable to which a microcoaxial cable connector can be attached.

Abstract: A sheathed optical fiber cutting method and apparatus for cutting the sheathed optical fiber. In one embodiment, the sheathed optical fiber is rotated around its center axis against a cutting blade. An incision is made in an area of the sheathed optical fiber that is under tension from being bent. The incision makes a cut that is flat and perpendicular to the axis of the optical fiber. In one embodiment, the blade for making the incision is mounted in a vibration generator.

Abstract: A method of peeling off a coating of an elliptical cross sectional insulated conductive wire has a groove forming process of forming a groove nearly perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the insulated conductive wire at given positions within a peeling region thereof, a first peeling process of peeling off the coating by moving a pair of first cutting edges in a longitudinal direction of the insulated conductive wire and perpendicularly to a longer diameter direction of the cross section thereof toward the groove from opposite ends of the peeling region, and a second peeling process of peeling off the coating at the peeling region by moving a pair of second cutting edges in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and in parallel with the longer diameter direction of the cross section thereof. As a result, the coating all around the outer circumference of the insulated conductive wire at the peeling region may be completely peeled off.

Abstract: Described is a paring device for cylindrical objects, in particular for plastic tubes, which comprises a plurality of rollers (7) assembled to form a running trough (3); a paring head (2) including at least one knife (5) and at least one guide roller (6), and a spindle drive (4) connecting the running trough (3) and the paring head (2). The spindle drive comprises a spindle guide provided with a slot-like opening and a spindle with an actuating handle (9) that is rotatable in the spindle guide, whereby the paring head and the running trough, between which the cylindrical object can be fixed, can be driven in relation to one another via the spindle. In order to enhance the handling of the paring device also for the treatment of saddle zones of cylindrical objects, the at least one guide roller (6) is supported in a bearing block (10) and freely rotating therein.

Abstract: The present invention broadly contemplates a co-axial cable stripping tool generally comprising: (a) an elongated main handle having a bored opening formed longitudinally therein; (b) an elongated shaft a portion of which is co-axially positioned within the bored opening and a portion of which extends co-axially away from the main handle; (c) an elongated main housing co-axially aligned with, and longitudinally spaced from the main housing, and securely engaged with a portion of the elongated shaft; and (d) a stripping housing rotatably co-axially positioned within the main housing, and including first and second openings formed through opposing surfaces thereof, wherein the stripping housing is rotatably movable between two positions, each of which exposes one or the other of the first and second openings towards the free end of the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing coating material from a tubing is disclosed that includes a tool body, a tubing support, a slider support, a slider accommodated with the slider support, and a blade attached to the slider, wherein the tubing support, the slider support, and the slider are accommodated with the tool body. The apparatus can be utilized to remove protective coating materials from steel tubing, by placing the tubing on the tubing support, lowering the blade to the tubing, and rotating the apparatus around the tubing.

Abstract: A versatile hand-held scissors-type cutting and stripping tool includes a pair of pivotally connected handle members, a cutting and stripping blade carried by one of the handle members for cutting flat and round insulated conductors, and for stripping insulation from round insulated conductors, and a pair of flat stripping blades for stripping the outer insulation layer from a flat thin multi-conductor cable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing coaxial cables by cutting the outer conductor, the dielectric and the central conductor to length, the cable being first cut perpendicularly to its axis, and then treated by means of a tool with a blade (3) allowing to shear the sheath off, while a guide (7) comes to rest on the central conductor and, under the action of a positioning and abutment device (8), (9), (10), one or more supplementary blades (5), i.e. (14), (15) respectively, cut the outer conductor, the dielectric and the inner conductor, and possibly the outer conductor is treated by means of a flaring tool. The invention also relates to a special tool for this coaxial cable preparing method, which comprises a blade (3) allowing to shear the sheath off; a guide (7) which may rest on the central conductor; a positioning and abutment tool (8), (9), (10); one or more supplementary blades (5), i.e. (14), (15) respectively, allowing to cut the outer conductor, the dielectric and the inner conductor.

Abstract: A plastic sheath cutting and slitting hand tool for cutting and slitting a cable sheath of a cable includes a generally flat, elongated body; a handle portion adapted to be grasped by the hand; a tool portion extending outwardly from the handle portion and exposing a sheath scoring blade for scoring a plastic sheath to a controlled depth less than a nominal thickness of the sheath; and, a generally flat sheath engaging and slitting edge including a sheath slitter for engaging, spreading and slitting the plastic sheath lengthwise when the handle portion is grasped and drawn along the sheathed body from a cut of the sheath made by the sheath cutting blade.

Abstract: A cable sheathing slitter attachment for a wire stripper tool. The cable sheathing slitter attachment is preferably integrally formed of sheet metal and a blade member and a guard member. The blade member includes a blade portion having first and second oppositely facing knife-edges and a mounting portion having an opening that facilitates the mounting of the blade member to a jaw of the wire slitter tool. The guard member includes a mounting portion with a hole therethrough and a U-shaped guard portion. A fastener passes through the hole in the mounting portion of the guard member, the elongated opening in the mounting portion of the blade member and through the hole in the respective jaw to mount the guard and blade members to the jaw of the wire stripper tool. The guard is rotatable with respect to the knife-edges to expose the knife-edges when it is desired to use the same for the slitting of non-metallic sheathed cables.

Abstract: An improved cable preparation tool and an accompanying method which, when utilized concurrently, prepare fully shielded cables for termination into connecting devices. A preferred embodiment of the tool has hinged first and second tool handles biased together about a hinge by a resilient member. One end of a tool handle is fitted with a receptacle to receive and mount a detachable blade cartridge assembly which cuts the cable jacket and shielding metallic foils wrapped around individual pairs of insulated wires. A second receptacle is provided in either tool handle to receive a detachable template cartridge assembly which is used to properly position wires for termination into a connector. An exemplary method of cable preparation using the tool includes removing a cutting a cable jacket, cutting a plurality of foils and aligning wires using a single cable preparation tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and pliers for cutting amorphous light wave guide cables including a core and at least one insulating sheath. The pliers include a pliers head, a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw being arranged in the pliers head. The first and second clamping jaw are designed and arranged to form a clamping profile to receive a light wave guide cable. A cutting element is arranged in the pliers head to be stationary. A drive is operatively connected to the first and second clamping jaw to move the first and second clamping jaw in one direction with respect to the cutting element during a stroke of movement, the stroke of movement including a clamping stroke, a cutting stroke and an opening stroke. The present invention also relates to a method of cutting optical fiber cables.

Abstract: The invention relates to stripping tools for coaxial cables with a corrugated outer conductor (9) and a hollow inner conductor (31). The tool comprises three main parts: a jacket cutting means (1) for removing a certain predetermined length of the jacket (7) of the cable, a guide part (10) to be placed around the end of the cable after the jacket (7) has been removed by means of said jacket cutting means (1), and a second cutting means (18) to be placed on said guide part (10) during a final preparation of the end of the cable during which the inner conductor (31), the outer conductor (9) and the dielectric material (32) between inner- and outer conductor are being cut off to appropriate lengths. The guide part (10) is provided with means (16, 16′) determining a well-defined longitudinal position of the tool on the cable relative to the pattern of valleys (17) and crests (33) of the corrugation on the outer conductor (9).

Abstract: A mechanical stripping apparatus for displacing resin from a resin covered filament by forming a removable sleeve portion between opposing filament ends. The mechanical stripping apparatus comprises a first clamp for holding a filament at a first location and a second clamp having a separation from the first clamp and in axial alignment therewith for holding a filament at a second location. A first set of cutting blades adjacent to the first clamp is positioned for cutting into resin around a resin covered filament proximate to the first location. The mechanical stripping apparatus also includes a second set of cutting blades adjacent to the second clamp for cutting into resin around a resin covered filament proximate to the second location, such that a distance separates the first set of cutting blades from the second set of cutting blades. The distance between sets of cutting blades is less than the separation between the clamps.

Abstract: A pair of rotational peeling pliers. The pliers include an upper and lower half part and an adjustment member, wherein, the middle sections of the upper and lower half parts are connected to form an upper and a lower clamping arm on the front section as well as an upper and lower handle on the rear section of the pliers. The upper clamping arm has a knife, and the lower clamping arm has wire recesses. When one of the recesses is filled by a wire, and the upper and lower clamping arms are pressed to get close to each other, the knife cuts into an outer insulation layer on the wire to peel it. The adjustment member includes a fixing seat, the knife and an adjustment portion. The fixing seat is inserted in the receiving groove with the bottom thereof fixedly clamping the knife.

Abstract: A tool for removing insulation from coaxial cable includes a fixed double-edged cutting blade mounted on the tool body and a planar cutting blade that is mounted on a cassette to move perpendicular to the axis of the cable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position. The double-edged cutting blade includes a transverse cutting edge and a longitudinal cutting edge, the transverse cutting edge lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the cable and the longitudinal cutting edge lying in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the cable. The planar cutting blade has a cutting edge lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cable. The blades may be mounted on the same end of the tool, requiring that the coaxial cable be inserted only once into the tool, or on opposite ends of the tool.

Abstract: A tool for removing insulation from coaxial cable includes a fixed double-edged cutting blade mounted on the tool body and a planar cutting blade that is mounted on a cassette to move perpendicular to the axis of the cable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position. The double-edged cutting blade includes a transverse cutting edge and a longitudinal cutting edge, the transverse cutting edge lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the cable and the longitudinal cutting edge lying in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the cable. The planar cutting blade has a cutting edge lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cable. The blades may be mounted on the same end of the tool, requiring that the coaxial cable be inserted only once into the tool, or on opposite ends of the tool.

Abstract: A laminated blade assembly including a stationary blade and a pair of insulation supports and a movable blade and a pair of insulation supports with each blade sandwiched between a pair of supports. Semi-circular grooves formed in the insulation supports and smaller semi-circular grooves formed in blades in alignment with the insulation support grooves creating circular grooves to support and cut the insulation when the stationary and movable blades come together. The support semi-circular grooves of one of the stationary and movable insulation supports are located with their peripheries tangent to a straight line which is not parallel to the center lines of the blade semi-circular grooves.

Abstract: The present invention is a cable preparation tool which allows the preparation of a coaxial cable having a corrugated outer conductor to receive a connector in one step. The tool allows for the control of trim dimensions for each component of the cable without measuring. No matter whether the end of the cable before preparation is at the crest or valley of the outer conductor, the tool provides the correct trim dimensions for each component and stops cutting when these dimensions are reached. The cable preparation tool includes a main body having a cable receiving end, cable receiving area for stripping of the cable such that the crests and valleys are exposed, and a crest and valley locating system as part of the main body for locating the exposed crests and valleys of the corrugated conductor. The crest and valley locating system includes at least one valley locator unit extending into the cable receiving area and a spring that biases the valley locator unit into the cable receiving area.

Abstract: The present invention is a cable preparation tool which allows the preparation of a coaxial cable having a corrugated outer conductor to receive a connector in one step. The tool allows for the control of trim dimensions for each component of the cable without measuring. No matter whether the end of the cable before preparation is at the crest or valley of the outer conductor, the tool provides the correct trim dimensions for each component and stops cutting when these dimensions are reached. The cable preparation tool includes a main body having a cable receiving end, cable receiving area for stripping of the cable such that the crests and valleys are exposed, and a crest and valley locating system as part of the main body for locating the exposed crests and valleys of the corrugated conductor. The crest and valley locating system includes at least one valley locator unit extending into the cable receiving area and a spring that biases the valley locator unit into the cable receiving area.

Abstract: A slitting and shaving tool for separating a coaxial cable with a curved outer surface from an adjacent cable connected to it with a web of insulating material. The tool includes a slitting blade for cutting through the web to separate the cables and a shaving blade with a curved cutting edge for shaving off excess web material to leave a smooth cylindrical outer surface on the coaxial cable. The tool is hinged to swing open, allowing the tool to be used at intermediate locations along the length of a messengered cable. A cable guide surface on the tool body has a double radius to accommodate cables that have a slight bend. The shaving blade is adjustable towards and away from the cable being shaved. A relief hole allows the shaved excess web material to exit the tool. The relief hole is specially shaped to make it easy to position the curved cutting edge of the shaving blade correctly by locating it in alignment with the apparent perimeter of the relief hole.

Abstract: A tool for coaxial cables including a body with a nose portion having a slot therein of a size suitable for receiving a connector of a coaxial cable therein, an arm pivotally connected to the body and movable between a first position outwardly of the body and a second position adjacent the body, a crimper member slidably positioned in the body and having an end facing the slot, and a stripper member mounted within the body. The crimper member is movable into the slot when the arm is moved from the first position to the second position. The arm has a knife member affixed thereto so as to face a sharp edge of a knife member affixed to a body. The stripper member includes a plug member slidably positioned in a channel within the body and having a protrusion extending outwardly of the body and a knife element affixed to the plug member so as to have an edge extending across an interior opening of the stripper member.

Abstract: A sheathed optical fiber cutting method and cutting apparatus for cutting the sheathed optical fiber, under such a condition that the sheathed optical fiber (12) is relatively rotated around its center axis (Ax) against a cutting blade (18) and bent, by making an incision in an area having a bent curvature larger than that of the center of the bent optical fiber along the center axis (Ax), from the tension-applied surface (12A) to which a tension is applied due to fiber bending toward the fiber center.

Abstract: The present invention is a cable preparation tool which allows the preparation of a coaxial cable having a corrugated outer conductor to receive a connector in one step. The tool allows for the control of trim dimensions for each component of the cable without measuring. No matter whether the end of the cable before preparation is at the crest or valley of the outer conductor, the tool provides the correct trim dimensions for each component and stops cutting when these dimensions are reached. The cable preparation tool includes a main body having a cable receiving end, cable receiving area for stripping of the cable such that the crests and valleys are exposed, and a crest and valley locating system as part of the main body for locating the exposed crests and valleys of the corrugated conductor. The crest and valley locating system includes at least one valley locator unit extending into the cable receiving area and a spring that biases the valley locator unit into the cable receiving area.

Abstract: A plastic sheath cutting and slitting hand tool for cutting and slitting a cable sheath of a cable includes a generally flat, elongated body; a handle portion adapted to be grasped by the hand; a tool portion extending outwardly from the handle portion and exposing a sheath scoring blade for scoring a plastic sheath to a controlled depth less than a nominal thickness of the sheath; and, a generally flat sheath engaging and slitting edge including a sheath slitter for engaging, spreading and slitting the plastic sheath lengthwise when the handle portion is grasped and drawn along the sheathed body from a cut of the sheath made by the sheath cutting blade.

Abstract: A cable cutter for cutting a cable by using an explosive event is provided. The cable cutter includes a main body and an initiator assembly connected to the main body. The main cutter includes a cutterjaw and a receptacle having an opening accommodating a cable, a longitudinal bore formed in the housing and connected to the receptacle and having an inner opening and an outer opening, a cutter blade having a cutting edge facing the inner opening and a base facing the outer opening, being inserted into the bore of the receptacle, and slidably moving toward the cutter jaw within the bore of the receptacle to cut a cable disposed within the receptacle and between the cutter jaw and the cutting edge of the cutter blade. The initiator assembly includes a coupler, a passageway formed within the coupler, a cap covering having a hole connected to the coupler, and an explosive material and detonator are inserted through the hole in the cap into the passageway.

Abstract: An adjustable wire stripper includes a housing, a cutter holder revolvably mounted in a top open chamber of the housing and holding a cutter outside the housing for cutting the insulator of an electric wire, a lever adapted to rotate the cutter holder in the housing, a sliding pressure plate mounted in the housing and adapted to hold down the electric wire to be stripped on the cutter of the cutter holder, a sliding push plate slidably mounted in the housing and adapted to push the sliding pressure plate upwards for the loading of the electric wire to be stripped, a tensile spring adapted to pull the sliding push plate downwards in the housing, and an adjustment screw installed in a bottom axle hole of the housing and inserted through a bottom through hole of the sliding push plate and threaded into a female screw of the sliding pressure and adapted for adjusting the pitch between the pressure head of the sliding pressure plate and the cutter of the cutter holder subject to the diameter of the electric wire t

Abstract: An improved cable preparation tool and an accompanying method which, when utilized concurrently, prepare fully shielded cables for termination into connecting devices. A preferred embodiment of the tool has hinged first and second tool handles biased together about a hinge by a resilient member. One end of a tool handle is fitted with a receptacle to receive and mount a detachable blade cartridge assembly which cuts the cable jacket and shielding metallic foils wrapped around individual pairs of insulated wires. A second receptacle is provided in either tool handle to receive a detachable template cartridge assembly which is used to properly position wires for termination into a connector. An exemplary method of cable preparation using the tool includes removing a cutting a cable jacket, cutting a plurality of foils and aligning wires using a single cable preparation tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic optical fiber stripping machine and, more particularly, to an automatic optical fiber stripping machine, which is practical for stripping optical fibers of different diameters efficiently. The automatic optical fiber stripping machine helps the user obtain the desired length of bared glass core for further standardized coupler, optical passive component manufacturing, and accurately strips optical fibers of different diameters without damaging the glass core.

Abstract: A method for mechanically stripping the protective coating from a silica or glass optical fiber using a polymeric or soft metal blade having a hardness less than that of the glass optical fiber but greater than the protective coating. The blade is preferably selected from a group of polymeric materials, or alternately a soft metal, which is selected or treated so as to not detrimentally oxidize in conventional operating environments. For a silica-containing optical fiber, the blade has a hardness of less than approximately 125 on the Knoop hardness scale, and preferably less than approximately 60 on the Knoop hardness scale. A method of inhibiting damage to the exposed region of the silica-containing optical fiber comprises applying a substance that forms a protective layer to provide a barrier to particulates and moisture, and which does not inhibit subsequent processing of the optical fiber, selected from a group of silane-containing compounds.

Abstract: A combined sheathing stripper and sheathing cutter tool for non-metallic sheathed cable. The tool includes a body that is used to retain a slitter-blade and a cutter-blade. The slitter-blade includes a first knife edge that is located on a first side of the tool body when the blade is mounted in the body and a second knife edge that is located on the other side of the tool body. The knife edges are oriented such that the first knife edge may be used for slitting a cable sheathing by pushing the tool while the first knife edge is engaging the sheathing and the second knife edge may be used for slitting a cable sheathing by pulling the tool while the second knife edge is engaging the sheathing. An opening is provided within the body and the cutter-blade includes a knife edge that faces the opening when the cutter-blade is mounted in the body. A cable sheathing that has been slit may be passed through the opening and cut off using the cutter-blade.

Abstract: A cutting tool for removing encapsulant surrounding a fiber optic cable splice includes a rotating cutting head, with the head coupled through a vacuum tube to a collection bag. The cutting head preferably includes alternating rows of cutting blades and brushes, where the brushes function to direct the debris from the cutting head into the vacuum tube.

Abstract: An auto-aligning ribbon splitter which can be used on any size optical fiber ribbon made by any manufacturer. The auto-aligning ribbon splitter centers an optical fiber ribbon over a first splitting edge so that it can be split into two sub-units each having an equal number of optical fibers therein. The auto-aligning ribbon splitter includes a bottom plate having a channel. The channel includes a first splitting edge. Two movable plates are disposed on the bottom plate so that they are parallel to, and are centered about, the first splitting edge. A mechanism, such as an adjustment rod, is connected to the movable plates to change their position relative to the first splitting edge, but maintain each plate at an equal distance from the first splitting edge. A second splitting edge, on a top body, may then be pressed against the centered ribbon to cause an initial split between two sub-units, as the top body pushes half of the ribbon into the channel on the bottom plate.

Abstract: Cable and wire cutters of new design have an outside cutter member containing an arcuate cavity within which an inside cylinderical cutter member rotates about a common pivot axis so separate cutting slots in the outside and inside cutter members cross during the cutting operation within the circumference of the inside cutter thereby remarkably improving the mechanical advantage in these new cutters as compared to the prior art because cutting of the work piece occurs closer to the common pivot axis of the cutting slots than has been possible with prior known cable and wire cutters. A variety of specific embodiments of the new cutter design are disclosed.