The stripping and terminating of conductors in multi core cables.

摘要

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for stripping and terminating the conductors of a multi core electrical cable with the method including the steps of stripping a length of the outer insulation (56) from one end of the cable (58) to expose the separately insulated cable conductors (60), locating the insulated cable conductors (60) in a holder (10) with the free ends of the insulated conductors (60) projecting in a spaced parallel relationship from the holder (10), activating a gripper (28) to grip the insulation of the conductors in the holder (10), activating an insulation stripper (16) to cut the insulation on each of the conductors (60) at a predetermined distance from its free end and to hold the insulation between the cuts and free ends of the conductors (60), moving the holder (10) while gripping the conductors (60) in the axial direction of the conductors (60) away from the stripper (16), to strip the free ends of the conductors (60) from the insulation which is held by the stripper (16), to a position in which the stripped ends of the conductors are in register with the crimp portions of pre-located crimp-on electrical terminals (50) and terminating the conductors by activating a crimp punch (52) to crimp the terminals (50) to the stripped ends of the conductors (60). The apparatus includes a holder (10) for holding the insulated conductors (60) with the free end of each conductor projecting from the holder (10), a gripper (28) for gripping the insulation of the conductors (60) in the holder (10), means (A) for actuating the gripper (28), a stripper arrangement (16) including blades (52, 54) for cutting the insulation on each conductor (60) at a predetermined distance from its free end and for holding the insulation between the cuts and the free ends of the conductors, means (B) for actuating the stripper arrangement, means for moving the holder (10) in the axial direction of the conductors (60) to a second position away from the stripper arrangement (16) to strip the free ends of the conductors (60) from the insulation when held by the stripper (16), a crimp anvil (20) which is located directly below the stripped ends of the conductors in the second position of the holder (10), a crimp punch (52) and means (D) for activating the crimp punch (52) to crimp lugs (50) located on the anvil (20) to the stripped ends of the conductors (60).