US3753280A

US3753280A - Insulation stripping device adapted for use with terminal attaching machine

Info

Publication number: US3753280A
Application number: US00209226A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Ottens; H Blakeney; H Lowe
Original assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
Current assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp; Amphenol Interconnect Products Corp
Priority date: 1971-12-17
Filing date: 1971-12-17
Publication date: 1973-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-21
Also published as: FR2165468A5; JPS4867780A; DE2260556A1; GB1418466A; CA985883A

Abstract

A device for stripping a selected length of insulation from a conductor which device is adapted for use with a machine for attaching terminals to the conductor. A pair of camming elements, such as inclined planes, are mounted for movement with a terminal applying member. As the member moves toward a terminal applying position, a first of the inclined planes is operative to actuate an insulation cutting means and a conductor gripping means. Further movement of the terminal applying member moves the second inclined plane into a position to transfer the gripping means away from the cutting means, effectively stripping the severed insulation from the conductor and positioning the bare end of the conductor to be attached to a terminal by the terminal applying member. On the return cycle of the terminal applying member, a pneumatic mechanism is actuated to release the severed piece of insulation and to remove the insulation from the mechanism.

Description

[ Aug. 21, 1973 United States Patent [191 Blakeney et al.

[ INSULATION STRIPPING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager ArtorneyFrederick M. Arbuckle ADAPTED FOR USE WITH TERMINAL ATTACHING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Hurley J. Blakeney, Gilbertsvill ABSTRACT lh'larold V. Lowe, Kirkwood; Gunther w. one, Deposit, a of NY A device for stripping a selected length of insulation from a conductor WhlCh device is adapted for use with hing terminals to the conductor. A ements, such as inclined planes, are ment with a terminal applying memer moves toward a terminal applying position, a first of the inclined planes is operative to actuate an insulation cutting means and a conductor l aee t v mm om r mm mmr mmm .mw eS womA TU. m.l r. a e aPmb k a O n 0 m. w r 0 C 0 l 7 m m ,7 1 w. not "re BBD e n 8 d m 8 s H A F N U 7 2 .l l.

[21] Appl. No.: 209,226

ppp yping means. Further movement of the terminal ing member moves the second inclined plane into a position to transfer the gripping means away from the cutting means, effectively stripping the severed insulation from the conductor a nd positioning the bare end of the ched to a terminal by the terminal On the return cycle of the terminal a pneumatic mechanism is actuated DM M M339 2 NU w. ,8 z D flmus wa "9 ZT UWW NW3 N nO mmm mMm mmmm mm m2 Hr-w mmw2 m, In C s n UIF 11]] 2 8 555 [ll a n., mm mm wee mm t .m.m mwrw nD-D. Opp Caa S T N m A P CS E E nT NS D E W N U M 5 piece of insulation and to remove m .B n a h C e m 6 wow r m r m mm t mm au hm .1 6 Oh tt 29/203 DX 29/335 Folkenroth 81/9 51 3,363,309 1/1968 Logan et al. 2,774,! 30 12/1956 Folkenroth 3,084,574 4/1963 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WWW a Patented Aug. 21,1973

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 21, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill M lli? ""MWM mulnumh INSULATION STRIPPING DEVICE ADAPTER FOR USE WITH ATTACHING MACHINE determined length of insulation from the end of an insulated conductor and more particularly to an insulation stripping device adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor.

BACKGROUND Machines have for many years been available for securing a terminal or connector to the prestripped end of an insulated electrical conductor. In most instances the machine secures the terminal to the conductor by crimping, although other techniques such as spot welding and soldering are also utilized.

One problem with these machines is the requirement that the conductor be prestripped. This operation is normally performed either by a separate machine or by hand. Further, where a stranded conductor is utilized, the conductor tends to fray after stripping, and a rewinding operation, again either in a separate machine or by hand, is required before a terminal can be attached to the conductor. Terminal attaching with existing machines thus involves two or three separate operations. It is therefore apparent that if the stripping and terminal attaching operations could be performed by a single machine in a single operation, a significant saving in time, labor, and equipment could be obtained.

In recognition of the above, some combination stripping and crimping machines have been developed. These machines have, however, required relatively complex linkages between the crimping mechanism such as, for example, the crimping ram, and the mechanism utilized for stripping. These complex linkages have increased the cost of manufacturing these machines and have made them somewhat difficult to adjust and maintain. More significantly, the complex linkages between the crimping and stripping portions of the machine have made it virtually impossible to add the stripping feature to an existing crimping machine in the field. Owners of existing crimping machines are thus faced with a choice of either the present inefficient multi-step mode of operation or of purchasing a completely new machine. A need therefore exists for a relatively simple insulation stripping device which may be easily fitted to existing crimping or similar terminal attaching machines. In order to achieve the required simplicity in the stripping operation and in the fitting of the device to existing terminal applying machines the device should preferably require no direct linkage to the machine motor or other prime mover, being operated instead from the movement of the ram or other moving terminal applying member of the machine. To achieve optimum versatility, the device should also be adjustable to accommodate various gages of conductor and strip varying lengths of insulation from the conductor.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an insulation stripping attachment suitable for use with a machine for crimping or otherwise attaching terminals to insulated conductors.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a crimping attachment of the type indicated above which is relatively simple and inexpensive to make, adjust, and maintain.

A still more specific object of this invention is to provide a stripping attachment of the type indicated above which may be easily titted to existing terminal attaching machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stripping attachment of the type indicated above which may be easily and accurately adjusted to operate with various different gages of conductor and to strip different lengths of insulation.

A feature of this invention is the use of the existing mechanism for driving a terminal applying member to operate the insulation stripping device.

SUMMARY In accordance with these objects and features this invention provides a device for stripping a selected length of insulation from a conductor which device is adapted for use with a machine for attaching terminals to the conductor. The machine has a base on which the terminals are supported and a terminal applying member which is cyclically moved relative to the base. The device includes a cutting means which is positioned on one side of the base that includes at least two blades, and a gripping means which is positioned on the oppsoite side of the base. The gripping means has at least two normally spaced surfaces. A first and a second cam means are attached to move with the terminal applying member. Follower means are provided which are operative when the member reaches a position prior to that at which terminal attaching occurs and are responsive to the first cam means for actuating the cutting means, moving the blades together to cut the insulation between them, and to actuate the gripping means. A means is also provided which is operative after said cutting and gripping means have been actuated, and is responsive to the second cam means to move the gripper means away from the cutting means to remove the severed insulation from the end of the conductor and position the bare and of the conductor to be attached to the terminal by the terminal applying member. A means is also provided to free the severed insulation and to remove it from the machine.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. l is a partially exploded, partially cut away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the insulation cutting device of this invention positioned on a terminal crimping machine.

FIG. 2 is a sectional top view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 at the point in the operation where cutting of the insulation has occurred but the conductor has not been moved from the cutting position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the mechanism at the same point in the operation as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cut away side view of a portion of the mechanism at the same point in the operation as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a cut away side view of the portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4; at the point in the operation where crimping occurs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While as has been indicated above, the device of this invention may be utilized with a machine for applying terminals to a conductor in a variety of different ways, terminals are most frequently applied to a conductor by a crimping machine. The description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is therefore with reference to a crimping machine.

Referring now to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1, it is seen that the device of this invention is formed of three separate subassemblies, an inclined plane or camming subassembly 10, a cutting subassembly 12, and a gripping subassembly 14. The camming-subassembly consists of a first inclined plane 16 which is mounted by screws 18 on the piston or ram 20 of an automatic terminal crimping machine, and a second inclined plane 22 which is secured by screws 24 to inclined plane 16. Screws 18 pass through slots 26 in inclined plane 16.

Planes

16 and 22 may thus be moved forward and back relative to ram 20 when screws 18 are loosened. Vernier scale 28 is utilized to indicate and control the positioning of the planes. The reason for controlling the positioning of the planeswill be described shortly;

Cutting assembly 12 includes a hollow housing 30 which is sealed at one end by an end plate 32. A first blade 34 is secured by screw 36 to an adjustable blade holder 38. Blade holder 38 may be moved horizontally by rotating head 40. Head 40 is attached to a screw which passes through plate 32 and attaches to holder 38. Holder 38 is moved to position blade 34 for the cutting of insulation on various gauges of conductor. Vernier scale 42 indicates the gauge wire which the head is set for any given time. Except for the adjustment indicated above to compensate for various gauges of conductor, blade 34 remains stationary.

Assembly 12 also includes a second blade 44 which is secured to a cam follower 46 by a screw 48. A spring 50 attached at one end to a dowel'52 on follower 46 and at the other end to a plate 54 attached to housing 30 by a screw 56 normally maintains follower 46 in the position shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the

blades

34 and 44 are separated from each other.

The amount of insulation stripped from the conductor is controlled by the positioning of adjustable and retractable stop 58. Stop 58 is mounted on one end of shaft 60. Shaft 60 passes out to the rear of housing 30 and is screwed into fitting 61. Fitting 61 is secured to an extended, spring return, pneumatic cylinder 63. Cylinder 63 is supported by post 65 which is mounted on base 74. A set screw 62 may be loosened to permit the rotation of shaft 60, thus permitting the position of stop 58 to be manually adjusted. A scale 64 scribed on shaft 60 indicates the length of insulation being stripped for each position of the shaft and stop.

The final element of cutting assembly 12 is air hose 66 which terminates in a T-connection 67. One output from the T-connection leads to a nozzle 68 facing the opening in housing 30 behind

blades

34 and 44. The center output from T-connection 67 leads to pneumatic cylinder 63. As will be seen later, a blast of air applied to hose 66 at a suitable point in the operating cycle of the device is utilized to retract the pneumatic cylinder, and thus stop 58, freeing the stripped insulation and to remove the stripped insulation from the machine. Housing 30 is mounted by screws 70 and posts 72 on base 74 of the crimping machine.

Gripping assembly 14 of the device includes a fulcrum block 76 which is secured by screws 78 to base 74 of the crimping machine. A slotted T-bar 80 is hinged to fulcrum block 76 by dowels 82. Bar is normally maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a spring 84 secured at one end to T-bar 80 by screw 86 and at the other end to base 74 by a screw (not shown). T-bar 80 has mounted therein a pair of

gripping heads

88 and 90. Head 88 is attached to an adjusting screw 92. Head 88 is positioned manually by screw 92 depending on the gauge conductor being utilized. A scale such as scale 42 (not shown) is provided to control the positioning of head 88. Head is connected to a cam follower 94 which is normally biased to the position shown in FIG. 1 by spring 96. Spring 96 is mounted in much the same way as spring 50. Follower 94 and head 90 are adapted to be moved horizontally against the action of spring 96 to grip a wire position between

heads

88 and 90.

Heads

88 and 90 and the elements attached thereto are held in T-bar 80 by

plates

98 and 100 respectively. Plate 98 is secured to T-bar 80 by screws 102 and plate 100 is secured to the T-bar by screws 104.

In addition to the elements already mentioned, the crimping machine includes a crimping die 106 attached to ram 20 and an anvil or die 108 attached to base 74. Terminals 110 having open barrels 112 are fed from the side to a crimping position at anvil 108. The details of the crimper hardware and of its operation do not form part of the present invention and will be described in the following only to the extent necessary to understand the operation of the stripping device.

OPERATION In operation, the machine is initially in substantially the position shown in FIG. 1 with ram 20 in a raised position, follower 46 extended permitting

blades

34 and 44 to be separated, follower 94 extended permitting gripper heads 88 and 90 to be separated from each other, and T-bar 80 in a substantially vertial position. The machine remains in the condition shown in FIG. 1 until a conductor to which aterminal 110 is to be attached is inserted between

heads

88 and 90 and

blades

34 and 44. As may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the conductor is inserted until its leading edge makes contact with stop 58. Stop 58 may contain a microswitch which activates the crimpingmachine in a standard manner when the wire bears against it, or a foot pedal or other operator control device may be provided to cause a cycle of the machine to be initiated when the conductor has been properly positioned.

When a cycle of the machine is initiated, ram 20 starts to move down toward base 74. The exact mechanism utilized for driving ram 20 does not form part of the present invention and any one of a variety of standard electrical or electrically controlled drive mechanisms may be employed.

As ram 20 moves down, the inclined leading edge 122 of inclined plane 16 makes contact with followers 46 and 94. As ram 20 continues to move down, followers 46 and 94 are cammed in (toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2). When ram 20 and plane 16 have reached the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, followers 46 and 94 are in a retracted position causing blade 44 to come into close proximity with blade 34 to cut the insulation on conductor 120 and causing head 90 to come into close proximity with head 88 to grip the insulated conductor there between.

As ram 20 continues to move downward, inclined surface 124 of inclined plane 22 comes into contact with the portion of follower 94 still extending beyond T-bar 80. Surface 124 acts on follower 94 as ram 20 continues to move down to pivot T-bar 80 counterclockwise as viewed in the figures on dowels 82. Since conductor 120 is being firmly held by gripper heads 88 and 90, the counter-clockwise rotation of T-bar 80 causes the conductor to be pulled out from between

blades

34 and 44. As the conductor is pulled out, the portion of the conductor insulation behind the cut made by the blades is removed from the conductor. Plane 16 is positioned on ram 20 by use of ve rnier 28 so that plane 22 is effective to completely remove the conductor from between the cutting blades and to position the bare end of the conductor over open barrel 1 12 of the terminal on crimping anvil or die 108 at the exact instant that die 106' is lowered to a position in contact with the conductor. The bifurcated leading edge of die 106 is then effective to force the conductor into open barrel 112 of the terminal and to then crimp the terminal around the conductor.

When the crimping operation has been completed, the crimping mechanism is effective to raise ram 20. As the ram raising operation is begun, a suitable mechanism is provided for opening a valve (not shown) to cause a blast of compressed air to be applied through hose 66 and T-connection 67 to pneumatic cylinder 63. This caused the cylinder, with shaft 60 and stop 58 attached thereto, to be moved backward. The backward movement of stop 58 frees the removed insulation which was being held between stop 58 and

blades

34, 44, permitting the blast of air applied through T- connection 67 to nozzle 58 to blow the stripped piece of insulation from the mechanism. As ram 20 returns to the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, T-bar 80 is returned to the position shown in these figures by spring 84. Similarly, when ram 20 raises plane 16 to a point where it no longer contacts followers 46 and 94, these followers return to the position shown in FIG. 1 under the action of

springs

50 and 96 respectively. The return of follower 94 to the position shown in FIG. 1 separates gripper heads 88 and 90 releasing the conductor and permitting it to be manually removed from the machine. At the same time, the crimping machine, by means which do not form part of the present invention, moves a new terminal 110 into the crimping position on anvil 108. The machine is thus restored to its initial condition in preparation for the next crimpingstripping cycle on a conductor inserted into the machine.

From the above it is apparent that a stripping attachment may be easily added to existing crimping or other terminal attaching machines by mounting three subassemblies to the machine. While methods have been shown for mounting the subassemblies for a particular crimping machine, it is apparent that the exact method of mounting the subassemblies would, to some extent, vary depending on the configuration of the terminal attaching machine itself. Further, while for the preferred embodiment of the invention, ram 20 has moved down, it is apparent that the device of this invention could be modified to operate with any terminal attaching machine utilizing a terminal attaching mechanism which is cyclically moved relative to a base into a terminal attaching position. Thus, for example, the camming inclined planes could be suitably modified to operate with a ram mechanism which comes in from, for example, the bottom, front, back, or side as well as from the top. It is also apparent that the particular mechanisms shown for performing each of the functions of this in; vention could be replaced with equivalent mechanisms for performing the functions. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described above with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

- l. A device for stripping a selected length of insulation from an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for attaching a terminal to a conductor by use of a member moving in a direction perpendicular to the conductor, comprising:

an insulation cutting means having. at least two blades; lst follower means attached to at least one of said blades and adapted when operated to urge the blades toward each other; gripper means having at least two normally spaced surfaces, said gripper means being positioned relative to said cutting means so as to grip a conductor behind the point at which a cut occurs; 2nd follower means attached to at least one of said surfaces and adapted, when operated, to urge said surfaces toward each other; lst cam means attached to move with said member, said 1st cam means being positioned to operate said 1st and 2nd follower means at a point in the movement of the member prior to the point at which the conductor is attached to the terminal; and 2nd cam means attached to move with said member and adapted to move said gripper means away from said cutting means after said cutting and gripping means have been operated, said movement of the gripper means causing said selected length of insulation to be removed from the conductor and positioning the stripped length of conductor to be attached to the terminal by said member. 2. A device of the type described in claim 1 wherein said second cam means coacts with said 2nd follower means to move said gripper means away from said cutting means.

3. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a 1st position to a 2nd position and returns to said lst position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising:

cutting means positioned on one side of said base; gripping means positioned on the opposite side of said base;

lst and 2nd camming means attached to move with said terminal applying member;

means operative when said member reaches a third position, said third position being between said lst and 2nd position, and responsive to said lst camming means for actuating said cutting and said gripping means; and

means operative when said member reaches a fourth position, said fourth position being between said 3rd and 2nd positions, and responsive to said 2nd camming means for moving said gripper means away from said cutting means to strip the severed insulation from the end of the conductor, leaving a bare conductor end, and to position the bare end of the conductor to be attached to the terminal by said member.

4. A device of the type described in claim 3 including means for controlling said 4th position by varying the position of said 2nd camming means on said terminal applying member, whereby the amount by which the gripping means is moved away from the cutting means is controlled to properly position the conductor depending on the length of insulation which is to be stripped.

5. A device of the type described in claim 3 including means operative after a terminal has been applied to the conductor by the terminal applying member for releasing the severed insulation and removing it from the machine.

6. A device of the type described in claim 3 including a stop against which the end of the conductor is initially positioned; and wherein said severed insulation releasing and removing means includes means for pneumatically retracting said stop to release the insulation, and means for blowing the released insulation from the ma chine.

7. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a tenninal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a first position to a second position and returns to said first position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising:

a cutting assembly attachable on one side of said base;

a gripping assembly attachable on the opposite side of said base;

a camming assembly attachable to move with said member;

means included as part of said cutting assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for actuating said cutting assembly to cut the insulation on said conductor, said means being operative at a third position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine;

first means included as part of said gripping assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for actuating said gripping assembly to grip said conductor, said means being operative at said third position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine; and

second means included as part of said gripping assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for moving a conductor held by said gripping assembly away from said cutting assembly and into a position to be attached to a terminal by said terminal applying member, said means being operative at a fourth position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine, said fourth position occurring later in said cycle then said third position but prior to said second position.

8. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a first position to a second position and returns to said first position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising:

a camming assembly attachable to move with said member, said camming assembly including a 1st and a 2nd inclined plane; a cutting assembly attachable on one side of said base, said cutting assembly having a cam follower and at least one blade, said cam follower coacting with said first inclined plane when said assemblies are attached to said machine and said terminal applying member is in a third position between said 1st and 2nd positions to urge the blade into a position to cut the conductor insulation; and gripping assembly attachable on the opposite side of said base, said gripping assembly having a cam follower and a gripping surface attached thereto, said cam follower coacting with said 1st inclined plane when said assemblies are attached to said machine and said terminal applying means is in said 3rd position to urge the gripping surface into a position to grip said conductor, said inclined plane coacting with said 2nd inclined plane when said terminal applying member is in a 4th position between said 2nd and 3rd positions to move the gripping surface and the conductor held thereby away from the cutting assembly to remove severed insulation from the conductor and to position the resulting bare end of the conductor to be attached to a terminal by said terminal applying means.

.9. A device of the type described in claim 8 including means for controlling said 4th position by varying the position of said 2nd inclined plane on said terminal applying member, whereby the amount by which the gripping surface is moved away from the cutting assembly is controlled to properly position the conductor depending on the length of insulation which is to be stripped.

10. A device of the type described in claim 8 including means operative after a terminal has been applied to the conductor by the terminal applying member for releasing the severed insulation and removing it from the machine.

11. A device of the type described in claim 10 wherein said cutting assembly includes a stop against which the end of the conductor is initially positioned;

and wherein said severed insulation releasing and removing means includes means for pneumatically retracting said stop to release the insulation, and means for blowing the released insulation from the machine.

12. A device of the type described in claim 8 wherein said gripping assembly includes a bar pivotably mounted to said base, said cam follower and gripping surface being mounted in said base at a position away from the position at which said bar is pivoted, said bar being rotated about the position at which it is pivoted by the coaction of said cam follower and 2nd inclined plane to move the conductor away from the cutting assembly.

I i l i

Claims

1. A device for stripping a selected length of insulation from an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for attaching a terminal to a conductor by use of a member moving in a direction perpendicular to the conductor, comprising: an insulation cutting means having at least two blades; 1st follower means attached to at least one of said blades and adapted when operated to urge the blades toward each other; gripper means having at least two normally spaced surfaces, said gripper means being positioned relative to said cutting means so as to grip a conductor behind the point at which a cut occurs; 2nd follower means attached to at least one of said surfaces and adapted, when operated, to urge said surfaces toward each other; 1st cam means attached to move with said member, said 1st cam means being positioned to operate said 1st and 2nd follower means at a point in the movement of the member prior to the point at which the conduCtor is attached to the terminal; and 2nd cam means attached to move with said member and adapted to move said gripper means away from said cutting means after said cutting and gripping means have been operated, said movement of the gripper means causing said selected length of insulation to be removed from the conductor and positioning the stripped length of conductor to be attached to the terminal by said member.

2. A device of the type described in claim 1 wherein said second cam means coacts with said 2nd follower means to move said gripper means away from said cutting means.

3. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a 1st position to a 2nd position and returns to said 1st position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising: cutting means positioned on one side of said base; gripping means positioned on the opposite side of said base; 1st and 2nd camming means attached to move with said terminal applying member; means operative when said member reaches a third position, said third position being between said 1st and 2nd position, and responsive to said 1st camming means for actuating said cutting and said gripping means; and means operative when said member reaches a fourth position, said fourth position being between said 3rd and 2nd positions, and responsive to said 2nd camming means for moving said gripper means away from said cutting means to strip the severed insulation from the end of the conductor, leaving a bare conductor end, and to position the bare end of the conductor to be attached to the terminal by said member.

6. A device of the type described in claim 3 including a stop against which the end of the conductor is initially positioned; and wherein said severed insulation releasing and removing means includes means for pneumatically retracting said stop to release the insulation, and means for blowing the released insulation from the machine.

7. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a first position to a second position and returns to said first position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising: a cutting assembly attachable on one side of said base; a gripping assembly attachable on the opposite side of said base; a camming assembly attachable to move with said member; means included as part of said cutting assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for actuating said cutting assembly to cut the insulation on said conductor, said means being operative at a third position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine; first means included as part of said gripping assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for actuating said gripping assembly to grip said conductor, said means bEing operative at said third position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine; and second means included as part of said gripping assembly and operative in response to said camming assembly when said assemblies are attached to said machine for moving a conductor held by said gripping assembly away from said cutting assembly and into a position to be attached to a terminal by said terminal applying member, said means being operative at a fourth position in the terminal applying cycle of said machine, said fourth position occurring later in said cycle then said third position but prior to said second position.

8. A device for stripping insulation from the end of an insulated conductor, said device being adapted for use with a machine for securing a terminal to the conductor, the machine having a base on which the terminal is supported and a terminal applying member which moves relative to said base from a first position to a second position and returns to said first position during each terminal applying cycle, comprising: a camming assembly attachable to move with said member, said camming assembly including a 1st and a 2nd inclined plane; a cutting assembly attachable on one side of said base, said cutting assembly having a cam follower and at least one blade, said cam follower coacting with said first inclined plane when said assemblies are attached to said machine and said terminal applying member is in a third position between said 1st and 2nd positions to urge the blade into a position to cut the conductor insulation; and a gripping assembly attachable on the opposite side of said base, said gripping assembly having a cam follower and a gripping surface attached thereto, said cam follower coacting with said 1st inclined plane when said assemblies are attached to said machine and said terminal applying means is in said 3rd position to urge the gripping surface into a position to grip said conductor, said inclined plane coacting with said 2nd inclined plane when said terminal applying member is in a 4th position between said 2nd and 3rd positions to move the gripping surface and the conductor held thereby away from the cutting assembly to remove severed insulation from the conductor and to position the resulting bare end of the conductor to be attached to a terminal by said terminal applying means.

9. A device of the type described in claim 8 including means for controlling said 4th position by varying the position of said 2nd inclined plane on said terminal applying member, whereby the amount by which the gripping surface is moved away from the cutting assembly is controlled to properly position the conductor depending on the length of insulation which is to be stripped.

11. A device of the type described in claim 10 wherein said cutting assembly includes a stop against which the end of the conductor is initially positioned; and wherein said severed insulation releasing and removing means includes means for pneumatically retracting said stop to release the insulation, and means for blowing the released insulation from the machine.