Importance

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Abstract

A laser positioning system for a wire cutting and stripping apparatus. Insulated wire having an outer layer of frayable insulation is fed in a downstream path in increments of length by a feeding and measuring unit. A wire burning unit is located upstream of the feeding and measuring unit and includes two pair of cooperating heated dies, which serve to burn a pair of short lengths of the insulation and provides spaced areas of exposed bare wire. A cutting and stripping unit is located downstream of the burning unit and includes a pair of cooperating cutting blades and two pair of cooperating stripping blades which are located on either side of the cutting blades. A laser sensing unit is disposed adjacent the cutting and stripping unit, and generates a laser beam curtain that senses a change in diameter of the wire. When an exposed wire area intersects the laser curtain, an electrical signal is generated and the signal is fed to a controller which commands the feeding mechanism to move the wire axially to precisely position the exposed wire areas in precise registry with the cutting and stripping unit.

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First Claim