Cable guide for cable insulation stripping machines

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulation stripping device comprising an essentially tubular cable guide whose inside diameter can be continuously adjusted thereby enabling it to be adapted to different cable diameters.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A cable guide comprising: 
 at least one longitudinal guide segment,    a cable guide passage at least indirectly formed by the at least one longitudinal guide segment, and,    a ring gear operationally connected to the at least one longitudinal guide segment so as to effect diameter adjustment of the cable guide passage.    
   
   
       18 . The cable guide according to  claim 17 , further including a plurality of longitudinal guide segments together at least indirectly forming the guide passage.  
   
   
       19 . The cable guide according to  claim 17 , further including a toothed segment on the at least one longitudinal guide segment, the toothed segment turning as a result of ring gear rotation.  
   
   
       20 . An adjustable cable guide comprising: 
 a spiral spring, and,    an adjustable cable passage formed at the center of the spiral spring.    
   
   
       21 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 20 , further including a pressure-applying mechanism adapted to exert force on the spiral spring to adjust the diameter of the cable passage.  
   
   
       22 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 21 , wherein the pressure-applying mechanism adjusts the diameter of the cable passage at least approximately symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the passage.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 21 , further including an electronic control system operationally controlling the pressure-applying mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 20 , wherein the spiral spring is at least in part formed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 20 , further including a conically tapering infeed region formed in the passage.  
   
   
       26 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 20 , wherein the spiral spring is adapted to respond to direct contact with a pressurized medium to controllably adjust the diameter of the passage.  
   
   
       27 . An adjustable cable guide comprising: 
 a broad spring,    a loop formed by the broad spring, and,    an adjustable cable passage delimited by the loop.    
   
   
       28 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 27 , further including 
 a force-applying mechanism adapted to exert force on the broad spring to adjust the diameter of the cable passage.    
   
   
       29 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 28 , further including an electronic control system operationally controlling the force-applying mechanism.  
   
   
       30 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 28 , wherein the force-applying mechanism adjusts the diameter of the cable passage at least approximately symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the passage.  
   
   
       31 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 27 , wherein the broad spring has a longitudinal body, and an end of the broad spring passes through the longitudinal body to form the loop.  
   
   
       32 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 27 , further including a conically tapering infeed region formed in the passage.  
   
   
       33 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 27 , wherein the broad spring is adapted to respond to direct contact with a pressurized medium to controllably adjust the diameter of the passage.  
   
   
       34 . A cable guide comprising: 
 at least one curved flexible guide plate,    an adjustable-radius cable passage delimited by the at least one flexible guide plate, and at least one radially adjustable guide roller operably connected to the at least one curved flexible guide plate to effect adjustment of cable passage radius.    
   
   
       35 . The cable guide of  claim 34 , further including a plurality of curved flexible guide plates.  
   
   
       36 . The cable guide of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one radially adjustable guide roller adjusts diameter of the cable passage at least approximately symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the passage.  
   
   
       37 . An adjustable cable guide comprising: 
 a plurality of generally arcuate, radially arranged flexible spring segments, and;    an adjustable cable passage delimited by the radially arranged spring segments.    
   
   
       38 . The adjustable cable guide of  claim 37 , further including at least one pressure-applying mechanism acting on the plurality of spring segments to adjust the diameter of the cable passage.  
   
   
       39 . The adjustable cable guide of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one pressure-applying mechanism adjusts the diameter of the passage at least approximately symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the passage.  
   
   
       40 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 38 , further including 
 an electronic control system operationally controlling the at least one pressure-applying mechanism.    
   
   
       41 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 37 , further including 
 a conically tapering infeed region formed in the passage.    
   
   
       42 . An adjustable cable guide comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated longitudinal guide segments,    an adjustable diameter longitudinal cable passage delimited by the plural longitudinal guide segments,    a first radially extending end surface for at least one guide segment,    a second radially extending end surface for the at least one guide segment,    bearing elements located on both the first radially extending end surface and the second radially extending end surface, and,    an actuating assembly positioning the at least one guide segment so as to controllably adjust the diameter of the cable passage.    
   
   
       43 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 42 , further including 
 a guide segment body connected to the at least one guide segment, with the first and second radially extending end surfaces located at least in part on the guide segment body.    
   
   
       44 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 42 , wherein the actuating assembly positions the at least one guide segment via at least one of the bearing elements.  
   
   
       45 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 42 , further including respective first radially extending end surfaces for a plurality of the segments, respective second radially extending end surfaces for a plurality of the segments, and, respective bearing elements located on both the respective first radially extending end surfaces and the respective second radially extending end surfaces of a plurality of the segments, the actuating assembly operatively connected to at least some of the bearing elements to position a plurality of the guide segments.  
   
   
       46 . The adjustable cable guide according to  claim 42 , further including an electronic control system operationally controlling the actuating assembly.