Circular cutting device and drive mechanism for multilayer wires

Abstract

To provide a novel circular cutting device for partially cutting one or more layers of a cable or a wire along a cutting plane.SOLUTION: A circular cutting device is provided with a knife head 11 having a drive disk 40 and an adjustment disk 42, which are rotatable around a disk axis. A pair of knife holders 14 having knife blades 16 are pivotally mounted on the drive disk 40. Relative rotation on the adjustment disk 42 with respect to the drive disk 40 causes pivoting of the knife holders 14 and movement of the knife blades 16 toward and away from each other. The circular cutting device is further provided with a main drive assembly and an adjustment drive assembly which separately operate. The main drive assembly rotates the knife head 11 at a predetermined cutting speed, and the adjustment drive assembly rotates the adjustment disk 42 with respect to the drive disk 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The system disclosed herein relates generally to a circular cutting device and a drive mechanism configured to partially cut a wire or cable, particularly a wire or cable having a multilayer structure such as a coaxial cable.

Background Art

[0002] Cables, particularly cables having a multilayer structure such as coaxial cables, are separated by conventional methods using devices equipped with several knives or knife blades. The knives rotate together about the cable axis in a circular cutting device. In the process of peeling such a multilayer cable, it is necessary to cut only a determined amount of layers. For example, in the case of a coaxial cable which is an example of a multilayer cable composed of an inner conductor, a dielectric or insulator, a shield, and a sheath from the inside to the outside, for example, the knife is guided so as to selectively cut the sheath without damaging the screen or shield, or the knife is guided in such a way as to selectively cut the sheath, screen or shield, and dielectric without damaging the inner conductor.

[0003] For example, the round cutting devices of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known. In this prior art, each knife is moved by screwing a first disk and a second disk relative to each other. A knife is movably attached on one disk or to one disk, and bolts attached to each knife are inserted into grooves of the second disk.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0005]

Patent Document 2

[0006] If the first and second discs are not moving at the same speed, the blade moves within the cutting plane, i.e., toward or away from the cable. The first and second discs must rotate at exactly the same angular velocity until they have a predetermined relative angular difference. This involves significant uncertainty. A reliable cutting device that enables a simple and accurate cutting process is needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a circular cutting apparatus for partially cutting one or more layers of a cable or wire. More specifically, the present invention relates to a circular cutting apparatus including a main and adjustable drive unit that can be operated to rotate a knife head at a predetermined cutting speed and to adjust the position of a pair of knife blades to control the cutting depth.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention relates to a circular cutting apparatus or unit. The circular cutting apparatus is configured to partially cut one or more layers of a cable or wire along a cutting plane or cutting plane. The cable is represented by a cable axis (defined). The cutting plane extends substantially perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to this cable axis. The circular cutting apparatus comprises a knife head having a pair of knife holders, a drive disc, and an adjustment disc. Each knife holder has an integrally formed adjustment groove or adjustment hole, and each knife holder is formed to hold a knife blade. The drive disc is mounted or positioned to rotate about a disc axis that extends substantially parallel to or substantially coincides with the cable axis. The adjustment disc is also mounted or positioned to rotate about a disc axis. The adjustment disc is also configured to act on or exert force on the adjustment grooves of the knife holders. An angle is formed between the disc mounted on or having a common disc axis, i.e., the adjustment disc and the drive disc. The adjustment groove of the adjustment disc is acted upon according to the present invention by changing the angle between the drive disc and the adjustment disc, thereby moving the knife blade within the cutting plane.

[0009] The above configuration facilitates synchronous rotation of the drive disk and adjustment disk around the disk axis or drive axis. This makes it easier to bring the blade precisely close to the inserted cable and selectively cut the desired layer.

[0010] In embodiments of the present invention, the adjustment grooves of each knife holder are arc-shaped or curved. Alternatively, the adjustment grooves may be formed to coincide with the arc, and the relevant portion of the adjustment disc may be represented. For example, an adjustment member may be provided on the adjustment disc, and this adjustment member may move along the adjustment groove.

[0011] In embodiments of the present invention, a circular cutting apparatus has a main drive assembly. The main drive assembly is coupled or connected to a drive disk by a drive force transmission device and configured to drive the drive disk. The main drive assembly is also coupled or connected to an adjustment disk by a transmission device that transmits a controlled force. For example, the transmission device coupled or connected to the drive disk is a drive belt, and the transmission device coupled or connected to the adjustment disk is an adjustment belt. The main drive assembly is configured to drive the drive disk at a predetermined cutting speed or a constant cutting speed and to drive the adjustment disk at the same cutting speed. During cutting, the angle between the adjustment disk and the drive disk is constant. During adjustment, the angle between the adjustment disk and the drive disk changes. This change causes the knife blade to move on the cutting plane. During adjustment, the angular position of the adjustment disk is adjusted relative to the drive disk.

[0012] The circular cutting machine includes an adjustable drive assembly that can be operated to adjust the angular position or angular state between the adjustment disc and the drive disc. Typically, in the blade open position, which is the outer periphery of the cable sheath of the inserted cable, the knife blade is further or farther away from the cable axis. In other words, in this blade open position, the blade or knife blade is not in contact with the cable sheath (the outer layer of a multilayer coaxial cable). Furthermore, the knife blade changes to the blade closed position. In the blade closed position, the knife blade is located in the region of the cable axis. In other words, in the blade closed position, the knife blade, or the cutting surface of the knife blade, is in contact with or cuts into one or more outer layers of the cable or wire being processed or worked with.

[0013] The circular cutting apparatus of the present invention can be operated to cut a cable or wire along a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis. The cutting apparatus comprises a drive disc and an adjustment disc, both of which are rotatable about the cable axis. The drive disc comprises a pair of knife holders pivotably or rotatably mounted to the drive disc. Each knife holder may have an adjustment groove or adjustment hole formed in the body of the knife holder, which is substantially arc-shaped or arc-shaped.

[0014] The adjustment disc has a pair of adjustment members (adjustment parts), each of which is received in one of the adjustment grooves. During operation, the position of the adjustment disc is adjusted relative to the drive disc, allowing the knife blades to move closer to or further apart from each other within the cutting plane.

[0015] A circular cutting device may have a main drive assembly that rotates both a drive disk and a regulating disk at a predetermined cutting speed. The regulating drive assembly can operate independently or while the main drive assembly is operating, to change the position of the regulating disk and move the knife blades closer to or further away from each other in the cutting plane. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present invention provides a novel circular cutting apparatus for partially cutting one or more layers of a cable or wire, and a novel drive mechanism for the circular cutting apparatus. Various other features, purposes, and advantages of the present invention will be revealed in the following description with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] Each figure in the drawings represents the best possible mode currently available for carrying out the present invention.

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the knife head of a circular cutting device configured according to an embodiment illustrating an example of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an exploded view of the knife head of a circular cutting device. [Figure 3] It is a rear perspective view or a front perspective view of a wire processing or machining system having a circular cutting device. [Figure 4] It is a front perspective view of a circular cutting device. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the main drive assembly and the adjustment drive assembly. [Figure 6] It is an end view or a side view of a circular cutting device. [Figure 7] It is a top view or a front view showing the interconnection between the knife head of a circular cutting device and the main drive assembly. [Figure 8] It is a top view or a front view showing the operation of an adjustment drive assembly for adjusting the operation of a circular cutting device. [Figure 9] It is a top view or a front view similar to FIG. 8 showing the operation of an adjustment drive assembly. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the knife head showing the cutting blade or the knife blade in a fully retracted position. [Figure 11] It is a side view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 8 showing the cutting blade or the knife blade moving towards each other. [Figure 12] It is a side view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9 showing the cutting blade or the knife blade further moving to the final cutting position. [Figure 13] It is a top view showing another configuration of the main drive assembly and the adjustment drive assembly. [Figure 14] It is a top view obtained by modifying FIG. 13 so as to show the state when the adjustment drive assembly is operating.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 show a portion of a circular cutting unit configured according to the present invention. The circular cutting unit has a knife head 11 that rotates around a cable axis 12 and is configured to selectively cut one or more layers of the cable to be processed or worked on. The knife head 11 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is coupled to a main drive assembly so that the knife head 11 rotates around the cable axis 12 at a predetermined cutting speed. Details of the main drive assembly are described in more detail below.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the knife head 11 has a pair of knife holders 14, each configured to house or fit and hold a knife blade 16. Each knife blade 16 has a cutting edge 18 used to cut one or more layers of wire or cable as the knife head 11 rotates around the cable axis 12. The pair of knife blades 16 are positioned on either side of the cable axis 12 and are each movable along a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis 12. The pair of knife holders 14 are configured to be adjustable in relative position so that the distance between the cutting edges 18 of the pair of knife blades 16 can be adjusted. The distance between the pair of cutting edges 18 determines the depth of the cut when the knife head 11 is used to cut one or more layers of any of the wire or cable extending along the cable axis 12.

[0021] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, each knife holder 14 has an adjustment groove or adjustment slot 20. As shown, the adjustment groove 20 has an overall arc-shaped or arc-shaped form, formed by the inner guide surface 22. The shape of the adjustment groove 20 is formed so that the knife blade 16 moves in a linear or near-linear motion while the knife holder 14 is in operation, as will be described below.

[0022] Each pair of knife holders 14 is formed from a durable metal material. As shown in Figure 2, each knife blade 16 is attached to each knife holder 14 by one or more connectors or fasteners 24, the connectors 24 of which can be screws, rivets or other connectors that can secure the knife blade 16 in place along the knife holder 14, but which allow the knife blade 16 to be removed and replaced when necessary.

[0023] Each of the pair of knife holders 14 has mounting lugs 26 formed on a first end 28 of the knife holder 14. The end of the adjustment groove 20 is located at the second outer end 30 on the opposite side of the knife holder 14. As best shown in Figure 2, the mounting lugs 26 have an opening or through hole 32 sized for inserting or housing a pivot pin 34. The pivot pin 34 extends through the opening 32 and is housed or inserted into a receiving opening or receiving hole 36 formed in an extension or projection hub 38 that is formed as part of the drive disk 40. The drive disk 40 has a pair of hubs or projections 38, and each hub 38 houses one of the pair of pivot pins 34 so that each of the pair of knife holders 14 is pivotably or rotatably mounted to the drive disk 40.

[0024] As can be seen in Figure 2, the knife head 11 further has an adjustment disc 42 positioned between the drive disc 40 and a pair of knife holders 14. The adjustment disc 42 has a pair of adjustment members 44, each of which protrudes beyond the outer surface 46 of the adjustment disc 42. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, each adjustment member 44 is a roller having an outer surface that rotates around a fixed center. However, the adjustment member 44 can be any of many types of components different from the rollers shown in Figure 2. For example, the adjustment member 44 can be a fixed circular projection having a wear-resistant outer surface.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, when the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 are assembled together, the adjustment member 44 is housed in one adjustment groove 20. As will be described in more detail below, the adjustment member 44 moves along the adjustment groove 20 as the adjustment disk 42 moves relative to the drive disk 40. Since the adjustment groove 20 is arc-shaped or curved, as the adjustment member 44 moves within the adjustment groove 20, the pair of knife blades 16, and therefore the cutting edges 18, move toward each other or away from each other, depending on the direction in which the adjustment member 44 moves within the adjustment groove 20. The movement or motion of the adjustment member 44 within the adjustment groove 20 is controlled by the rotational motion, rotational movement, or rotational motion of the adjustment disk 42 relative to the drive disk 40.

[0026] One embodiment of the knife holder 14 is shown in which each knife holder is pivotable or rotatable about one end and has an arc-shaped or arc-shaped adjustment groove or adjustment slot for controlling its movement, but other embodiments of the knife holder are also possible. For example, the knife holder may be configured to move linearly or substantially linearly along the groove or track to move closer to or away from the cable to be cut. The movement of the knife holder can be controlled by a cam or other similar component on the adjustment disc 42. In this other possible configuration, as shown and described in the embodiments, the knife blades will each move closer to or away from each other in a linear or substantially linear manner within the cutting plane.

[0027] Referring back to Figure 2, in addition to the adjustment member 44, the adjustment disc 42 has a pair of support rollers 48 positioned adjacent to the adjustment member 44. Each support roller 48 is mounted on a bracket 50 which is pivotably or rotatably mounted at a pivot end 52. The opposite end of the bracket 50 is connected to a bias spring 54. The bias spring 54 is configured to press the support rollers 48 into contact with the guide surface 22 of the adjustment groove 20 in order to eliminate any mechanical play that may exist between the knife holder 14 and the adjustment member 44. For example, the bracket 50 is pivotably or rotatably mounted on the adjustment disc 42 about the pivot end 52, and the support rollers 48 are mounted on the opposite end of the bracket 50 and enter the adjustment groove 20.

[0028] The outer circumference 56 of the drive disk 40 and the outer circumference 58 of the adjustment disk 42 both have a series of teeth 60. The number of teeth on both the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 is the same. When the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 are connected to the main drive assembly via a pair of separate pulley belts, the outer circumference, outer circumference, or circumference of both the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 are equal so that the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 rotate at the same rotational speed.

[0029] Figure 3 shows that the circular cutting device 10 of the present invention is incorporated as part of a larger wire processing or handling system 62. The larger wire processing system 62 shown in Figure 3 comprises various wire processing or handling devices that supply wire or cable for cutting using the circular cutting device 10 of the present invention. The type of wire processing device may differ depending on the specific wire processing process being performed. The wire processing device may include a wire cutting device, a wire stripping device, a wire feeding device, etc. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the components of the wire processing system 62 are mounted on a support wall 64 having mounting points for the support frame 66 of the circular cutting device 10.

[0030] Figures 4 and 5 further illustrate the structure and components forming the circular cutting apparatus 10 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, both the adjustment disc 42 and the drive disc 40 of the knife head 11 are connected to the main drive assembly by a pair of pulley belts 68 and 70. Pulley belt 68 is coupled or wrapped around the outer circumference of the adjustment disc 42, while pulley belt 70 is coupled or wrapped around the outer circumference of the drive disc 40. Pulley belt 68 is further wrapped around the adjustment pulley 72, while pulley belt 70 is wrapped around the drive pulley 74. Both the adjustment pulley 72 and the drive pulley 74 are rotatably connected to a primary drive shaft 76. The primary drive shaft 76 extends through a motor mounting plate 78 and is connected to an idler pulley, pulley, or drive pulley 80. The idler pulley 80 is then connected to the primary drive pulley 82 via pulley belt 84. Alternatively, the adjustment pulley 72 can be rotatably connected to the main drive shaft 76, and the drive pulley 74 can be fixedly connected to the main drive shaft 76. Furthermore, for example, the outer circumference, outer circumference, or circumference of the adjustment pulley 72 and the drive pulley 74 can be made equal.

[0031] The main drive pulley 82 is fixedly connected to the motor shaft 86 of the main drive motor. As best shown in Figure 5, the main drive motor 88 is mounted on the motor mounting plate 78. The main drive motor 88 is preferably an electric motor that can be operated to rotate the main drive pulley 82 at a controllable speed. The rotation of the main drive pulley 88 or 82 rotates the idler pulley, pulley, or drive pulley 80 via the pulley belt 84. The idler pulley 80 then rotates the main drive shaft 76, which is coupled or connected to both the adjustment pulley 72 and the drive pulley 74. Since the adjustment pulley 72 and the drive pulley 74 are connected to the adjustment disc 42 and the drive disc 40, respectively, during normal operation, the rotational speeds of both the drive disc 40 and the adjustment disc 42 are controlled by the operation of the main drive motor 88. When the pair of knife blades 16 are in the desired positions relative to each other to perform the cutting action, the main drive motor 88 controls the rotational speed of the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 to cut the desired layer of the cable or wire.

[0032] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the main drive shaft 76 has a helical groove 90 formed on its outer surface. This helical groove 90 extends along the length of the main drive shaft 76 and is used to adjust the rotational speed of the adjustment pulley 72 in a manner that will be described in more detail below.

[0033] Referring again to Figures 4 and 5, the circular cutting apparatus 10 further includes an adjustment drive assembly 92 that can be operated to adjust the position of the adjustment disc 42 relative to the drive disc 40. The adjustment drive assembly 92 includes an adjustment drive motor 94 having a motor shaft received by a shaft coupler 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment drive motor 94 is an electric motor. The shaft coupler 96 connects the drive shaft or motor shaft of the adjustment drive motor 94 to the adjustment shaft 98. The adjustment shaft 98 has a threaded outer surface 100. The threaded outer surface 100 is received in a female threaded barrel 102 formed as part of the adjustment bracket 104. The adjustment bracket 104 further includes a guide plate 106 having a slide block 108 configured to move linearly along a guide rail 110. The slide block 108 and the guide rail 110 move the adjustment bracket 104 stably. In other embodiments, the guide plate 106, slide block 108, and guide rail 110 may be omitted if stabilization of the adjustment bracket 104 is not required. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, when the adjustment drive motor 94 is operated, the motor shaft rotates, causing the adjustment shaft 98 to rotate via the shaft coupler 96. Since the outer surface 100 of the adjustment shaft 98 has a screw or male thread formed thereon, the entire adjustment bracket 104 moves linearly along the guide rail 110 as the adjustment shaft 98 rotates. The direction of movement of the adjustment bracket 104 is controlled by the operating direction or rotation direction of the adjustment drive motor 94.

[0034] Referring now to Figure 7, the adjustment bracket 104 rotatably supports the ball nut 112, which in turn rotatably supports the ball nut 112 by the bearing retainer 114 shown in Figure 4. The ball nut 112 has an internal pin or ball that is received in a helical groove 90 and moves along the helical groove 90. Therefore, when the adjustment bracket 104 moves in the linear direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, the ball nut 112 moves linearly, causing the internal pin or ball to move along the helical groove 90, and thus the ball nut 112 rotates within the bearing retainer 114.

[0035] Referring back to Figure 5, the portion of the ball nut 112 extending through the adjustment bracket 104 is joined to the rod holder 116. The rod holder 116 is connected to the pulley driver 118 via a pair of support rods 120. As can be seen by comparing Figures 7 and 8, the support rods 120 are press-fitted or pushed into the rod holder 116 and secured, and as the ball nut 112 moves along the drive shaft 76, the support rods 120 move in and out of the pulley driver 118. The pulley driver 118 is fixedly connected to the adjustment pulley 72. In this way, as the entire adjustment bracket 104 moves linearly as indicated by the arrows in Figure 7, this linear movement of the adjustment bracket 104 rotates the ball nut 112. The rod holder 116, coupled to the ball nut 112, transmits rotational force to the pulley driver 118 via the pair of support rods 120. As the pulley driver 118 rotates, it decelerates or accelerates the rotational speed of the adjustment pulley 72. The direction of this rotational movement is determined by the direction of linear movement of the adjustment bracket 104. Therefore, the movement of the adjustment bracket 104 can move the adjustment disc 42 relative to the drive disc 40. As described above, the relative movement of the adjustment disc 42 with respect to the drive disc 40 controls the spacing between the knife blades 16. As the adjustment disc 42 moves relative to the drive disc 40, the knife blades 16 move closer to or further away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the wire axis or cable axis.

[0036] Referring now to Figures 8 through 12, the operation of both the main drive assembly and the adjustment drive assembly when changing the distance between a pair of cutting blades or knife blades will be described. Referring first to Figure 10, the pair of knife holders 14 are shown in a fully retracted state. In this retracted state, the pair of knife blades 16 are positioned at their maximum distance from the cable 122 positioned for machining or processing. In this retracted state, the adjustment member 44 is also located at the inner end 124 of the adjustment groove 20. To narrow the gap between the pair of knife blades 16, the adjustment drive motor 94 shown in Figure 8 is actuated so that the adjustment bracket 104 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 125 in Figure 8.

[0037] As the adjustment bracket 104 moves in the direction indicated by arrow 125, this movement causes the pulley driver 118 to rotate. Figure 11 shows such rotation of the pulley driver 118. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11, the pulley driver 118, and therefore the adjustment pulley 72, rotate counterclockwise or relative to each other, as indicated by arrow 126. The counterclockwise rotation of the adjustment pulley 72 causes the pulley belt 68 to move relative to it in the direction indicated by arrow 127. The movement of the pulley belt 68 causes the adjustment disc 42 to rotate counterclockwise. Such rotation of the adjustment disc 42 relative to the drive disc 40 causes the adjustment member 44 to move away from the inner end 124 of the adjustment groove 20, as shown in Figure 11. The movement of the adjustment member 44 within the adjustment groove 20 causes the knife blades 16 to move toward each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the knife blade 16 moves in a linear or near-linear fashion as each of the first ends 28 of the knife holder 14 pivots or rotates around the pivot pin 34 that attaches it to the drive disk 40. In another embodiment, the knife holder can be configured differently to enable the linear movement of the knife blade 16 as described above.

[0038] Figures 9 and 12 show further operation of the adjustment drive motor 94, which rotates the pulley driver 118 and the adjustment pulley 72 connected to the pulley driver 118 in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation also causes the pulley belt 68 to move in the same manner, and thus the adjustment disc 42 to move further counterclockwise relative to the drive disc 40. This further rotation causes the adjustment member 44 to move further along the adjustment groove 20 toward the outer end 128 of the adjustment groove 20. As can be seen in Figure 12, such movement of the adjustment member 44 causes the knife blades 16 to move toward each other in a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis. As shown in Figure 12, the knife blades 16 come close enough to each other to engage with the cable 122 and cut one or more outer layers of the cable 122. As can be seen in Figures 11 and 12, the relative movement of the adjustment disk 42 with respect to the drive disk 40 is shown and explained, but please understand that when the adjustment disk 42 moves relative to the drive disk 40, both the adjustment disk 42 and the drive disk 40 are rotating at a predetermined cutting speed.

[0039] Once the cutting blade or knife blade 16 is in a predetermined position, both the drive disk 40 and the adjustment disk 42 continue to rotate at a predetermined cutting speed, cutting the outer layer of the cable 122. The drive disk 40 may rotate at a predetermined cutting speed or a constant cutting speed, for example, throughout the adjustment or before and after the adjustment. The movement of the cutting blade 16 is controlled by the operation of the adjustment motor 94. The adjustment motor 94 is a high-precision electric motor that is bidirectional and conventionally controlled by a control unit. As an example, the adjustment motor 94 can be a stepping motor or a servo motor conventionally controlled by a control unit. Once the outer layer of the cable is completely cut or the cutting of the outer layer of the cable is complete, the adjustment motor 94 operates in the reverse direction to return the cutting blade 16 from the cutting position shown in Figure 12 to the retracted position shown in Figure 10. Thus, the operation of the adjustment drive motor 94 is controlled to precisely control the movement of the cutting blade or knife blade 16 to the high-precision cutting state as shown in Figure 12.

[0040] Figures 13 and 14 show another embodiment of the circular cutting apparatus of the present invention. In the other embodiment shown in Figures 13 and 14, the location and configuration for the connection of both the main drive motor 88 and the regulating drive motor 94 are shown. For example, Figures 13 and 14 may schematically represent that the regulating drive motor 94, the ball nut 204 and the main drive shaft 76 can be arranged in a straight line. In this other embodiment, the main drive motor 88 is connected to an idler pulley, pulley or drive pulley 80 via a motor drive pulley 82 and a belt 84. In this way, the main drive motor 88 drives the rotation of a similar main drive shaft 76. The main drive shaft 76 is connected to both the drive pulley 74 and the regulating pulley 72 or 82. The drive pulley 74 and the regulating pulley 72 are connected to the same pulley belt as described above.

[0041] In the embodiments shown in Figures 13 and 14, the adjustment drive motor 94 is connected to the main drive shaft 76 in a linear relationship. The adjustment drive motor 94 is connected to a shaft coupler 96 and a similar adjustment shaft 98. However, as the adjustment shaft 98 rotates, the coupler 200 moves along the threaded outer surface 100 of the adjustment shaft 98. The coupler 200 has a coupler shaft 202 connected to a ball nut 204. The ball nut 204 has an internal pin or ball that moves along a helical groove 206. As shown in comparison in Figures 13 and 14, the movement of the ball nut 204 allows the adjustment pulley 72 to rotate as much as needed, in the same manner as described in the first or initial embodiment. In this way, the operation of the adjustment drive motor 94 selectively rotates the adjustment pulley 72 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the required movement of the knife blade 16.

[0042] This specification provides examples, including best modes, to disclose the present invention and to enable those skilled in the art to create and use it. The patentable scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples conceivable by those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have elements that are not different from the language of the claims, or if they include equivalent elements that are substantially different from the language of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10. Circular cutting device 14 Knife Holder 16 knife blades 20 Adjustment groove 40 Drive Disks 42 Adjustment Disc 44 Adjustment Member

Claims

1. A circular cutting device that can be operated to partially cut a cable along a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis, A drive disk that can rotate around the cable axis, A pair of knife holders provided on the drive disk, each configured to receive and hold a knife blade, It comprises an adjustment disc having a pair of adjustment members and rotatable around the cable axis, Each of the pair of knife holders has an adjustment groove formed in the main body, Each of the pair of adjustment members is received in the respective adjustment grooves formed in the bodies of the pair of knife holders. A circular cutting apparatus characterized in that the knife blades move closer to or further apart from each other in the cutting plane due to a relative change in the angle of the adjustment disc with respect to the drive disc.

2. Each of the knife holders is pivotably attached to the drive disk at its first end, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the knife holder pivots around the first end due to a relative change in the angle of the adjustment disc with respect to the drive disc.

3. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the adjustment groove is substantially arc-shaped.

4. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that when the adjustment member moves along the adjustment groove, the knife holder pivots and the knife blade moves along the cutting plane.

5. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment member is a roller.

6. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a main drive assembly capable of operating to rotate the drive disk and the adjustment disk at a predetermined cutting speed.

7. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the main drive assembly includes an electric drive motor coupled to or connected to both the drive disk and the adjustment disk so that the drive disk and the adjustment disk rotate at the same speed.

8. The adjustment drive assembly further comprises an adjustment disc coupled to or connected to the adjustment disc, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, during adjustment, the adjustment drive assembly is operated so that the position of the adjustment disk relative to the drive disk is changed.

9. A circular cutting device that can be operated to partially cut a cable along a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis, A drive disk that can rotate around the cable axis, A pair of knife holders provided on the drive disk, each configured to receive and hold a knife blade, An adjustment disc that is rotatable around the cable axis and has a pair of adjustment members, each of which engages with the corresponding knife holder, A main drive assembly that can be operated to rotate the drive disk and the adjustment disk at a predetermined cutting speed, The adjustment drive assembly is coupled to or connected to the adjustment disc, The main drive assembly includes a drive pulley connected to the drive disk by a first pulley belt, and an adjustment pulley connected to the adjustment disk by a second pulley belt. The drive pulley and the adjustment pulley are rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft, which rotates at a predetermined cutting speed by the main drive motor. A circular cutting apparatus characterized in that, by operating the adjustment drive assembly, during adjustment, the rotational speed of the adjustment disk is changed relative to the rotational cutting speed of the drive disk, thereby changing the angle of the adjustment disk with respect to the drive disk, and causing the knife blades to move closer to or further apart from each other on the cutting plane.

10. Each of the knife holders is pivotably attached to the drive disk at its first end, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the knife holder pivots around the first end due to a relative change in the angle of the adjustment disc with respect to the drive disc.

11. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment drive assembly is coupled to or connected to the adjustment pulley and is operable to change the rotational speed of the adjustment pulley.

12. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the main drive shaft has a helical groove, and the adjustment drive assembly comprises a ball nut that is movable along the helical groove.

13. The adjustment drive assembly is operable to move the ball nut along the main drive shaft, and is configured to rotate the ball nut by the movement of the ball nut along the main drive shaft, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the ball nut is coupled or connected to the adjustment pulley.

14. A circular cutting device that can be operated to partially cut a cable along a cutting plane perpendicular to the cable axis, A drive disk that can rotate around the cable axis, A pair of knife holders pivotably mounted on the drive disk, each configured to receive and hold a knife blade, An adjustment disc having a pair of adjustment members and rotatable around the cable axis, A main drive assembly that can be operated to rotate the drive disk and the adjustment disk at a predetermined cutting speed, The adjustment drive assembly is coupled to or connected to the adjustment disc, Each of the pair of knife holders has an adjustment groove formed in the main body, Each of the pair of adjusting members is received in the respective adjusting grooves formed in the bodies of the pair of knife holders. A circular cutting apparatus characterized in that, by operating the adjustment drive assembly, during adjustment, the rotational speed of the adjustment disk is changed relative to the rotational cutting speed of the drive disk, thereby changing the angle of the adjustment disk with respect to the drive disk, and causing the knife blades to move closer to or further apart from each other on the cutting plane.

15. Each of the knife holders is pivotably attached to the drive disk at a first end, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the knife holder pivots around the first end due to a relative change in the angle of the adjustment disc with respect to the drive disc.

16. The circular cutting device according to claim 14, characterized in that when the adjustment member moves along the adjustment groove, the knife holder pivots and the knife blade moves along the cutting plane.

17. The main drive assembly comprises a drive pulley connected to the drive disk by a first pulley belt, and an adjustment pulley connected to the adjustment disk by a second pulley belt, The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the drive pulley and the adjustment pulley are rotatably mounted on a main drive shaft which rotates at a predetermined cutting speed by a main drive motor.

18. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the adjustment drive assembly is coupled to or connected to the adjustment pulley and is operable to change the rotational speed of the adjustment pulley.

19. The circular cutting apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the main drive shaft has a helical groove, and the adjustment drive assembly comprises a ball nut that is movable along the helical groove.

Images