Patent ID: 6371585
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B41F,B41J,H01B

Abstract:
A ring-mark printing device for identifying electrical cables, the device comprising: a printer box having a feed axis and configured to pass an electrical cable along the feed axis; a pair of marking drums each having a respective outer circular face, the marking drums being contained in the printer box and arranged in staggered positions along the feed axis and spaced a given distance therefrom, the marking drums including ink-jet nozzles at the outer circular face; wherein the marking drums are respectively configured to contain ink and eject the ink through the ink-jet nozzles by virtue of centrifugal forces exerted by drum rotation, in order to print a ring-mark around the peripheral surface of the electrical cable;wherein said printer box is provided with an ink shield comprising substantially concentrically placed outer and inner tubular bodies which are configured to surround the electrical cable at a predetermined distance spaced therefrom, said outer tubular body comprising at least one outer ink-orifice at a position facing one of the marking drums and said inner tubular body comprising at least one inner ink orifice; and said inner tubular body is mounted to freely slide within said outer tubular body along said feed axis, such that said at least one inner ink-orifice can be aligned with a corresponding one of said at least one outer ink-orifices to permit ring-mark printing, or moved from alignment with said corresponding one of said at least one outer ink-orifices to prevent ring-mark printing.