Automatic marking machine for recessed supports for the introduction of ringshaped marking elements

Abstract: This automatic marking machine is consisting of a frame (1) bearing the strips of ring shaped marking elements (4), a tab (17) mounted on a reciprocating carriage (8), and various devices (21 thru 30) for positioning of the ring-shaped marking element (4) of each strip to be introduced in the recess (20) of the support (19), coinciding with the displacement axis of the tab (17) which automatically sizes the selected ring and introduces it in the recess on the support.

Description: This invention covers an automatic marking system for positioning of codes consisting of ring-shaped marking elements inside the recess of a support. This marking system may be used for any product or product wrap, but is particularly suitable for cable marking. Several marking systems are known for cables, wire and electrical equipment, among which a system using a support to be fitted on the cable or on the equipment, provided with a tubular external recess in which ring-shaped alphanumerical marking elements are introduced with the aid of tab shaped devices. These marking elements are together forming the complete code of the cable or equipment. Usually, these ring-shaped elements are glued on flat rectangular cardboard or plastic strips, each of which is bearing several elements all having the same code. Strips with different codes are normally mounted in tray-codes of various type, so that the marking elements can be progressively removed and introduced in the recess of the support to form the required code. For exemplification purposes, Fig. 4 shows part of the cardboard strip with the symbol "+", while the support is illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 with the marking "+A26" consisting of the ring-shaped marking elements. Obviously, this manual composition and installation of the code, though functional, takes much time especially for cable marking in important electric installations. This manual solution is for instance known from document GB2141691. Document EP-A-0 139 136 discloses an automatic marking machine for marking electric wires, conductors and the like, by means of one or a combination of several rings to be directly threaded on the wire or conductor. This machine comprises a rack (drum magazine) fitted with cartridges each containing a certain lenght of ring marking tube and a tab mounted on a carriage. For marking cables it is known from document FR-A-2 551 688 to use a machine for the pneumatic settlement of V-shaped marking elements on the cables. This invention has the aim to provide automatic equipment designed for the selection of the various marking elements, and their introduction in the recess of the support. This equipment is normally called "Automatic marking machine" and consists essentially, as defined in claims 1 and 10, of a reciprocating cursor or slider provided with a tab, a rack bearing the strips with the ring-shaped marking elements and a support for this rack. Each strip is positioned, by suitable controls, so that the lowermost marking element is located on the sliding path of the tab, which will thus seize the selected ring, detach it from the strip and introduce it in the recess of the support. Marking of the equipment or cable is automatically achieved by repeating this operation as many times as there are marking elements forming the code, ready to be applied on the cable or electrical equipment. The tab may also remove at the same time several marking elements from different strips to prepare and introduce the final marking code in the recess of the support. Another aspect of the invention is defined in claim 10. Claims 2-9 and 11 define further embodiments of the invention. The automatic marking machine, subject matter of this invention, is illustrated in its exemplifying solution in the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the vertical section of the marking machine according to X-X of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 shows a top view of part of the automatic marking machine; Fig. 3 shows a magnified section of the automatic marking machine according to Y-Y of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a front view of a partial strip bearing ring-shaped marking elements; Fig. 5 and 6 show respectively a top and lateral view of a marked support; Fig. 7 shows a top view of an automatic marking machine with a rotating drum according to claim 10. With reference to the Figures 1 to 3, an elongated hollow bearing frame 1 is provided with supports or feet not shown in the drawings. A vertical rack 2, arranged lengthwise with respect to said frame 1 and located on one side of the hollow zone of the frame 1, is fitted with a series of vertical strips 3 bearing the ring-shaped marking elements 4. These marking elements 4 are facing the central hollow zone of the frame 1, they are partially protruding from the rack 2, the axis of the hole of each ring-shaped marking element 4 being horizontal. A cross member 5 is mounted in front of the rack 2 on which the lowermost ring-shaped marking element 4 of at last one strip 3 rests. When this lowermost marking element 4 is removed, the strip moves downward until the next marking element 4 is resting on the above mentioned cross member 5, provided this downward movement is permitted as will be explained hereinafter. A horizontal bar 6, consisting of a flat bar with upper and lower preferably V-shaped guides, is located in the central hollow zone of the bearing frame 1 parallel to the vertical rack 2. The flat bar is secured by supports 7 onto the frame 1. An L-shaped carriage 8 supported and guided by idlers 9 is sliding along the longitudinal horizontal bar 6. The central recessing of the idle wheels 9 is matching the guide profile of the flat bar 6 forming, for exemplification purposes, a re-entering V-shape. A bearing pin tooth 11 is housed in a slot 10, machined in the vertical side of the L-shaped carriage 8. This pin tooth 11 is driven by a chain 12 running on two gear wheels 13, one of which is a driving gear. This driving gear 13 is controlled by a motor 14 and pulleys 15, 16, the latter pulley 16 being keyed onto the shaft of the gear wheel 13. The continuous rotatory motion of the chain 12 is thus transformed, by means of the pin tooth 11 and the slot 10, into a horizontal reciprocating movement of the carriage 8 along the bar 6. The carriage 8 is fitted with a pointed tab 17, its tip pointing to the left in lengthwise direction as shown in the drawings and positioned slightly above the cross member 5, so that the tip of the tab 17 can easily enter the hole of the lowermost ring-shaped marking element 4 of the selected strip 3, resting on this cross member 5. A supporting structure 18 is located at the end of the tab path on which the recessed support 19 to be marked is positioned, in such a way that the horizontal axis of its recess 20 is aligned with the trajectory of the tab, as shown in Fig. 1. The tab 17, during its leftward movement (as shown in the drawings), will thus engage the ring-shaped element 4 of the selected strip 3 resting on the cross member 5, removing it from its strip 3 and introducing it in the recess 20 of the support 19 where it remains due to the friction between ring and inner recess wall. Automatic operation of the above described equipment and automatic lowering of the strip 3 with the required marking element so that the lowermost marking element of this strip 3 is resting on the cross member 5 while the other strips remain raised, is achieved by means of a control device for each strip 3. The exemplified control device consists for each strip 3 of a lever 21 with a lengthwise horizontal hinge pin 22 backed up by a plate 23 secured onto the frame 1 at that side of the frame which is opposed to the one on which is fixed the rack 2 At its end facing the rack 2, this lever 21 has a lamination 24 with a curved tip resting against the strip 3 when the lever 21 is lowered into its rest position. The other end of the lever 21 is pushed upwards by a spring loaded device, consisting of a vertical stem 25 and a spring 26,this device being acting on the end of the lever 21 opposed to the lamination 24 and tending to lower this lamination until it contacts the strip 3. For all the strips 3 together it is foreseen a longitudinal channel section 27 which supports the spring loaded devices 25,26 and a longitudinal section 28 bearing at its upper end an insulating strip 29 on which a conductive strip 30 is applied and located below the stems 25. This conductive strip 30 is electrically connected to the control circuit of a motor 14. The lever control device is operating as follows: in its rest position, the lever 21 is raised by the spring 26 so that the curved tip of the lamination 24 presses against the strip 3 thus preventing its lowering while the lowermost ring-shaped marking element 4 remains lifted from the cross member 5. In these conditions, the tab 17 which moves in front of the strip 3, will find no ring-shaped elements on its path. But when the outer end of the lever 21 is pressed down, counteracting the spring 26, the curved tip of the lamination 24 will release the strip 3 which is thus lowered so that the ring of the lowermost ring-shape marking element 4 will be resting on the cross member 5. In these conditions, the tab 17 while moving in front of the strip, will engage the ring-shaped marking element 4, remove it from its strip 3 and introduce it in the recess 20 of the support 19. Lowering of the other end of the lever 21, resulting in lowering the stem 25, will bring the stem 25 in contact with the conductive strip 30. Therefore, when energizing the control circuit of the driving motor 14 by means of the lever 21 and the conductive strip 30, each time the lever is lowered to release the related strip 3, the motor is actuated and the tab 17 removes the ring-shaped element 4 from the strip 3 which has been lowered by the lever 21 and introduces it in the recess 20. The marking codes are thus automatically obtained by pressing the levers 21, which, is like pressing the keys of a typewriter, causing the ring-shaped marking elements 4 progressively to be removed from their strips 3 and introduced in the recess 20 of the support 19. Marking jobs on cables and electrical equipment can thus be performed very fast and with great precision, according to the aim of this invention. The above description is not only valid to remove the ring-shaped marking elements 4 progressively but can also be used to form a complete code by removing all selected marking elements 4 at the same time. This is achieved by lowering at the same time all levers 21 involved in the marking code so that the corresponding strips 3 are lowered and the related rings are resting on the cross member 5. The tab 17 then removes the marking elements 4 in one single scoop and introduces them in the recess 20 of the support. Care must only be taken to ensure that the strips of the marking elements 4 forming the code be positioned on the rack 2 in the proper order in which they appear in the code. For this purpose, an electric selector switch is provided in a suitable position, to cut out part of the electric circuit regarding the conductive strip 30 (thus limiting the function of the levers 21 to the mechanical release of the preselected strips 3), then to change over to another electric circuit energized by a "start" push-button. The latter, when pressed, will energize the motor circuit, thus starting the tab 17 which, in one single movement, removes the entire marking code and introduces it in the recess 20. Cutting-out the conductive strip 30 also permits the removal of single marking elements in non automatic mode. Usually, marking codes are repetitive, i.e. two or more supports 19 are marked with the same code (for instance at both ends of a cable), so that the supporting structure 18 and the support 19 may be modified with an articulated joint or slider bearing two or more supports 19 progressively featuring their recess aligned with the tab 17. It is also possible to devise a supporting structure 18 bearing a continuous support obtained by drawing. This continuous support, after having received the marking codes will be automatically cut to length . Obviously, the automatic marking machine subject matter of the invention may also be multiple i.e. it may be provided with more than one rack 2 placed transversally on end and with more than one tab 17, all tabs 17 being located on the same base (supporting frame 1) so that it will be possible to form a multiple number of coded supports at the same time. It is clear that some parts in this exemplified configuration proposed herein may be replaced by others that are similar and have the same aim. In particular, the alternative control mechanisms of the tab 17 may be replaced by other mechanisms, e.g. a flow dynamics based, or electric piston, a connecting rod and crankshaft mechanism, etc. also in view of the fact that the marking machine may also be operated manually. Fig. 7 shows an exemplified solution of a marking machine with a drum-shaped rack 30, rotating on a vertical pin 31, peripherally bearing the strips 3 with the ring-shaped, radially outwards facing marking elements 4. The cross member 32 on which the ring of the lowermost ring-shaped marking element 4 of each strip 3 is resting is anular along the trajectory of the tabs 33. This approach, here illustrated as an example for manual operation, may also be motor driven. The cursor or carriage 34 moved by the grip, is sliding along the guide 35 and is featuring two opposed tabs 33 which make it possible to provide, at each to-and-fro movement, for marking of two supports 19 with their recess 20 mounted on opposed lateral bearings 18. Since only one of the ring-shaped marking elements 4 of the various strips 3 is located on the path of the tabs, no device is needed to keep the strips lifted. Drum rotation for positioning of the ring-shaped marking element 4 to be removed may either be manual or motor-driven by keyboard controlled positioning of the drum. An electronic memory may automatically adjust the sequence of the marking elements according to the established code. The marking machine described with reference to the supports for cables, wires and electrical equipment may be easily adjusted for marking of any other product or product package provided with a recess in which to introduce the ring-shaped marking elements.

Claims: Automatic marking machine for positioning of marking codes consisting of ring-shaped marking elements (4) inside the recess (20) of a support (19), comprising the following components: an elongated supporting frame (1); a flat vertical rack (2) arranged lengthwise with respect to said frame (1), said rack (2) being fitted with a series of vertical strips (3) bearing the ring-shaped marking elements (4), so that these marking elements (4) protrude partially from the rack (2), the axis of the hole of each ring-shaped marking element (4) being horizontal; a cross member (5) mounted in front of the rack (2) on which the lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) of at least one selected strip (3) rests; a horizontal guide bar (6) secured onto the frame (1) and parallel to said vertical rack (2); a carriage (8) with linear reciprocating movement, guided by the guide bar (6); a carriage drive; a tab (17) mounted on the carriage (8) and placed slightly above the cross member (5), the direction of motion of this tab (17) in operation being horizontally aligned with the axis of the hole of the lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) of each selected strip (3); a supporting structure (18) located at the end of the tab path on which the recessed support (19) to be marked is positioned in such a way that the horizontal axis of its recess (20) is aligned with the trajectory of the tab (17); devices (21 - 30) to define the position of each strip (3) and to let the lowermost marking element (4) of each selected strip slide onto the cross member (5) and thus onto the trajectory of the tab (17); so that the tab (17) will automatically and progressively remove the ring-shaped marking elements (4) from their strips (3), as selected for the formation of the codes and introduce them into the recess (20) of the support (19) which can be mounted on cables, wires or electrical equipment. Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage drive is provided with a chain (12) and a bearing pin tooth (11) housed in a slot (10) of the carriage (8) so that the rotatory movement of the chain (12) causes a reciprocating motion of the carriage (8). Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (8) is driven by a flow dynamic, or electric piston, a connecting rod and crankshaft system or a handle for manual operation. Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said devices (21 - 30) comprise, for each strip (3): a lever (21) with a horizontal lengthwise hinge pin (22) backed up by a plate (23) secured onto the frame (1) at that side of the frame which is opposed to the one on which is fixed the rack (2); a lamination (24) with a curved tip mounted at the end of the lever (21) facing the rack (2), resting against the strip (3) when the lever (21) is lowered into its rest position; an elastic device consisting of a stem (25) and a spring (26), the elastic device being acting on the end of the lever (21) opposed to the lamination (24) and tending to lower this lamination until it contacts the strip (3); and for all the strips (3) together: a longitudinal channel section (27) shared by all levers (21) supporting the elastic devices (25, 26); a longitudinal section (28) shared by all levers (21) bearing an insulating strip (29) topped by a conductive strip (30), so that electric contact is established between the lever (21) and the conductive strip (30) when this lever (21) and the corresponding stem (25) are lowered, the lever and the conductive strip (30) being electrically connected to the control circuit of a motor (14), so that the lever (21), when pressed, will be lowered at its end opposed to the lamination (24) and will lift the curved tip of the lamination (24) to release the strip (3) to be lowered, thus letting the lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) of this strip (3) rest on the cross member (5) in alignment with the trajectory of the tab (17), at the same time, the electric control circuit of the motor (14) will be closed generating the forward movement of the tab (17) which will remove the marking element ( 4) from the strip (3) and introduce it in the recess (20) of the support (19), said tab (17), moves then backwards to its rest position. Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that means apt to permit simultaneous actuation of several levers (21) are provided, so that it is possible, in one single movement of the tab (17), to form marking codes consisting of several ring-shaped marking elements ( 4). Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (8) may be fitted with a supplementary tab so that the two tabs are opposed, the supplementary tab serving another support located at the other end of the forward, and backward travel of the carriage (8). Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting structure (18) can sustain two or more supports (19) to be marked in sequence. Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting structure (18) is designed to sustain and to cut to length a continuous support (19) obtained by drawing. Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the same machine may have more than one rack (2) housing the strips (3) and more than one tab (17) placed in horizontal sequence in transverse direction on the same supporting frame (1). Automatic marking machine for positioning of marking codes consisting of ring-shaped marking elements (4) inside the recess (20) of a support (19) comprising the following components: a supporting frame (1); a drum-shaped rack (30) rotating on a vertical pin (31), said rack (30) being peripherally fitted with a series of vertical strips (3) bearing the ring-shaped marking elements (4), so that these marking elements (4) protrude partially from the drum-shaped rack (30) and are radially outwards facing from it, the axis of the hole of each ring-shaped marking element (4) being horizontal; an annular member (32) around the drum-shaped rack (30), on which annular member (32) the lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) of each strip (3) rests; a horizontal guide bar (35) secured onto the frame (1); a carriage (34) with linear reciprocating movement, guided by the guide bar (35); a means for moving the carriage (34); a tab (33) mounted on the carriage (34) and placed slightly above the annular member (32), the direction of motion of this tab (33) in operation being horizontally aligned with the axis of the hole of the lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) of a selected strip (3); a supporting structure (18) located at the end of the tab path on which the recessed support (19) to be marked is positioned in such a way that the horizontal axis of its recess (20) is aligned with the trajectory of the tab (33); so that the tab (33) will automatically remove the selected lowermost ring-shaped marking element (4) from its strip (3) and introduce it into the recess (20) of the support (19) which can be mounted on cables, wires or electrical equipment, the lowermost ring-shaped marking elements (4) progressively to be removed from their strips (3), as selected for the formation of the codes, being placed on the trajectory of the tab (33) by rotation of the drum-shaped rack (30). Automatic marking machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the support (19) used for marking of the wires, cables or electrical equipments may be replaced by other products or their wraps or packages, provided they have a recess (20) in which to introduce the ring shaped marking elements (4).

Inventors: PIANA IVANA, PIANA SILVANO, PIANA, IVANA, PIANA, SILVANO
Applicants: GRAFOPLAST SPA, GRAFOPLAST S.P.A.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H01B13
IPC codes: B65C3, H01B13