Abstract:
A marker carrier device has carrier elements for carrying respective markers, the device being re-configurable between a compact configuration and a selection configuration in which the markers are accessibly presented for selection. Carrier devices loaded with markers are received at a receiving station of a marking unit. The markers are selected from the carrier individually while in the marking unit and marked by a marking device with a predetermined indicium.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application based on U.S. National Phase application Ser. No. 11/913,040, filed Mar. 19, 2008, which is a National Phase of PCT/GB2006/001572 (WO 2006/117528 A2), filed Apr. 28, 2006, which claims priority to United Kingdom Application No. 0508728.3, filed Apr. 29, 2005 and United Kingdom Application No. 0520474.8, filed Oct. 10, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a marker system and a carrier device for carrying individual pre-formed markers. 
     Elongate marker strips of plastics, metal or other materials are known for the purpose of identifying, for example electric cables. The markers are typically printed or embossed with an identifier indicia and attached to the cable, in order to identify the relevant cable. 
     An improved marker system and carrier device for such markers have been devised. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a carrier device for marker elements, the carrier device comprising a plurality of carrier elements for carrying respective marker elements, the device being re-configurable between a compact configuration and a selection configuration in which the markers are accessibly presented for selection. 
     It is preferred that the marker elements are presented in a fanned out configuration in the selection configuration, and in a non fanned out configuration in the compact configuration. Beneficially, the marker elements are presented in a radially spaced array in the selection configuration. The carrier elements preferably interlock one another in the compact configuration. 
     The carrier elements are preferably rotatable relative to one another to move between the compact configuration and the selection configuration. 
     Desirably, the carrier elements are arranged in a stack or row when in the compact configuration. 
     It is preferred that the system includes detent means for retaining the carrier elements interlocked in the compact configuration. Advantageously, the carrier elements are provided with complementary engaging formations comprising the detent means. It is desirable that the detent means is capable of being overcome by hand force in order to move the carrier elements from the compact position. 
     The carrier elements preferably include grip means for retaining the respective marker elements. The grip means may comprise one or more resilient clamp elements provided for a respective carrier element. The clamp element is preferably biased to a normally clamped position. 
     Typically, the carrier elements and the marker elements are elongate and the carrier elements are configured to facilitate insertion and removal of the marker elements in a transfer direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction. Preferably the carrier elements are rotatable about a common pivot spine. Beneficially the common pivot spine is positioned proximate one end of the respective carrier elements. 
     It is a preferred feature of the arrangement that the marker elements can be removed from the respective carrier elements in both the compact and the selection configuration. This aids in automatic handling such as for example enabling the marker elements to be picked from the device when in the compact configuration, loaded in a printing or embossing device. 
     The carrier elements are configured, beneficially, to receive a single marker element. Desirably, the marker elements are substantially laid flat received on a support of the respective carrier element. 
     According to an alternative aspect, the present invention provides a marker system for marking preformed markers the marker system including:
         a marker carrier device for carrying a plurality of markers received in respective carrier elements comprising the marker carrier device;   a marking unit including:
           a receiving station for receiving the marker carrier device;   a marking device; and,   means for selecting individual marker elements in the carrier device and operating the marking device to mark the respective marker element with a predetermined indicium.   
               

     It is preferred that the marking unit includes a picker arrangement to remove the marker elements from the carrier device and present the respective marker elements to the marking device. 
     Beneficially, the respective marker elements are returned to the carrier device following marking. 
     Desirably, the system is programmable to predetermine the indicium applied to a respective marker. Beneficially the system therefore includes user input means (such as a keypad or the like) to determine the indicium applied to the marker element. 
     The marking device preferably comprises an embossing device arranged to impart an embossed indicium to the marker element. 
     The carrier device preferably comprises a plurality of movable carrier elements re-configurable between a compact configuration and a selection configuration in which the markers are accessibly presented for selection, the carrier elements being moved to the selection configuration to enable the marker elements to be selected for marking in the marking unit. 
     In one embodiment the carrier device and marking device are sequentially relatively indexed to enable marker elements to be selected for marking. In alternative embodiment the marker carrier device could be indexed. The marked marker elements are preferably returned to the carrier elements from whence they came for dispatch from the unit. 
     The marker carrier used in the system has preferred and advantageous features in accordance with the marker carrier device according to the first aspect of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier device according to the invention: 
         FIG. 2  is an alternative perspective view of the carrier device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a carrier element comprising the carrier device of the preceding figures; 
         FIG. 4  is an alternative perspective view of the carrier element of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a carrier device in sequential steps between compact configuration and fanned out selection configuration; 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of an end of a carrier element of the device of  FIGS. 5 to 6 ; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are side and end views respectively of a marker system in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary marker system in accordance with this invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a view of a part of the system of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a carrier device  1  for individual selected flat markers  2 . The carrier device includes a series of elongate carrier elements  3 , each shaped and configured to hold a single respective marker  2 . The carrier elements  3  are of plastics material and joined at a common pivotal spine  4  such that each respective carrier element is pivotal relative to others in the device  1 . The pivotal spine is formed by boss formations  6  (formed integrally at the ends of respective carrier elements  3 ), and arranged to rotatably engage with a socket formation  7  provided on the reverse sides of the carrier elements (these are shown most clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). A resilient plastics clip  23  is used to hold the spine together. 
     The distal end of the respective carrier elements  3  are provided with detent formations  9 ,  10  which cooperate with a recess  12  ( FIG. 3 ) formed on the reverse side side of the carrier elements. In this way the adjacent carrier elements  2  can interlock and the carrier device  1  can be held in a compact or closed interlocked configuration in which the carriers are ‘in-line’ in a row or stack (bottom seven carrier elements in  FIG. 1 ) or ‘fanned out’ in a pivotally radially spaced ‘selection’ configuration, in which the markers  2  can be easily seen and selected (upper three carrier elements in  FIG. 1 ). The detent formations are shaped and dimensioned with respect to the recess  12  such that the carrier elements can be held ‘in line’ in the compact configuration, but displaced to the fanned out selection configuration by the user by hand. 
     The body of the carrier element comprises a longitudinal spine  13  and supports  14 ,  19 ,  20  against which the marker element is clamped by means of longitudinally spaced clamps  15 ,  16 . The clamps  15 , 16  included spaced resilient arms  22  which are shaped and configured to be normally biased to a position of clamping engagement. As the marker element  2  slides into and out of the clamps  15 ,  16  the arms  22  resiliently flex. The majority of the upper surface of the markers  2  when clamped to a respective carrier element are visible, which makes correct marker element identification and selection easier. 
     An alternative embodiment of carrier device  101  is shown in  FIGS. 5 to 8 . The device  101  is generally similar to the device of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , however in this instance the spines  113  of the carrier elements are mounted pivotally in a housing case  151  within which the carrier elements  103  are received in the compact configuration as shown in  FIG. 5 . The carrier elements  103  are configured generally as the carrier elements  3  of the previous embodiment except in relation to the free end detail. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the free end of the carrier elements is provided with a resilient detent  154  to cooperate with a detent shoulder (not shown) on the inside of the distal end wall  155  of the housing case  151 . This ensures the carrier elements  103  are generally securely retained within the housing case  151  but permits manual force to move the carrier element pivotally from the housing case  151 . The projection  157  carrying the detent  154  enables the user to grip the carrier element for movement, and also provides a resilient connection at bridge portion  158 . Projecting upwardly from the distal end of the carrier element  103  is a lug  109  which is arrayed to be received in a slot  110  (shown in dashed line in  FIG. 8 ) which is provided on the underside of the immediately upwardly adjacent carrier element  103  in the stack. In this way, pulling out the lowermost carrier element  103  causes the entire stack of carrier elements  103  to fan out (as shown progressively in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) as the lugs  109  move in slots  110  and then cause the adjacent carrier to pivotally move (fanning out) when the lug  109  abuts the end of the slot of the respective upwardly adjacent carrier elements  103 . In the selection configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the carrier elements are fully fanned giving clear view of the markers  108  in the carrier device. 
     Typically the marker elements are loaded (either manually or mechanically) into the carrier elements  2  of a carrier device  1  in an unmarked state. The unmarked, marker loaded, device is transported to a use location together with a portable marker unit  25  as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The portable marker unit  25  comprises a programmable input device  26  (such as an alpha numeric key pad) and a processor  27 . The processor  27  controls a picker device  28  and embossing device  29 . The carrier device  1  is loaded into the unit at a docking station  30 . The picker device  28  and embossing device  29  are arranged to be indexed upwardly or downwardly to adjacent successive carrier elements  2 , and operate to slide out the marker elements  2  from the carrier elements  3  in a direction away from the spine  13 . the picker device  28  then transfers the marker element  2  to the embossing device where the appropriate indicia is embossed onto the marker element  2 . Subsequently, the marker element is returned by the picker device  28  to the respective carrier element from which it was originally selected. 
     In a modified embodiment a magazine containing a number of carrier devices  1  (for example ten) can be loaded into a loading station for the unit. A single carrier device  1  is then fed to the docking station  30  for embossing of the blank marker elements  2 . In this way the unit can be used for relatively high embossing runs. In addition a separate dispatch station may be provided for the unit. Following embossing of all required marker elements in a relevant carrier  1 , the carrier may pass to the dispatch station whilst a further carrier  1  to be concurrently loaded for embossing. The unit may therefore, store and process carriers effectively continuously. 
     It is possible that alternatively to the picker device  28  and embossing device  29  being moved in indexed fashion, the carrier device  1  could be moved in an indexed manner. The carrier elements  2  of the carrier device  1 , when positioned in the docking station  30 , could be displaced pivotally to enable easier access for embossing and/or picking. It is also possible for other configurations of carrier device to be used. For example a disc carrier with the marker elements aligned radially could be used. In such an embodiment the disc carrier could be mounted for rotary indexing in the docking station and the marker elements moved radially into and out of the carrier. 
     Because the system is portable and programmable, markers can be marked up on site with appropriate indicia. The carrier device  1  provides a convenient means of carrying and selecting the markers when in use. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  disclose an alternative exemplary embodiment. In the arrangement shown a portable marker unit  225  includes a magazine  230  having upper and lower racks  237 ,  238 . A bank of carrier devices  201  loaded with unmarked markers is loaded in file (one behind another) onto the lower rack  238 . The carrier devices  201  are fed in succession to a forward picking station  301  of the rack. With the carrier device  201  in position at picking station  301  a picker device  228  operates to retrieve individual marker elements, in sequence, from the carrier device and transfer them to an embossing station  229  to be marked with the pre-programmed indicia. The picker device  228  includes a conveyor  341  to move toward and away from the carrier device and embossing station, a carriage  345  including an electric motor drive to move the carriage  345  and picker device  228  transversely across the unit supported on a rail  359  between the picking station  301  and the embossing station  229  by means of a conveyor  352 . 
     When each marker in a carrier device  201  has been picked, embossed and returned to the respective carrier device, the carrier device is driven upwardly from the picking station  229  lower rack  238  and loaded onto the upper rack  237 , for subsequent onward shipment.