Patent GB-841404-A (GB)
Title: An apparatus for printing colour codes on lengths of wire
IPC: B41F17/10
Filed: 1958-02-19
Abstract: 841,404. Printing on insulated wires. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Feb. 19, 1958 [Feb. 20, 1957], No. 5390/58. Class 100(2) An apparatus for printing colour codes on lengths of wire comprises a plurality of reser voirs for containing printing inks of different colours, a set of transfer means for transferring ink from each reservoir to each printing head, control means operable at will for moving any selected reservoir into engage ment with the corresponding se of transfer means so as to fee( ink thereto, and means for sub sequently moving the corres ponding printing head into con tact with the longitudinally moving insulated wire. As shown, insulated wire 103, Fig 1, that is to be printed with a colour code is drawn by a driv ing pulley 108 from a reel 101 through a tensioning device 105 between printing rollers 106 and through a drying oven 107. Ink transfer rollers 113, 114, Fig. 3 are provided for supplying each printing roller 106 with ink from a reservoir 115. The rollers 113 114 are normally held apart from duct rollers 304, Fig. 3, within the reservoirs, but are selectively brought into engagement to print a desired colour code on the wire by operation of a control panel 116 Fig. 1. When a particular colour is selected a shaft 320, Fig. 3, is rotated 90 degrees by a pinion 702, Fig. 7, engaging a rack 323 actuated by a shaft 324 moved axially by a solenoid 701. The solenoid is energised by depression of a button 936 (Fig. 9, not shown) on the control panel. Rotation of the shaft 320 causes rotation of a cam 321, Fig. 3, thereon, thus allowing a pin 325 to engage a depression in the cam. The selected reservoir 115 then moves, under the action of a spring, not shown, towards the roller 114. Upon a further 90 degrees rotation of the shaft 320, a pin 326 moves into a depression in a cam 322 on the shaft 320, thus allowing a spring to move, the selected printing roller 106 into contact with the wire 103, the reservoir 115 and rollers 113, 114 also moving a further amount such that the roller 113 is maintained in engagement with the roller 106. The pinion 702, Fig. 7, is freely rotatable on the shaft 320 and secured to a plate 703 carrying a pawl 704 engaging a ratchet wheel 705 secured to the shaft 320, thus ensuring that the shaft 320 is rotated 90 degrees upon each actuation of the solenoid 701. A solenoid 803, Fig. 3, has its plunger 804 connected to a shaft 805 which can, upon energisation of the solenoid 803, pull a shaft 801 keyed in a shaft 309 outwardly of this shaft, thereby moving the printing roller 106 axially. A pattern 302 for printing a short-coloured band, Fig. 2, on the wire is then aligned with the wire 103, whereas a pattern 305 for printing a long band 203, previously aligned with wire is disengaged therefrom. The printing roller is returned to its initial position upon de-energisation of the solenoid 803 by a spring 809. A motor, not shown, drives shafts 122, 123, Fig. 1. The shaft 123 drives the pulley 108 through an electromagnetic clutch 124 controlled by a knot detector, not shown, which disengages the clutch if a knot in the wire is detected. The shaft 122, Fig. 3, drives the printing rollers 106 individually through worm gearing 305, 306, a sprocket 307, chain 308 and shaft 309. Pinions 310 and 311 drive each roller 113, similarly a pinion 312 on a shaft 307 drives each roller 114, while the duct roller 304 is driven when a pinion 313 engages the pinion 312. The wire is dried after printing by passage through the oven 107, Fig. 1, having electrical heating coils 926 (Fig. 9, not shown). Should the wire be stationary closure of the oven doors are prevented, thus preventing closure of a switch in circuit with the coils 926, thereby preventing over-heating the wire.