LAUO 0 1 CABLE COMPRISING A MARKING DEVICE Field Of The Invention [001] The invention relates to a cable comprising a marking device, in particular a cable which is for electrical or data transport and which is intended to be wound on a reel or coil. [002] The object of this marking is to allow a length of cable to be cut when it is unwound from a reel without the need for any measurement. Background Of The Invention [003] Such a marking device is described in the patent document JP 2005-276732. [004] According to this document, over the entire length of the cable there are marked on the outer sheath thereof pairs of identical values of units of length. For example, these marking data relate to the number of meters of cable. [005] Instead of being marked only once, these values are marked by identical pairs and the cutting of the length desired is carried out between two adjacent values of a pair. In this manner, the free end of the cable wound on the reel remains marked with a first length value which allows the length of the following cut to be located by means of display and comparison of this first value with the following values marked on the wound cable. [006] Such a marking with pairs of increasing values is carried out on a cable which is then wound on a reel. [007] Easy location assumes that the cable is always wound starting from the end thereof which carries the higher length value and that the free end thereof caries the lower value. It is sufficient in this case to add to this lower value the length desired and to cut the cable between the two values of the corresponding pair. [008] In practice, always winding the cable in this direction is a constraint which is impossible to comply with. This is because, generally, a cable which is wound on a first supply reel is cut to a given length in order to be supplied to a client and to be wound on a second reel, the free end thereof on the first reel becoming the inner end for the beginning of winding on the second reel.
AU 00 2 [009] Since the cable can therefore be wound in the other direction, it is in fact necessary to consider the first value carried by the free end of the cable and the value of the following pair in order to determine whether it is necessary to carry out an addition or a subtraction in order to obtain the desired length and to locate the value pair where the cut must be carried out. This operation is a source of time loss and errors. [0010] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application. Summary of the Invention [0011] The invention seeks to ameliorates this problem, at least in part, by proposing a cable for electrical or data transport provided with a marking device having an easy and rapid function, regardless of the winding direction of the marked cable. [0012] To this end, the invention proposes a cable comprising a marking device which comprises adjacent pairs of values of identical length, the pairs being spaced apart by a unit of length and being constituted by increasing values, respectively, this marking device being intended to allow a portion having a length L of cable wound on a reel to be cut, characterized in that the marking device also comprises two different marks at one side and the other of each pair of values. [0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the marks are the sign "-" arranged at the left-hand side of each pair and the sign "+" arranged at the right-hand side of each pair, the cable being arranged with the pair of lower values at the left-hand side and the pair of higher values at the right-hand side. [0014] Advantageously, a cutting mark is arranged between two values of each pair, at equal distance from these two values. [0015] According to an embodiment, the cable is associated with a cap which has a defined length and which is intended to cover at least one of the ends thereof and, according to the invention, the distance between two values of identical length of a pair is greater than or equal to double the length of the cap. [0016] Preferably, the distance between two values of identical length of a pair is AU 00 3 substantially double the length of the cap. [0017] The invention also relates to a method for cutting a portion having a length L of such cable wound on a reel, characterized in that it involves: - considering the value of the pair from the free end thereof and adding or subtracting the length L to/from this first value in order to obtain a second value, in accordance with the mark of the two different marks arranged at one side and the other of this pair of values, opposite the free end relative to the pair of first values, - referring to the pair of second values on the cable and - carrying out the cutting using a cutting tool substantially at equal distance from two values of the pair of second values. Brief Description Of The Drawings [0018] The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to figures illustrating only one preferred embodiment of the invention. [0019] Figure 1 is a front view of a cable according to the invention, [0020] Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a reel on which a cable is wound in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description Of The Embodiment Or Embodiments [0021] As illustrated in Figure 1, in accordance with the invention, the marking device of a cable comprises adjacent pairs P1, P2, P3 of values of identical length, the pairs being spaced apart by a unit of length and being constituted by increasing values, respectively, in this instance, for example, from right to left, and also comprises two different marks at one side and the other of each pair of values. [0022] These marks are the sign "-" arranged at the right-hand side of each pair P1, P2, P3 and the sign "+" arranged at the left-hand side of each pair P1, P2, P3, the cable being arranged with the pair of higher values at the left-hand side and the pair of lower values at the right-hand side. [0023] Preferably, this marking device is applied to a cable which is for electrical or data transport and which is intended to be wound on a reel. [0024] The function of such a marking device is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. [0025] The reel illustrated in Figure 2 is provided with such a cable which is wound AU 00 4 from the end thereof which carries the value of greater length and the free end thereof carries the lower value. As a result of the sign "+" adjacent to the length value "204" of the free end thereof, a simple glance is sufficient to know that it is necessary to locate the pair of values "204 + L" and to cut the cable between the two values of this pair in order to bring about the cutting of a cable having a length L. [0026] According to Figure 3, the reel is provided with such a cable wound in the other direction, that is to say, starting from the end thereof which carries the value of lower length and the free end thereof carries the higher value. As a result of the sign "-" adjacent to the length value "204" of the free end thereof, a simple glance is sufficient to know that it is necessary to locate the pair of values "204 - L" and to cut the cable between the two values of this pair in order to bring about the cutting of a cable having a length L. [0027] The signs "-" and "+" are preferred since they can be directly read. However, other signs can be used, for example, arrows. It is simply necessary for a precise procedure with regard to the measurement to be provided. [0028] Preferably, the distance between the two values of identical length of the same pair is defined in accordance with the diameter of the electrical or data transport cable. [0029] This is because, at the free end of such a cable, there is placed a cap of cylindrical form which has a closed base and is generally of thermo-retractable material. This is particularly the case for electrical transport cables. [0030] The length L of this cap is in accordance with the diameter of the cable. [0031] By way of example: - for a cable having a diameter of less than 20 mm, the standard length of the cap is 5.6 cm, - for a cable having a diameter of between 20 and 40 mm, the standard length of the cap is 9.2 cm, - for a cable having a diameter of between 40 and 60 mm, the standard length of the cap is 12 cm, - for a cable having a diameter of between 60 and 80 mm, the standard length of the cap is 13.9 cm. [0032] In order to ensure the function of the marking device according to the AU 00 5 invention, it is necessary for the distance between the two length values of the same pair to be greater than or equal to double this cap length L. Preferably, this distance is selected to be substantially double this cap length L, the procedure indicating that the cutting must be carried out substantially at an equal distance from these two values. Optionally, a cutting mark may be provided between these two values, at equal distance from these two values. [0033] In this manner, it is ensured that the positioning of the cap will conceal neither the length value of the free end of the cable wound on the supply reel, nor the value of the end of the cut cable portion which is generally wound on a second reel. [0034] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of". A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear. [0035] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [0036] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.