DE102015102132A1 - Contact arrangement, insulation sleeve and use of a laser - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the invention, an insulation sleeve of a contact arrangement or an insulation sleeve alone is formed from a plastic material mixed with a plastic additive. This plastic material is designed so that it partially forms a predetermined information structure when exposed to an energetic radiation.

Description

The invention relates to a contact arrangement according to the preamble of patent claim 1, an insulation sleeve provided in particular for such a contact arrangement and the use of a laser for forming an information structure on such a contact arrangement or insulation sleeve.

From the DE 33 14 295 C1 a ferrule is known, which is provided for crimping with a stripped cable end and in the plastic collar an identification or information carrier can be placed. For this purpose, a holder is formed on the circumference of the plastic collar, in which the marking carrier can be used non-positively or positively.

The disadvantage of such a solution that a considerable device-technical effort is required to secure the label carrier on the plastic collar. In the event that the wire end ferrule is used without marking carrier, usually a separate ferrules without support must be provided, as shown for example in the DE 91 17 167 U1 is shown. When assembling different wire end sleeve types must then be provided for the same cable cross sections (once with bracket and once without bracket).

Also known are solutions in which the identification carrier is not applied to the wire end ferrule or another contact element but as a separate clip non-positively on the electrical conductor or the contact part. Even with such a solution, a considerable manufacturing effort is required, since both the contact elements and the clips must be provided.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, solutions are also used in which a printer, for example an inkjet printer or a thermal transfer printer, is provided on the production line, via which the information / marking is printed on the predetermined area of the electrical conductor (cable) or of the contact element becomes.

The problem with such a solution, however, is that a considerable space requirement for the printer is provided in the production line. Furthermore, there is a risk that the production line and in particular the components to be printed are contaminated by solvents, paint and the like.

On the other hand, the object of the invention is to provide a contact arrangement and a, preferably suitable for such a contact arrangement, insulating sleeve, which can be provided in a simple manner with a label / information.

This object is achieved with regard to the contact arrangement by the combination of features of claim 1 and with regard to the insulating sleeve by the feature combination of the independent claim 9. The information structure defined in these claims may be formed with a laser according to claim 10.

According to the invention, the contact arrangement has an insulation sleeve for an electrical contact element, which is connected to a conductor, preferably a cable end, wherein the insulation element has a sleeve body made of plastic, which is designed with an inner bore, which is at least partially penetrated by the conductor. The plastic of the sleeve body is equipped so that the sleeve circumference by directed energy radiation and a concomitant reaction of the plastic material can be formed in color contrast to the other plastic material remote information structure to convey information / labeling. This may be, for example, a color change or a color shading.

That is to say, the energy radiation forms a type of inscription resulting from a chemical or physical reaction of the plastic material, which reaction is locally limited so that the information content can be passed on in the desired manner. In this case, the plastic undergoes no significant structural or geometric change but it is formed in sections, only a color change or a Farbgraduierung that is so precise that even complex information, such as bar codes, company logos or position labels of a cabinet or the like can be formed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a plastic additive is added to the plastic material, which in the irradiated area undergoes a reaction associated with a color change / re-graduation, preferably a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction may be, for example, a carbonation.

The plastic material is relatively soft in one embodiment. In this case, for example, a Shore hardness in the range of 40 to 80, preferably 50 to 60 Shore (A) are provided.

The insulating sleeve may for example be a collar of a wire end ferrule, as described for example in the above DE 91 17 167 U1 is shown. The geometry of the insulating sleeve is of course not limited to a cylindrical body but can take virtually any suitable sleeve shape with flats and the like.

The information may be, for example, a logo or a mounting / clamping position of a unit in which the contact assembly is mounted.

In one embodiment, the plastic material is a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).

The energy radiation can be generated by a laser, preferably a marking laser with a 3D scanner mirror.

As explained, the insulating sleeve according to the independent claim is made of a plastic material, which is equipped with a plastic additive that partially, in energy radiation, d. h., Forms a predetermined information structure in relatively precisely predetermined areas. This information structure is a two-dimensional structure in the manner of a print.

Part of the invention is also the use of a laser, preferably a marking laser for forming an information structure on a contact arrangement or an insulating sleeve according to the above. Of course, however, other energy radiation can be provided to form the color change.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic representation of a contact arrangement according to the invention;

2 a detailed representation of the contact arrangement according to 1 ;

3 a trained as a seal insulation sleeve and

4 a trained as Aderendhülse insulation sleeve.

1 shows a schematic arrangement of a contact arrangement 1 , which is installed for example in a cabinet or the like. This contact arrangement 1 has a contact element 2 that with an electrical conductor, such as a cable 4 electrically connected. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection is made by crimping a stripped cable end with a crimping sleeve 6 of the contact element 2 , Before crimping is based on the illustrated embodiment 1 an insulation sleeve 8th placed, which is first moved away from said cable end to the rear and then after crimping with the contact element 2 in the in 1 illustrated investment position on the contact element 2 is brought. In this contact position is from the insulation sleeve 8th the crimp barrel 6 and the adjoining portion of the contact element 2 Covered, so that a sealing of this area can be done to the outside.

As in 1 indicated by means of a laser 10 , Preferably a caption laser (shown is a scanner level of the laser 10 ) A laser beam on a certain area, which may be flattened, for example, a laser beam 12 directed, the effective range is controlled by pivoting the mirror so that a predetermined information, such as a logo, a proof of originality or technical information, such as a terminal position in a cabinet or the like is formed. Accordingly, the focus diameter of the laser 10 and its control designed so that even the finest graphic structures can be formed.

The material of the insulation sleeve 8th is made of a suitable plastic, for example a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is mixed with plastic additives which cause a color change or a Farbgraduierung when irradiated. These plastic additives are shown in the illustration 1 with the reference number 14 Mistake. These can occur during manufacture, for example during injection molding of the insulation sleeves 8th be admixed with the actual plastic material. In principle, it is also possible to use these plastic additives as a coating or the like on the outer circumference of the insulating sleeve 8th then preferably only in those areas where the information is to be formed.

Depending on the orientation of the laser beam, the aforementioned plastic additives 14 excited by the incident laser energy to a chemical / physical reaction. This reaction can be, for example, a carbonization which leads to a color change of the plastic material used, this color change in the Essentially limited to the area covered by the laser beam 12 is charged.

In principle, it is also possible, the plastic additive 14 in a predetermined structure, for example in the form of a logo or a tamper-evident attached to the sleeve, so that this structure is visible in laser irradiation as a color change. In other words, an originality check can be carried out by irradiating a component which is neutral under normal illumination with a laser and thus distinguishing an original part from a plagiarism on account of the introduced logo.

As in 2 implied, the laser can 10 , preferably a labeling laser 10 be controlled so that in the irradiated area 15 the mentioned logo or the desired label is formed.

According to the embodiment 1 has the insulation sleeve 8th a substantially cylindrical base body having an inner bore 16 is provided by the cable 4 is enforced. The contact element is the inner bore 16 in the radial direction to a receiving space 18 extended, in which then an end portion of the contact element 2 and a part of the crimp barrel 6 dips.

However, the invention is not limited to such an insulating sleeve but it can also differently shaped sleeves, such as the so-called "seals" are provided in the manner according to the invention with information. Such a seal 20 has according to 3 a sleeve body 22 and an adjoining, radially enlarged, relatively elastic trained sealing body 24 , with circumferential ribs 26 is provided, via which a sealing effect can be brought about by radial or frontal contact with a contact element or the like. With such seals 20 It makes sense to the labeling area 15 on the sleeve body 22 train.

The insulation sleeve can according to 4 for example, a plastic collar 28 a wire end sleeve 30 be, by injection molding with the crimp barrel 6 connected is. In 4 shown is a so-called twin end sleeve, over the two cables with a common crimp barrel 6 can be provided. It makes sense, the labeling area 15 in the area of the flattened part of the plastic collar 28 train.

According to the invention, an insulation sleeve of a contact arrangement or an insulation sleeve alone is formed from a plastic material mixed with a plastic additive. This plastic material is designed so that it partially forms a predetermined information structure when exposed to an energetic radiation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Contact configuration

2

 contact element

4

 electric wire

6

 crimp barrel

8th

 insulation sleeve

10

 laser

12

 laser beam

14

 Plastic additive

15

 marking area

16

 internal bore

18

 accommodation space

20

 Seal

22

 sleeve body

24

 sealing body

26

 rib

28

 Plastic collar

30

 end sleeve

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 3314295 C1 [0002]
• DE 9117167 U1 [0003, 0013]

Claims (11)

Contact arrangement with an insulation sleeve ( 8th ) for an electrical contact element, which is connected to a conductor, preferably a cable end, wherein the insulating sleeve ( 8th ) is made of plastic and carries information, characterized in that the plastic is formed so that on the sleeve circumference by directed energy radiation and a concomitant reaction of the plastic material a color remote from the other plastic material deposited information structure for conveying the information can be formed. Contact arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the plastic material is a plastic additive ( 14 ) which undergoes a color change or a color graduation in the irradiated area by a chemical or physical reaction. Contact arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the reaction is a carbonization. Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic has a Shore hardness (A) in the range of 40 to 80, preferably 50 to 60 Shore. Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation sleeve is a plastic collar ( 28 ) of a wire end ferrule ( 30 ). Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information is a logo, a proof of originality or an indication of a mounting position. Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic consists of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Contact arrangement according to one of the claims 2 to 7, wherein the plastic additive ( 14 ) added to the plastic or this with the plastic additive ( 14 ) is coated. Insulation sleeve, in particular for a contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, consisting of a plastic material containing a plastic additive ( 14 ), which undergoes a color change in energy irradiation partially to form a predetermined information structure. Use of a laser for forming an information structure on a contact arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 8 or an insulation sleeve according to claim 9. Use according to claim 10, wherein the laser is a marking laser.

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