EP1638116A1 - Electric wire-coloring device - Google Patents
Electric wire-coloring device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1638116A1 EP1638116A1 EP04746130A EP04746130A EP1638116A1 EP 1638116 A1 EP1638116 A1 EP 1638116A1 EP 04746130 A EP04746130 A EP 04746130A EP 04746130 A EP04746130 A EP 04746130A EP 1638116 A1 EP1638116 A1 EP 1638116A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wire
- electric wire
- coloring
- slack
- transfer roller
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
- H01B13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
- H01B13/34—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables for marking conductors or cables
- H01B13/345—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables for marking conductors or cables by spraying, ejecting or dispensing marking fluid
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
- B05B13/0207—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the work being an elongated body, e.g. wire or pipe
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device for coloring an electric wire, which includes an electrically conductive core wire and an electrically insulating coating that coats the core wire.
- the motor vehicle is provided with a wiring harness for transmitting power from a power source and control signals from a computer to the electronic instruments.
- the wiring harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.
- the electric wire (i.e. wire) includes an electrically conductive core wire and a coating made of insulating synthetic resin, which coats the core wire.
- the wire is a so-called coated wire.
- a connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing for receiving the terminal fitting.
- the terminal fitting is made of electrically conductive plate metal and attached to an end of the wire so as to be electrically connected to the core wire of the wire.
- the connector housing is made of insulating synthetic resin and formed in a box-shape.
- the wiring harness When the wiring harness is assembled, first the wire is cut into a predetermined length, then the terminal fitting is attached to an end of the wire after the coating at the end of the wire is removed. The wires are connected to each other according to a need. Thereafter, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wiring harness is assembled.
- the wire of the wiring harness must be distinguished in terms of the size of the core wire, the material of the coating (concerning with alteration in the materials depending upon heat-resisting property), and a purpose of use.
- the purpose of use means, for example, an air bag, antilock brake system (ABS), control signal such as speed data, and system in a motor vehicle in which the wire is used, such as a power transmission system.
- ABS antilock brake system
- an outer surface of the wire to be used in a wiring harness has been colored in a desired color with various harness manufacturing devices (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-162839) that performs the cutting of the wire and removing of the coating in order to distinguish the purposes of use or the systems.
- harness manufacturing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-162839, the wire is transferred in the length direction of the wire and the wire is nipped between a pair of stamps, then the wire is colored, and thereafter the wire is nipped between a pair of blades and then, the wire is colored in a desired color and cut into a desired length.
- the wire is colored with nipping the wire between a pair of the stamps, it is not possible to color the wire continuously. For example, if the wire is colored with the stamps for a distance between the cutting blades and the stamps and then cut after the wire is transferred, a position colored by the stamps is located at an end portion of the wire. Thus, in the conventional harness manufacturing device, only a part of the wire, for example, only an end portion of the wire can be colored. In order to color the wire continuously, it is necessary to repeat the transfer and halt of the wire frequently, causing a lowering of work efficiency.
- a device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 1 is a device for coloring an electric wire including:
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 2 is the device defined in claim 1, wherein the device further includes:
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 3 is the device defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer means is stretch means for stretching the electric wire in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire so as to transfer the electric wire, the tension imparting means is arranged on the upstream side of the stretch means in a transferring direction of the electric wire and imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, and the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means and the tension imparting means.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 4 is the device defined in claim 3, wherein the device further includes slack-absorbing means for absorbing a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 5 is the device defined in claim 4, wherein the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 6 is the device defined in claim 5, wherein the tension imparting means imparts first bias force as the friction force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force smaller than the first bias force in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 7 is the device defined in claim 6, wherein the slack-absorbing means includes:
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 8 is the device defined in claim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 9 is the device defined in claim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 10 is the device defined in any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire.
- the device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 11 is the device defined in any one of claims 1 - 10, wherein the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire.
- the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. That is, the wire is colored while the electric wire and the coloring means are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of the wire to color the wire, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results.
- the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be colored and the wire can be colored continuously.
- the coloring agent means a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent.
- a coloring material organic substance for use in industry
- the organic substance described above is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances, i.e. synthetic substances).
- a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye.
- the coloring agent may be a coloring liquid or coating material.
- the coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
- the coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion. When the outer surface of the coating is colored with a coloring liquid, the dye permeates into the coating.
- the pigment adheres to the outer surface without permeating into the coating.
- to color the outer surface of the (electric) wire means to dye a part of the outer surface of the wire with a dye or to coat a part of the outer surface of the wire with a pigment.
- the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating in order to allow the dye to securely permeate into the coating or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to the outer surface of the coating.
- the measuring means measures the transferring length of the electric wire and the control means controls the coloring means in response to the transferring length of the wire. Therefore, a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be shortened when the transfer speed of the wire increases, while a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be elongated when the transfer speed of the wire decreases. In this case, even if the transfer speed of the wire changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of the wire can be maintained to be a predetermined value.
- the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means as the transfer means and the tension imparting means. Since the tension imparting means imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, therefore the wire can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means.
- the slack-absorbing means absorbs a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means.
- the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means. Therefore, the wire can be securely stretched in the proximity of the coloring means. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means.
- the tension imparting means imparts first bias force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force. Therefore, when a slack of the electric wire does not occur, the slack-absorbing means never prevents the wire from moving. When a slack of the electric wire occurs, the wire is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire by the second bias force of the slack-absorbing means, so that the wire is stretched.
- the slack-absorbing means includes the pair of guiding rollers and the transfer roller arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers. Also, the transfer roller is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire and biased with the second bias force by the bias means.
- the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to any portion (i.e. position) of the wire.
- the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers. Therefore, when the transfer roller moves, counterforce from the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller becomes about the same as that from the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, the transfer roller quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire.
- the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire. Therefore, a bend of the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller becomes more moderate than that of the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, a bend of the wire forwarded to the coloring means can be controlled and the tension imparted to the wire can be controlled. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from abruptly being damaged.
- a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire. Therefore, the outer surface of the wire can be securely colored by a plurality of the coloring means. Since a distance between the tension imparting means and the stretch means in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the coloring means can be set short, so that the size of the device for coloring the wire can be reduced.
- the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire. That is, the wire can be colored in a desired color at the processing step of the wire. Therefore, the number of steps for processing the wire, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which the wires such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing.
- the wire is colored while the electric wire and the coloring means are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of the wire to color the wire, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results. Further, since the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be colored and the wire can be colored continuously.
- the measuring means measures the transferring length of the electric wire and the control means controls the coloring means in response to the transferring length of the wire. Therefore, even if the transfer speed of the wire changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of the wire can be maintained to be a predetermined value, that is, the coloring agent can adhere to the outer surface of the wire according to a predetermined pattern.
- the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means as the transfer means and the tension imparting means. Since the tension imparting means imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, therefore the wire can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing means absorbs a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire, and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means. Therefore, the wire can be securely stretched in the proximity of the coloring means and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the tension imparting means imparts first bias force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force. Therefore, when a slack of the electric wire does not occur, the slack-absorbing means never prevents the wire from moving.
- the wire is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire by the second bias force of the slack-absorbing means, so that the wire is stretched. Therefore, the wire can be always stretched and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing means includes the pair of guiding rollers and the transfer roller arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers. Also, the transfer roller is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire and biased with the second bias force by the bias means.
- the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers. Therefore, when the transfer roller moves, counterforce from the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller becomes about the same as that from the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, the transfer roller quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire. Therefore, a bend of the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller becomes more moderate than that of the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, a bend of the wire forwarded to the coloring means can be controlled and the tension imparted to the wire can be controlled. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from abruptly being damaged.
- a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire. Therefore, the outer surface of the wire can be securely colored by a plurality of the coloring means. Since a distance between the tension imparting means and the stretch means in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the coloring means can be set short, so that the size of the device for coloring the wire can be reduced.
- the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire. That is, the wire can be colored in a desired color at the processing step of the wire. Therefore, a processing step such as a step for cutting the wire, which is separately provided from the step for coloring the wire, is not necessary. That is, the number of steps for processing the wire, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which the wires such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing.
- a coloring device 1 is a device, in which a wire 3 is cut into a predetermined length and a mark 6 is formed on a portion of an outer surface 3a of the wire 3. That is, the coloring device 1 colors, i.e. marks the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the wires 3 constitute a wiring harness mounted on a motor vehicle as a mobile unit. As shown in Fig. 6A, the wire 3 includes an electrically conductive core wire 4 and an electrically insulating coating 5. A plurality of element wires are bundled up to form the core wire 4. Each element wire of the core wire 4 is made of electrically conductive metal. The core wire 4 may be constituted by a single element wire.
- the coating 5 is made of synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The coating 5 coats the core wire 4. Therefore, an outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is an outer surface of the coating 5.
- PVC polyvinyl chloride
- the coating 5 has a monochrome color P, for example, a white color.
- a desired coloring agent may be mixed with the synthetic resin of the coating 5 so as to make the color of the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 be a monochrome color P, or alternatively, the monochrome color P may be set as the color of the synthetic resin itself without adding a coloring agent to the synthetic resin of the coating 5. In the latter case, the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is not colored, i.e. the coating 5 is not colored.
- a mark 6 having a plurality of spots 7 is formed on the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the spot 7 has a color B (shown with parallel lines in Figs. 6A and 6B).
- the color B is different from the monochrome color P.
- a shape of the spot 7 in a plan view is round as shown in Fig. 6B.
- the spots 7 are lined up along the longitudinal direction of the wire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. In an example shown in the figure, the spots 7 are lined up at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3. A distance between centers of the spots 7 adjacent to each other is predetermined.
- a plurality of the wires 3 are bundled up and then attach connectors to ends thereof so as to construct a wiring harness.
- the connectors are coupled with mating connectors of various electronic instruments mounted on a motor vehicle, so that the wires 3, i.e. the wiring harness transmit electric power or signals to the electronic instruments.
- Colors B of the respective spots 7 of the mark 6 are changed into various colors, so that the wires 3 can be distinguished from each other.
- the colors of all the spots 7 of a wire 3 are the same color.
- the color B may be changed depending on spot 7 according to a need, so that the colors B of the spots 7 are different from each other.
- the colors B of the respective spots 7 of the mark 6 are used to distinguish types of the wires 3 in the wiring harness or to distinguish systems. That is, the colors B of the respective spots 7 of the mark 6 are used to distinguish the purposes of use of the respective wires 3 in the wiring harness.
- the coloring device 1 includes a frame 10 as a body of the device, guide roll 11, delivery rolls 12 as transfer means, correction unit 13 as tension imparting means, slack absorbing unit 14 as slack-absorbing means, coloring unit 15, duct 16, encoder 17 as measuring means, cutting mechanism 18 as processing means, and control device 19 as control means.
- the frame 10 is placed on a floor in a plant.
- the frame 10 extends in a horizontal direction.
- the guide roll 11 is rotatably attached to an end of the frame 10.
- the guide roll 11 is a guide for guiding the long wire 3 having no mark 6 formed thereon from a wire bundle 50 to the correction unit 13.
- the guide roll 11 forwards the wire 3 by way of the correction unit 13, slack absorbing unit 14, coloring unit 15, duct 16, encoder 17 and cutting mechanism 18 in sequence.
- a pair of the delivery rolls 12 is placed at an opposite end of the frame 10.
- the pair of the delivery rolls 12 is rotatably supported by the frame 10 and arranged in a vertical direction.
- the delivery rolls 12 are rotated by a motor (not shown in the figure) with the same number of revolutions in respective directions, which are reverse to each other.
- the delivery rolls 12 put the wire 3 therebetween and pull the wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3 from the guide roll 11.
- the delivery rolls 12 are pulling means, which pull and transfer the wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3.
- the delivery rolls 12 transfer the wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3, so that the delivery roll 12 move a coloring nozzle 31 (explained later on) of the coloring unit 15 and the wire 3 relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3. That is, the wire 3 is transferred from the guide roll 11 toward the delivery roll 12 in a direction of an arrow K shown in Fig. 1. That is, the arrow K shows the transferring direction of the wire 3.
- the correction unit 13 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the guide roll 11. That is, the correction unit 13 is placed between the guide roll 11 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the correction unit 13 is placed on the downstream side of the guide roll 11 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. That is, the correction unit 13 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3.
- the correction unit 13 includes a plate-shaped unit body 20, a plurality of first rollers 21 and a plurality of second rollers 22.
- the unit body 20 is fixed on the frame 10.
- a plurality of the respective first and second rollers 21, 22 are rotatably supported by the unit body 20.
- a plurality of the first rollers 21 are arranged in a horizontal direction (in the transferring direction K) above the wire 3.
- a plurality of the second rollers 22 are arranged in a horizontal direction (in the transferring direction K) below the wire 3.
- the first and second rollers 21 and 22 are arranged zigzag.
- the correction unit 13 puts the wire 3, which is forwarded by the delivery roll 12 from the guide roll 11, between the first rollers 21 and the second rollers 22, thereby making the wire 3 straight.
- the correction unit 13 gives friction force to the wire 3. That is, the correction unit 13 gives first bias force H1 as friction force having a direction reverse to the direction, in which the delivery roll 12 pulls the wire 3 (i.e. the transferring direction K), to the wire 3.
- the first bias force H1 is smaller than the force that the delivery roll 12 pulls the wire 3. Therefore, the correction unit 13 gives the tension having a direction, which is along the longitudinal direction of the wire 3, to the wire 3 so as to stretch the wire 3.
- the slack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the correction unit 13. That is, the slack absorbing unit 14 is placed between the correction unit 13 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the slack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the downstream side of the correction unit 13 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. The slack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. The slack absorbing unit 14 is placed between the correction unit 13 and a coloring nozzle 31 (explained later on) of the coloring unit 15.
- the slack absorbing unit 14 includes a pair of guiding roller supporting frames 23, a pair of guiding rollers 24, transfer roller supporting frame 25, transfer roller 26, and air cylinder 27 as bias means (i.e. energizing means).
- the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23 is fixed on the frame 10.
- the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23 stands up from the frame 10.
- the guiding roller supporting frames 23 are arranged having a distance therebetween in the transferring direction K of the wire 3.
- the pair of the guiding rollers 24 is rotatably supported by the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23.
- the guiding roller 24 is arranged below the wire 3 and comes in contact with the wire 3 on the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to guide the wire 3 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3 preventing the wire 3 from coming off from the transferring direction K.
- the transfer roller supporting frame 25 is fixed on the frame 10.
- the transfer roller supporting frame 25 stands up from the frame 10.
- the transfer roller supporting frame 25 is placed between the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23.
- the transfer roller 26 is rotatably supported by the transfer roller supporting frame 25 movably in the vertical direction.
- the transfer roller 26 is arranged above the wire 3.
- the transfer roller 26 is supported movably in the vertical direction, that is, the transfer roller 26 is supported movably in a direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of the wire 3.
- the transfer roller 26 is placed in the middle of the pair of the guiding rollers 24.
- the air cylinder 27 includes a cylinder body 28 and stretchable rod 29 stretchable from the cylinder body 28.
- the cylinder body 28 is fixed to the transfer roller supporting frame 25 and arranged above the wire 3.
- the stretchable rod 29 extends downward from the cylinder body 28. That is, the stretchable rod 29 extends from the cylinder body 28 in a direction in which the stretchable rod 29 approaches toward the wire 3.
- the transfer roller 26 is attached to the stretchable rod 29.
- the air cylinder 27 biases the stretchable rod 29 (or the transfer roller 26) downward in a direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of the wire 3 with a second bias force H2 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2). That is, the air cylinder 27 biases the transfer roller 26 in a direction in which the transfer roller 26 approaches toward the wire 3 with the second bias force H2.
- the second bias force H2 is smaller than the first bias force H1.
- the slack absorbing unit 14 biases the wire 3, which slackens between the pair of the guiding rollers 24, in the direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of the wire 3 so as to absorb the slack, thereby keeping the wire 3 stretched.
- the coloring unit 15 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the slack absorbing unit 14. That is, the coloring unit 15 is placed between the slack absorbing unit 14 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the coloring unit 15 is placed on the downstream side of the slack absorbing unit 14 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. The coloring unit 15 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. That is, the coloring unit 15 (i.e. the coloring nozzle 31 explained later on) is placed between the delivery roll 12 and the correction unit 13.
- the coloring unit 15 includes a unit body 30, a plurality of coloring nozzles 31, a plurality of coloring agent supply source 32 (only one source 32 being drawn in the figure and other sources 32 being omitted to be drawn) and pressurized gas supply source 33.
- the unit body 30 is fixed on the frame 10.
- the unit body 30 supports a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31.
- the coloring nozzle 31 includes a cylindrical nozzle body 34, insert member 35 received in the nozzle body 34, inlet pipe 36, spouting pipe 37 and valve mechanism 38.
- the insert member 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided with a channel 39 to let the coloring agent pass therethrough. That is, the channel 39 is filled with the coloring agent supplied from the coloring agent supply source 32.
- the insert member 35 is a receiver for receiving the liquid coloring agent.
- the inlet pipe 36 communicates with the channel 39 to guide the coloring agent supplied from the coloring agent supply source 32 into the channel 39.
- the spouting pipe 37 is formed in a cylindrical shape and communicates with the channel 39 so as to guide the coloring agent in the channel 39 to the outside of the coloring nozzle 31.
- An inner diameter of the spouting pipe 37 is smaller than an inner diameter of the insert member 35, i.e. an outer diameter of the channel 39.
- the spouting pipe 37 is aligned with the nozzle body 34 and made of stainless steel.
- the valve mechanism 38 includes a coil 40, valve body 41, and coil spring 42.
- the coil 40 is provided outside the channel 39 and embedded in the insert member 35. A current is applied to the coil 40 from the outside.
- the valve body 41 includes an electrically conductive body part 43 and valve element 44.
- the body part 43 integrally includes a cylindrical cylinder part 45 and disc-shaped disc part 46 which continues to an end of the cylinder part 45.
- the disc part 46 of the body part 43 faces a base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37.
- the body part 43 is received in the channel 39 in a state that the longitudinal direction of the cylinder part 45 is parallel to that of the nozzle body 34.
- the body part 43 (or the valve body 41) is provided movably in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder part 45, i.e. the longitudinal direction of the nozzle body 34.
- the valve element 44 is attached to the disc part 46 of the body part 43. That is, the valve element 44 is received in the insert member 35.
- the valve element 44 faces the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37.
- the valve element 44 approaches or leaves the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37.
- the valve element 44 When the valve element 44 leaves the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37, the coloring agent is allowed to pass through the spouting pipe 37 so as to be spouted toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the valve element 44 approaches or leaves the base end 37a between the opening position (not shown in the figure) and the closing position shown with a solid line in Fig. 5.
- the valve element 44 leaves the base end 37a, so that the coloring agent is allowed to pass through the spouting pipe 37 so as to be spouted toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the valve element 44 comes in contact with the base end 37a, so that the coloring agent is not allowed to pass through the spouting pipe 37 to be spouted toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the coil spring 42 biases the disc part 46 in such a direction that the valve element 44 approaches the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37.
- the coloring nozzle 31 allows the coloring agent supplied from the coloring agent supply source 32 to flow through the inlet pipe 36 and guides the coloring agent into the channel 39.
- the valve element 44 comes in contact with the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37 due to the bias force by the coil spring 42, thereby the coloring agent stays within the channel 39.
- the valve element 44 attached to the disc part 46 leaves the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37 against the bias force by the coil spring 42, thereby allowing the coloring agent existing in the channel 39 to spout from the spouting pipe 37.
- a current is applied to the coil 40 for a predetermined period of time on the basis of a command from the control device 19. Therefore, the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount of the coloring agent per spouting.
- the coloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the transferring direction K of the wire 3 and also arranged in a peripheral direction around the wire 3.
- five coloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the transferring direction K of the wire 3 in the unit body 30.
- Three coloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the circumferential direction around the wire 3 in the unit body 30.
- each coloring nozzle 31 is supported by the unit body 30 on a condition that the uppermost part 3b of the wire 3 is positioned on an extension line of an axis R (shown with alternate long and short dash line in Fig. 4) of the spouting pipe 37.
- the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent along the axis R. That is, the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the uppermost part 3b of the wire 3.
- the coloring nozzle 31 is the coloring means.
- the coloring agent supply source 32 receives the coloring agent and supplies the coloring agent into an inlet pipe 36 of the coloring nozzle 31.
- Each coloring agent supply sources 32 mates with a coloring nozzles 31.
- the colors B of the coloring agents supplied from the coloring agent supply sources 32 to the coloring nozzles 31 may be different from each other or, alternatively, the same with each other.
- the pressurized gas supply source 33 supplies pressurized gas into the coloring agent supply sources 32. After the pressurized gas is supplied into the coloring agent supply sources 32, when a valve element 44 of the coloring nozzle 31 leaves a base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37, the coloring agent contained in a channel 39 is spouted rapidly from the spouting pipe 37.
- the coloring unit 15 on the basis of a command from the control device 19, a current flows into a coil 40 of the coloring nozzle 31 so that the valve element 44 leaves the base end 37a of the spouting pipe 37. Then, the coloring unit 15 spouts the coloring agent contained in the channel 39 of the coloring nozzle 31 with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire 3.
- the coloring agent means a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent.
- a coloring material organic substance for use in industry
- the organic substance described above is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances and synthetic substances).
- a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye.
- the coloring agent may be a coloring liquid or coating material.
- the coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
- the coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion.
- the coloring liquid adheres to the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, the dye permeates into the coating 5.
- the coating material adheres to the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, the pigment adheres to the outer surface 3a without permeating into the coating 5. That is, the coloring unit 15 dyes a part of the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 with a dye or, alternatively, coat a part of the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 with a pigment.
- to color the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 means to dye a part of the outer surface 3a of the coating 5 of the wire 3 with a dye or to coat a part of the outer surface 3a of the coating 5 of the wire 3 with a pigment.
- the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating 5 in order to securely permeate the dye into the coating 5 or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to the outer surface 3a of the coating 5.
- “spouting” means that the liquid coloring agent in a form of a liquid drop (or liquid drops) with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting is ejected vigorously from the coloring nozzle 31 toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the duct 16 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the coloring unit 15. That is, the duct 16 is placed between the coloring unit 15 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the duct 16 is placed on the downstream side of the coloring unit 15 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. The duct 16 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. The duct 16 is formed in a tube shape and allows the wire 3 to pass therethrough.
- the duct 16 is connected to suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump. The suction means sucks gas existing in the duct 16 so as to prevent solvent or liquid dispersion existing in the coloring agent from being filled outside the coloring device 1.
- the encoder 17 is placed on the downstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3.
- the encoder 17 includes a pair of rotors 47.
- Each rotor 47 is rotatably supported around the axis.
- the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 47 comes in contact with the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, which is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 12.
- the wire 3 i.e. core wire 4
- the rotor 47 rotates around the axis.
- the amount of transfer of the wire 3 in the direction K is proportional to the number of revolutions of the rotor 47.
- the encoder 17 is connected to the control device 19. When the rotor 47 rotates by a predetermined angle per rotation, the encoder 17 outputs a pulse signal to the control device 19. That is, the encoder 17 outputs an information in response to the transfer amount of the wire 3 in the direction K to the control device 19. Thus, the encoder 17 measures an information in response to the transfer amount of the wire 3 and outputs the information in response to the transfer amount of the wire 3 to the control device 19. Normally, the encoder 17 outputs a pulse signal in response to the transfer amount of the wire 3 on the basis of friction between the wire 3 and the rotor 47.
- the speed information of the transfer of the wire 3 may be obtained from another position so that thus obtained speed information is subjected to feedback so as to make the output to be outputted to the control device 19.
- the cutting mechanism 18 is placed on the downstream side of the pair of the rotors 47 of the encoder 17 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3.
- the cutting mechanism 18 includes a pair of cutting blades 48 and 49, each of which is arranged in the vertical direction.
- the cutting blades 48 and 49 approach or leave each other in the vertical direction.
- they put the wire 3, which is delivered by the pair of the delivery rolls 12, therebetween and cut the wire 3.
- the control device 19 is a computer including a known RAM, ROM and CPU.
- the control device 19 is connected to the delivery rolls 12, encoder 17, cutting mechanism 18, coloring nozzles 31 and so on.
- the control device 19 control the whole of the coloring device 1 by controlling actions of these components described above.
- the control device 19 stores a pattern of the mark 6 in advance.
- the control device 19 receives a predetermined pulse signal from the encoder 17, i.e. an information in response to the amount of transfer of the wire 3, the control device 19 applies a current to the coil 40 of the predetermined coloring nozzle 31 for a predetermined period of time so that the coloring agent is spouted from the coloring nozzle 31 toward the wire 3 with a predetermined amount of the coloring agent per spouting.
- the control device 19 shortens a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent from the coloring nozzle 31 when the transfer speed of the wire 3 increases, while the control device 19 elongates a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent from the coloring nozzle 31 when the transfer speed of the wire 3 decreases.
- the control device 19 performs the coloring of the wire 3 according to the pattern stored in advance.
- the control device 19 allows the coloring nozzle 31 to spout the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting on the basis of the amount of the transfer of the wire 3, which amount of the transfer is measured by the encoder 17.
- control device 19 judges that the wire 3 is transferred by a predetermined amount (i.e. distance) on the basis of the information from the encoder 17, the control device 19 halts the delivery roll 12, then allows the pair of the cutting blades 48 and 49 to approach each other so as to cut the wire 3.
- the coloring device 1 When the mark 6 is to be formed on the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, i.e. the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is colored, in the coloring device 1, first the guide roll 11 is attached to the frame 10. Keeping the cutting blades 48 and 49 apart from each other, the wire 3 transferred from the wire bundle 50 is passed through the correction unit 13, slack absorbing unit 14, coloring unit 15 and duct 16 in sequence through the guide roll 11 and is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 12. Then, the coloring nozzle 31 is attached to a predetermined position of the unit body 30 of the coloring unit 15 and the coloring agent supply sources 32 are connected to the respective coloring nozzles 31. Further, the pressurized gas supply source 33 is connected to the coloring agent supply sources 32 and the gas existed in the duct 16 is sucked by the suction means.
- the correction unit 13 gives friction force of the first bias force H1 to the wire 3 so as to stretch the wire 3.
- the air cylinder 27 gives the second bias force H2 to the transfer roller 26, that is, to the wire 3.
- the control device 19 applies a current to the coil 40 of the coloring nozzle 31 for a predetermined period of time per predetermined time interval. Then, the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
- the solvent or liquid dispersion is evaporated from the coloring agent adhered to the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, so that the outer surface 3a is dyed with a dye or coated with a pigment.
- the solvent or liquid dispersion evaporated from the coloring agent adhered to the outer surface 3a is sucked by the suction means from the duct 16.
- the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is colored.
- the control device 19 judges that the wire 3 is transferred by a predetermined amount (i.e. distance) on the basis of the information from the encoder 17, the control device 19 halts the delivery roll 12. Then, the wire 3 slackens between the pair of the guiding rollers 24 in the slack absorbing unit 14 and then, the transfer roller 26, which is biased with the second bias force H2, is shifted to a position indicated by an alternate long and two short dashes line in Figs. 1 and 2. Then, the stretchable rod 29 of the air cylinder 27 in the slack absorbing unit 14 stretches. Thus, the slack absorbing unit 14 absorbs the slack of the wire 3.
- a predetermined amount i.e. distance
- the cutting blades 48 and 49 approach each other, put the wire 3 therebetween and cut the wire 3.
- the wire 3 is obtained, in which the mark 6 is formed on the outer surface 3a.
- the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire 3 while electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31 are transferred relatively to each other. That is, the wire 3 is colored while the electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31 are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of the wire 3 to color the wire 3, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results. Further, since the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire 3 while the electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31 are moved relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be colored and the wire 3 can be colored continuously.
- the encoder 17 measures the transferring length of the electric wire 3 and the control device 19 controls the coloring nozzle 31 in response to the transferring length of the wire 3. Therefore, a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be shortened when the transfer speed of the wire 3 increases, while a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be elongated when the transfer speed of the wire 3 decreases. Thus, even if the transfer speed of the wire 3 changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of the wire 3 can be maintained to be a predetermined value.
- the coloring agent can adhere to the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. That is, even if the transfer speed of the wire 3 changes, the wire 3 can be colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the coloring nozzle 31 is arranged between the delivery roll 12 and the correction unit 13. Since the correction unit 13 imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the delivery roll 12 stretches the electric wire 3 to the electric wire 3, therefore the wire 3 can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to the wire 3, which is stretched by the delivery roll 12 and also stretched by the correction unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing unit 14 absorbs a slack when such a slack of the wire 3 occurs. Therefore, the wire 3, which is stretched by the delivery roll 12 and also stretched by the correction unit 13, is prevented from being positionally shifted. Since the coloring agent is spouted toward the stretched wire 3, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing unit 14 is arranged between the correction unit 13 and the coloring nozzle 31. Therefore, the wire 3 can be securely stretched in the proximity of the coloring nozzle 31. That is, the wire 3 is prevented from being positionally shifted in the proximity of the coloring nozzle 31. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to the wire 3, which is stretched by the correction unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the correction unit 13 imparts first bias force H1 as friction force to the electric wire 3 and the slack-absorbing unit 14 biases the electric wire 3 with second bias force H2. Therefore, when a slack of the electric wire 3 does not occur, the slack-absorbing unit 14 never displaces the wire 3 abruptly, that is, the slack-absorbing unit 14 never prevents the wire from moving.
- the wire 3 When a slack of the electric wire 3 occurs, the wire 3 is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3 by the second bias force H2 of the slack-absorbing unit 14, so that the wire is stretched. Therefore, the wire 3 can be always stretched and the wire 3 can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adhere to the wire 3, which is stretched by the correction unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the slack-absorbing unit 14 includes the pair of guiding rollers 24 and the transfer roller 26 arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers 24. Also, the transfer roller 26 is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3 and biased with the second bias force H2 by the air cylinder 27.
- the slack-absorbing unit 14 biases the wire 3 with the second bias force H2 so as to always stretch the wire 3, thereby preventing the wire 3 from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adhere to the wire 3, which is stretched by the correction unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- the transfer roller 26 is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers 24. Therefore, when the transfer roller 26 moves, counterforce from the wire 3 situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller 26 becomes about the same as that from the wire 3 situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller 26. Therefore, the transfer roller 26 quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3. Therefore, the slack-absorbing unit 14 can always stretch the wire 3. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire 3 can be securely colored and the wire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31 are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire 3. Therefore, the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 can be securely colored by a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31. Since a distance between the correction unit 13 and the delivery roll 12 along the transferring direction K of the wire 3 can be set short, so that the size of the device 1 for coloring the wire can be reduced.
- the device 1 further includes the cutting mechanism 18 as the processing means for processing the electric wire 3. That is, the wire 3 can be colored in a desired color at the cutting step (i.e. processing step) of the wire 3. Therefore, a processing step such as a step for cutting the wire 3, which is separately provided from the step for coloring the wire 3, is not necessary. That is, the number of steps for processing the wire 3, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which the wires 3 such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing.
- the wire 3 is moved so that the coloring nozzle 31 of the coloring unit 15 and the wire 3 are moved relatively to each other.
- each coloring nozzle 31 of the coloring unit 15 may be moved or, alternatively, both of the wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31 of the coloring unit 15 may be moved.
- the transfer roller 16 is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers 24.
- the transfer roller 16 may be arranged on the upstream side of the center in the transferring direction K of the wire 3 between the pair of the guiding rollers 24.
- a bend of the wire 3 situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller 26 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3 becomes more moderate than that of the wire 3 situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller 26 in the transferring direction K of the wire 3. Therefore, a bend of the wire 3 to be forwarded to the coloring unit 15 can be restricted and a tension to be imparted to the wire 3 can be restricted. Therefore, the wire 3 can be prevented from being abruptly damaged.
- the cutting mechanism 18 for cutting the wire 3 into a predetermined length is provided as the processing means.
- the processing means may be selected from various processing units for applying various processings to the wire 3 such as a mechanism for removing a coating 5 from an end portion of the wire 3 or a mechanism for applying a crimp terminal to the wire 3.
- the delivery rolls 12 are arranged in a perpendicular direction.
- the delivery rolls 12 may be arranged in any direction such as a horizontal direction instead of the perpendicular direction.
- the arrangement of the delivery rolls 12 and the respective units 13, 14 and 15 is not necessarily limited to that of the preferred embodiment described above and may be modified according to a need.
- the wires 3 that constitute a wiring harness to be mounted on a motor vehicle are described.
- the wires 3 can be used for various electronic instruments or electrical machines such as a portable computer besides a motor vehicle.
- coloring liquid or coating material various material may be used, such as acrylic coating material, ink (dye or pigment) and UV-ink.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a device for coloring an electric wire, which includes an electrically conductive core wire and an electrically insulating coating that coats the core wire.
- Various electronic instruments are mounted on a motor vehicle as a mobile unit. Therefore, the motor vehicle is provided with a wiring harness for transmitting power from a power source and control signals from a computer to the electronic instruments. The wiring harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.
- The electric wire (i.e. wire) includes an electrically conductive core wire and a coating made of insulating synthetic resin, which coats the core wire. The wire is a so-called coated wire. A connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing for receiving the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting is made of electrically conductive plate metal and attached to an end of the wire so as to be electrically connected to the core wire of the wire. The connector housing is made of insulating synthetic resin and formed in a box-shape. When the connector housing is coupled with the aforementioned electronic instrument, each wire in the wiring harness is electrically connected to the corresponding electronic instrument through the terminal fitting, thereby transmitting the desired electric power and signals to the electronic instruments.
- When the wiring harness is assembled, first the wire is cut into a predetermined length, then the terminal fitting is attached to an end of the wire after the coating at the end of the wire is removed. The wires are connected to each other according to a need. Thereafter, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wiring harness is assembled.
- The wire of the wiring harness must be distinguished in terms of the size of the core wire, the material of the coating (concerning with alteration in the materials depending upon heat-resisting property), and a purpose of use. The purpose of use means, for example, an air bag, antilock brake system (ABS), control signal such as speed data, and system in a motor vehicle in which the wire is used, such as a power transmission system.
- Therefore, an outer surface of the wire to be used in a wiring harness has been colored in a desired color with various harness manufacturing devices (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-162839) that performs the cutting of the wire and removing of the coating in order to distinguish the purposes of use or the systems. In a harness manufacturing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-162839, the wire is transferred in the length direction of the wire and the wire is nipped between a pair of stamps, then the wire is colored, and thereafter the wire is nipped between a pair of blades and then, the wire is colored in a desired color and cut into a desired length.
- In the conventional harness manufacturing device as described above, since the wire is nipped between a pair of the stamps to color the wire, it has been necessary to once halt the movement of the wire upon coloring the wire. Therefore, a time required for processing the wire becomes long, causing a lowering of work efficiency.
- Moreover, in the conventional harness manufacturing device, since the wire is colored with nipping the wire between a pair of the stamps, it is not possible to color the wire continuously. For example, if the wire is colored with the stamps for a distance between the cutting blades and the stamps and then cut after the wire is transferred, a position colored by the stamps is located at an end portion of the wire. Thus, in the conventional harness manufacturing device, only a part of the wire, for example, only an end portion of the wire can be colored. In order to color the wire continuously, it is necessary to repeat the transfer and halt of the wire frequently, causing a lowering of work efficiency.
- It is therefore an objective of the present invention to solve the above problem and to provide a device for coloring an electric wire, by which the wire can be continuously colored without a lowering of work efficiency.
- In order to solve the above problem and to achieve the above objective, a device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 1 is a device for coloring an electric wire including: - tension imparting means for imparting tension to an electric wire in a longitudinal direction of the electric wire to stretch the electric wire;
- coloring means for spouting a coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward an outer surface of the electric wire stretched by the tension imparting means; and
- transfer means for transferring the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire,
- The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 2 is the device defined inclaim 1, wherein the device further includes: - measuring means for measuring a relative transferring length of the electric wire and the coloring means; and
- control means for causing the coloring means to spout the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting on the basis of the transferring length measured by the measuring means.
- The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 3 is the device defined inclaim - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 4 is the device defined inclaim 3, wherein the device further includes slack-absorbing means for absorbing a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 5 is the device defined inclaim 4, wherein the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 6 is the device defined inclaim 5, wherein the tension imparting means imparts first bias force as the friction force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force smaller than the first bias force in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 7 is the device defined inclaim 6, wherein the slack-absorbing means includes: - a pair of guiding rollers for guiding the electric wire in the transferring direction thereof;
- a transfer roller which is arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers coming in contact with the electric wire and movably supported in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire; and
- bias means for biasing the transfer roller with the second bias force in a direction in which the transfer roller comes in contact with the electric wire.
- The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 8 is the device defined inclaim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in claim 9 is the device defined in
claim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 10 is the device defined in any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire. - The device for coloring an electric wire according to the present invention as defined in
claim 11 is the device defined in any one of claims 1 - 10, wherein the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 1, the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. That is, the wire is colored while the electric wire and the coloring means are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of the wire to color the wire, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results. - Further, since the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be colored and the wire can be colored continuously.
- In this specification, the coloring agent means a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. The organic substance described above is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances, i.e. synthetic substances). Sometimes, a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye. As an example, the coloring agent may be a coloring liquid or coating material. The coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. The coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion. When the outer surface of the coating is colored with a coloring liquid, the dye permeates into the coating. When the outer surface of the coating is colored with a coating material, the pigment adheres to the outer surface without permeating into the coating. In the specification, "to color the outer surface of the (electric) wire" means to dye a part of the outer surface of the wire with a dye or to coat a part of the outer surface of the wire with a pigment.
- Preferably, the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating in order to allow the dye to securely permeate into the coating or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to the outer surface of the coating.
- According to the present invention defined in
claim 2, the measuring means measures the transferring length of the electric wire and the control means controls the coloring means in response to the transferring length of the wire. Therefore, a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be shortened when the transfer speed of the wire increases, while a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be elongated when the transfer speed of the wire decreases. In this case, even if the transfer speed of the wire changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of the wire can be maintained to be a predetermined value. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 3, the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means as the transfer means and the tension imparting means. Since the tension imparting means imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, therefore the wire can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 4, the slack-absorbing means absorbs a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 5, the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means. Therefore, the wire can be securely stretched in the proximity of the coloring means. Therefore, the coloring agent can be securely spouted toward the wire, which is stretched by the stretch means and also stretched by the tension imparting means. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 6, the tension imparting means imparts first bias force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force. Therefore, when a slack of the electric wire does not occur, the slack-absorbing means never prevents the wire from moving. When a slack of the electric wire occurs, the wire is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire by the second bias force of the slack-absorbing means, so that the wire is stretched. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 7, the slack-absorbing means includes the pair of guiding rollers and the transfer roller arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers. Also, the transfer roller is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire and biased with the second bias force by the bias means. - Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to any portion (i.e. position) of the wire.
- According to the present invention defined in
claim 8, the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers. Therefore, when the transfer roller moves, counterforce from the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller becomes about the same as that from the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, the transfer roller quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire. - According to the present invention defined in claim 9, the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire. Therefore, a bend of the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller becomes more moderate than that of the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, a bend of the wire forwarded to the coloring means can be controlled and the tension imparted to the wire can be controlled. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from abruptly being damaged.
- According to the present invention defined in
claim 10, a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire. Therefore, the outer surface of the wire can be securely colored by a plurality of the coloring means. Since a distance between the tension imparting means and the stretch means in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the coloring means can be set short, so that the size of the device for coloring the wire can be reduced. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 11, the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire. That is, the wire can be colored in a desired color at the processing step of the wire. Therefore, the number of steps for processing the wire, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which the wires such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 1, the wire is colored while the electric wire and the coloring means are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of the wire to color the wire, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results. Further, since the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be colored and the wire can be colored continuously. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 2, the measuring means measures the transferring length of the electric wire and the control means controls the coloring means in response to the transferring length of the wire. Therefore, even if the transfer speed of the wire changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of the wire can be maintained to be a predetermined value, that is, the coloring agent can adhere to the outer surface of the wire according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 3, the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means as the transfer means and the tension imparting means. Since the tension imparting means imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, therefore the wire can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 4, the slack-absorbing means absorbs a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire, and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 5, the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means. Therefore, the wire can be securely stretched in the proximity of the coloring means and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the coloring means securely spouts the coloring agent toward the wire and the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 6, the tension imparting means imparts first bias force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force. Therefore, when a slack of the electric wire does not occur, the slack-absorbing means never prevents the wire from moving. When a slack of the electric wire occurs, the wire is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire by the second bias force of the slack-absorbing means, so that the wire is stretched. Therefore, the wire can be always stretched and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adheres to the wire. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 7, the slack-absorbing means includes the pair of guiding rollers and the transfer roller arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers. Also, the transfer roller is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire and biased with the second bias force by the bias means. - Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern.
- According to the present invention defined in
claim 8, the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers. Therefore, when the transfer roller moves, counterforce from the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller becomes about the same as that from the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, the transfer roller quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire. Therefore, the slack-absorbing means can always stretch the wire and the wire can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of the wire can be securely colored and the wire can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - According to the present invention defined in claim 9, the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire. Therefore, a bend of the wire situated at the downstream side of the transfer roller becomes more moderate than that of the wire situated at the upstream side of the transfer roller. Therefore, a bend of the wire forwarded to the coloring means can be controlled and the tension imparted to the wire can be controlled. Therefore, the wire can be prevented from abruptly being damaged.
- According to the present invention defined in
claim 10, a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire. Therefore, the outer surface of the wire can be securely colored by a plurality of the coloring means. Since a distance between the tension imparting means and the stretch means in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the coloring means can be set short, so that the size of the device for coloring the wire can be reduced. - According to the present invention defined in
claim 11, the device further includes processing means for processing the electric wire. That is, the wire can be colored in a desired color at the processing step of the wire. Therefore, a processing step such as a step for cutting the wire, which is separately provided from the step for coloring the wire, is not necessary. That is, the number of steps for processing the wire, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which the wires such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing. - In the following, a device for coloring an electric wire (hereinafter, a coloring device) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 - 6. A
coloring device 1 is a device, in which awire 3 is cut into a predetermined length and amark 6 is formed on a portion of anouter surface 3a of thewire 3. That is, thecoloring device 1 colors, i.e. marks theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. - The
wires 3 constitute a wiring harness mounted on a motor vehicle as a mobile unit. As shown in Fig. 6A, thewire 3 includes an electricallyconductive core wire 4 and an electrically insulatingcoating 5. A plurality of element wires are bundled up to form thecore wire 4. Each element wire of thecore wire 4 is made of electrically conductive metal. Thecore wire 4 may be constituted by a single element wire. Thecoating 5 is made of synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Thecoating 5 coats thecore wire 4. Therefore, anouter surface 3a of thewire 3 is an outer surface of thecoating 5. - The
coating 5 has a monochrome color P, for example, a white color. A desired coloring agent may be mixed with the synthetic resin of thecoating 5 so as to make the color of theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 be a monochrome color P, or alternatively, the monochrome color P may be set as the color of the synthetic resin itself without adding a coloring agent to the synthetic resin of thecoating 5. In the latter case, theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 is not colored, i.e. thecoating 5 is not colored. - A
mark 6 having a plurality ofspots 7 is formed on theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. Thespot 7 has a color B (shown with parallel lines in Figs. 6A and 6B). The color B is different from the monochrome color P. A shape of thespot 7 in a plan view is round as shown in Fig. 6B. Thespots 7 are lined up along the longitudinal direction of thewire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. In an example shown in the figure, thespots 7 are lined up at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3. A distance between centers of thespots 7 adjacent to each other is predetermined. - A plurality of the
wires 3 are bundled up and then attach connectors to ends thereof so as to construct a wiring harness. The connectors are coupled with mating connectors of various electronic instruments mounted on a motor vehicle, so that thewires 3, i.e. the wiring harness transmit electric power or signals to the electronic instruments. - Colors B of the
respective spots 7 of themark 6 are changed into various colors, so that thewires 3 can be distinguished from each other. In an example shown in the figure, the colors of all thespots 7 of awire 3 are the same color. However, the color B may be changed depending onspot 7 according to a need, so that the colors B of thespots 7 are different from each other. The colors B of therespective spots 7 of themark 6 are used to distinguish types of thewires 3 in the wiring harness or to distinguish systems. That is, the colors B of therespective spots 7 of themark 6 are used to distinguish the purposes of use of therespective wires 3 in the wiring harness. - As shown in Fig. 1, the
coloring device 1 includes aframe 10 as a body of the device, guideroll 11, delivery rolls 12 as transfer means,correction unit 13 as tension imparting means, slack absorbingunit 14 as slack-absorbing means,coloring unit 15,duct 16,encoder 17 as measuring means, cuttingmechanism 18 as processing means, andcontrol device 19 as control means. - The
frame 10 is placed on a floor in a plant. Theframe 10 extends in a horizontal direction. Theguide roll 11 is rotatably attached to an end of theframe 10. Theguide roll 11 is a guide for guiding thelong wire 3 having nomark 6 formed thereon from awire bundle 50 to thecorrection unit 13. The guide roll 11 forwards thewire 3 by way of thecorrection unit 13,slack absorbing unit 14,coloring unit 15,duct 16,encoder 17 andcutting mechanism 18 in sequence. - A pair of the delivery rolls 12 is placed at an opposite end of the
frame 10. The pair of the delivery rolls 12 is rotatably supported by theframe 10 and arranged in a vertical direction. The delivery rolls 12 are rotated by a motor (not shown in the figure) with the same number of revolutions in respective directions, which are reverse to each other. The delivery rolls 12 put thewire 3 therebetween and pull thewire 3 in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3 from theguide roll 11. - The delivery rolls 12 are pulling means, which pull and transfer the
wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3. Thus, the delivery rolls 12 transfer thewire 3 in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3, so that thedelivery roll 12 move a coloring nozzle 31 (explained later on) of thecoloring unit 15 and thewire 3 relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3. That is, thewire 3 is transferred from theguide roll 11 toward thedelivery roll 12 in a direction of an arrow K shown in Fig. 1. That is, the arrow K shows the transferring direction of thewire 3. - The
correction unit 13 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of theguide roll 11. That is, thecorrection unit 13 is placed between theguide roll 11 and thedelivery roll 12. That is, thecorrection unit 13 is placed on the downstream side of theguide roll 11 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. That is, thecorrection unit 13 is placed on the upstream side of thedelivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Thecorrection unit 13 includes a plate-shapedunit body 20, a plurality offirst rollers 21 and a plurality ofsecond rollers 22. Theunit body 20 is fixed on theframe 10. - A plurality of the respective first and
second rollers unit body 20. A plurality of thefirst rollers 21 are arranged in a horizontal direction (in the transferring direction K) above thewire 3. A plurality of thesecond rollers 22 are arranged in a horizontal direction (in the transferring direction K) below thewire 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the first andsecond rollers - The
correction unit 13 puts thewire 3, which is forwarded by thedelivery roll 12 from theguide roll 11, between thefirst rollers 21 and thesecond rollers 22, thereby making thewire 3 straight. By putting thewire 3 between thefirst rollers 21 and thesecond rollers 22, thecorrection unit 13 gives friction force to thewire 3. That is, thecorrection unit 13 gives first bias force H1 as friction force having a direction reverse to the direction, in which thedelivery roll 12 pulls the wire 3 (i.e. the transferring direction K), to thewire 3. The first bias force H1 is smaller than the force that thedelivery roll 12 pulls thewire 3. Therefore, thecorrection unit 13 gives the tension having a direction, which is along the longitudinal direction of thewire 3, to thewire 3 so as to stretch thewire 3. - The
slack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of thecorrection unit 13. That is, theslack absorbing unit 14 is placed between thecorrection unit 13 and thedelivery roll 12. That is, theslack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the downstream side of thecorrection unit 13 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Theslack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the upstream side of thedelivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Theslack absorbing unit 14 is placed between thecorrection unit 13 and a coloring nozzle 31 (explained later on) of thecoloring unit 15. - As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the
slack absorbing unit 14 includes a pair of guidingroller supporting frames 23, a pair of guidingrollers 24, transferroller supporting frame 25,transfer roller 26, andair cylinder 27 as bias means (i.e. energizing means). The pair of the guidingroller supporting frames 23 is fixed on theframe 10. The pair of the guidingroller supporting frames 23 stands up from theframe 10. The guidingroller supporting frames 23 are arranged having a distance therebetween in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. - The pair of the guiding
rollers 24 is rotatably supported by the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23. The guidingroller 24 is arranged below thewire 3 and comes in contact with thewire 3 on the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to guide thewire 3 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3 preventing thewire 3 from coming off from the transferring direction K. - The transfer
roller supporting frame 25 is fixed on theframe 10. The transferroller supporting frame 25 stands up from theframe 10. The transferroller supporting frame 25 is placed between the pair of the guiding roller supporting frames 23. - The
transfer roller 26 is rotatably supported by the transferroller supporting frame 25 movably in the vertical direction. Thetransfer roller 26 is arranged above thewire 3. Thetransfer roller 26 is supported movably in the vertical direction, that is, thetransfer roller 26 is supported movably in a direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Thetransfer roller 26 is placed in the middle of the pair of the guidingrollers 24. - The
air cylinder 27 includes acylinder body 28 andstretchable rod 29 stretchable from thecylinder body 28. Thecylinder body 28 is fixed to the transferroller supporting frame 25 and arranged above thewire 3. Thestretchable rod 29 extends downward from thecylinder body 28. That is, thestretchable rod 29 extends from thecylinder body 28 in a direction in which thestretchable rod 29 approaches toward thewire 3. - The
transfer roller 26 is attached to thestretchable rod 29. By receiving pressurized gas in thecylinder body 28, theair cylinder 27 biases the stretchable rod 29 (or the transfer roller 26) downward in a direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of thewire 3 with a second bias force H2 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2). That is, theair cylinder 27 biases thetransfer roller 26 in a direction in which thetransfer roller 26 approaches toward thewire 3 with the second bias force H2. The second bias force H2 is smaller than the first bias force H1. - Since cutting
blades cutting blades 48, 49 (explained later on) in thecutting mechanism 18 approach each other so as to cut thewire 3, if thewire 3 advances in the transferring direction K with inertia when thewire 3 is stopped to be cut, thewire 3 slackens between the pair of the guidingrollers 24. At this time, in theslack absorbing unit 14, since theair cylinder 27 biases thetransfer roller 26 with the second bias force H2, thestretchable rod 29 of theair cylinder 27 extends, so that thetransfer roller 26 is displaced to, for example, a position, which is indicated by an alternate long and two short dashes line in Fig. 2. Then, theslack absorbing unit 14 biases thewire 3, which slackens between the pair of the guidingrollers 24, in the direction crossing (at right angles) the transferring direction K of thewire 3 so as to absorb the slack, thereby keeping thewire 3 stretched. - The
coloring unit 15 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of theslack absorbing unit 14. That is, thecoloring unit 15 is placed between theslack absorbing unit 14 and thedelivery roll 12. That is, thecoloring unit 15 is placed on the downstream side of theslack absorbing unit 14 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Thecoloring unit 15 is placed on the upstream side of thedelivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. That is, the coloring unit 15 (i.e. thecoloring nozzle 31 explained later on) is placed between thedelivery roll 12 and thecorrection unit 13. - As shown in Fig. 3, the
coloring unit 15 includes aunit body 30, a plurality ofcoloring nozzles 31, a plurality of coloring agent supply source 32 (only onesource 32 being drawn in the figure andother sources 32 being omitted to be drawn) and pressurizedgas supply source 33. Theunit body 30 is fixed on theframe 10. Theunit body 30 supports a plurality of thecoloring nozzles 31. - As shown in Fig. 5, the
coloring nozzle 31 includes acylindrical nozzle body 34,insert member 35 received in thenozzle body 34,inlet pipe 36, spoutingpipe 37 andvalve mechanism 38. Theinsert member 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided with achannel 39 to let the coloring agent pass therethrough. That is, thechannel 39 is filled with the coloring agent supplied from the coloringagent supply source 32. Theinsert member 35 is a receiver for receiving the liquid coloring agent. Theinlet pipe 36 communicates with thechannel 39 to guide the coloring agent supplied from the coloringagent supply source 32 into thechannel 39. - The spouting
pipe 37 is formed in a cylindrical shape and communicates with thechannel 39 so as to guide the coloring agent in thechannel 39 to the outside of thecoloring nozzle 31. An inner diameter of the spoutingpipe 37 is smaller than an inner diameter of theinsert member 35, i.e. an outer diameter of thechannel 39. The spoutingpipe 37 is aligned with thenozzle body 34 and made of stainless steel. Thevalve mechanism 38 includes acoil 40,valve body 41, andcoil spring 42. Thecoil 40 is provided outside thechannel 39 and embedded in theinsert member 35. A current is applied to thecoil 40 from the outside. Thevalve body 41 includes an electricallyconductive body part 43 andvalve element 44. Thebody part 43 integrally includes acylindrical cylinder part 45 and disc-shapeddisc part 46 which continues to an end of thecylinder part 45. - The
disc part 46 of thebody part 43 faces abase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37. Thebody part 43 is received in thechannel 39 in a state that the longitudinal direction of thecylinder part 45 is parallel to that of thenozzle body 34. The body part 43 (or the valve body 41) is provided movably in the longitudinal direction of thecylinder part 45, i.e. the longitudinal direction of thenozzle body 34. - The
valve element 44 is attached to thedisc part 46 of thebody part 43. That is, thevalve element 44 is received in theinsert member 35. Thevalve element 44 faces thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37. Thevalve element 44 approaches or leaves thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37. When thevalve element 44 comes in contact with thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37, the coloring agent in thechannel 39 is prevented from entering into the spoutingpipe 37, that is, the watertight condition between thevalve element 44 and thebase end 37a is attained. When thevalve element 44 leaves thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37, the coloring agent is allowed to pass through the spoutingpipe 37 so as to be spouted toward theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. Thus, thevalve element 44 approaches or leaves thebase end 37a between the opening position (not shown in the figure) and the closing position shown with a solid line in Fig. 5. At the opening position, thevalve element 44 leaves thebase end 37a, so that the coloring agent is allowed to pass through the spoutingpipe 37 so as to be spouted toward theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. At the closing position, thevalve element 44 comes in contact with thebase end 37a, so that the coloring agent is not allowed to pass through the spoutingpipe 37 to be spouted toward theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. Thecoil spring 42 biases thedisc part 46 in such a direction that thevalve element 44 approaches thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37. - The
coloring nozzle 31 allows the coloring agent supplied from the coloringagent supply source 32 to flow through theinlet pipe 36 and guides the coloring agent into thechannel 39. On a condition that a current is not applied to thecoil 40, thevalve element 44 comes in contact with thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37 due to the bias force by thecoil spring 42, thereby the coloring agent stays within thechannel 39. When a current is applied to thecoil 40, thevalve element 44 attached to thedisc part 46 leaves thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37 against the bias force by thecoil spring 42, thereby allowing the coloring agent existing in thechannel 39 to spout from the spoutingpipe 37. A current is applied to thecoil 40 for a predetermined period of time on the basis of a command from thecontrol device 19. Therefore, thecoloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount of the coloring agent per spouting. - When a plurality of the
coloring nozzles 31 are attached to theunit body 30, thecoloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the transferring direction K of thewire 3 and also arranged in a peripheral direction around thewire 3. In an example shown in the figure, fivecoloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the transferring direction K of thewire 3 in theunit body 30. Threecoloring nozzles 31 are arranged in the circumferential direction around thewire 3 in theunit body 30. - As shown in Fig. 4, each
coloring nozzle 31 is supported by theunit body 30 on a condition that theuppermost part 3b of thewire 3 is positioned on an extension line of an axis R (shown with alternate long and short dash line in Fig. 4) of the spoutingpipe 37. Thecoloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent along the axis R. That is, thecoloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward theuppermost part 3b of thewire 3. Thecoloring nozzle 31 is the coloring means. - The coloring
agent supply source 32 receives the coloring agent and supplies the coloring agent into aninlet pipe 36 of thecoloring nozzle 31. Each coloringagent supply sources 32 mates with acoloring nozzles 31. The colors B of the coloring agents supplied from the coloringagent supply sources 32 to thecoloring nozzles 31 may be different from each other or, alternatively, the same with each other. - The pressurized
gas supply source 33 supplies pressurized gas into the coloring agent supply sources 32. After the pressurized gas is supplied into the coloringagent supply sources 32, when avalve element 44 of thecoloring nozzle 31 leaves abase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37, the coloring agent contained in achannel 39 is spouted rapidly from the spoutingpipe 37. - In the
coloring unit 15, on the basis of a command from thecontrol device 19, a current flows into acoil 40 of thecoloring nozzle 31 so that thevalve element 44 leaves thebase end 37a of the spoutingpipe 37. Then, thecoloring unit 15 spouts the coloring agent contained in thechannel 39 of thecoloring nozzle 31 with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward theelectric wire 3. - The coloring agent means a liquid substance, in which a coloring material (organic substance for use in industry) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. The organic substance described above is a dye or a pigment (most of them being organic substances and synthetic substances). Sometimes, a dye is used as a pigment and a pigment is used as a dye. As an example, the coloring agent may be a coloring liquid or coating material.
- The coloring liquid is a liquid, in which a dye is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. The coating material is a material, in which a pigment is dispersed in a liquid dispersion. When the coloring liquid adheres to the
outer surface 3a of thewire 3, the dye permeates into thecoating 5. When the coating material adheres to theouter surface 3a of thewire 3, the pigment adheres to theouter surface 3a without permeating into thecoating 5. That is, thecoloring unit 15 dyes a part of theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 with a dye or, alternatively, coat a part of theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 with a pigment. In the specification, "to color theouter surface 3a of theelectric wire 3" means to dye a part of theouter surface 3a of thecoating 5 of thewire 3 with a dye or to coat a part of theouter surface 3a of thecoating 5 of thewire 3 with a pigment. - Preferably, the solvent and liquid dispersion have an affinity to the synthetic resin that constitutes the
coating 5 in order to securely permeate the dye into thecoating 5 or to allow the pigment to securely adhere to theouter surface 3a of thecoating 5. In this specification, "spouting" means that the liquid coloring agent in a form of a liquid drop (or liquid drops) with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting is ejected vigorously from thecoloring nozzle 31 toward theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. - The
duct 16 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of thecoloring unit 15. That is, theduct 16 is placed between thecoloring unit 15 and thedelivery roll 12. That is, theduct 16 is placed on the downstream side of thecoloring unit 15 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Theduct 16 is placed on the upstream side of thedelivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Theduct 16 is formed in a tube shape and allows thewire 3 to pass therethrough. Theduct 16 is connected to suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump. The suction means sucks gas existing in theduct 16 so as to prevent solvent or liquid dispersion existing in the coloring agent from being filled outside thecoloring device 1. - The
encoder 17 is placed on the downstream side of thedelivery roll 12 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. As shown in Fig. 1, theencoder 17 includes a pair ofrotors 47. Eachrotor 47 is rotatably supported around the axis. The outer peripheral surface of therotor 47 comes in contact with theouter surface 3a of thewire 3, which is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 12. When the wire 3 (i.e. core wire 4) is transferred in the direction K, therotor 47 rotates around the axis. The amount of transfer of thewire 3 in the direction K is proportional to the number of revolutions of therotor 47. - The
encoder 17 is connected to thecontrol device 19. When therotor 47 rotates by a predetermined angle per rotation, theencoder 17 outputs a pulse signal to thecontrol device 19. That is, theencoder 17 outputs an information in response to the transfer amount of thewire 3 in the direction K to thecontrol device 19. Thus, theencoder 17 measures an information in response to the transfer amount of thewire 3 and outputs the information in response to the transfer amount of thewire 3 to thecontrol device 19. Normally, theencoder 17 outputs a pulse signal in response to the transfer amount of thewire 3 on the basis of friction between thewire 3 and therotor 47. However, in the event that the amount of the transfer of thewire 3 does not coincide with the number of the pulse due to a condition of theouter surface 3a of thewire 3, the speed information of the transfer of thewire 3 may be obtained from another position so that thus obtained speed information is subjected to feedback so as to make the output to be outputted to thecontrol device 19. - The
cutting mechanism 18 is placed on the downstream side of the pair of therotors 47 of theencoder 17 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Thecutting mechanism 18 includes a pair of cuttingblades cutting blades cutting blades wire 3, which is delivered by the pair of the delivery rolls 12, therebetween and cut thewire 3. When thecutting blades wire 3. - The
control device 19 is a computer including a known RAM, ROM and CPU. Thecontrol device 19 is connected to the delivery rolls 12,encoder 17,cutting mechanism 18,coloring nozzles 31 and so on. Thecontrol device 19 control the whole of thecoloring device 1 by controlling actions of these components described above. - The
control device 19 stores a pattern of themark 6 in advance. When thecontrol device 19 receives a predetermined pulse signal from theencoder 17, i.e. an information in response to the amount of transfer of thewire 3, thecontrol device 19 applies a current to thecoil 40 of thepredetermined coloring nozzle 31 for a predetermined period of time so that the coloring agent is spouted from thecoloring nozzle 31 toward thewire 3 with a predetermined amount of the coloring agent per spouting. According to the pattern of themark 6 stored in advance, thecontrol device 19 shortens a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent from thecoloring nozzle 31 when the transfer speed of thewire 3 increases, while thecontrol device 19 elongates a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent from thecoloring nozzle 31 when the transfer speed of thewire 3 decreases. Thus, thecontrol device 19 performs the coloring of thewire 3 according to the pattern stored in advance. Thecontrol device 19 allows thecoloring nozzle 31 to spout the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting on the basis of the amount of the transfer of thewire 3, which amount of the transfer is measured by theencoder 17. - When the
control device 19 judges that thewire 3 is transferred by a predetermined amount (i.e. distance) on the basis of the information from theencoder 17, thecontrol device 19 halts thedelivery roll 12, then allows the pair of thecutting blades wire 3. - When the
mark 6 is to be formed on theouter surface 3a of thewire 3, i.e. theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 is colored, in thecoloring device 1, first theguide roll 11 is attached to theframe 10. Keeping thecutting blades wire 3 transferred from thewire bundle 50 is passed through thecorrection unit 13,slack absorbing unit 14,coloring unit 15 andduct 16 in sequence through theguide roll 11 and is put between the pair of the delivery rolls 12. Then, thecoloring nozzle 31 is attached to a predetermined position of theunit body 30 of thecoloring unit 15 and the coloringagent supply sources 32 are connected to therespective coloring nozzles 31. Further, the pressurizedgas supply source 33 is connected to the coloringagent supply sources 32 and the gas existed in theduct 16 is sucked by the suction means. - Then, the delivery rolls 12 are driven so that the
wire 3 is pulled from theguide roll 11 so as to be transferred in the longitudinal direction of thewire 3. Thecorrection unit 13 gives friction force of the first bias force H1 to thewire 3 so as to stretch thewire 3. Then, theair cylinder 27 gives the second bias force H2 to thetransfer roller 26, that is, to thewire 3. - When a pulse signal of predetermined sequence is inputted to the
control device 19 from theencoder 17, thecontrol device 19 applies a current to thecoil 40 of thecoloring nozzle 31 for a predetermined period of time per predetermined time interval. Then, thecoloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward theouter surface 3a of thewire 3. - Then, the solvent or liquid dispersion is evaporated from the coloring agent adhered to the
outer surface 3a of thewire 3, so that theouter surface 3a is dyed with a dye or coated with a pigment. The solvent or liquid dispersion evaporated from the coloring agent adhered to theouter surface 3a is sucked by the suction means from theduct 16. Thus, theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 is colored. - When the
control device 19 judges that thewire 3 is transferred by a predetermined amount (i.e. distance) on the basis of the information from theencoder 17, thecontrol device 19 halts thedelivery roll 12. Then, thewire 3 slackens between the pair of the guidingrollers 24 in theslack absorbing unit 14 and then, thetransfer roller 26, which is biased with the second bias force H2, is shifted to a position indicated by an alternate long and two short dashes line in Figs. 1 and 2. Then, thestretchable rod 29 of theair cylinder 27 in theslack absorbing unit 14 stretches. Thus, theslack absorbing unit 14 absorbs the slack of thewire 3. - Then, the
cutting blades wire 3 therebetween and cut thewire 3. Thus, thewire 3 is obtained, in which themark 6 is formed on theouter surface 3a. - According to the preferred embodiment, the
coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward theelectric wire 3 whileelectric wire 3 and thecoloring nozzle 31 are transferred relatively to each other. That is, thewire 3 is colored while theelectric wire 3 and thecoloring nozzle 31 are moved relatively to each other. Since it is not necessary to halt the movement of thewire 3 to color thewire 3, therefore no lowering of work efficiency results. Further, since thecoloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward theelectric wire 3 while theelectric wire 3 and thecoloring nozzle 31 are moved relatively to each other, therefore any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be colored and thewire 3 can be colored continuously. - The
encoder 17 measures the transferring length of theelectric wire 3 and thecontrol device 19 controls thecoloring nozzle 31 in response to the transferring length of thewire 3. Therefore, a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be shortened when the transfer speed of thewire 3 increases, while a time interval of the spouting of the coloring agent can be elongated when the transfer speed of thewire 3 decreases. Thus, even if the transfer speed of thewire 3 changes, a distance between spots (i.e. marks) adjacent to each other of the coloring agent adhering to the outer surface of thewire 3 can be maintained to be a predetermined value. - Therefore, even if the transfer speed of the
wire 3 changes, the coloring agent can adhere to theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. That is, even if the transfer speed of thewire 3 changes, thewire 3 can be colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The
coloring nozzle 31 is arranged between thedelivery roll 12 and thecorrection unit 13. Since thecorrection unit 13 imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which thedelivery roll 12 stretches theelectric wire 3 to theelectric wire 3, therefore thewire 3 can be securely stretched. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to thewire 3, which is stretched by thedelivery roll 12 and also stretched by thecorrection unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The slack-absorbing
unit 14 absorbs a slack when such a slack of thewire 3 occurs. Therefore, thewire 3, which is stretched by thedelivery roll 12 and also stretched by thecorrection unit 13, is prevented from being positionally shifted. Since the coloring agent is spouted toward the stretchedwire 3, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The slack-absorbing
unit 14 is arranged between thecorrection unit 13 and thecoloring nozzle 31. Therefore, thewire 3 can be securely stretched in the proximity of thecoloring nozzle 31. That is, thewire 3 is prevented from being positionally shifted in the proximity of thecoloring nozzle 31. Therefore, the coloring agent can securely adhere to thewire 3, which is stretched by thecorrection unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The
correction unit 13 imparts first bias force H1 as friction force to theelectric wire 3 and the slack-absorbingunit 14 biases theelectric wire 3 with second bias force H2. Therefore, when a slack of theelectric wire 3 does not occur, the slack-absorbingunit 14 never displaces thewire 3 abruptly, that is, the slack-absorbingunit 14 never prevents the wire from moving. - When a slack of the
electric wire 3 occurs, thewire 3 is pushed in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of theelectric wire 3 by the second bias force H2 of the slack-absorbingunit 14, so that the wire is stretched. Therefore, thewire 3 can be always stretched and thewire 3 can be prevented from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adhere to thewire 3, which is stretched by thecorrection unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The slack-absorbing
unit 14 includes the pair of guidingrollers 24 and thetransfer roller 26 arranged between the pair of the guidingrollers 24. Also, thetransfer roller 26 is provided to be movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of theelectric wire 3 and biased with the second bias force H2 by theair cylinder 27. - Therefore, the slack-absorbing
unit 14 biases thewire 3 with the second bias force H2 so as to always stretch thewire 3, thereby preventing thewire 3 from being positionally shifted. Therefore, the spouted coloring agent can securely adhere to thewire 3, which is stretched by thecorrection unit 13. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - The
transfer roller 26 is arranged at the center between the pair of the guidingrollers 24. Therefore, when thetransfer roller 26 moves, counterforce from thewire 3 situated at the upstream side of thetransfer roller 26 becomes about the same as that from thewire 3 situated at the downstream side of thetransfer roller 26. Therefore, thetransfer roller 26 quickly moves in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of theelectric wire 3. Therefore, the slack-absorbingunit 14 can always stretch thewire 3. Therefore, any portion (i.e. position) of thewire 3 can be securely colored and thewire 3 can be securely colored according to a predetermined pattern. - A plurality of the
coloring nozzles 31 are arranged along a circumferential direction around theelectric wire 3. Therefore, theouter surface 3a of thewire 3 can be securely colored by a plurality of thecoloring nozzles 31. Since a distance between thecorrection unit 13 and thedelivery roll 12 along the transferring direction K of thewire 3 can be set short, so that the size of thedevice 1 for coloring the wire can be reduced. - The
device 1 further includes thecutting mechanism 18 as the processing means for processing theelectric wire 3. That is, thewire 3 can be colored in a desired color at the cutting step (i.e. processing step) of thewire 3. Therefore, a processing step such as a step for cutting thewire 3, which is separately provided from the step for coloring thewire 3, is not necessary. That is, the number of steps for processing thewire 3, that is, the number of steps for assembling a product in which thewires 3 such as a wiring harness are used is prevented from increasing. - In the preferred embodiment described above, the
wire 3 is moved so that thecoloring nozzle 31 of thecoloring unit 15 and thewire 3 are moved relatively to each other. However, instead, eachcoloring nozzle 31 of thecoloring unit 15 may be moved or, alternatively, both of thewire 3 and thecoloring nozzle 31 of thecoloring unit 15 may be moved. - In the preferred embodiment described above, the
transfer roller 16 is arranged at the center between the pair of the guidingrollers 24. However, instead, as shown in Fig. 7, thetransfer roller 16 may be arranged on the upstream side of the center in the transferring direction K of thewire 3 between the pair of the guidingrollers 24. In this case, a bend of thewire 3 situated at the downstream side of thetransfer roller 26 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3 becomes more moderate than that of thewire 3 situated at the upstream side of thetransfer roller 26 in the transferring direction K of thewire 3. Therefore, a bend of thewire 3 to be forwarded to thecoloring unit 15 can be restricted and a tension to be imparted to thewire 3 can be restricted. Therefore, thewire 3 can be prevented from being abruptly damaged. - In the preferred embodiment described above, the
cutting mechanism 18 for cutting thewire 3 into a predetermined length is provided as the processing means. However, instead, the processing means may be selected from various processing units for applying various processings to thewire 3 such as a mechanism for removing acoating 5 from an end portion of thewire 3 or a mechanism for applying a crimp terminal to thewire 3. - In the preferred embodiment described above, the delivery rolls 12 are arranged in a perpendicular direction. However, the delivery rolls 12 may be arranged in any direction such as a horizontal direction instead of the perpendicular direction. In short, in the present invention, the arrangement of the delivery rolls 12 and the
respective units - In the preferred embodiment described above, the
wires 3 that constitute a wiring harness to be mounted on a motor vehicle are described. However, in the present invention, thewires 3 can be used for various electronic instruments or electrical machines such as a portable computer besides a motor vehicle. - Further, in the present invention, as the coloring liquid or coating material, various material may be used, such as acrylic coating material, ink (dye or pigment) and UV-ink.
- The aforementioned preferred embodiments are described to aid in understanding the present invention and variations may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
-
- Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a construction of a device for coloring an electric wire according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 2 illustrates a construction of a slack-absorbing unit in the device for coloring an electric wire shown in Fig. 1;
- Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a coloring unit in the device for coloring an electric wire taken along III - III line in Fig. 1;
- Figure 4 illustrates a positional relation between respective coloring nozzles of the coloring unit and the electric wire;
- Figure 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating a construction of the respective coloring nozzles of the coloring unit shown in Fig. 3;
- Figure 6A is a perspective view of an electric wire colored by the device for coloring an electric wire shown in Fig. 1;
- Figure 6B is a plan view of the electric wire shown in Fig. 6A; and
- Figure 7 illustrates a construction of another example of the slack-absorbing unit shown in Fig. 2.
-
- 1: device for coloring electric wire
- 3: electric wire (i.e. wire)
- 3a: outer surface of electric wire
- 12: delivery roll (transfer means, stretch means)
- 13: correction unit (tension imparting means)
- 14: slack-absorbing unit (slack-absorbing means)
- 17: encoder (measuring means)
- 18: cutting mechanism (processing means)
- 19: control device (control means)
- 24: guiding roller
- 26: transfer roller
- 27: air cylinder (bias means)
- 31: coloring nozzle (coloring means)
- K: transferring direction of electric wire
- H1: first bias force
- H2: second bias force
Claims (11)
- A device for coloring an electric wire comprising:tension imparting means for imparting tension to an electric wire in a longitudinal direction of the electric wire to stretch the electric wire;coloring means for spouting a coloring agent with a predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward an outer surface of the electric wire stretched by the tension imparting means; andtransfer means for transferring the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire,wherein the coloring means spouts the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting toward the outer surface of the electric wire while the transfer means transfers the electric wire and the coloring means relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire.
- The device according to claim 1 further comprising:measuring means for measuring a relative transferring length of the electric wire and the coloring means; andcontrol means for causing the coloring means to spout the coloring agent with the predetermined amount thereof per spouting on the basis of the transferring length measured by the measuring means.
- The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer means is stretch means for stretching the electric wire in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire so as to transfer the electric wire, the tension imparting means is arranged on the upstream side of the stretch means in a transferring direction of the electric wire and imparts friction force having a direction reverse to a direction in which the stretch means stretches the electric wire to the electric wire, and the coloring means is arranged between the stretch means and the tension imparting means.
- The device according to claim 3 further comprising slack-absorbing means for absorbing a slack of the electric wire when the slack of the electric wire occurs.
- The device according to claim 4, wherein the slack-absorbing means is arranged between the tension imparting means and the coloring means.
- The device according to claim 5, wherein the tension imparting means imparts first bias force as the friction force to the electric wire and the slack-absorbing means biases the electric wire with second bias force smaller than the first bias force in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire.
- The device according to claim 6, wherein the slack-absorbing means includes:a pair of guiding rollers for guiding the electric wire in the transferring direction thereof;a transfer roller which is arranged between the pair of the guiding rollers coming in contact with the electric wire and movably supported in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the electric wire; andbias means for biasing the transfer roller with the second bias force in a direction in which the transfer roller comes in contact with the electric wire.
- The device according to claim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged at the center between the pair of the guiding rollers.
- The device according to claim 7, wherein the transfer roller is arranged on the upstream side of the center between the pair of the guiding rollers in the transferring direction of the electric wire.
- The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein a plurality of the coloring means are arranged along a circumferential direction around the electric wire.
- The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 10 further comprising processing means for processing the electric wire.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2003175257A JP4477837B2 (en) | 2003-06-19 | 2003-06-19 | Electric wire coloring device |
PCT/JP2004/008628 WO2004114329A1 (en) | 2003-06-19 | 2004-06-18 | Electric wire-coloring device |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1638116A1 true EP1638116A1 (en) | 2006-03-22 |
EP1638116A4 EP1638116A4 (en) | 2008-05-28 |
EP1638116B1 EP1638116B1 (en) | 2013-05-01 |
Family
ID=33534816
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP04746130.6A Expired - Lifetime EP1638116B1 (en) | 2003-06-19 | 2004-06-18 | Electric wire-coloring device |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1638116B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4477837B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1826666B (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA05013910A (en) |
PT (1) | PT1638116E (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004114329A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2243143A1 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2010-10-27 | Yazaki Corporation | Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method |
CN105396724A (en) * | 2015-10-27 | 2016-03-16 | 合肥安奎思成套设备有限公司 | Insulation cable core sticking-resistant powder spraying device |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2007149422A (en) * | 2005-11-25 | 2007-06-14 | Yazaki Corp | Coloring device of electric wire |
JP5028030B2 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2012-09-19 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Electric wire coloring device |
JP5297605B2 (en) | 2007-06-25 | 2013-09-25 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Electric wire feeding device and electric wire measuring and cutting device having the same |
CN101178956B (en) * | 2007-10-23 | 2011-02-02 | 巫协森 | Special-purpose equipment for electric wire and cable increasing operation of clipping and signal |
CN104174526A (en) * | 2014-08-07 | 2014-12-03 | 苏州市世嘉科技股份有限公司 | Semi-automatic gluing device for plate |
CN105728239B (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2017-12-22 | 泉州智勇达电气有限责任公司 | Overhead transmission line automatic spraying robot |
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EP0496049A1 (en) * | 1991-01-21 | 1992-07-29 | Ttc Technology Trading Company | Improvement to the device for feeding a cable into an automatic cable manufacturing machine |
US5237917A (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1993-08-24 | At Information Products, Inc. | Wire marking system and a method of marking an insulated wire |
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EP1388868A2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2004-02-11 | Yazaki Corporation | Method and Apparatus for Coating Electrical Cable |
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JPH0977373A (en) * | 1995-09-14 | 1997-03-25 | Yazaki Corp | Electric wire slackness preventing device |
JP3624560B2 (en) * | 1996-07-15 | 2005-03-02 | 住友電装株式会社 | Electric wire marking device |
JP3608465B2 (en) * | 2000-02-10 | 2005-01-12 | 株式会社協和エクシオ | Cable identification marking device |
CN1320930A (en) * | 2000-04-25 | 2001-11-07 | 蔡政郎 | Structure and making method of colour signal lines |
-
2003
- 2003-06-19 JP JP2003175257A patent/JP4477837B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2004
- 2004-06-18 CN CN2004800206808A patent/CN1826666B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-06-18 WO PCT/JP2004/008628 patent/WO2004114329A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-06-18 EP EP04746130.6A patent/EP1638116B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-06-18 PT PT04746130T patent/PT1638116E/en unknown
- 2004-06-18 MX MXPA05013910A patent/MXPA05013910A/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP0496049A1 (en) * | 1991-01-21 | 1992-07-29 | Ttc Technology Trading Company | Improvement to the device for feeding a cable into an automatic cable manufacturing machine |
US5444466A (en) * | 1991-03-11 | 1995-08-22 | Electronic Cable Specialists, Inc. | Wire marking system and method |
US5237917A (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1993-08-24 | At Information Products, Inc. | Wire marking system and a method of marking an insulated wire |
EP1388868A2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2004-02-11 | Yazaki Corporation | Method and Apparatus for Coating Electrical Cable |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2243143A1 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2010-10-27 | Yazaki Corporation | Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method |
EP2243143A4 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2014-05-21 | Yazaki Corp | Electric wire slack-absorbing appratus and electric wire slack-absorbing method |
CN105396724A (en) * | 2015-10-27 | 2016-03-16 | 合肥安奎思成套设备有限公司 | Insulation cable core sticking-resistant powder spraying device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1826666A (en) | 2006-08-30 |
JP2005011706A (en) | 2005-01-13 |
PT1638116E (en) | 2013-07-09 |
EP1638116B1 (en) | 2013-05-01 |
JP4477837B2 (en) | 2010-06-09 |
EP1638116A4 (en) | 2008-05-28 |
MXPA05013910A (en) | 2006-03-08 |
CN1826666B (en) | 2010-12-08 |
WO2004114329A1 (en) | 2004-12-29 |
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