Classifications

• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for coloring an electric wire, in particular to an electric wire coloring device for forming a mark on an outer surface of 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
• the electric 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.
• 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 information, 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 electric wire of the wiring harness has been provided with a mark to distinguish the purpose of use (i.e. system).
• a device 100 shown in Fig. 8 has been proposed (for example, Patent Publication 1 ).
• the electric wire coloring device 100 is a device for forming a mark 400 on a part of an outer surface 300a of an electric wire 300.
• the electric wire coloring device 100 includes a guide roll 102, delivery roll 103, coloring nozzle 104 and duct 105, wherein the coloring nozzle 104 and the duct 105 are provided between the guide roll 102 and the delivery roll 103.
• a frame 101 is placed on a floor in a plant.
• the frame 101 extends horizontally.
• the guide roll 102 is rotatably attached to an end of the frame 101.
• the long electric wire 300, on which a mark is not formed, is wound around the guide roll 102.
• the guide roll 102 guides out the electric wire 300 to the coloring nozzle 104 and the duct 105 in turn.
• a pair of the delivery rolls 103 is provided at an opposite end of the frame 101.
• the delivery rolls 103 are rotatably supported by the frame 101 and lined up in the vertical direction with respect to a floor.
• the delivery rolls 103 may be lined up in the horizontal direction.
• the delivery rolls 103 are rotated in a reverse direction to each other with the same revolution number by a motor (not shown in the figure).
• the pair of the delivery rolls 103 nips the electric wire 300 therebetween and pulls the electric wire 300 from the guide roll 102 along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire 300. Therefore, the electric wire 300 is forwarded from the guide roll 102 to the delivery roll 103 along an arrow K shown in Fig. 8.
• the coloring nozzle 104 spouts a coloring agent 500 toward the outer surface 300a of the electric wire 300.
• the duct 105 is provided on the delivery roll 103-side of the coloring nozzle 104, that is, between the coloring nozzle 104 and the delivery roll 103.
• the duct 105 is provided to dry the coloring agent 500 adhered to the outer surface 300a of the electric wire 300.
• the duct 105 is formed in a tube-shape and passes the electric wire 300 therethrough.
• the duct 105 is linked to a suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump.
• the suction means sucks gas existing in the duct 105 so as to prevent solvent and liquid dispersion existing in the coloring agent 500 from filling the outside of the electric wire coloring device 100.
• Patent Publication 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004- 15722
• a roll cannot be used from a time point when the coloring nozzle 104 spouts the coloring agent 500 toward the outer surface 300a of the electric wire 300 to a time point when the coloring agent 500 adhered to the outer surface 300a is dried.
• the coloring agent 500 adhered to the outer surface 300a is not dried, the coloring agent 500 is undesirably dragged into the roll, resulting in that the mark 400 cannot be formed properly. That is a reason why no roll is provided between the coloring nozzle 104 and the duct 105 in the electric wire coloring device 100.
• an electric wire coloring device including: a coloring means for spouting a coloring agent toward an outer surface of an electric wire that is forwarded along a longitudinal direction of the electric wire; and an electric wire suction means for sucking the electric wire so as to prevent the electric wire from slackening, the electric wire suction means being arranged between (A) a roll situated nearest to the coloring means of rolls that come in contact with the electric wire and are arranged on an upstream side of the coloring means in a forwarding direction of the electric wire and (B) a roll situated nearest to the coloring means of rolls that come in contact with the electric wire and are arranged on an downstream side of the coloring means in the forwarding direction of the electric wire.
• the electric wire suction means is arranged between (A) a roll situated nearest to the coloring means of rolls that come in contact with the electric wire and are arranged on an upstream side of the coloring means in a forwarding direction of the electric wire and (B) a roll situated nearest to the coloring means of rolls that come in contact with the electric wire and are arranged on an downstream side of the coloring means in the forwarding direction of the electric wire. Therefore, by the electric wire suction means, the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at a spouting position of the coloring means without coming in contact with a portion of the electric wire, to which the coloring agent adheres.
• the present invention described in claim 2 is the electric wire coloring device described in claim 1 , further characterized in that a plurality of the coloring means are lined up in the forwarding direction of the electric wire, wherein at least a part of the electric wire suction means is provided between (C) a coloring means, which is arranged at the most upstream side in the forwarding direction, of a plurality of the coloring means and (D) a coloring means, which is arranged at the most downstream side in the forwarding direction, of a plurality of the coloring means.
• a plurality of the coloring means are lined up in the forwarding direction of the electric wire. At least a part of the electric wire suction means is provided between (C) a coloring means, which is arranged at the most upstream side in the forwarding direction, of a plurality of the coloring means and (D) a coloring means, which is arranged at the most downstream side in the forwarding direction, of a plurality of the coloring means. Since the electric wire suction means is placed near a plurality of the coloring means, therefore the slack of the electric wire can be further restricted at spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring means.
• a plurality of the coloring means are lined up in the forwarding direction of the electric wire. At least a part of the electric wire suction means is provided between (E) a center between the coloring means arranged at the most upstream side in the forwarding direction and the coloring means arranged at the most downstream side in the forwarding direction and (F) the coloring means arranged at the most downstream side in the forwarding direction. Since the electric wire suction means is placed on the downstream side of the center of a plurality of the coloring means, therefore the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring means on the downstream side of the electric wire suction means.
• the present invention described in claim 4 is the electric wire coloring device described in any one of claims 1 - 3, further characterized in that the electric wire suction means includes a suction hole for sucking gas around the electric wire.
• the electric wire suction means includes a suction hole for sucking gas around the electric wire. Since the suction hole sucks the gas around the electric wire, the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at a spouting position of the coloring means without coming in contact with a portion of the electric wire, to which the coloring agent adheres.
• the present invention described in claim 5 is the electric wire coloring device described in claim 5, further characterized in that a plurality of the suction holes are lined up along the forwarding direction of the electric wire.
• a plurality of the suction holes are lined up along the forwarding direction of the electric wire. Therefore, by providing a plurality of the suction holes lined up along the forwarding direction of the electric wire, the suction capability of the electric wire is increased and therefore, the slack of the electric wire can be further restricted.
• the present invention described in claim 6 is the electric wire coloring device described in claim 4, further characterized in that the suction hole has a long shape and a longitudinal direction of the long shape suction hole is oriented along the forwarding direction of the electric wire.
• the suction hole has a long shape, wherein a longitudinal direction of the long shape hole is oriented along the forwarding direction of the electric wire.
• a longitudinal direction of which is oriented along the forwarding direction of the electric wire the suction capability of the electric wire is increased and therefore, the slack of the electric wire can be further restricted.
• the present invention described in claim 7 is the electric wire coloring device described in any one of claims 4 - 6, further characterized in that the electric wire suction means includes a passage groove for the electric wire to pass therethrough and each said suction hole is provided in the passage groove.
• the electric wire passes through the passage groove of the electric wire suction means.
• Each suction hole is provided in the passage groove.
• the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at a spouting position of the coloring means without coming in contact with a portion of the electric wire, to which the coloring agent adheres, therefore a mark can be precisely formed at a designated position.
• the electric wire suction means since the electric wire suction means is placed near a plurality of the coloring means, therefore the slack of the electric wire can be further restricted at spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring means. Therefore, each mark can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at spouting positions of the coloring means on the downstream side of the electric wire suction means. Therefore, each mark can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• the suction hole sucks the gas around the electric wire, the slack of the electric wire can be restricted at a spouting position of the coloring means without coming in contact with a portion of the electric wire, to which the coloring agent adheres, therefore each mark can be precisely formed at a designated position.
• each mark can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• each mark can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• each mark can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• FIG. 2 A partial enlarged side view of the electric wire coloring device shown in Fig. 1
• FIG. 3 A cross sectional view of an electric wire coloring unit taken along III - III line in Fig. 1
• FIG. 4A A perspective view of an electric wire colored by the electric wire coloring device shown in Fig. 1
• FIG. 4B A plan view of the electric wire shown in Fig. 4A
• FIG. 5 A perspective view illustrating a construction of an electric wire suction unit according to a preferred embodiment in the electric wire coloring device shown in Fig. 1
• FIG. 6 A perspective view illustrating a construction of an electric wire suction unit according to another preferred embodiment
• FIG. 7 A perspective view illustrating a construction of an electric wire suction unit according to a further preferred embodiment
• FIG. 8 A view illustrating an example of a conventional electric wire coloring device
• FIGS. 9A and 9B A view illustrating a conventional problem
• a coloring device 1 is a device, in which an electric wire 3 (hereinafter, 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. 4A, 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.
• the coating 5 has a monochrome color P.
• 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.
• the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is not colored, i.e. the coating 5 is not colored.
• "not colored” may mean either that a coloring agent having only one color, i.e. white color, is mixed into the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating 5 or that the color of the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is the color of the synthetic resin itself without mixing a coloring agent.
• a coloring agent is not mixed, since a color of the outer surface 3a of the wire 3 is translucent, the wire 3 is seen through. Therefore, preferably, a coloring agent having only one color, i.e. white color, is mixed into the synthetic resin that constitutes the coating 5.
• 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. 4A and 4B).
• 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. 4B.
• a plurality of 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 the size, color or type 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. As shown in Fig.
• the coloring device 1 includes a frame 10 as a body of the device, guide roll 1 1 , delivery rolls 12 as forwarding means, correction unit 13 as tension imparting means, slack absorbing unit 14 as slack absorbing means, guide unit 50, coloring unit 15, electric wire suction unit 60 as the electric wire suction means, 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 1 1 is rotatably attached to an end of the frame 10.
• the guide roll 1 1 is a guide for guiding the long wire 3 having no mark 6 formed thereon
• the guide roll 1 1 forwards the wire 3 by way of the correction unit 13, slack absorbing unit 14, guide unit 50, 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 lined up in a vertical direction. In an example shown in Fig. 1 , the pair of the delivery rolls 12 is lined up in the vertical direction with respect to the floor.
• the pair of the delivery rolls 12 may be lined up in the horizontal direction with respect to the floor.
• 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 nip the wire 3 therebetween and pull the wire 3 from the guide roll 1 1 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3.
• the delivery rolls 12 are pulling means, which pull and forward the wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3.
• the delivery rolls 12 are pulling means, which pull and forward the wire 3 in the longitudinal direction of the wire 3.
• the wire 3 is forwarded from the guide roll 1 1 toward the delivery roll 12 in a direction of an arrow K shown in Fig. 1. That is, the arrow K shows the forwarding direction of the wire 3.
• the correction unit 13 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the guide roll 1 1. That is, the correction unit 13 is placed between the guide roll 1 1 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the correction unit 13 is placed on the downstream side of the guide roll 1 1 in the forwarding 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 forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the correction unit 13 includes a plate-shaped unit body 20, a plurality of first rolls 21 and a plurality of second rolls 22.
• the unit body 20 is fixed on the frame 10.
• a plurality of the respective first and second rolls 21 , 22 are rotatably supported by the unit body 20.
• a plurality of the first rolls 21 are lined up in a horizontal direction (in the forwarding direction K) above the wire 3.
• a plurality of the second rolls 22 are lined up in a horizontal direction (in the forwarding direction K) below the wire 3.
• the first and second rolls 21 and 22 are arranged zigzag.
• the correction unit 13 nips the wire 3, which is forwarded by the delivery roll 12 from the guide roll 11 , between the first rolls 21 and the second rolls 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 Hl as friction force having a direction reverse to the direction, in which the delivery roll 12 pulls the wire 3 (i.e. the forwarding direction K), to the wire 3.
• the first bias force H l 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 forwarding direction K of the wire 3. The slack absorbing unit 14 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3. The slack absorbing unit 14 is placed between the correction unit 13 and the guide unit 50.
• the slack absorbing unit 14 includes a pair of , guide roll supporting frames 23, a pair of guide rolls 24, forwarding roll supporting frame 25, forwarding roll 26, and air cylinder 27 as bias means.
• the pair of the guide roll supporting frames 23 is fixed on the frame 10.
• the pair of the guide roll supporting frames 23 stands upward from the frame 10.
• the guide roll supporting frames 23 are arranged having a distance therebetween in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the pair of the guide rolls 24 is rotatably supported by the pair of the guidr roll supporting frames 23.
• the guide roll 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 forwarding direction K of the wire 3 preventing the wire 3 from coming off from the forwarding direction K. That is, the guide rolls 24 guide the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the forwarding roll supporting frame 25 is fixed on the frame 10.
• the forwarding roll supporting frame 25 stands upward from the frame 10.
• the forwarding roll supporting frame 25 is placed between the pair of the guide roll supporting frames 23.
• the forwarding roll 26 is supported rotatably and supported movably in the vertical direction by the forwarding roll supporting frame 25.
• the forwarding roll 26 is arranged above the wire 3.
• the forwarding roll 26 is supported movably in the vertical direction, that is, the forwarding roll 26 is supported movably in a direction crossing (at right angles) the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the forwarding roll 26 is placed in the middle of the pair of the guide rolls 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 forwarding roll 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 the wire 3.
• the forwarding roll 26 is attached to the stretchable rod 29.
• the air cylinder 27 biases the stretchable rod 29 (or the forwarding roll 26) downward in a direction crossing (at right angles) the forwarding direction K of the wire
• a second bias force H2 (shown in Fig. 1 ). That is, the air cylinder 27 biases the forwarding roll 26 in a direction in which the forwarding roll 26 approaches the wire 3 with the second bias force H2.
• the second bias force H2 is smaller than the first bias force Hl .
• the slack absorbing unit 14 biases the wire 3, which slackens between the pair of the guide rolls 24, in the direction crossing (at right angles) the forwarding direction K of the wire 3 so as to absorb the slack, thereby maintaining the wire 3 stretched.
• the guide unit 50 is placed on the delivery roll 12-side of the slack absorbing unit 14. That is, the guide unit 50 is placed between the slack absorbing unit 14 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the guide unit 50 is placed on the downstream side of the slack absorbing unit 14 in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3. The guide unit 50 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3. The guide unit 50 is placed between the slack absorbing unit 14 and the coloring nozzle 31. The guide unit 50 is placed on just upstream side of the coloring unit 15. This is to restrict the slack of the wire 3 at the spouting position of the coloring nozzle 31 as much as possible.
• the guide unit 50 includes a guide roll supporting frame 51 and a pair of guide rolls 52 and 53.
• the guide roll supporting frame 51 is fixed to the frame 10.
• the guide roll supporting frame 51 stands upward from the frame 10.
• the guide roll 52 is placed above the wire 3 and comes in contact with the wire 3 on an outer circumferential surface of the guide roll 52 so as to guide the wire 3 preventing the wire 3 from coming off from the forwarding direction K.
• the guide roll 53 is placed below the wire 3 and comes in contact with the wire 3 on an outer circumferential surface of the guide roll 53 so as to guide the wire 3 preventing the wire 3 from coming off from the forwarding direction K. That is, the guide rolls 52 and 53 guide the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the coloring unit 15 includes a unit body 30, a plurality of coloring nozzles 31 , a plurality of coloring agent supply sources 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.
• each coloring nozzle 31 faces the wire 3, which is forwarded along the arrow K by the pair of the delivery rolls 12.
• Each coloring nozzle 31 includes an inlet pipe 31 a through which the coloring agent passes.
• the inlet pipe 31 a extends straight toward the outer surface
• each coloring nozzle 31 includes the opening 31b which faces the wire 3.
• the opening 31 b can let the coloring agent pass therethrough.
• the coloring agent is supplied into the inlet pipe 31 a of the coloring nozzle 31 from the coloring agent supply source 32.
• the inlet pipe 31 a of the coloring nozzle 31 is provided with a valve element 31c.
• the pressurized gas supply source 33 is linked to the coloring agent supply source 32.
• the pressurized gas supply source 33 supplies pressurized gas into the coloring agent supply source 32.
• the valve element 31 c When the valve element 31 c is opened, by the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source 33, the coloring agent in the inlet pipe 31 a of the coloring nozzle 31 passes through the opening 31 b and is spouted toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3. Thus, the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent through the opening 31 b which faces the outer surface 3a of the wire 3. At that time, the coloring nozzle 31 spouts the coloring agent in a direction of an arrow Kl which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inlet pipe 31 a.
• the valve element 31 c When the valve element 31 c is closed, the spouting of the coloring agent from the coloring nozzle 31 is halted. In response to a signal from the control device 19, the valve element 31c is opened for a predetermined period of time so that a designated amount of the coloring agent is spouted toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3.
• the coloring nozzle 31 is the coloring means.
• 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) is ejected vigorously from the coloring nozzle 31 toward the outer surface 3a of the wire 3. That is, the coloring nozzle 31 of the coloring device 1 according to the preferred embodiment vigorously ejects the coloring agent in a form of a liquid drop (or liquid drops) 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 forwarding direction K of the wire 3. The duct 16 is placed on the upstream side of the delivery roll 12 in the forwarding 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 linked to a gas suction means (not shown in the figure) such as a vacuum pump.
• the gas 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 forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the encoder 17 includes a pair of rotary rolls 47.
• Each rotary roll 47 is rotatably supported around the axis.
• the outer peripheral surface of the rotary roll 47 comes in contact with the outer surface 3a of the wire 3, which is nipped between the pair of the delivery rolls 12.
• the rotary roll 47 rotates around the axis.
• the amount of forwarding of the wire 3 in the direction K is proportional to the number of revolutions of the rotary roll 47.
• the encoder 17 is connected to the control device 19.
• the encoder 17 When the rotary roll 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 forwarding amount of the wire 3 in the direction K to the control device 19.
• the encoder 17 measures an information in response to the forwarding amount of the wire 3 and outputs the information in response to the forwarding amount of the wire 3 to the control device 19.
• the encoder 17 outputs a pulse signal in response to the forwarding amount of the wire 3 on the basis of friction between the wire 3 and the rotary roll 47.
• the cutting mechanism 18 is placed on the downstream side of the pair of the rotary rolls 47 of the encoder 17 in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• the cutting mechanism 18 includes a pair of cutting blades 48 and 49, each of which is lined up in the vertical direction.
• the cutting blades 48 and 49 approach or leave each other in the vertical direction.
• they nip the wire 3, which is delivered by the pair of the delivery rolls 12, therebetween and cut the wire 3.
• the cutting blades 48 and 49 leave each other, they leave the wire 3.
• the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 is lined up in the vertical direction.
• the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 may be lined up in the horizontal direction.
• the control device 19 is a computer including a known RAM, ROM and CPU.
• the control device 19 is linked to the delivery rolls 12, encoder 17, cutting mechanism 18, coloring nozzles 3 1 and so on.
• the control device 19 control the whole of the coloring device 1 by controlling actions of these components described above.
• the delivery rolls 12 and cutting mechanism 18 may be controlled by another control device and the encoder 17 may be obtain the delivery data information from the other control device, so that the coloring nozzle 3 1 is linked to them and controlled by the control device 19.
• the control device 19 stores a pattern of the mark 6 in advance.
• control device 19 When the control device 19 receives a predetermined pulse signal from the encoder 17, i.e. an information in response to the amount of forwarding of the wire 3, the control device 19 applies a current to the valve element 31c 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 forwarding 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 forwarding 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 forwarding of the wire 3, which amount of the forwarding is measured by the encoder 17.
• the control device 19 judges that the wire 3 is forwarded 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 control device 19 halts the delivery roll 12 and sends the halting information of the delivery roll 12 to the other control device described above.
• the other control device 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 1 1 is attached to the frame 10. Keeping the cutting blades 48 and 49 apart from each other, the wire 3 wound up around the guide roll 11 is passed through the correction unit 13, slack absorbing unit 14, coloring unit 15 and duct 16 in sequence and nipped 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 linked to the respective coloring nozzles 31. Further, the pressurized gas supply source 33 is linked to the coloring agent supply sources 32 and the gas existing in the duct 16 is sucked by the suction means.
• the control device 19 applies a current to the coil 40 of the predetermined 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 control device 19 judges that the wire 3 is forwarded by a predetermined amount (i.e. distance) thereof 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 guide rolls 24 in the slack absorbing unit 14 and then, the forwarding roll 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 electric wire suction unit 60 sucks the wire 3 so as to prevent the wire 3 from slackening.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is mounted on a support base 70.
• the support base 70 is fixed on the frame 10.
• the support base 70 stands upward from the frame 10.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 includes suction holes 60a which suck gas existing around the wire 3.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 has a cabinet which receives or is linked to, for example, a vacuum pump.
• the suction holes 60a are formed in the cabinet.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 has a plurality of the suction holes 60a. Each suction hole 60a is round in its plan view. The suction holes 60a are lined up along the forwarding direction K of the wire 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the electric wire suction unit 60 is arranged at the center C between a coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most upstream side (i.e. left side in Fig. 2) of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31 and a coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most downstream side (i.e. right side in Fig. 2) of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31.
• a part of the electric wire suction unit 60 is arranged in an area A ranging from the center C to the coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most downstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is arranged in an area B ranging from the coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most upstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31 to the coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most downstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is arranged in an area D ranging from (A) a guide roll 53 situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls 1 1 , 21 , 22, 24, 26, 52 and 53 arranged on the upstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K and (B) a delivery roll 12 situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 of the rolls 12 and 47 arranged on the downstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 which sucks the wire 3 so as to prevent the electric wire 3 from slackening, is placed in the area D ranging from (A) a guide roll 53 situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls 1 1 , 21 , 22, 24, 26, 52 and 53 arranged on the upstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K and (B) a delivery roll 12 situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 of the rolls 12 and 47 arranged on the downstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is provided facing the lower side of the wire 3 , which lower side is opposite to the upper side of the wire 3 , the upper side being a position to which the coloring agent is spouted. That is, the lower side of the wire 3 , to which the coloring agent does not adhere, sticks to the electric wire suction unit 60 so as to prevent the wire 3 from slackening. That is, by means of the electric wire suction unit 60, the wire 3 can be prevented from slackening at a position (i.e.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is placed in the area B ranging from the coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most upstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31 to the coloring nozzle 31 situated on the most downstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31. That is, the electric wire suction unit 60 can be provided in the proximity of the spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31. Thereby, the wire 3 can be more prevented from slackening at spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31.
• a part of the electric wire suction unit 60 is arranged in the area A ranging from the center C to the coloring nozzle 3 1 situated on the most downstream side of the forwarding direction K among a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31. That is, the electric wire suction unit 60 is provided on the downstream side of the center C. Thereby, the wire 3 can be effectively prevented from slackening at spouting positions of a plurality of the coloring nozzles 3 1 .
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is preferably provided in the area A.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 has a plurality of the suction holes 60a for sucking the wire 3 and a plurality of the suction holes 60a are lined up in the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• suction force for sucking the wire 3 is increased, the slack of the wire 3 can be more restricted, and the mark 6 can be more precisely formed at a designated position.
• each suction hole 60a is round in its plan view.
• the suction hole may be square or elliptic.
• a plurality of the suction holes 60a are lined up in the forwarding direction K in the electric wire suction unit 60.
• the suction hole 60a may be rectangular in its plan view.
• the rectangular suction hole 60a is provided in such a manner that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the forwarding direction K of the wire 3 , thereby the suction force for sucking the wire 3 by such a suction hole 60a is increased and the slack of the wire 3 can be more restricted.
• the suction hole 60a is rectangular in its plan view. However, instead, the suction hole 60a may be elliptic in its plan view. That is, at any rate, the suction hole 60a may be a long shape in its plan view. Further, a plurality of the suction holes 60a, each being a long shape in its plan view, may be lined up along the forwarding direction K of the wire 3.
• electric wire suction unit 60 may be provided with a passage groove 60b which extends along the forwarding direction K and let the wire 3 pass therethrough, wherein suction holes 60a are provided in the passage groove 60b.
• the suction force for sucking the wire 3 is increased due to the passage groove 60b, so that the slack of the wire 3 can be more restricted.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is placed at the center C.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 may be placed on the downstream side of the area A.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 may be placed in the area D, such as in the duct 19 or on the upstream side of the center C, in these case there being some effect.
• only one electric wire suction unit 60 is provided.
• a plurality of the electric wire suction units 60 may be provided.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 is provided between the guide roll 53 and the delivery roll 12.
• the guide roll 24 that constitutes the slack absorbing unit 14 is a roll, which is situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls placed on the upstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 may be placed between the guide roll 24 and the delivery roll 12.
• the rotary roll 47 is a roll, which is situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls placed on the downstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K.
• the electric wire suction unit 60 may be placed between the guide roll 53 and the rotary roll 47. That is, the electric wire suction unit 60 may be placed between a roll situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls arranged on the upstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K and a roll situated nearest to the coloring nozzle 31 among the rolls arranged on the downstream side of the coloring nozzle 31 in the forwarding direction K.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Electric Cables (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-11-25 JP JP2005340054A patent/JP2007149422A/ja not_active Abandoned
• 2006
  • 2006-10-31 CN CNA2006800439099A patent/CN101313374A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-10-31 WO PCT/JP2006/322206 patent/WO2007060832A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-10-31 EP EP06823110A patent/EP1952410A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2008
  • 2008-05-20 MA MA30951A patent/MA29967B1/fr unknown

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