EP2606533B2 - Identification mat for identifying electrical components, and method for manufacturing such an identification mat - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a marking mat for marking electrical components according to the preamble of claims 1 and 6.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a marking mat for marking electrical components according to the preamble of claim 10.

Such identification units are used to identify electrical parts or components such as terminals, plugs, cables, wires and the like. An identification characterizing the respective component is printed on an inscription area of an identification unit. The identification units are usually produced as identification mats made of plastic in an injection molding process, so that a large number of identification units connected via a frame can be inscribed together in an inscription device, such as a printer. From the DE 84 04 741 U1 a device for applying identification plates to terminals for identifying electrical components and lines is known, the device having a printer with a cylindrical type carrier. From the DE 10 2007 036 374 A1 is a marking object with at least one object carrier and at least one object panel held by the object carrier, wherein the object panel can be marked by a marking device.

The identification units or the identification mats are usually made from a purely partially crystalline plastic such as polyamide. From a However, marking units produced from partially crystalline plastic, such as polyamide, have the disadvantage that they are not suitable for all printing processes. In particular, such marking units are difficult to print or write on using a thermal transfer printing process and/or an inkjet printing process, since the material properties of a semi-crystalline plastic make it easy to remove or scratch off the ink from the written surface of a marking unit produced in this way.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a solution that makes it possible to provide marking units that can be inscribed or printed on essentially with all commercially available printing methods, in particular with a thermal transfer printing method and/or an inkjet printing method.

According to the invention, the marking mat is made from an amorphous plastic.

In the method according to the invention, the marking mat is injection molded from an amorphous plastic.

Surprisingly, it has been shown that amorphous plastics, in contrast to partially crystalline plastics, have better inscribability or printability and can in particular be printed using inkjet printers and thermal transfer printers without the risk of the ink applied during printing later detaches or can be detached again from the surface of the marking units or from the inscription surface of the marking units. Marking mats or marking units made of an amorphous plastic are therefore suitable for all conventional printing processes, so that the functionality of the marking mats or marking units according to the invention is significantly improved compared to conventional marking mats or marking units. Marking mats made from an amorphous plastic are also characterized by good dimensional stability, low volume shrinkage and low water absorption, which further improves printability.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amorphous plastic is polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) or polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSU ), polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN). Polycarbonate is particularly preferably used as the amorphous plastic, since polycarbonate has particularly good dimensional stability and particularly low water absorption.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide means each have two webs for engaging in the printer, with at least one side surface in each case being bevelled. The web of the guide means is used to be able to engage in a receptacle provided on the printer in order to be able to implement targeted guidance of the marking mat in the printer. The web is preferably attached at one end to the frame. With its free end opposite the end fastened to the frame, the web engages in the receptacle provided on the printer. In order to achieve improved and easier demoulding, in particular of the guide means or the web, from the injection mold during production of the marking mat, the web preferably has a slope or bevel on at least one side surface, preferably in the area of its free end, so that the cross-sectional area of the web decreases towards the free end.

According to the embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the guide means are essentially U-shaped. In the case of a U-shaped configuration of the guide means, each guide means has two webs which are arranged essentially parallel to one another. In this way, a particularly secure guidance of the marking mat in the printer, in particular one that is secure against tipping and twisting, can be ensured. At their free end, the two webs can have a Have slope or a bevel. If a slant or bevel is provided on the facing inner side surfaces of two webs running parallel to one another, the inner side surface of the U-shaped configuration is essentially trapezoidal. This achieves a particularly good demouldability of the identification mat, particularly in the area of the guide means.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the guide means have one or more recesses along their longitudinal extent. The recesses are preferably provided on the web or the webs of a guide means. The recesses can be in the form of indentations, which can be used for transport within the printer, for isolation and for fixing. Furthermore, the recesses can be in the form of elongated recesses, which can facilitate demoulding of the identification mat in the area of the guide means from the injection mold and/or warping of the identification mat in the area of the guide means can be reduced.

In order to be able to further reduce the distortion, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that stiffening ribs are provided on the guide means. The stiffening ribs are preferably arranged on the side surface of the guide means which is directed in the direction of the marking units. As a result, both the guide means, particularly in the area of their webs, and the frame can be given greater stability, which also improves guidance in the printer can be. The stiffening ribs preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the guide means and are arranged between two marking units arranged adjacent to one another.

For printing the identification mat in a printer, the transverse webs and/or the identification labels have an inscription surface, the inscription surface preferably having a roughness Ra≦0.5 μm or being provided with a roughness Ra≦0.5 μm. The roughness in the area of the inscription surfaces is preferably achieved in that the injection molding tool is roughened in the area of the inscription surfaces, for example by sandblasting, so that this roughened surface of the injection molding tool or the tool inserts arranged in it after the injection molding process on the identification mat in the area which can depict labeling areas. Due to the corresponding roughness of the inscription surface, improved adhesion of the printer ink, in particular the ink, to the inscription surface can be achieved, as a result of which the printability can be further increased. However, the roughness is so fine that the inscription surface is preferably flat. The roughness is preferably in a range between 0.1 and 0.5 μm, preferably between 0.2 and 0.4 μm. In order to further increase the printability, the inscription surface preferably additionally has a waviness of Wt≦10 μm, preferably in a range between 1 μm and 10 μm.

In order to exert as little pressure as possible on the guide means during production of the marking mat according to the invention, the injection points for injection molding the marking mat are provided on the transverse webs, so that the marking mat is injection molded on the transverse webs and not in the area of the guide means. According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more injection points are provided for each transverse web, it also being possible for an injection point not to be provided on every transverse web provided on an identification mat. The injection points are preferably provided in the middle along the longitudinal extent of the transverse webs in order to achieve the most uniform possible distribution of the material over the entire surface of the identification mat during injection molding. Because the gating does not take place in the area of the guide means, the guide means are relieved because less pressure is applied to them, which makes it easier to subsequently remove the guide means from the injection mold.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a predetermined breaking point is provided in a connection area between an identification unit and the frame. The predetermined breaking point can be in the form of a reduction in the material in the connection area or a perforation in the connection area. The predetermined breaking point makes it easier to separate an identification unit from the frame after it has been inscribed or printed.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that control holes are provided on the frame. The control holes are used to be able to automatically recognize the position, in particular the orientation, of the marking mat in the printer, so that the print layout can be adjusted to the position or the orientation of the marking mat, for example by rotating the print layout, which reduces the number of incorrect inscriptions or .of misprints can be significantly reduced. A plurality of control holes are preferably provided at a certain distance from one another along the longitudinal direction of the frame.

In order to achieve an unambiguous assignment of the identification mats in a printer, provision is also preferably made for the identification mat to be provided with an identifier. The identifier is preferably provided on the frame of the identification mat. The identifier can be provided, for example, in the form of a 10-bit code.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings based on preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsmatte gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform mit einer Draufsicht auf die Oberseite der Kennzeichnungsmatte;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Querseite der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Kennzeichnungsmatte gemäß der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

einen Ausschnitt der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Kennzeichnungsmatte in einer Draufsicht auf die Querseite, wobei der Rahmen und ein daran angeordnetes Führungsmittel der Kennzeichnungsmatte vergrößert dargestellt sind;

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Kennzeichnungsmatte mit einer Verstärkungsrippe angeordnet an einem Führungsmittel;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsmatte gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform mit einer Draufsicht auf die Oberseite der Kennzeichnungsmatte; und

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsmatte gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform mit einer Draufsicht auf die Unterseite der Kennzeichnungsmatte.

Show it:

1

a perspective schematic representation of a marking mat according to the invention according to a first embodiment with a top view of the upper side of the marking mat;

2

a schematic plan view of the transverse side of in 1 shown marking mat according to the invention;

3

a section of the in 2 shown marking mat in a plan view of the transverse side, wherein the frame and arranged thereon guide means of the marking mat are shown enlarged;

4

a section of the in 1 shown marking mat with a reinforcing rib arranged on a guide means;

figure 5

a perspective schematic representation of a marking mat according to the invention according to a second embodiment with a top view of the upper side of the marking mat; and

6

a perspective schematic representation of a marking mat according to the invention according to a third embodiment with a plan view of the underside of the marking mat.

1 shows a marking mat for marking electrical components according to the invention. The marking mat has a plurality of marking units 10 arranged one behind the other in a row, each marking unit having a transverse bar 12 and a plurality of inscription labels formed onto the transverse bar 12 14 has. The marking units 10 arranged one behind the other in a row are connected to one another via a frame 16 which runs laterally along the marking units 10 . The frame 16 is provided to the right and left of the marking units 10 along their transverse side surfaces. In order to guide the marking mat in a printer, in which the marking units 10 are inscribed or printed in the area of their inscription surfaces 22, guide means 18a, 18b are provided on the frame 16, which, as in 2 can be seen, are formed from two parallel webs 20a, 20b, so that the guide means 18a, 18b are formed substantially U-shaped. Two guide means 18a, 18b are arranged on the frame 16, with a first guide means 18a being arranged on the frame 16 to the left of the transverse side of the marking units 10 and a second guide means 18b being arranged on the frame 16 to the right of the transverse side of the marking units 10.

As in 1 is shown, a plurality of recesses 38 in the form of notches are provided along the webs 20a, 20b. Control holes 24 and identifiers 26 are also introduced on the frame 16, it being possible for the identifier 26 to be in the form of a 10-bit code.

The marking mat is made from an amorphous plastic such as PC, ABS, PMMA, PS, PEI, PES, PSU, PPO or SAN by an injection molding process. The gating in the injection molding process takes place on the crossbar 12 of the marking units 12, with the in 1 shown embodiment of the injection point 28 is provided centrally along the longitudinal direction of the transverse webs 12.

A surface roughness of Ra≦0.5 μm, preferably Ra=0.25 μm, is stamped onto the identification mat at least in the area of the inscription areas 22 after injection molding in the injection molding tool. The inscription areas 22 can be provided on the transverse web 12 and/or the identification plates 14 of an identification unit 10 .

An enlarged representation of the webs 20a, 20b of the guide means 18a in particular is shown in 3 shown. The webs 20a, 20b are arranged essentially parallel to one another, as a result of which the guide means 18a has a U-shaped configuration in the form of a skid. The side surfaces 30a, 30b of the webs 20a, 20b are each provided with a bevel, wherein in the embodiment shown here the webs 20a, 20b have a bevel both on their inner side surface 30b and on their outer side surface 30a. The bevel can extend over the entire length of a side surface 30a, 30b or only in certain areas, in particular at the free end 40 of the webs 20a, 20b. The bevels are designed in such a way that the cross-sectional area of the webs 20a, 20b decreases towards their free end 40. The bevelled side surfaces 30a, 30b allow easier demoulding of the identification mat from the injection mold in the area of the guide means 18a, 18b.

A predetermined breaking point 32 in the form of a reduction in material is formed on the connection area between the frame 16 and the identification unit 10 .

In order to increase the stability of the guide means 18a, 18b and to reduce distortion, as in 4 is shown, on the guide means 18a, 18b, only the guide means 18a being shown here, in particular in the area of the webs 20b, which are arranged adjacent to the marking units 10 on the guide means 18a, 18b or the frame 16, stiffening ribs 34 may be provided , which are designed in the form of an elongate web and extend in the longitudinal direction of the marking mat. The stiffening ribs 34 are provided between two marking units 10 on the guide means 18a, 18b.

figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the marking mat according to the invention, the embodiment shown here essentially corresponding to that in 1 corresponds to the marking mat shown. The two differences between the here and in 1 shown embodiment are merely that in the in figure 5 shown marking mat per crossbar 12 two injection points 28 are provided. The number of injection points 28 depends on the size of the identification mat and the identification plates. Furthermore, at the in figure 5 shown identification mat on the guide means 18b visible here, in addition to the recesses 38 designed in the form of notches, recesses 36 in the form of elongated recesses on the provided here visible guide means 18b or the web 20b of the guide means 18b.

6 shows a third possible embodiment of the marking mat according to the invention, which essentially corresponds to that in figure 5 corresponds to the embodiment shown, wherein in 6 the possibility is shown that differently configured recesses 36, 38 can be provided on two webs 20a, 20b running essentially parallel to one another of a guide means 18a, 18b, so that the recesses 36, 38 on one web 20a are not identical to the recesses 36 , 38 must be formed on the other web 20b of a guide means 18a, 18b, with in 6 only recesses in the form of notches are shown. At the in 6 In the embodiment shown, a larger number of recesses 38 provided in the form of notches are formed on the web 20b of the guide means 18a, 18b than on the web 20a of the guide means 18a, 18b. Reference List labeling unit 10 cross bar 12 label 14 frame 16 means of guidance 18a, 18b web 20a, 20b labeling area 22 control hole 24 identifier 26 injection point 28 side face 30a, 30b predetermined breaking point 32 stiffening rib 34 recess 36 recess 38 free end 40

Claims (13)

1. Identification mat for identifying electrical components, with a plurality of identifying units (10), wherein an identifying unit (10) comprises a crossbar (12) and a plurality of identification plates (14) integrally moulded on the crossbar (12), wherein the identification units (10) are connected to one another by means of a frame (16), wherein guiding means (18a, 18b) are arranged on the frame (16) to guide the identification mat in a printer, wherein the guiding means (18a, 18b) are substantially u-shaped and each have two bridges (20a, 20b) which are arranged substantially parallel to one another,
   characterized in

   that the identification mat is formed from an injection-moulded, amorphous plastic which can be more easily inscribed in contrast to partially crystalline plastics,

   wherein on their inner side faces (30b) directed towards each other and/or on their outer side faces (30a) directed away from each other the two bridges (20a, 20b) each are bevelled.
2. Identification mat according to claim 1, characterized in that the amorphous plastic is polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyetherimide, polyether sulphone, polysulphone, polyphenylene oxide or styrene-acrylonitrile.
3. Identification mat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guiding means (18a, 18b) have one or more notches (36, 38) along their longitudinal extension.
4. Identification mat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that stiffening ribs (34) are provided on the guiding means (18a, 18b).
5. Identification mat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the crossbars (12) and/or the identification plates (14) have an inscription surface (22), wherein the inscription surface (22) has a roughness Ra ≤ 0.5 µm.
6. Identification mat for identifying electrical components, with a plurality of identifying units (10), wherein an identifying unit (10) comprises a crossbar (12) and a plurality of identification plates (14) integrally moulded on the crossbar (12), wherein the identifying units (10) are connected to one another by means of a frame (16), wherein guiding means (18a, 18b) are arranged on the frame (16) to guide the identification mat in a printer,
   characterized in
   that the identification mat is formed from an injection-moulded, amorphous plastic which can be more easily inscribed in contrast to partially crystalline plastics and one or more injection points (28) are provided on the crossbars (12).
7. Identification mat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in a connection region between an identifying unit (10) and the frame (16) a predetermined breaking point (32) is provided.
8. Identification mat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that guide holes (24) are provided on the frame (16).
9. Identification mat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the identification mat is provided with a code (26).
10. Method for producing an identification mat for identifying electrical components with a plurality of identifying units (10), wherein an identifying unit (10) is formed of a crossbar (12) and a plurality of identification plates (14) integrally moulded on the crossbar (12), wherein the identification units (10) are connected to one another by means of a frame (16), wherein guiding means (18a, 18b) are provided on the frame (16) to guide the identification mat in a printer, wherein the guiding means (18a, 18b) are substantially u-shaped and each have two bridges (20a, 20b) which are arranged substantially parallel to one another,
    characterized in
    that the identification mat is injection-moulded from an amorphous plastic which can be more easily inscribed in contrast to partially crystalline plastics, wherein on their inner side faces (30b) directed towards each other and/or on their outer side faces (30a) directed away from each other the two bridges (20a, 20b) each are bevelled.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the amorphous plastic used is polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyetherimide, polyether sulphone, polysulphone, polyphenylene oxide or styrene-acrylonitrile.
12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the identification mat is injection-moulded to the crossbars (12) of the identification units (10).
13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that in the area of inscription surfaces (22) formed on the crossbars (12) and/or the identification plates (14) the identification mat is provided with a roughness Ra ≤ 0.5 µm.

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