EP3405941B1 - Method for attaching marking labels to a plurality of electrical devices which can be arranged on a support rail - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for attaching marker plates to a plurality of electrical devices that can be arranged on a mounting rail.

Such a method is used to attach marking plates to a plurality of electrical devices that can be arranged on a mounting rail and each have a marking field on which a marking plate that can be inscribed can be attached.

In the method, the electrical devices are lined up along a longitudinal direction to provide an assembly in such a way that the marking fields of the electrical devices adjoin one another along the longitudinal direction and form a continuous row extending along the longitudinal direction.

Such an assembly is, for example, from DE 10 2013 112 789 A1 known and in particular comprises a plurality of electrical devices in the form of so-called terminal blocks. The electrical devices are arranged on an auxiliary transport device in the form of a carrier tape and can be transported in such a preassembled state and used in a machine for equipping a carrier rail.

Electrical devices that can be attached to a mounting rail, for example terminal blocks or electronic devices that are used to carry out control or automation functions, for example in the context of an industrial plant, can for example be combined with one another in a control cabinet and for this purpose mounted on one in the control cabinet Mounting rail can be attached to provide an electrical system within the control cabinet.

In order to identify the individual electrical devices and to enable a user to connect electrical lines in a clear manner, for example, it is conventionally provided that marking plates are attached to the electrical devices. While machines are now used to equip mounting rails, for example with terminal blocks, such as those from the DE 10 2010 047 369 A1 are known, the identification of the electrical devices attached to a mounting rail is often still done manually by already labeled marking plates being attached to the electrical devices. This is cumbersome and can also be prone to errors.

From the DE 10 2013 012 389 B4 a device for mounting an identification plate in a groove-shaped latching recess of a terminal block is known. With this device, a labeled identification plate can be pressed into an associated latching recess of a terminal block by means of an assembly stamp.

From the EP 2 391 999 B1 a label is known that can be positively inserted into a recess of a terminal block by means of a profile.

Another device for marking switchgear terminal blocks is from the DE-U 1 857 546 known.

The DE 203 03 475 U1 describes that terminal blocks that form a labeling level on a level without lateral offset can be marked together with a coherent labeling strip.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for attaching marking plates to electrical devices, as well as a marking strip and an assembly of electrical devices that allow electrical devices, for example terminal blocks, to be labeled in a simple, automatable manner.

This object is achieved by an object with the features of claim 1.

The presented method represents a departure from conventionally known methods for labeling electrical devices that are to be arranged on a mounting rail. Thus, within the scope of the method, electrical devices to which markable labels are to be attached are first grouped into an assembly and for this purpose lined up so that marking fields of the electrical devices adjoin one another along a longitudinal direction and form a continuous row extending along the longitudinal direction. A (coherent) marking strip can then be attached to this row, which has a plurality of marking plates that can be written on. The marking plates are attached to the row of electrical devices in such a way that one (or more) marking plates are assigned to each marking field of an electrical device. After the marking strip has been applied, the marking plates are separated so that one or more marking plates remain on the marking field of each electrical device.

The marking plates arranged on the marking fields of the electrical devices can be inscribed by means of a laser inscription device. This can be done before or after the electrical devices are attached to a mounting rail.

By means of the method, marking plates are initially attached to a plurality of electrical devices in a manner that is easy to automate, and only then are the marking plates inscribed by a laser inscription device. The labeling can take place, for example, when the electrical devices are already attached to a mounting rail and combined with other electrical devices, for which purpose a laser beam from the laser labeling device is controlled in such a way that a suitable, individual label is applied to the individual marking plates of the electrical devices in a targeted manner .

The electrical devices are thus initially provided with unlabeled marking labels and can thus be delivered and attached to a mounting rail. First after placing it on the mounting rail, the labeling takes place, which can reduce the susceptibility to errors when labeling.

The marking strip can preferably be glued onto the electrical devices along the row of marking fields. For this purpose, the marking strip on the marking plates can have an adhesive layer which forms an adhesive connection with the electrical devices and via which the marking plates are individually attached to the respectively assigned marking fields of the electrical devices.

In a specific embodiment, the marking fields of the electrical devices can be provided on recesses in the electrical devices. When the electrical devices are lined up next to one another, the recesses of the electrical devices form a groove which extends longitudinally along the longitudinal direction and into which the marking strip can be inserted in order to fasten the marking strip to the electrical devices. The marking fields to which the marking strips of the marking strips are to be attached can be formed, for example, on the bottoms of the recesses of the electrical devices, it being conceivable and possible for the recesses to each have undercuts on the side edges that create a Establish a positive connection and thus hold the marking strip in the groove with a positive fit. For this purpose, the marking strip can have a trapezoidal shape which tapers conically in the attachment direction and which facilitates the insertion of the marking strip into the groove.

In order to provide a compact, easy-to-use assembly, the electrical devices, for example in the form of terminal blocks, can be lined up next to one another, for example on a carrier tape extending along the longitudinal direction. The carrier tape provides an auxiliary transport device, as shown in DE 10 2013 112 789 A1 is described. By means of the carrier tape, to which the individual electrical devices are positively attached via associated fastening devices, a network of electrical devices is created that can be gripped by a user and used, for example, in a machine for equipping a mounting rail. The electrical devices, for example terminal blocks, can have the same design, but can also be of different designs, as long as the marking fields of the individual electrical devices connect to one another and form a continuous row to which the marking strip can be attached.

In an initial state, the marking strip is in the form of a continuous strip in which the marking plates can be connected to one another in different ways.

In a first variant, the marking plates can be connected to one another via a fixing strip in the initial state, the fixing strip being detachable from the marking plates in order to separate the marking plates. The marking strip can thus - in the case of marking plates connected to one another via the fixing strip - be attached to the row of marking fields of the electrical devices in order to glue the marking plates to the electrical devices, for example. If the marking strip is arranged on the electrical devices, the fixing strip can be peeled off, the marking plates remaining on the electrical devices and the electrical devices thus being equipped with marking plates that can be written on.

In another, second variant, the marking plates can also be connected to one another in one piece in the initial state. The marking plates can be separated from one another, for example by separating the marking plates from one another along separating lines formed on the marking strips. The dividing lines can be formed on the marking strip, for example, by targeted material weakening, for example by perforation or by material thinning. Adjacent marking plates can be detached from one another along the dividing lines, which can be done automatically using a suitable tool or even when the electrical devices are separated from one another.

If the electrical devices of the assembly have been equipped with marking plates by means of the described method, then some or all of the electrical devices can be attached to a mounting rail in order to equip the mounting rail and in this way provide an electrical system, for example within a control cabinet. For this purpose, an electrical device can be removed from the assembly of the electrical devices in a row and attached to the mounting rail. The marking plate of the electrical device that has been removed and attached to the mounting rail can then be labeled with a laser labeling device in order to identify the electrical device, for example, in its function and / or in its connections.

Very different electrical devices of very different designs can be combined with one another on the mounting rail. Marking plates of the different electrical devices can be labeled via the laser labeling device, which can be done with electrical devices already arranged on the mounting rail.

A marking strip for fastening to a row of marking fields of a plurality of lined up electrical devices that can be arranged on a mounting rail has a plurality of marking plates that are connected to one another in an initial state, are to be separated and can be labeled with a laser marking device. Because the marking strip as a whole can be attached to the row of marking fields of the side-by-side electrical devices, the electrical devices can be provided with marking plates in one work step, which can then be labeled using laser inscription. Each marking label of the marking strip can, for example, have an adhesive layer for attachment to a marking field of an electrical device. Each marking plate can be attached to an assigned marking field of an electrical device via the adhesive layer and thus glued to the marking field.

The marking plates of the marking strip can be written on using a laser marking device. By means of the laser marking device, a laser beam can be directed onto a marking plate in order to apply a predetermined, individual identification to the marking plate in this way.

The marking plates can have a single-layer basic structure of a laser-inscribable material. In this case, laser marking changes the material itself so that a color change is triggered in the material. Alternatively, a multi-layer basic structure can be used in which a cover layer is arranged on a base material, which cover layer can be removed by means of a laser beam in order to produce an inscription in this way.

In an initial state, the marking strip is present as a continuous strip. In the initial state, in a first variant, the marking plates of the marking strip are connected to one another via a fixing strip, the Fixing strips for separating the marking plates can be detached from the marking plates.

In the initial state, the fixing strip is preferably arranged on a first side of the marking plates which faces away from a second side via which the marking plates can be attached to the electrical devices. After the marking strip has been applied to the electrical devices, the fixing strip can be peeled off the marking plates, so that the marking plates are separated from one another and the individual electrical devices are provided with separate marking plates.

In a second variant, the marking plates are connected to one another in one piece in an initial state and can be separated from one another along dividing lines. The dividing lines can be introduced into the marking strips, for example, by targeted material weakening, for example by perforation or material thinning, so that the marking plates can be torn from one another along the dividing lines. In this second variant, an (additional) fixing strip for connecting the marking plates can thus be omitted. In the initial state, the marking plates are connected to one another in one piece. The marking labels can be separated automatically, for example, when the electrical devices are removed from one another, without an additional work step being required for this purpose.

An assembly has a plurality of electrical devices that can be arranged on a mounting rail, each of which includes a marking field to which a marking plate can be attached. The electrical devices are lined up along a longitudinal direction in such a way that the marking fields of the electrical devices adjoin one another along the longitudinal direction and form a continuous row extending along the longitudinal direction. It is provided here that a marking strip, which has a plurality of marking plates that are assigned to the marking fields of the electrical devices and that can be labeled with a laser marking device, is attached to the electrical devices along the row.

The assembly is preferably obtained as an intermediate product in the method described above. Thus, after the marking strip has been applied, the electrical devices with marking plates arranged thereon are present, with the Marking plates may or may not already be isolated from one another by pulling off a fixing strip or by separating the marking fields along separating lines. The assembly of electrical devices can, for example, be arranged on a carrier tape and in this way represent a compact assembly that can be handled in a simple manner.

The assembly can, for example, be delivered to an end user by a manufacturer of the electrical devices, with the labeling of the marking plates of the electrical devices at the end user being possible after the electrical devices have been attached to a mounting rail.

Fig. 1A

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Baugruppe von elektrischen Geräten in Form von Reihenklemmen;

Fig. 1 B

eine Ansicht der Baugruppe, mit an den elektrischen Geräten angebrachten Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 1C

eine Ansicht der Baugruppe nach Vereinzelung von Markierungsschildern der Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 2A

eine Ansicht einer Baugruppe von elektrischen Geräten nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2B

eine Ansicht einer Baugruppe nach Ansetzen von Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 2C

eine Ansicht der Baugruppe nach Vereinzelung der Markierungsschilder;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht von unterschiedlichen, an eine Tragschiene angesetzten elektrischen Geräten;

Fig. 4A

eine Seitenansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines Markierungsstreifens;

Fig. 4B

eine Draufsicht auf den Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 5A

eine Seitenansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels eines Markierungsstreifens mit größerer Teilung;

Fig. 5B

eine Draufsicht auf den Markierungsstreifen gemäß Fig. 5A;

Fig. 6

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linien A-A gemäß Fig. 4A und 5A;

Fig. 7A

eine entlang der Linie B-B gemäß Fig. 7B teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Markierungsstreifens;

Fig. 7B

eine Draufsicht auf den Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 8A

eine entlang der Linie B-B gemäß Fig. 8B teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines wiederum weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Markierungsstreifens, mit im Vergleich zum Markierungsstreifen gemäß Fig. 7A und 7B größerer Teilung;

Fig. 8B

eine Draufsicht auf den Markierungsstreifen;

Fig. 9

eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie A-A gemäß Fig. 7A und 8A; und

Fig. 10

eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt C gemäß Fig. 7A.

The idea on which the invention is based will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

Figure 1A

a perspective view of an assembly of electrical devices in the form of terminal blocks;

Fig. 1B

a view of the assembly, with marking strips attached to the electrical devices;

Figure 1C

a view of the assembly after separation of marking plates of the marking strips;

Figure 2A

a view of an assembly of electrical devices according to a second embodiment;

Figure 2B

a view of an assembly after attaching marking strips;

Figure 2C

a view of the assembly after separation of the marker plates;

Fig. 3

a view of different, attached to a mounting rail electrical devices;

Figure 4A

a side view of a first embodiment of a marker strip;

Figure 4B

a plan view of the marker strip;

Figure 5A

a side view of another embodiment of a marker strip with larger pitch;

Figure 5B

a plan view of the marking strip according to Figure 5A ;

Fig. 6

a sectional view along the lines AA according to FIG Figures 4A and 5A ;

Figure 7A

one along the line BB according to Figure 7B partially sectioned side view of a further embodiment of a marking strip;

Figure 7B

a plan view of the marker strip;

Figure 8A

one along the line BB according to Figure 8B partially sectioned side view of yet another embodiment of a marking strip, with in comparison to the marking strip according to FIG Figures 7A and 7B larger division;

Figure 8B

a plan view of the marker strip;

Fig. 9

a cross-sectional view along the line AA according to Figures 7A and 8A ; and

Fig. 10

an enlarged view in section C according to Figure 7A .

Figure 1A and 2A show different exemplary embodiments of electrical devices 2 in the form of terminal blocks which have slots 21 for inserting electrical conductors and enable electrical conductors to be contacted and connected to one another. The electrical devices 2 can be attached to a mounting rail 6 in a form-fitting manner via a fastening device 22, as is exemplified in FIG Fig. 3 is shown, and can be combined on the mounting rail 6 with other electrical devices 2, for example other terminal blocks or electronic devices that, for example, take on control or automation functions in the context of an industrial plant.

By arranging electrical devices 2 on a mounting rail 6, an electrical system can be created, for example, within a control cabinet. At the In this case, the mounting rail 6 can be used to arrange electrical devices 2 in a modular manner with a large number of variants for combining completely different electrical devices 2 with one another.

The embodiments according to Figure 1A and 2A differ in the dimensioning of the electrical devices 2 in the form of the terminal blocks, but are otherwise functionally the same.

In Figure 1A and 2A the electrical devices 2 are combined with one another in the form of terminal blocks to form an assembly 1, in that identical electrical devices 2 are arranged on an auxiliary transport device in the form of a carrier tape 3. The electrical devices 2 are connected to one another via the carrier tape 3, so that the electrical devices 2 can be handled and, for example, transported in a simple manner. This is detailed in the DE 10 2013 112 789 A1 described, the content of which should be included here.

The electrical devices 2 should - if they are attached to a mounting rail 6 to provide an electrical system, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown, are combined with one another - be identified via labeled marking plates 40. This is intended to make it possible to distinguish the electrical devices 2 from one another in order, for example, to identify predetermined slots 21 for electrical conductors.

Conventionally, for example, it is customary to label marking plates 40 and then to apply them to the electrical devices 2 already mounted on the mounting rail 6 in order to identify the electrical devices 2 in this way. The marking plates 40 can be individually labeled, for example on the part of the manufacturer of the electrical devices 2, and the labeled marking plates 40 can be delivered together with the electrical devices 2 (but still separately from them). However, attaching the marking plates 40 to the electrical devices 2 then requires a large amount of manual labor in order to apply individual marking plates 40 to the electrical devices 2 that have already been installed.

As a departure from this hitherto common concept, it is proposed in the present case that the marking plates 40 be applied to the electrical devices 2 in an unlabeled manner and only after the electrical devices 2 have been mounted on the mounting rail 6 to be labeled using a laser labeling device 5. The electrical devices 2 are thus already provided with (but unlabeled) marking labels 40 arranged thereon provided and arranged on the support rail 6 and are then, after assembly on the support rail 6, individually inscribed by the laser inscription device 5.

Due to the inequality of the electrical devices 2 mounted on the mounting rail 6, the marking plates 40 are not located in one plane. The use of a laser labeling device 5 which generates a flexibly controllable and alignable laser beam L for labeling enables contactless labeling of the marking plates 40 arranged in different labeling planes in a simple and reliable manner.

To attach the marking plates 40, electrical devices 2, as in FIG Figure 1A and 2A shown, initially combined to form an assembly 1, this assembly 1 being connected to one another in the illustrated embodiment via a carrier tape 3 and the electrical devices 2 thus being held in position with respect to one another. In the context of this assembly 1, the electrical devices 2 are lined up along a longitudinal direction X in such a way that marking fields 20 of the electrical devices 2 adjoin one another along the longitudinal direction X and form a contiguous row extending along the longitudinal direction X.

Because the marking fields 20 are arranged on the bottom of depressions in the electrical devices 2, a contiguous groove N extending along the longitudinal direction X is formed on the assembly 1. In this groove N, as in Figure 1B and 2 B shown, a contiguous marking strip 4 can be used by the marking strip 4 is glued to the row of marking fields 20.

In addition, undercuts 200 are formed on the lateral edges of the groove N, so that when the marking strip 4 is inserted into the groove N, a form fit between the marking strip 4 and the undercuts 200 is produced. For this purpose, the marking strip 4 can have a trapezoidal shape tapering in the attachment direction in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction X, which facilitates the insertion of the marking strip 4 into the groove N.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the electrical devices 2 each have two opposite marking fields 20 which, when lined up to form the assembly 1, form two opposite grooves N, into each of which a marking strip 4 can be inserted.

As in two exemplary embodiments in FIG Figures 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B shown, along the longitudinal direction X are lined up marking plates 40, which are connected to one another on a first side via a fixing strip 41 and on a second side facing away from the first side carry an adhesive layer 402, via which the individual marking plates 40 on assigned marking fields 20 of the electrical devices 2 can be glued. The embodiments according to Figures 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B differ in the division of the marking plates 40 along the longitudinal axis X: The exemplary embodiment according to FIG Figures 4A, 4B has a comparatively small division with marking plates 40 which are short in the longitudinal axis X and is therefore suitable for comparatively narrow electrical devices 2. The embodiment according to Figures 5A, 5B on the other hand, in the longitudinal direction X, it has a comparatively large pitch with marking plates 40 which are comparatively long in the longitudinal direction X.

In an initial state, the marking plates 40 are connected to one another via the fixing strips 41, so that a coherent marking strip 4 is created. In this case, however, the marking plates 40 are basically present individually and are individually connected to the fixing strip 41. The fixing strip 41 is detachable so that the marking plates 40 can be separated by pulling off the fixing strip 41.

So, as in Figure 1B and 2 B shown, after attaching the marking strip 4 in the associated groove N of the assembly 1 of the electrical devices 2, the fixing strips 41 are removed, whereby the marking plates 40 are separated on the electrical devices 2. A marking plate 40 is assigned to each marking field 20 of an electrical device 2, so that after the fixing strip 41 has been removed, a marking plate 40 remains on each marking field 20.

After the fixing strip 41 has been pulled off, the assembly 1 of the electrical devices 2 is present with marking plates 40 which can be written on arranged on the marking fields 20, as shown in FIG Figure 1C and 2C is shown.

Fig. 6 FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view through the marking strip 4 along the line AA in FIG Figures 4A and 5A . Each marking label 40 is formed by a base layer 401 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is provided with a cover layer 400 on the side facing the fixing strip 41 and has an adhesive layer 402 on the side facing away from the fixing strip 41. In the initial state, the fixing strip 41 is arranged on the cover layer 400, and over the fixing strip 41 are the Marking plates 40 connected to one another. In addition, before the marking strip 4 is applied to the respectively assigned groove N on the adhesive layer 402, a protective film can be applied in order to prevent the marking plates 40 from sticking inadvertently.

The marker plates 40 are, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown schematically, laser markable. For this purpose, a laser beam L from a laser marking device 5 can be directed onto a single marking plate 40 in order to individually mark the marking plate 40 of an electrical device 2 already arranged on a mounting rail 6. As part of the laser inscription, the cover layer 400 is removed in certain areas by means of the laser beam L. The cover layer 400 and the base layer 401, for example, have a different color and thus, by removing the cover layer 400, inscription with the contrast of the different colors of the cover layer 400 and the base layer 401 is produced.

In this context, it should be noted that very different laser-inscribable materials are available, which can be single-layer or multi-layered. Instead of the two-layer exemplary embodiment (with a cover layer 400 and a base layer 401), for example, a single-layer material with only one base layer 401 can also be used. In this case, a laser beam L causes a material change on the base layer 401, which leads to a change in color and thereby produces an inscription.

Polycarbonate (PC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or acrylic butadiene styrene (ABS), for example, can be used as laser-inscribable materials. PC, for example, can be directly laser marked due to its carbon content. A laser beam causes a carbonization of the material and thus a changed color, which can be used for labeling. The materials can optionally have additional additives for improved laser writability.

The present concept is based on the fact that initially a coherent marking strip 4 with separable marking plates 40 is arranged on an assembly 1 of electrical devices 2. The electrical devices 2 are preferably of the same design and thus have the same dimensions, so that a contiguous row of marking fields 20 is created by lining up the electrical devices 2, on which the marking strip 4 can be arranged. After separating the marker plates 40 by pulling off the Fixing strip 41, the assembly 1 can be used, for example, in an automatic equipping machine for equipping a mounting rail 6, so that individual electrical devices 2 can be removed and attached to a mounting rail 6. After placing it on the mounting rail 6, the marking plates 40 attached to the electrical devices 2 can then be individually labeled.

The labeling is therefore preferably carried out when the electrical devices 2 are already attached to the mounting rail 6.

The marking strip 4 is coherent in its initial state and has marking plates 40 lined up in a row, which can be separated in order to assign individual marking plates 40 to individual electrical devices 2. The use of a fixing strip 41 is not mandatory here, but the marking plates 40 can also be connected to one another in another way in the initial state of the marking strip 4, but can be separated.

Other embodiments of a marking strip 4 show Figures 7A, 7B and 8A, 8B , these two exemplary embodiments - analogously to the exemplary embodiments according to FIG Figures 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B - Only differentiate on the basis of the division of the marking plates 40 along the longitudinal direction X. The exemplary embodiment according to FIG Figures 7A, 7B a comparatively small division with short marking plates 40 (measured in the longitudinal direction X). The embodiment according to Figures 8A, 8B In contrast, it has a comparatively large pitch with marking plates 40 which are long in the longitudinal direction X.

In the embodiments according to Figures 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B the marking plates 40 are connected to one another in one piece in the initial state, so that an integral, coherent marking strip 4 is created.

The basic structure of the individual marking plates 40 is as shown in the sectional view according to FIG Fig. 9 can be seen, identical to the structure of the marking plates 40 in the embodiment according to FIG Figures 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B , but in the initial state there is no fixing strip 41 (as in the sectional view according to FIG Fig. 6 ) is available. The marking plates 40 are integrally connected to one another in the initial state, as is shown in the enlarged illustration according to FIG Fig. 10 can be seen.

The marking plates 40 are integrally connected to one another in the initial state, but are structurally subdivided by means of separating lines 42 molded into the marking strips 4 and can thus be separated. The individual marking plates 40 can be separated from one another along the dividing lines 42 and thus isolated, which can be done by a (cutting) tool or by tearing the marking strip 4 along the dividing lines 42 when the electrical devices 2 of the assembly 1 are isolated.

As shown in the top views Figures 7B and 8B As can be seen, the marking plates 40 in the initial state can be surrounded by excess material 44 which is structurally separated from the marking plates 40 by means of separating lines 43 formed in the marking strips 4. An adhesive layer 402 is only provided on the marking plates 40, but not on the excess material 44, so that the excess material 44 can be easily removed before or after sticking the marking strip 4 to the assembly 1 of electrical devices 2 by tearing at the dividing lines 43 .

The idea on which the invention is based is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different manner.

In particular, very different laser-inscribable materials can be used to produce the marking plates. These materials can have a single layer or a multilayer structure.

If a fixing strip is provided for connecting the marking plates to one another in the initial state, this fixing strip can be detached from the marking plates in a simple manner without adhesive residues remaining on the marking plates. For this purpose, a weakly adhesive adhesive can be used to connect the fixing strip to the marking plates in the initial state.

In contrast, the adhesive layer for connecting the marking plates to the electrical devices is strongly adhesive and thus creates a firm connection between the individual marking plates and the associated marking fields on the electrical devices.

The electrical devices can be made very differently. The electrical devices can be implemented as terminal blocks. However, it is also conceivable and possible for the electrical devices to implement electronic devices which, for example, have a printed circuit board with electronic components arranged thereon.

List of reference symbols

1

module

2

Electrical device (terminal block)

20th

Checkbox

200

Undercut

21

Contact point

22nd

Fastening device

3

Carrier tape

4th

Marking strips

40

Marker sign

400

Top layer

401

base layer

402

Adhesive layer

41

Fixing strips

42, 43

parting line

44

Excess material

5

Laser marking device

6th

Mounting rail

L.

laser beam

N

Groove

X, Y, Z

direction

Claims (8)

1. A method for the attachment of marking labels (40) to a plurality of electrical devices (2) that can be arranged on a support rail (6), each having a marking field (20) to which a marking label (40) that can be inscribed can be secured, wherein, according to the method,

   - the electrical devices (2) are arranged side by side in a row along a longitudinal direction (X) to provide an assembly (1), such that the marking fields (20) of the electrical devices (2) connect to one another along the longitudinal direction (X), and form a continuous row extended along the longitudinal direction (X),

   characterized by

   - attachment of a continuous marking strip (4), having a plurality of marking labels (40) which are associated with the marking fields (20) of the electrical devices (2) and which can be inscribed using a laser inscription device (5), along the row of electrical devices (2), and

   - after the attachment of the marking strip (4) separation of the marking labels (40), such that at least one marking label (40) is arranged on the marking field (20) of each electrical device (2).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the marking strip (4) is adhered to the electrical devices (2) along the row of marking fields (20).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the marking fields (20) are constituted in recesses on the electrical devices (2) and, by the arrangement of the electrical devices (2) side by side in a row, a continuous groove (N) is constituted, extending in the longitudinal direction (X), into which the marking strip (4) is secured.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the marking strip (4) is secured in the groove (N) in a form-fitted manner.
5. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical devices (2), for the constitution of the assembly (1), are arranged side by side in a row on a carrier strip (3) which extends along the longitudinal direction (X) .
6. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the marking labels (40), in an original state, are connected to one another by means of a fixing strip (41), and are separated by the removal of the fixing strip (41).
7. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the marking labels (40), in an original state, are integrally interconnected, and can be separated from one another by mutually dividing the marking labels (40) along separating lines (42) formed on the marking strip (4).
8. A method for populating a support rail (6) with electrical devices (2), to which marking labels (40) are attached by the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by

   - removing of an electrical device (2) from the assembly of electrical devices (2) arranged side by side in a row,

   - fitting of the electrical device (2) to the support rail (6), and

   - inscribing of the at least one marking label (40) of the electrical device (2) thus removed and fitted to the support rail (6), by means of a laser inscription device (5).

Images