EP3609714B1 - Printer for printing marking strips - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a printer for printing marker strips according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such an item is from the DE 10 2015 109020 A1 known. After U.S. 2008/089732 A1 the feed shaft has a coating of particles and is therefore rough enough to improve transport of the media to be printed, such as paper. An analogous prior art reveals the JP 2004-338900 A . According to this document, first projections of a few micrometers in height are provided on a feed shaft for paper, which facilitate the transport of the paper and second slightly higher projections, which protect the first projections from blunting when no paper is being transported.

If a plurality or a large number of electrical devices such as terminal blocks are lined up on a mounting base, each of which has a latching contour, in particular a latching recess, it simplifies the marking process if, instead of a plurality of completely isolated marker elements, marker elements connected to one another in strips are used. For example, to mark a terminal block arrangement on a mounting rail, it is then only necessary to lay the marker strip over the area of the lined-up latching contours of the terminal blocks and then press down on the individual marker elements from above in such a way that the marker elements latch securely on the devices, in particular the terminal blocks.

Injection molding processes are used to produce such marker strips, for example, whereby strips with a defined length of, for example, eight marker elements are produced, which are then joined together in order to be able to equip a roll with a long marker strip, from which marker strips with a desired number of marking elements can then be placed can be cut to length.

From the DE 10 2015 109 020 A1 it is known to produce the marker strips from at least two different plastic materials of different hardness, with the latching contour of each marker element being made from the harder material and the marking plate made of the softer plastic material, at least in the area of the inscription field. The marker strip is preferably initially produced in an extrusion process. and is then further processed. By extrusion, an endless strip can easily be produced for winding up, eg onto a roll. By using extrusion, in particular co-extrusion, the marker strips or their marker elements can be used in particular for printing using thermal transfer technology. If the locking contour of each marker element consists of the harder plastic material, you can easily and securely lock it to the respective electrical device. It is also advantageous if the marking plate consists of the softer plastic material, at least in the area of the inscription field. Because it can be printed more precisely that way. The softer material facilitates automatic adjustment to the print head and is also gentler on the print head than a harder material.

It is also advantageous if the connecting area between the marking elements consists of at least one or more connecting web(s) and if at least one hole, in particular a slotted hole, is formed in the connecting area between adjacent marking elements, which penetrates the marker elements in the snap-on direction perpendicular to the direction in which they are arranged. With the hole, the elasticity of the connection area can be specifically increased or adjusted. In addition, the respective hole can be used well as a sensing means for a sensor of a printer to trigger or stop printing. However, it is also conceivable that the marking plate of the marker strip has no holes and/or edge recesses. This means that cross-device labeling can be implemented easily and advantageously. It is also conceivable to provide the marker strip with markings in the form of printing on the underside, for example with markings applied at a grid spacing and in a different color compared to the material of the marker strip, which are easy to sense and can be used as a reference for the printing process. These different types of marker strips and sensing and printing methods can also be used with the printer according to the invention.

Irrespective of the type of production and nature of the marker strip used, it is desirable to print the marker strip as precisely as possible in its main extension direction in a printer provided for this purpose, that the desired print image is printed exactly in the area of the marking plate provided. A suitably equipped printer is required for this.

The object of the invention is to further develop the known printer in such a way that the problem described is solved, namely to print the marker strip as precisely as possible in its main extension direction in a printer provided for this purpose, such that the desired print image is printed exactly in the area of the marking plate provided for this purpose .

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1.

Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the rotatably mounted feed shaft has at least one section provided with projections (called the projection section), which rests directly on the marker strip when the feed shaft rotates, so that the advance speed of the marker strip is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the feed shaft.

In this way, a defined—from a practical point of view—tolerance-free feed of the marker strip can be guaranteed, which leads to a clean, offset-free printed image, particularly in its main direction of extent.

It is further provided that the section provided with projections advantageously bears directly against the marker strip when the feed shaft is rotated in such a way that the projections each introduce a deformation into the marker strip, which causes or forms a form fit between the feed shaft and the marking strip, so that the advance speed of the marker strip is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the feed shaft.

According to a further feature of claim 1, which is particularly easy to implement and also results in a very uniform feed movement of the marker strip, the at least one protruding section is designed as a toothed section. The toothed section preferably acts in a form-fitting manner on the one hand and preferably optionally or alternatively also in a force-fitting manner and in this way always ensures that the marker strip is transported evenly. It does not have to produce any deformation during the feed, which is a particularly advantageous development.

According to claim 1 it is further provided that the feed shaft has tooth-free sections, the tooth-free sections being designed such that in the tooth-free sections latching lugs of a latching contour of the marker strips can move without contact.

Provision is preferably made for the projection section to be designed as an axial section of the feed shaft which preferably runs all or almost all around the shaft, with a surface roughness which is designed such that when a marking strip made of at least one plastic material is transported, radially extending projections Type of gearing a form fit between the section with the surface roughness and the marker strip is generated during transport of the marker strip.

In this way, the defined and, from a practical point of view, virtually tolerance-free feed of the marker strip can be ensured in a simple and cost-effective manner, which in particular leads to a clean, offset-free printed image in its main direction of extension.

According to another variant, it can further advantageously be provided that the at least one toothed section is a first toothed section with a first diameter, which has a first toothing, in particular a sawtooth-like toothing. The tooth shape, in particular the pointed tooth shape, of the toothing advantageously produces a precise feed when printing the marker strip.

It can further advantageously be provided that the feed shaft has one or more further projection, in particular toothed sections, which is or are axially offset to the first projection, in particular toothed section and which or which directly on the marker strip when rotating the feed shaft in at least one or more other areas with a defined pressure force / s, so that the advance speed of the marker strip is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the feed shaft in these areas.

As a result, an even more precise movement of the marker strip during printing is realized simply and cost-effectively. In addition, markings such as holes or stripes or the like can be sensed for referencing during printing.

In a further preferred embodiment variant of the invention, the pressing force with which the print head acts on the marker strip acts in such a way that the projections, formed in particular by the teeth, press into the marker strip. Advantageously, the toothing produces a permanent indentation in the marker strip for each tooth. This advantageously creates a form fit between the toothing and the marking strip, which enables precise feed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the one or more further toothed sections each have sawtooth-like teeth on their circumference. The pointed tooth shape of this toothing in turn advantageously produces a precise feed when printing the marker strip.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining dependent claims.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines vereinfacht dargestellten Druckers zum Bedrucken von Mehrfach-Markiererstreifen;

Figur 2:

in a) eine Schnittdarstellung einer Ausführungsvariante eines Markiererstreifens und in b) eine Schnittdarstellung einer weitere Ausführungsvariante eines endlosen Markiererstreifens;

Figur 3:

in a) eine räumliche Ansicht von aneinandergereihten Reihenklemmen mit einem eingesetzten Markiererstreifen, in b) eine Vorderansicht der aneinandergereihten Reihenklemmen nach Fig. 3a mit einem eingesetzten Markiererstreifen;

Figur 4:

eine Vorderansicht einer Walze und eines Druckkopfes mit einem endlosen Markiererstreifen des Druckers aus Fig. 1;

Figur 5:

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung der Walze und des Druckkopfes mit dem endlosen Markiererstreifen aus Fig. 4;

Figur 6:

eine Seitenansicht im Schnitt der Walze und des Druckkopfes mit dem endlosen Markiererstreifen aus Fig. 5;

Figur 7:

eine Unteransicht der Walze und des Druckkopfes mit dem endlosen Markiererstreifen aus Fig. 4.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings using exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Figure 1:

a perspective view of a simplified printer for printing multiple marker strips;

Figure 2:

in a) a sectional view of an embodiment variant of a marker strip and in b) a sectional view of a further embodiment variant of an endless marker strip;

Figure 3:

in a) a three-dimensional view of terminal blocks lined up with an inserted marker strip, in b) a front view of the terminal blocks lined up Figure 3a with an inserted marker strip;

Figure 4:

Figure 12 shows a front view of a roller and a print head with a continuous strip of markers of the printer 1 ;

Figure 5:

an enlarged section of the roller and the print head with the endless marker strip 4 ;

Figure 6:

Figure 12 shows a sectional side view of the platen and printhead with the endless strip of markers figure 5 ;

Figure 7:

a bottom view of the roller and the print head with the endless strip of markers 4 .

1 shows a printer 1 shown in simplified form for printing endless marker strips 2. The marker strips 2 are used for marking in particular electrical devices that can be stacked, such as terminal blocks (see also Figures 3a and 3b ). The printer can have other components that are not shown here, such as a cover or the like.

The printer 1 is preferably configured as a direct thermal printer or a thermal transfer printer. Alternatively, the printer 1 can also be provided for other printing methods, such as inkjet or laser printing.

The printer 1 has a print head 3 which is preferably arranged above a feed shaft 4 here. The marking tape 2 is advanced between these two elements. The print head 3 is preferably - in 1 from top to bottom - spring-loaded and presses the marker strip 2 onto the feed shaft 4. A spring device required for this is not shown here. In this way, the feed shaft 4 is also in contact with the marking strip 2 with a predetermined or defined force.

The feed shaft 4 can be used in two bearing mounts 5a, 5b. The feed shaft 4 can also each have a bearing 6a, 6b, preferably in the region of its ends. The feed shaft 4 is rotatably mounted on the printer 1 with these bearings 6a, 6b. The feed shaft 4 also has, at least at one of its free ends, a gear 7 which can mesh with a corresponding mating gear (not shown here). The counter wheel is driven by a motor (also not shown here), which is located in the printer 1.

By this drive, the feed shaft 4 can be set in rotation. The rotation of the feed shaft 4 is suitably controlled by a printer controller (not shown here).

The rotatably mounted feed shaft 4 has at least one toothed section 8, which is arranged here, for example, centrally between the bearings 6a, 6b Advance speed of the marker strip 2 is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the feed shaft 4. A propulsion movement is generated in the direction X, which corresponds to the main direction of extension X of the marking strip 2 .

As a result, a precisely defined movement of the marker strip when printing is created in this direction in a simple and cost-effective manner. In the main extension direction (which is the same as the feed direction), the print image is applied precisely in the areas provided for this purpose in a simple manner.

The at least one toothed section 8 used is described in more detail below.

In Figures 2a and 2b two examples of the "endless" marker strips are shown (see also 1 ). The marker strip 2, also referred to as "endless" in technical terms, has a plurality of marker elements 9 (not shown here, see 6 ) on. Each of the marker elements 9 has a marker plate 10 with at least one inscription field that can be provided with information such as an inscription. The labeling field is preferably designed to be printed on with the printer 1 .

Each of the marker elements 9 also has, on the side facing away from the inscription field, a latching contour 11 integrally connected to the respective marking plate 10 for latching attachment to a corresponding latching contour (not shown here) of a corresponding electrical device. The latching contour 11 has latching lugs for this purpose.

The marker strip 2 is made from a plastic profile produced in an extrusion process, preferably in a co-extrusion process, with preferred cross sections Figures 2a and 2b open up. This extrusion process is preferably carried out in such a way that the areas which, after completion, form the marking plate 10 with the inscription area are made from a softer first material than the latching contour 11, which is made from a harder second material.

To mark an arrangement of terminal blocks 12 on a mounting rail, it is then only necessary to use the marker strip 2 - see Figures 3a and 3b - Place over the area of the lined-up latching contours of the terminal blocks and then press down on the individual marker elements 9 from above in such a way that the marker elements 9 latch securely on the terminal blocks. Then or before the marker strip is cut to length from a kind of "endless strip", for example on a roll, so that the number of marker elements 9a, b, c, . . . corresponds to the number of devices lined up to be marked. The marker strip 2 of Figure 2a or. Figure 2b is therefore suitable, for example, for marking three devices lined up next to each other. However, many more devices lined up next to each other can also be marked in one operation.

For the detailed design of the endless marker strips 2 is also on the DE 10 2015 109 020 A1 referred. It should be pointed out at this point that the marker strips can also be designed differently.

In Figure 3a or. Figure 3b the lettering "main drive" is shown as an example for all devices. The inscription "Main drive" - here as an example for a drive motor that is operated here with 3-phase AC voltage (L1 to L3) and has a neutral conductor (N) and a protective conductor connection (PE) - therefore covers five devices, here the Terminal blocks 12.

In 4 the feed shaft 4 with the toothed section 8 and the print head 3 of the printer 1 are shown. A marker strip 2 is inserted between the feed shaft 4 and the print head 3 in the area of the toothed section 8 and is printed.

The toothed section 8 is positioned here, for example, approximately centrally or precisely centrally on the feed shaft 4 in relation to the longitudinal extension of the feed shaft 4 . The toothed section 8 has a full circumference on its circumference Tooth 13 on. This can be designed here as sawtooth teeth. The toothed section 8 here also advantageously engages in a gap between the latching lugs of the latching contour 11 which the marker strip 2 forms. A precise feed is advantageous in this area.

During the rotation of the feed shaft 4, the at least one toothing 13 produces indentations in at least one area of the marker strip 2 due to the contact pressure that the print head 3 exerts here—in a preferred but not mandatory configuration—on the marker strip 2. The respective depression 14 can be a permanent depression 14 (not shown here, see 6 ) be.

The toothing 13 produces these depressions during the rotary movement of the feed shaft 4 in a base of the latching contour 11 for each tooth.

As a result, a form fit is preferably produced simply and advantageously between the marker strip 2 and the toothing 13 or the toothed section 8, which results in a precise feed.

In each case next to the toothed section 8, the feed shaft 4 has two non-toothed sections 15a, 15b of “small” diameter which are arranged symmetrically in relation to the toothed section.

The teeth-free sections 15a, 15b of small diameter are designed in such a way that the latching lugs of the latching contour 11 can move in them without contact in relation to a radial direction and in relation to an axial direction on both sides of a shoulder 16a, 16b of a respective - present here - further toothed section 17a, 17b can be performed. This is advantageous and structurally simple.

When the feed shaft 4 rotates, the other toothed sections 17a, 17b also bear directly against the marker strip 2 due to the defined contact pressure generated here by the print head 3, so that the advance speed of the marker strip 2 corresponds to the circumferential speed of the feed shaft 4 in other areas of the marker strip 2 is synchronized. Here, the toothed sections rest under the marker plates 10 and ensure precise advancement of these elements directly close to the areas that are actually to be printed on.

For this purpose, the respective toothed section 17a, 17b can in turn preferably have a toothed system 19 running around its circumference. This can in turn be configured in a sawtooth manner.

One or here the two further toothed sections 17a, 17b offset axially to the first toothed section can each have a shoulder 18a, 18b with a different radius compared to the toothed section 17a, 17b, here a smaller radius. The respective shoulder 18a, 18b in turn preferably has teeth 20 on its circumference. When the feed shaft 4 is rotated, the respective shoulder 18a, 18b also rests directly on the marker strip 2 in a further area below it by the defined contact pressure generated here by the print head 3, so that the advance speed of the marker strip 2 coincides with the peripheral speed of the feed shaft 4 is synchronized in yet another area, here on a part of the latching contour. It is essential that one or more toothings on different diameters can be used to adapt to the respective marker geometry in order to achieve the most precise possible feed movement of the marker strip.

The teeth 19, 20 also generate during the rotary movement of the feed shaft 4 due to the pressure force that the print head 3 exerts on the marker strip 2, in a shoulder of the latching contour 11 or on the side of the marking plate 10 facing away from the printable side of the marking plate 10 per tooth an elastic or plastic deformation or indentation 21, 22 (not shown here, see 6 ) into which the respective toothing 19 or 20 engages, so that a form fit is produced between the marker strip 2 and the respective toothing 19, 20 or the respective toothed section 17a, 17b, which is advantageous for a tolerance-free feed of the marker strip from a practical point of view 2 when printing.

Not all projections, in particular teeth, must leave a permanent depression. For example, in places such as the sides of the markers that are visible after the markers have been applied to a device, it may not be desirable to create permanent indentations that may detract from the visual appeal.

The feed shaft 4 can have a section 23a, 23b on the axial outer sides of the further axial toothed sections 17a, 17b, which has a larger outer diameter than the toothed sections with regard to the toothed sections 8, 17a, 17b. As a result, the print head 3 of the printer 1 can be protected when no marker strip 2 is being printed.

In figure 5 the print head 3 and the feed shaft 4 with the respective toothed sections 8, 17a, 17b, the shoulders 16a, 16b, and the paragraphs 18a, 18b and the teeth 13, 19, 20 are shown.

In 6 In particular, the teeth 13, 19, 20 and the depressions 14 in the marker strip 2, which are formed by the teeth 13, are clearly visible.

In 7 the depressions 14, 22, which are formed by the teeth 13, 20 in the marker strip 2, are shown. The marker elements 9 of the marker strip 2 can also be seen.

Reference List

1

Printer

2

marker strips

3

printhead

4

Wave

5a, 5b

stock pick-up

6a, 6b

camp

7

gear

8th

gear section

9

marker elements

10

marker plate

11

locking contour

12

terminal block

13

gearing

14

deepening

15a, 15b

sections

16a, 16b

shoulder

17a, 17b

gear section

18a, 18b

Unit volume

19

gearing

20

gearing

21

deepening

22

deepening

23a, 23b

Section

X

main extension direction

Claims (8)

1. Printer (1) for printing marking strips (2) made of at least one plastic material, wherein the marking strip (2) has a plurality of marking elements (9a, b, c) for marking electrical devices, in particular electrical devices which can be arranged next to one another, for which purpose each of the marking elements (9) has a marking plate (10) with at least one inscription field which can be printed with information such as an inscription, and wherein each of the marking elements (9) further has, on the side facing away from the inscription field, a latching contour (11) which is integrally connected to the respective marking plate (10) and has latching lugs, wherein the printer (1) has a rotatably mounted feed shaft (4), which can be driven by a motor, and a print head (3), characterized in that the rotatably mounted feed shaft (4) has at least one section provided with protrusions, a protrusion section (8), which, when the feed shaft (4) is rotated, rests directly against the marking strip (2) so that the advancing speed of the marking strip (2) is synchronized with the circumferential speed of the feed shaft (4), wherein the protrusion section (8) rests directly against the marking strip (2) when the feed shaft (4) is rotated in such a way that a positive fit is formed between the feed shaft (4) and the marking strip (2) by the protrusions during the advance, as a result of which the advancing speed of the marking strip (2) is synchronized with the circumferential speed of the feed shaft (4), wherein the section of the feed shaft (4) provided with protrusions is designed as a toothed section (8) and wherein the feed shaft (4) has toothless sections (15a, 15b), wherein the toothless sections (15a, 15b) are designed in such a way that the latching lugs of the latching contour (11) of the marking strips can move without contact in the toothless sections (15a, 15b).
2. Printer (1) according to one of the preceding claim 1, characterized in that the at least one toothed section (8) is a first toothed section having a first diameter, which has a first toothing, in particular a sawtooth-like toothing (13).
3. Printer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed shaft (4) has one or more further protrusion, in particular toothed, sections (17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), which is or are offset axially with respect to the first protrusion, in particular toothed, section (8) and which, when the feed shaft (4) is rotated, in each case rests or rest directly against the marking strip (2) in at least one or more further regions with a defined pressing force.
4. Printer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the further protrusion section or sections, in particular toothed sections (17a, 17b), has or have a different diameter than the first toothed section.
5. Printer (1) according to one of the preceding claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the one or the further toothed sections (17a, 17b) each have a further toothing, in particular a further sawtooth-like toothing (19), on their circumference.
6. Printer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure with which the print head (3) acts on the marking strip (2) is dimensioned in such a way that the one or more protrusions, i.e. toothings, are each pressed into the marking strip (2) when the marking strip is advanced during operation.
7. Printer (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the one or more toothings produce per tooth a permanent indentation (14) in the marking strip (2).
8. Printer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching lugs are each guided by a shoulder (16a, 16b) of the respective further toothed section (17a, 17b).

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