GB2215095A - A method and apparatus for computerized production of cable identification markers - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for producing cable identification markers. The cable identification requirement for an electric connection is calculated automatically and that information is down loaded directly into a printing device for an identification sleeve. <IMAGE>

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTERIZED PRODUCTION OF CABLE IDENTIFICATION MARKERS The invention relates to a method and apparatus for computerized production of cable identification markers.

Such identification markers are applied in cable cores within instrumentation and electrical cabinets.

Virtually all wires (cable cores) within instrumentation and electrical cabinets carry identification, giving at each end of the wire its terminal number and the terminal number from where it originated.

Usually, the identifier comprises a plurality (for example 1 or 12) of plastic rings which slip over the cable core end, each plastic ring showing a letter or digit and each letter or digit is manually pushed on to the core. It will be clear that, since larger control applications will require a very large number of individual digits (in excess of 2.5x106) the cost of supplying and fitting these will increase very fast. In order to save cost, for example one piece computer printed 10 digit identifiers which reduce the number of items by a factor of 10 can be supplied and fitted.

Such identifiers can be produced as cable identification sleeves via special inkjet printers fitted with carousel. For example, a typewriter with a special ribbon or inkjet printing facility can be applied. Such inkjet printers are commercially available and will not be described in further detail. However, it has appeared that such a cable identification sleeve printing system can not be linked easily to electrical design drawings (such as maintenance drawings or construction drawings) which are the basis of electrical connections in instrumentation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a computerized production of cable identification markers in which the printing system can be linked easily to the electrical design connection drawings.

The invention therefore provides a method for computerized production of cable identification markers to be applied to cable cores within instrumentation and electrical cabinets, comprising the steps of designing an electrical connection and cable identification diagram or drawing; representing the said diagram or drawing in a predetermined type format; automatically calculating from data contained in the said diagram or drawing, data on cable identification, and then downloading the information thus obtained directly into an identification marker or sleeve printing system.

The invention also provides an apparatus for computerized production of cable identification markers to be applied to cable cores within instrumentation and electrical cabinets, said apparatus comprising means for designing and representing in a predetermined type format a cable identification diagram or drawing; means for automatically calculating from data contained in the said diagram or drawing, data on cable identification; and means for down-loading the information thus obtained directly into an identification marker or sleeve printing system.

Advantageously, the diagrams or drawings are represented in spread sheet type format.

In this manner the information in the design drawings or sheet necessary for an installation electrician can be linked directly to the printing system. The invention will now be described by way of example in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: fig. 1 represents an example of an electrical connection diagram or drawing conventionally drawn; fig. 2a and 2b represent examples of an electrical connection diagram or drawing represented according to the invention; and fig. 3 represents a flow diagram of the invention.

Referring now to fig. 1 an example of a conventional electrical connection diagram or drawing is shown. Fig. 1 represents a principle only and does not correspond to a particular electrical circuit.

A transmitter 1 identified as 21 F 123 and provided with terminals + and - is connected through a single cable 21 f 123 to a field junction box JB 09.

The field junction box JB 09 is provided with terminals 13, 14 and is connected through a multicore cable E 694 to a marshalling cabinet MC 23 which is provided with terminals 1022, 1023 and is connected through a cable to a control cabinet CC 01 provided with terminals 77, 78.

The respective wires (cable cores) within the instrumentation and cabinets carry iderification, giving at each end of the wire its terminal number and the terminal number from where it originated.

For example, the marshalling cabinet MC 23 is provided with terminals 1022 and 1023 and thus the multicore cable E 694 at its one side is identified 13/JB 09-1022 and 14/JB 09-1023 respective- ly, 13 and 14 being the terminal identification of the field junction box JB 09.

Each digit or letter comprises a single plastic ring (not shown) i.e. in this core end there are 12 rings.

The identification of the other wires or core ends takes place in a similar way and will therefore not be described in further detail.

Figs. 2a and 2b represent a maintenance drawing and a construction drawing respectively wherein the electrical connection diagrams are represented in a predetermined (in this example spread sheet) type format. The same core identification numbers as in fig.

1 are used. Further, jb means junction box, terms means terminals; m'sh means marshalling; m'sh cab means marshalling cabinet; cont cab means control cabinet; c'cab terms means control cabinet terminals and ident means identifier.

It will be appreciated that for maintenance purposes the core end identification is not essential and in this case the spread sheet can be simplified.

Fig. 3 represents a flow diagram for the computerized production of cable identification markers or sleeves wherein the printing system is linked directly to the electrical design drawings.

Block 1 represents a basic spread sheet wherein no data is entered.

In block 2 data is entered on the basic spread sheet.

In block 3 a suitable computer programme completes the identifier columns.

Block 4 represents programme facilities, which allow selection of part or whole of spread sheet by e.g. Tag No., junction box, marshalling cabinet, controller cabinet, multicore cable etc. and subsequently this selection is printed in a "maintenance" or "construction" format.

Block 5 represents a suitable communication software package to link the spread sheet programme (block 4) to a computerized print system (block 6) in which cable identification markers or sleeves can be produced for example via special inkjet printers fitted with carousel.

It will be appreciated that the programmes for the functions of blocks 1, 2 and 3 can be achieved by use of suitable standard software packages. The communication software package of block 5 can be a custom mOde package. Programmes to produce cable identification sleeves (block 6) are already available.

Referring to Figure 3 the operation of the invention is as follows: a) electrical connection diagrams are represented in spread sheet format, wherein the basic spread sheet is ready for completion by the designer (block 1): SPREAD SHEET REPRESBNTATION OF CONNECTION DIAGRAHS -- Bassic Spreadsheet Resdy For Completion By Designer-

TRANSHITTER CUNCTION BOX HARSHALLING GABINET CONTROLIER CASINET TAG ident single core jb ident jb ident sulti pair s'sh ident s'sh ident cont ident c'cab NO. cable no. no. terns core no. cab terns cab terns b) on the basic spread sheet data is entered by the designer (maintenance format) (block 2): SPREAD SHE REPRESENIATION OF COHECTION DIAGRAHS -- Spreadsheet Hith Inforsation added By Designer- (maintenance forsat)

TRANSHITIER CUNCTION BOX HARSHALLING CABDET CONTROUCLER CABINET TAG ident single core jb ident jb ident sulti pair s'sh ident s'sh ient cont ident c'cab NO. cable no. no. terns core no. cab terns cab terns 21F123 21f123 1 JB09 01 E694 1 H023 1041 0001 77 2 02 1042 78 21F124 21f124 1 JB09 03 E694 2 H023 1043 0001 79 2 04 1044 80 21L101 21l101 1 JB09 05 E694 3 H023 1045 0001 81 2 06 1046 82 21F354 21F354 1 JB09 39 E694 20 H023 1079 0001 115 2 40 1080 116 c) identifiers are calculated by a computer in order to complete the identifier columns of the spread sheet (construction format) (block 3):: SPREAD SHEET REPRESENTATION OF CONNECTION DIAGRAHS --Ióentifiers Galculated By Comcuter. Spreadsheet Complete- (construction forsat)

TRfSHITTER xTIDN BQ3 9 LLINCA3IfT C E 'CA3IIET I I I : : I I : : II IT ident lsingle nrelit ident zider.t limit'. pairle'sh ident :.'sh ident I nut ii,n:t I no. tcile no. Ino. terns: core no. cab terns: | I cab terms: I I I I I I : : II . :1 n1rE; ±;,rJllelfS3 1 1.w3 +,21Fvr-o1 01 Ul :O1-?$!104iI Et: I Iw23 O1/Jb-IW1:IC1 :I04I-II,/t lMl lo4l-lorS crJDl : s 7? :1 I ?I -1F123-CI:0? :I-HjiD41 1 m3-1rJ42:1r42 :1042-CD31 I I 1ray 12iF124 ±;w9,/o3l2lfuJ4 1 1B +/2!Fi2A-03 [r3 :Il3-3/1043I E694 2 lHrm- Q3!;t-lat43:ltl43 :1043-179 I I)1 IO43:-79 : 79 : 1 --334/ 21 -/2'iFI2a.-04 : 04 :04-tt'23/lfJ4I I 047.-IO4:lD44 | lrJ44' I I 1C)44/M-: Ea:f 121L113! t-;IB09FJ1211101 1 }ws +g Dl-rfJ: Ds : U5 :-?C23/104I E 3 1Kn3 os/aR-lQ4s:lEl4s :1045-rr311 I IlllilWCJj3-Bi: '31: [ I --;BCNI 21 -L11101-CFj:OC :Ci-H;23/iidCI I CF/-104b':1A6 :10-m31/8! 2: t:f I I I I I II I I I : : I I : : II .

I I I : : i I . II :1 I ±1609F3121f3S1 I : ifM-53 I I II . :1 1 ±ssl9lf3s4 21 +gLF3s4-3S: 3S :3F o7sl E694 2e z3 39A-IO79:1O79 :1116U-a;01jii61 I 1O79ft-1I: 116 1I : I --/4OI 21 -/21ra544: : 40 4D-m3/lrS3Ql t 4e P-l0t 3D :lrm-CE ,ss-llrS :1 I I I : : I I : : II :1 cCCI identifier columns d) part or whole of the spread sheet is selected by a suitable programme and printed in a "maintenance" or "construction" format (block 4) and the information thus obtained is loaded to a computerized print system (block 6) via a suitable communication software package (block 5), which links the spread sheet programme to the print system software.

Various modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A method for computerized production of cable identification markers to be applied to cable cores within instrumentation and electrical cabinets, comprising the steps of designing an electrical connection and cable identification diagram or drawing; representing the said diagram or drawing in a predetermined type format; automatically calculating from data contained in the said diagram or drawing, data on cable identification, and then downloading the information thus obtained directly into an identification marker or sleeve printing system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said diagram or drawing is represented in spread sheet type format.

3. The method as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the identification requirement for each core end is calculated.

4. An apparatus for computerized production of cable identification markers to be applied to cable cores within instrumentation and electrical cabinets, said apparatus comprising means for designing and representing in a predetermined type format a cable identification diagram or drawing; means for automatically calculating from data contained in the said diagram or drawing, data on cable identification; and means for downloading the information thus obtained directly into an identification marker or sleeve printing system.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising means for representing the said diagram or drawing in spread sheet type format.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claims 4 or 5 comprising means for calculating the identification requirement for each core end.

7. Method for computerized production of cable identification markers substantially as described in the description by reference to figs. 2a and/or 2b and/or 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. Apparatus for computerized production of cable identification markers substantially as described in the description by reference to figs. 2a and/or 2b and/or 3 of the accompanying drawings.