GB937983A - Improvements in marking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

937,983. Marking cables. ANACONDA WIRE & CABLE CO. April 2, 1962 [Aug. 4 1961], No. 12586/62. Classes 100 (2) and 100 (4). A cable 39 is fed continuously past a marking station comprising a continuously rotated typecarrying member 37, and a strip of blocking foil 13 is fed continuously between the member 37 and the cable 39 in a direction normal to the direction of travel of the cable, type 38 on the member 37 being heated by an annular electric heater 59 and making an impression on the cable through the foil 13. The member 37 is driven at a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of the cable by means of a belt 31 and pulley 30 which are connected to the drive means (not shown) for the cable. The drive to the member 37 passes through an angle gear box 26 from which the drive is taken for the foil 13. The foil 13 is fed from a supply spool 12, between feed rollers 14, 17, beneath the member 37, round a guide roller 15 and a further roller 40, between a second pair of feed rollers 50, 51 and thence into a waste bin 52. The roller 50 is driven, through a slipping clutch, at a slightly higher speed than the roller 14 so as to keep the portion of foil 13 between them under tension. The roller 40 is carried by a yoke 41 pivoted at 42 and biased downwards by a spring 46. When the foil 13 is gripped between the type 38 and the cable 39 its longitudinal movement is arrested momentarily; as the feed rollers continue to be driven a certain amount of slack builds up to the left of the marking station, Fig. 2, and the roller 40 is raised against the bias of the spring 46 owing to the action of the feed rollers 50, 51. During the making of the impression the blocking foil is carried along with the type 38 and cable 39 in a direction normal to its original direction of travel until the type rises out of contact therewith. When this happens the foil, being under tension, springs back into position ready for a further impression, and has advanced longitudinally by an amount slightly larger than the height of the marked indicia by the time the next set of type is in position for making an impression, this arrangement ensuring maximum wear of the foil. The positions of the pairs of feed rollers 14, 17 and 50, 51 are adjustable in the horizontal direction towards and away from the marking station so as to allow regulation of the tension of the foil 13. The cable 39 is supported as it passes beneath the member 37 by a number of grooved rollers 71 carried by a holder 70 which is vertically movable for impression adjustments and is spring- urged upwards. A stop-roller 84 engages the upper side of the cable 39 and prevents the cable from being raised too much by the upward pressure from the rollers 71.