JP4426911B2 - Coloring nozzle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coloring nozzle used when coloring an article such as an electric wire provided with a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion covering the core wire.

  Various electronic devices are mounted on automobiles or the like as moving bodies. For this reason, the automobile or the like is wired with a wire harness in order to transmit electric power from a power source or the like or a control signal from a computer or the like to the electronic device. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.

  The electric wire includes a conductive core wire and a covering portion made of an insulating synthetic resin that covers the core wire. The electric wire is a so-called covered electric wire. The connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing that accommodates the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting is made of conductive sheet metal or the like and is attached to the end of the electric wire to be electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is formed in a box shape. In the wire harness, the connector housing is coupled to the above-described electronic device or the like, so that each electric wire is electrically connected to the above-described electronic device via the terminal fitting, and transmits desired power and signals to the above-described electronic device. .

  When assembling the wire harness, the electric wire is first cut to a predetermined length, and then the covering portion such as the end of the electric wire is removed (peeled), and the terminal fitting is attached. Connect wires as needed. Thereafter, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wire harness described above is assembled.

  The wires of the wire harness described above need to identify the size of the core wire, the material of the covering portion (change of the material depending on the presence or absence of heat resistance, etc.), the purpose of use, and the like. The purpose of use is, for example, an automobile system (system) in which electric signals such as airbags, ABS (Antilock Brake System) and vehicle speed information, and power transmission systems are used.

  Therefore, when an electric wire used in a wire harness is extruded and coated around the core wire with the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion described above, a colorant of a desired color is mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion, The covering portion has been colored in a desired color (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In this case, when changing the color of the outer surface of an electric wire, it is necessary to stop the extrusion coating apparatus which performs the above-mentioned extrusion coating. In this case, it is necessary to stop the extrusion coating device every time the color of the electric wire is changed, and the time and labor required for the production of the electric wire increase, and the production efficiency of the electric wire tends to decrease.

  Alternatively, the color of the colorant mixed in the synthetic resin has been changed while the extrusion coating apparatus performs extrusion coating. In this case, immediately after changing the color of the colorant, the color of the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion is a color in which the color of the colorant before the change of the covering portion and the color of the colorant after the change are mixed. . For this reason, it was in the tendency for the material yield of an electric wire to fall.

In order to prevent the reduction in the productivity of the electric wires and the reduction in the material yield of the electric wires, the applicant of the present invention manufactured, for example, a single-color electric wire and, if necessary, the outer surface of the electric wire as an article. Has been proposed to assemble a wire harness by coloring the desired color (see Patent Document 4). Further, the applicant of the present invention, when coloring a monochromatic electric wire after manufacture, sprays a liquid coloring material by a certain amount toward the outer surface of the electric wire as an article, and drops the coloring material. Has proposed an electric wire coloring device for coloring an electric wire in a desired color by adhering to the outer surface of the electric wire (see Patent Document 5).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-111947 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-119833 JP-A-9-92056 International Publication No. 03/019580 Pamphlet Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-193904

  The above-mentioned colorant that is sprayed by a certain amount toward the outer surface of the electric wire is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. Examples of organic substances include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes.

  For this reason, in the above-described proposed wire coloring device, when the above-described coloring material spraying from a coloring nozzle or the like is repeated, the above-described dye or pigment adheres to the nozzle, and the attached dye or pigment gradually decreases. It is possible to increase. If the coloring material adheres to the coloring nozzle, it is considered that it is difficult to spray the coloring material from the coloring nozzle in a desired direction and it is difficult to spray the coloring material by a certain amount.

  In this case, of course, it becomes difficult to color the desired position of the electric wire, and the area (size) of the portion where the coloring material of the electric wire adheres varies. In this way, it is considered that the above-described dye or pigment adheres to the nozzle, and it is difficult to reliably spray the coloring material by a certain amount toward a desired position on the outer surface of the electric wire as an article. It is done.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coloring nozzle capable of reliably spraying a coloring material by a certain amount toward a desired position on the outer surface of an article.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the coloring nozzle of the present invention according to claim 1 sprays a certain amount of a liquid coloring material toward the outer surface of the article, and the liquid of the coloring material. In a coloring nozzle that attaches drops to the outer surface of the article to color the article, the container is formed in a cylindrical shape, an accommodating portion that accommodates the coloring material, a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the coloring material in the accommodating portion, and The coloring material flows inside and is connected to and separated from a nozzle communicating with the inside of the housing portion and a base end portion located in the housing portion of the nozzle, and is separated from the nozzle by contacting and separating from the base end portion. In the nozzle cover, a valve body that sprays the coloring material, a nozzle cover that covers at least the tip of the nozzle and allows the coloring material sprayed from the nozzle to adhere to the article, and Attached to the nozzle Cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid for removing the coloring material from the nozzle, and the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means into the nozzle cover is maintained in the nozzle cover by the surface tension of the cleaning liquid. In the state, the colorant is sprayed from the nozzle toward the article.

  A coloring nozzle according to a second aspect of the present invention is the coloring nozzle according to the first aspect, wherein an end surface of the nozzle cover facing the article and a tip surface of the nozzle facing the article are on the same plane. It is characterized by being provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the nozzle cover that covers at least the tip of the nozzle. The cleaning liquid is kept in the nozzle cover by the surface tension of the cleaning liquid itself. As a result, the tip of the nozzle is always in contact with the cleaning liquid, and the colorant that tends to adhere particularly to the tip of the nozzle is immediately removed from the surface of the nozzle by the cleaning liquid.

  The colorant as used in the present specification is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. Examples of organic substances include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes. As a more specific example, the coloring material referred to in the present specification indicates both a coloring liquid and a paint. The coloring liquid indicates that the dye is dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the paint indicates that the pigment is dispersed in the dispersion.

  For this reason, when the outer surface of the article is colored with the coloring liquid, the dye penetrates into the article, and when the outer surface of the article is colored with the paint, the pigment adheres to the outer surface without entering the article. That is, coloring the outer surface of an article in the present specification means that a part of the outer surface of the article is dyed with a dye and a pigment is applied to a part of the outer surface of the article.

  Further, the solvent and the dispersion are preferably those having an affinity for the synthetic resin constituting the article. In this case, the dye surely penetrates into the article or the pigment adheres securely to the outer surface of the article.

  Further, the droplet ejection described in the present specification indicates that the liquid coloring material is urged and ejected toward the outer surface of the article in a droplet state, that is, a droplet state, from the coloring nozzle. .

  In addition, the cleaning liquid as used in the present specification is a liquid such as a solvent or a dispersion liquid in which an industrial organic material as a coloring material constituting the above-described coloring material can be dissolved and dispersed. Furthermore, it is desirable that the cleaning liquid is a liquid that does not easily evaporate at room temperature.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the end surface of the nozzle cover and the front end surface of the nozzle are located on the same plane, the cleaning liquid is caused to have the end surface of the nozzle cover and the front end surface of the nozzle by the surface tension. It is kept in the nozzle cover so that it is flush.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the tip of the nozzle is always in contact with the cleaning liquid. It is immediately removed from the surface of the nozzle by the cleaning liquid. For this reason, it can prevent that a coloring material adheres to a nozzle and solidifies during coloring of articles | goods.

  As described above, since the coloring material can be prevented from adhering to the nozzle and solidifying, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed from the nozzle toward the outer surface of the article. Further, since the coloring material can be prevented from adhering to the nozzle, of course, it is possible to prevent the coloring material adhering to the nozzle or the like from affecting the direction in which the colorant which has been sprayed is ejected. Therefore, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed in a certain amount toward the desired position on the outer surface of the article, the desired position on the outer surface of the article can be colored in a desired color, and the colored portion can be desired. The area (size) can be maintained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cleaning liquid is kept in the nozzle cover so that the end surface of the nozzle cover is flush with the tip surface of the nozzle. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from interfering with the colorant sprayed from the nozzle, and it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from affecting the direction in which the dropped colorant is ejected. Therefore, the coloring material can be more reliably sprayed in a certain amount toward the desired position on the outer surface of the article, the desired position on the outer surface of the article can be reliably colored with the desired color, and the coloring is performed. A location can be more reliably maintained at a desired area (size).

  Hereinafter, a coloring nozzle 31 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The coloring nozzle 31 shown in FIG. 4 or the like constitutes an electric wire coloring device (hereinafter simply referred to as a coloring device) 1 as an electric wire processing device as an article shown in FIG. 1 or the like (coloring device 1 as an electric wire processing device). To be attached). The coloring apparatus 1 is an apparatus that cuts the electric wire 3 as an article into a predetermined length and forms a mark 6 on a part of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 as the article. That is, the coloring device 1 colors the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 as an article, that is, marks.

  The electric wire 3 as an article constitutes a wire harness routed in an automobile as a moving body. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the electric wire 3 includes a conductive core wire 4 and an insulating covering portion 5. The core wire 4 is formed by twisting a plurality of strands. The strand which comprises the core wire 4 consists of an electroconductive metal. Moreover, the core wire 4 may be comprised from one strand. The covering portion 5 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The covering portion 5 covers the core wire 4. For this reason, the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 forms the outer surface of the covering portion 5.

  The covering portion 5 is a single color P. In addition, a desired colorant may be mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 5 so that the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 may be a single color P, without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 5. The single color P may be the color of the synthetic resin itself. When the single color P is the color of the synthetic resin itself without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 5, the covering portion 5, that is, the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 is said to be uncolored. As described above, the term “non-colored” means that the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 is the color of the synthetic resin itself without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 5. The outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 may be uncolored as described above, or may be a single color such as white.

  A mark 6 composed of a plurality of points 7 is formed on the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3. Point 7 is color B (indicated by parallel diagonal lines in FIG. 5). The color B is different from the single color P. The planar shape of the point 7 is a round shape as shown in FIG. A plurality of points 7 are provided, and are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. In the illustrated example, the points 7 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3. Further, the distance between the centers of the adjacent points 7 is determined in advance.

  A plurality of electric wires 3 having the above-described configuration are bundled and a connector or the like is attached to an end portion or the like to constitute the above-described wire harness. The connector is connected to a connector of various electronic devices such as an automobile, and the wire harness, that is, the electric wire 3 transmits various signals and electric power to each electronic device.

  Moreover, the electric wires 3 can be identified by changing the color B of each point 7 of the mark 6 described above into various colors. In the illustrated example, the color B of all the points 7 is made the same, but the color B may be changed for each point 7 to make the color B different between the points 7 as necessary. The color B of each point 7 of the mark 6 is used for identifying the line type and system (system) of the electric wire 3 of the wire harness. That is, the color B of each point 7 of the mark 6 described above is used to identify the line type and purpose of use of each electric wire 3 of the wire harness.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coloring apparatus 1 includes a frame 10 as a main body of the apparatus, a guide roll 11, a feed roll 12 as a moving means, a correction unit 13 as a wire straightening means, and a slack as a slack absorbing means. An absorption unit 14, a coloring unit 15, a duct 16, an encoder 17 as measurement means, a cutting mechanism 18 as processing means, and a control device 19 as control means are provided.

  The frame 10 is installed on a floor of a factory or the like. The frame 10 extends in the horizontal direction. The guide roll 11 is rotatably attached to one end of the frame 10. The guide roll 11 is wound with an electric wire 3 that is long and has no mark 6 formed thereon. The guide roll 11 sends the electric wire 3 in order to the correction unit 13, the slack absorbing unit 14, the coloring unit 15, the duct 16, the encoder 17, and the cutting mechanism 18.

  A pair of delivery rolls 12 is provided at the other end of the frame 10. The pair of delivery rolls 12 are rotatably supported by the frame 10 and are arranged along the vertical direction. The delivery roll 12 is rotated at the same rotational speed in opposite directions by a motor (not shown). The pair of delivery rolls 12 sandwich the electric wire 3 between each other and pull the guide roll 11 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3.

  The delivery roll 12 forms a pulling means that pulls and moves the electric wire 3 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3. In this way, the delivery roll 12 moves the electric wire 3 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3 so that the coloring nozzle 31 described later of the coloring unit 15 and the electric wire 3 move relative to each other along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3. Move. For this reason, the electric wire 3 moves along the arrow K in FIG. 1 from the guide roll 11 toward the delivery roll 12. An arrow K indicates the moving direction of the electric wire 3.

  The correction unit 13 is provided on the delivery roll 12 side of the guide roll 11, and is provided between the guide roll 11 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the correction unit 13 is provided on the downstream side in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3 from the guide roll 11, and is provided on the upstream side in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3 from the delivery roll 12. The correction unit 13 includes a plate-like unit main body 20, a plurality of first rollers 21, and a plurality of second rollers 22. The unit main body 20 is fixed to the frame 10.

  The first and second rollers 21 and 22 are respectively rotatably supported by the unit body 20. The plurality of first rollers 21 are arranged along the horizontal direction (the movement direction K described above) and are arranged above the electric wires 3. The plurality of second rollers 22 are arranged along the horizontal direction (the moving direction K described above) and are arranged below the electric wires 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the first roller 21 and the second roller 22 are arranged in a staggered manner.

  The correction unit 13 sandwiches the electric wire 3 fed from the guide roll 11 by the feed roll 12 between the first roller 21 and the second roller 22. And the correction unit 13 makes the electric wire 3 linear. Further, the correction unit 13 applies a frictional force to the electric wire 3 by being sandwiched between the first roller 21 and the second roller 22.

  That is, the correction unit 13 applies a first biasing force H <b> 1 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the feed roll 12 pulls the electric wire 3 (the movement direction K described above) to the electric wire 3. The first urging force H1 is weaker than the force with which the feed roll 12 pulls the electric wire 3. For this reason, the correction unit 13 applies tension along the longitudinal direction to the electric wire 3.

  The slack absorbing unit 14 is provided on the delivery roll 12 side of the correction unit 13, and is provided between the correction unit 13 and the delivery roll 12. That is, the slack absorbing unit 14 is provided on the downstream side in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3 from the correction unit 13, and is provided on the upstream side in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3 from the delivery roll 12. The slack absorbing unit 14 is provided between the correction unit 13 and a coloring nozzle 31 described later of the coloring unit 15.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slack absorbing unit 14 includes a pair of guide roller support frames 23, a pair of guide rollers 24, a move roller support frame 25, a move roller 26, and an air cylinder 27 as a biasing means. It has. The guide roller support frame 23 is fixed to the frame 10. The guide roller support frame 23 is erected upward from the frame 10. The pair of guide roller support frames 23 are arranged along the moving direction K of the electric wire 3 with a space therebetween.

  The pair of guide rollers 24 is rotatably supported by the guide roller support frame 23. The guide roller 24 is arranged below the electric wire 3 and guides the electric wire 3 so that the electric wire 3 does not fall out from the moving direction K by contacting the outer peripheral surface with the electric wire 3. For this reason, the guide roller 24 guides the moving direction K of the electric wire 3.

  The moving roller support frame 25 is fixed to the frame 10. The moving roller support frame 25 is erected upward from the frame 10. The moving roller support frame 25 is provided between the pair of guide roller support frames 23.

  The moving roller 26 is rotatably supported by the moving roller support frame 25 and is supported so as to be movable along the vertical direction. The moving roller 26 is disposed above the electric wire 3. The moving roller 26 is supported so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal (crossing) to the moving direction K of the electric wire 3 by being supported so as to be movable along the vertical direction. The moving roller 26 is provided at the center between the guide rollers 24.

  The air cylinder 27 includes a cylinder body 28 and an extendable rod 29 that can be extended and retracted from the cylinder body 28. The cylinder body 28 is fixed to the moving roller support frame 25 and is disposed above the electric wire 3. The telescopic rod 29 extends downward from the cylinder body 28. That is, the telescopic rod 29 extends from the cylinder body 28 in a direction approaching the electric wire 3.

  A movable roller 26 is attached to the telescopic rod 29. The air cylinder 27 is supplied with pressurized gas into the cylinder body 28, thereby causing the telescopic rod 29, that is, the moving roller 26 to intersect (cross) the moving direction K with a second urging force H 2 (shown in FIG. 1). ) Urge downward along the direction. For this reason, the air cylinder 27 urges the moving roller 26 in a direction approaching the electric wire 3 with the second urging force H2. The second urging force H2 is weaker than the first urging force H1.

  When a later-described pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 of the cutting mechanism 18 approach each other and the electric wire 3 stops once to cut the electric wire 3, the electric wire 3 advances along the arrow K due to inertia. Is loosened between the pair of guide rollers 24. At this time, in the slack absorbing unit 14 configured as described above, since the air cylinder 27 urges the moving roller 26 with the second urging force H2, the telescopic rod 29 of the air cylinder 27 expands, and the moving roller 26 Is displaced to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, the slack absorbing unit 14 urges the wire 3 slackened between the above-described guide rollers 24 along a direction orthogonal (crosses) to the moving direction K, absorbs the slack, and stretches the wire 3. Keep on.

  The coloring unit 15 is provided on the feeding roll 12 side of the slack absorbing unit 14, and is provided between the slack absorbing unit 14 and the sending roll 12. That is, the coloring unit 15 is provided downstream of the slack absorbing unit 14 in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3, and is provided upstream of the feeding roll 12 in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3. For this reason, the coloring unit 15, that is, a coloring nozzle 31 described later, is disposed between the feed roll 12 and the correction unit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coloring unit 15 includes a unit main body 30 and a plurality of coloring nozzles 31. The unit main body 30 is fixed to the frame 10. The unit main body 30 supports a plurality of coloring nozzles 31.

  The coloring nozzle 31 having the above-described configuration drops a liquid coloring material from a coloring material supply source 32 (described later) toward the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 by a predetermined amount. The coloring nozzle 31 attaches droplets of the sprayed coloring material to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 to color (mark) at least a part of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3. The detailed configuration of the coloring nozzle 31 will be described later.

  Further, when the coloring nozzles 31 are attached to the unit main body 30, a plurality of the coloring nozzles 31 are arranged along the moving direction K of the electric wires 3. In the illustrated example, the unit main body 30 has five colored nozzles 31 arranged along the moving direction K of the electric wire 3.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, each coloring nozzle 31 has an uppermost portion 3 b of the electric wire 3 positioned on an extension of an axis R (shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3) of a first nozzle member 37 to be described later. In the state, it is supported by the unit main body 30. The coloring nozzle 31 sprays the coloring material along the axis R. For this reason, the coloring nozzle 31 sprays the coloring material by a certain amount toward the uppermost part 3 b of the electric wire 3.

  The coloring unit 15 having the above-described configuration is applied to the coil 40 of an arbitrary coloring nozzle 31 based on a command from the control device 19, and a later-described valve body 44 is separated from the base end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37. . Then, the coloring unit 15 sprays a certain amount of the coloring material in the flow path 39 of the arbitrary coloring nozzle 31 toward the electric wire 3.

  In the present specification, a colorant having a viscosity of 10 mPa · s (millipascal second) or less is used. The colorant mentioned above is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. Examples of organic substances include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes. As a more specific example, the colorant is a coloring liquid or a paint.

  The coloring liquid indicates that the dye is dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the paint indicates that the pigment is dispersed in the dispersion. For this reason, when the coloring liquid adheres to the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3, the dye penetrates into the covering portion 5, and when the paint adheres to the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3, the pigment does not penetrate into the outer covering portion 5. Adhere to 3a.

  That is, the coloring unit 15 dyes a part of the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 with a dye or applies a pigment to the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3. For this reason, coloring the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 means dyeing (dying) a part of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 and applying a pigment to a part of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3. Show.

  Further, the solvent and the dispersion are preferably those having an affinity for the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 5. In this case, the dye is surely soaked into the covering portion 5, and the pigment is securely adhered to the outer surface 3a.

  Further, the above-described droplet spraying indicates that the liquid colorant is urged and ejected from the coloring nozzle 31 toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 in a droplet state, that is, a droplet state.

  The duct 16 is provided on the feeding roll 12 side of the coloring unit 15, and is provided between the coloring unit 15 and the sending roll 12. That is, the duct 16 is provided on the downstream side in the moving direction K of the electric wire 3 from the coloring unit 15, and is provided on the upstream side in the moving direction K of the electric wire 3 from the delivery roll 12. The duct 16 is formed in a cylindrical shape and allows the electric wire 3 to pass inside. A suction means (not shown) such as a vacuum pump is connected to the duct 16. The suction means sucks the gas in the duct 16 and prevents the solvent, the dispersion liquid, and the like in the coloring material from being filled outside the coloring device 1.

  The encoder 17 is provided downstream of the feed roll 12 in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the encoder 17 includes a pair of rotors 47. The rotor 47 is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis. The outer peripheral surface of the rotor 47 is in contact with the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 sandwiched between the pair of delivery rolls 12. The rotor 47 rotates as the core wire 4, that is, the electric wire 3 travels (moves) along the arrow K. That is, the rotor 47 rotates around the axial core as the core wire 4, that is, the electric wire 3 travels (moves) along the arrow K. Of course, the travel (movement) amount of the core wire 4, that is, the electric wire 3 along the arrow K is proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 47.

  The encoder 17 is connected to the control device 19. The encoder 17 outputs a pulse signal to the control device 19 when the rotor 47 rotates by a predetermined angle. That is, the encoder 17 outputs information corresponding to the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 along the arrow K toward the control device 19.

  Thus, the encoder 17 measures information according to the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 and outputs information according to the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 toward the control device 19. The normal encoder 17 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 due to the friction between the electric wire 3 and the rotor 47. However, when the amount of movement and the number of pulses do not necessarily match depending on the state of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, speed information may be obtained at another location, the information may be fed back, and a comparison operation may be performed.

  The cutting mechanism 18 is disposed downstream of the pair of rotors 47 of the encoder 17 in the movement direction K of the electric wire 3. The cutting mechanism 18 includes a pair of cutting blades 48 and 49. The pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 are arranged along the vertical direction. The pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 approach or separate from each other along the vertical direction. When the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 come close to each other, the electric wire 3 fed by the pair of feeding rolls 12 is sandwiched between each other and cut. When the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 are separated from each other, of course, they are separated from the electric wire 3.

  The control device 19 is a computer including a known RAM, ROM, CPU, and the like. The control device 19 is connected to the feed roll 12, the encoder 17, the cutting mechanism 18, the coloring nozzle 31, and the like, and controls the entire coloring device 1 by controlling these operations.

  The control device 19 stores a pattern of the mark 6 in advance. When a predetermined pulse signal, that is, information corresponding to the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 is input from the encoder 17, the control device 19 applies a predetermined time to the coil 40 of the coloring nozzle 31 for a predetermined time. The coloring material is sprayed by a certain amount toward the electric wire 3. The control device 19 shortens the time interval for spraying the coloring material from the coloring nozzle 31 when the moving speed of the electric wire 3 increases according to the pattern of the mark 6 stored in advance, and the coloring nozzle 31 when the moving speed of the electric wire 3 decreases. Increase the time interval for spraying the colorant. Thus, the control device 19 colors the electric wire 3 according to a previously stored pattern. Based on the amount of movement of the electric wire 3 measured by the encoder 17, the control device 19 causes the coloring nozzle 31 to spray the coloring material by a certain amount.

  Moreover, if the control apparatus 19 determines with the information from the encoder 17 that the electric wire 3 moved a predetermined amount, after stopping the sending roll 12, the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 are brought close to each other to cut the electric wire 3.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the coloring nozzle 31 includes a nozzle unit 52 and a liquid supply unit 53. As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle unit 52 includes a cylindrical (tubular) nozzle body 34, an insert member 35 accommodated in the nozzle body 34, an inflow pipe 36, a nozzle 54, and a valve mechanism 38. And a nozzle cover 55.

  The insert member 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape (tubular shape), and a flow path 39 through which a coloring material passes is formed inside. The flow path 39 is filled with a coloring material supplied from a coloring material supply source 32 described later. The insert member 35 constitutes a housing portion that houses the liquid coloring material described in this specification. The inflow pipe 36 communicates with the flow path 39 and guides the coloring material from the coloring material supply source 32 into the flow path 39.

  The nozzle 54 includes a first nozzle member 37, a second nozzle member 50, and a connection pipe 51. The first nozzle member 37 is formed in a cylindrical shape and communicates with the inside of the flow path 39, and guides the coloring material in the flow path 39 to the outside of the coloring nozzle 31. The inner diameter of the first nozzle member 37 is smaller than the inner diameter of the nozzle body 34, that is, the outer diameter of the flow path 39. The first nozzle member 37 is arranged coaxially with the nozzle body 34. The first nozzle member 37 is made of stainless steel.

  The second nozzle member 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The second nozzle member 50 is made of polyetheretherketone (hereinafter referred to as PEEK). The outer diameter of the second nozzle member 50 is equal to the outer diameter of the first nozzle member 37. As described above, the nozzle 54 is in communication with the insert member 35 while the colorant flows inside.

  Further, the inner diameter of the second nozzle member 50 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first nozzle member 37. The second nozzle member 50 is arranged coaxially with the first nozzle member 37 and is connected to the first nozzle member 37.

  The second nozzle member 50 is arranged closer to the electric wire 3 than the first nozzle member 37. Further, the space between the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 is watertight. The coloring material flows through the second nozzle member 50 and the first nozzle member 37 along the arrow Q along the longitudinal direction of the first nozzle member 37 inside. The arrow Q indicates the direction in which the coloring material flows.

  For this reason, the end surface 50 a of the second nozzle member 50 near the first nozzle member 37 protrudes from the inner surface of the first nozzle member 37 toward the inside of the first nozzle member 37. Further, the end face 50a is formed flat along a direction orthogonal (crossing) to the arrow Q. The end surface 50 a has a step, and is formed between the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50.

  The connection pipe 51 is made of a fluororesin and has a cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the connection pipe 51 is substantially equal to the outer diameters of the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50. The connection pipe 51 is fitted to the outside of both the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50, and connects the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50. Further, the connection pipe 51 makes the second nozzle member 50 detachable from the first nozzle member 37.

  The valve mechanism 38 includes a coil 40, a valve body 41, and a coil spring 42. The coil 40 is provided outside the flow path 39 and is embedded in the insert member 35. A current is applied to the coil 40 from the outside. The valve main body 41 includes a conductive main body 43 and a valve body 44. The main body portion 43 is integrally provided with a cylindrical columnar portion 45 and a disk-shaped disc portion 46 connected to one end of the cylindrical portion 45.

  The main body 43 is accommodated in the flow path 39 with the disk portion 46 facing the proximal end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37 and the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45 being parallel to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle body 34. Has been. The main body 43, that is, the valve main body 41 is provided so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45, that is, the longitudinal direction of the nozzle main body 34.

  The valve body 44 is attached to the disc part 46 of the main body part 43. That is, the valve body 44 is accommodated in the insert member 35. The valve body 44 is opposed to the proximal end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37. Since the valve body 44 is attached to the disc portion 46 of the main body portion 43, the valve body 44 can be brought into contact with and separated from the base end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37. In addition, approaching / separating means approaching or leaving. In addition, the base end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37 described above forms a base end portion located in the insert member 35 as a housing portion of the nozzle 54.

  When the valve body 44 comes into contact with the base end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37, the valve body 44 is kept watertight between the base end portion 37 a and the coloring material in the flow path 39 enters the first nozzle member 37. To prevent. Further, when the valve body 44 is separated from the base end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37, the coloring material passes through the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 and faces the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3. It is allowed to be dripped.

  Thus, the valve body 44 contacts and separates from the proximal end portion 37a over the open position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 and the closed position indicated by the solid line in FIG. In the open position, the valve body 44 moves away from the base end portion 37 a and drops the coloring material toward the electric wire 3 through the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50. In the closed position, the valve body 44 comes into contact with the base end portion 37 a and restricts the colorant from being sprayed toward the electric wire 3 through the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50. The valve body 44 is brought into contact with and separated from the base end portion 37 a to spray the coloring material from the nozzle 54.

  The coil spring 42 urges the disc portion 46 in a direction in which the valve body 44 approaches the proximal end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37.

  The nozzle cover 55 includes a cover body 56 whose outer diameter is constant in the axial direction and whose inner diameter changes stepwise, a nozzle fixing member 57, and a cleaning liquid inflow pipe 58. The cover main body 56 is attached to the unit main body 30. In the cover main body 56, the nozzle main body 34 of the nozzle unit 52 is positioned on a stepped surface 59 that changes the inner diameter stepwise, and the inflow pipe 36 of the nozzle unit 52 is positioned above and the nozzle members 37 and 50 are positioned below. The nozzle unit 52 is accommodated in the state.

  Further, the cover body 56 is provided with a packing 60 between the step surface 59 described above and the nozzle body 34 of the nozzle unit 52 so as to keep watertight between them. Further, a space 61 is provided between the cover main body 56 and the nozzle members 37 and 50, that is, the nozzles 54. The space 61 is open at the bottom. For this reason, the nozzle cover 55 does not prevent (allow) the colorant sprayed from the nozzle 54 from adhering to the electric wire 3.

  Moreover, the end surface 56a facing the electric wire 3 of the cover main body 56 and the front end surface 50b facing the electric wire 3 of the second nozzle member 50 are located on the same plane (they are flush with each other). Note that the end surface 56a of the cover main body 56 facing the electric wire 3 forms a tip end surface of the nozzle cover 55 described in the present specification that faces the electric wire 3. The tip surface 50b of the second nozzle member 50 forms a tip surface facing the electric wire 3 of the nozzle 54 described in this specification.

  Moreover, the front-end | tip part 37b near the electric wire 3 of the 1st nozzle member 37 has comprised the front-end | tip part of the nozzle 54 described in this specification. For this reason, the nozzle cover 55 covers at least the tip portion 37 b of the first nozzle member 37 as the tip portion of the nozzle 54.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle fixing member 57 is attached to the cover main body 56, and fixes the nozzle unit 52 to the cover main body 56. The nozzle fixing member 57 keeps the cover main body 56 and the nozzle unit 52 coaxial.

  The cleaning liquid inflow pipe 58 communicates with the space 61 between the nozzle 54 and the cover main body 56 described above, and guides cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supply source 62 described later into the space 61.

  2 and 3, the liquid supply unit 53 includes a plurality of colorant supply sources 32 as colorant supply means, a cleaning liquid supply source 62 as cleaning liquid supply means, and a pressurized gas as pressurizing means. And a supply source 33. The coloring material supply source 32 is a container that accommodates the coloring material, and supplies the coloring material into the inflow pipe 36 of the coloring nozzle 31. One coloring material supply source 32 corresponds to each coloring nozzle 31. The color B of the color material supplied from the color material supply source 32 to the color nozzle 31 may be different from each other or the same.

  The cleaning liquid supply source 62 is a container that stores the cleaning liquid, and supplies the cleaning liquid into the cleaning liquid inflow pipe 58. One cleaning liquid supply source 62 may be provided corresponding to each coloring nozzle 31, or one cleaning liquid supply source 62 may be provided corresponding to all the coloring nozzles 31. The cleaning liquid is a liquid such as a solvent or a dispersion that can dissolve and disperse the industrial organic material as the color material constituting the colorant. Furthermore, it is desirable that the cleaning liquid is a liquid that does not easily evaporate at room temperature.

  The pressurized gas supply source 33 supplies the pressurized gas to both the colorant supply source 32 and the cleaning liquid supply source 62. The pressurized gas supply source 33 supplies the pressurized gas to both the colorant supply source 32 and the cleaning liquid supply source 62, so that the insert member 35 in each colorant supply source 32 and each color nozzle 31 is provided. While pressurizing the inside coloring material, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid supply source 62 and the space 61 of each coloring nozzle 31 is pressurized.

  The pressurized gas supply source 33 pressurizes the coloring material in each coloring material supply source 32 and the insert member 35 of each coloring nozzle 31, so that the valve body 44 of the coloring nozzle 31 is based on the first nozzle member 37. When separated from the end portion 37 a, the coloring material in the flow path 39 is rapidly sprayed from the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50.

  A valve 63 is provided between the cleaning liquid supply source 62 and the cleaning liquid inflow pipe 58 of the nozzle cover 55 of each coloring nozzle 31. When the valve is opened, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the space 61 described above. When the valve is closed, the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the space 61 is stopped.

  The coloring nozzle 31 having the above-described configuration guides the coloring material from the coloring material supply source 32 into the flow path 39 through the inflow pipe 36. In a state where the coil 40 is not applied, the biasing force of the coil spring 42 causes the valve body 44 to contact the proximal end portion 37 a of the first nozzle member 37, and the coloring material is positioned in the flow path 39. ing.

  Further, the coloring nozzle 31 having the above-described configuration opens the valve 63 described above before coloring the electric wires 3 and supplies the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the space 61. The cleaning liquid supplied into the space 61 is gradually filled between the nozzle 54 and the cover main body 56 without leaking out of the cover main body 56 from below due to the surface tension of the cleaning liquid itself. When the space 61 is filled, the cleaning liquid leaks out of the cover main body 56 as shown in FIG. 6 through an opening provided below the cover main body 56.

  Then, the cleaning solution dissolves or disperses the coloring material of the coloring material solidified by adhering to the surface of the nozzle 54 of the coloring nozzle 31, particularly the tip portion 37 b and the tip surface 50 b, and the surface of the tip portion 37 b of the nozzle 54 and It removes from the front end surface 50b. Therefore, the cleaning liquid is a liquid that removes the coloring material attached to the nozzle 54 from the nozzle 54. In this way, the nozzle 54 is cleaned.

  When the cleaning of the nozzle 54 is completed, the above-described valve 63 is closed. Then, the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 to the space 61 described above is stopped. Then, the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the nozzle cover 55 is kept in the space 61 (nozzle cover 55) described above between the nozzle cover 55 and the nozzle by the surface tension of the cleaning liquid itself. The cleaning liquid does not leak from the nozzle cover 55. As shown in FIG. 7, the above-described space 61, that is, the surface (also referred to as an interface) T of the cleaning liquid in the nozzle cover 55 is kept flush with the above-described end surface 56a and the front end surface 50b.

  When the current is applied to the coil 40, the coloring nozzle 31 has the valve body 44 attached to the disk portion 46 against the urging force of the coil spring 42, and the proximal end portion of the first nozzle member 37. Apart from 37 a, the colorant in the flow path 39 is passed along the inside of the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 along the arrow Q. Then, the coloring nozzle 31 sprays the coloring material from the second nozzle member 50. Further, the coil 40 is applied for a predetermined time based on a command from the control device 19. For this reason, the coloring nozzle 31 removes the coloring material from the nozzle 3 by a certain amount from the nozzle 54 in a state where the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the nozzle cover 55 is kept in the nozzle cover 55 by the surface tension. The droplet is sprayed toward the surface 3a.

  When forming the mark 6 on the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 with the coloring apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, that is, when coloring the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, the guide roll 11 is first attached to the frame 10. The pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 are separated from each other, and the electric wire 3 wound around the guide roll 11 is passed through the correction unit 13, the slack absorbing unit 14, the coloring unit 15, and the duct 16 in this order, and between the pair of delivery rolls 12. Between. And the coloring nozzle 31 is attached to the predetermined location of the unit main body 30 of the coloring unit 15, and the coloring material supply source 32 and the cleaning liquid supply source 62 are connected to each coloring nozzle 31. Further, the pressurized gas supply source 33 is connected to both the coloring material supply source 32 and the cleaning liquid supply source 62, and the gas in the duct 16 is sucked by the suction means.

  Then, the feed roll 12 is driven to rotate, the electric wire 3 is pulled from the guide roll 11 and moved along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3, and the frictional force of the first urging force H1 is applied to the electric wire 3 by the correction unit 13. And the electric wire 3 is stretched. The moving roller 26, that is, the electric wire 3 is urged by the air cylinder 27 with the second urging force H2. Further, as described above, the coloring material is supplied from the coloring material supply source 32 into the flow path 39 of the coloring nozzle 31, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply source 62 into the space 61 as described above.

  When a pulse signal in a predetermined order is input from the encoder 17 to the control device 19, the control device 19 applies a predetermined time to the coil 40 of the coloring nozzle 31 at predetermined intervals. Then, the coloring nozzle 31 sprays the coloring material toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount.

  And the solvent or dispersion liquid mentioned above evaporates from the coloring material adhering to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, and the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 is dyed with a dye, or a pigment is applied to the outer surface 3a. The solvent or dispersion evaporated from the coloring material attached to the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 is sucked into the suction means from the duct 16. Thus, the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 is colored.

  When the control device 19 determines that the electric wire 3 having a predetermined length has been sent out based on information from the encoder 17 or the like, the control device 19 stops the sending roll 12. Then, in particular, the electric wire 3 is loosened between the pair of guide rollers 24 of the slack absorbing unit 14, and the moving roller 26 urged by the second urging force H2 is displaced to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. . Then, the telescopic rod 29 of the air cylinder 27 of the slack absorbing unit 14 extends. The slack absorbing unit 14 absorbs slack in the electric wire 3.

  Then, the pair of cutting blades 48 and 49 approach each other, and the electric wire 3 is sandwiched between the cutting blades 48 and 49 and cut. In this way, the electric wire 3 in which the mark 6 is formed on the outer surface 3a shown in FIG.

  Further, when the liquid colorant is sprayed from the coloring nozzle 31 described above toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount, the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle along the arrow Q along the axis R. A part of the coloring material flowing in the member 50 collides with the end surface 50 a of the second nozzle member 50. Then, a part of the coloring material colliding with the end face 50a generates a vortex indicated by an arrow S in FIG. 7 and stirs the coloring material. And the density | concentration of the coloring material in the 2nd nozzle member 50 is kept uniform.

  Further, when the liquid coloring material is sprayed from the coloring nozzle 31 to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount, when the coloring material enters the first nozzle member 37 from the flow path 39, The pressure of the colorant increases. The pressure of the coloring material is substantially constant in the first nozzle member 37. When a part of the coloring material collides with the end face 50a, the pressure of the coloring material increases rapidly. And if it sprays toward the outer surface 3a etc. of the electric wire 3 from the 2nd nozzle member 50, the pressure of a coloring material will fall rapidly.

  Further, when the liquid coloring material is sprayed from the coloring nozzle 31 to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount, when the coloring material enters the first nozzle member 37 from the flow path 39, The flow rate (speed) of the coloring material is lowered. The flow rate (speed) of the coloring material is substantially constant in the first nozzle member 37, and the flow rate becomes slower and constant toward the second nozzle member 50.

  When a part of the coloring material collides with the end face 50a, the flow rate (speed) of the coloring material increases rapidly. When the droplets are sprayed from the second nozzle member 50 toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, the speed of the coloring material is kept high. As described above, when the coloring material enters the second nozzle member 50, the pressure and flow velocity (speed) of the coloring material are rapidly increased or increased. Then, the liquid coloring material having a high pressure and a high flow velocity is sprayed toward the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3.

  According to the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the nozzle cover 55 that covers at least the tip portion 37 b of the nozzle 54. The cleaning liquid is kept in the nozzle cover 55 by the surface tension of the cleaning liquid itself. As a result, the tip end portion 37b of the nozzle 54 is always in contact with the cleaning liquid, and the coloring material which is to adhere to the tip end portion 37b of the nozzle 54 is immediately removed from the surface of the nozzle 54 by the cleaning liquid. For this reason, it can prevent that a coloring material adheres to the nozzle 54 and solidifies during the coloring of the electric wire 3.

  As described above, since the coloring material can be prevented from adhering to the nozzle 54 and solidifying, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed from the nozzle 54 toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount. Further, since the coloring material can be prevented from adhering to the nozzle 54, of course, it is possible to prevent the coloring material adhering to the nozzle 54 and the like from affecting the direction in which the dropped coloring material is ejected. Accordingly, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed in a certain amount toward the desired position of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, the desired position of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 can be colored in a desired color, and coloring The location (the point 7 described above) can be maintained in a desired area (size).

  Since the end surface 56a of the nozzle cover 55 and the tip surface 50b of the nozzle 54 are located on the same plane, the cleaning liquid is flush with the end surface 56a of the nozzle cover 55 and the tip surface 50b of the nozzle 54 by the surface tension. In addition, the nozzle cover 55 is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from interfering with the colorant sprayed from the nozzle 54, and it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from affecting the direction in which the sprayed colorant is ejected. Therefore, the coloring material can be more reliably sprayed in a certain amount toward the desired position on the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, and the desired position on the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 can be reliably colored with a desired color. At the same time, the colored portion (the point 7 described above) can be reliably maintained by a desired area (size).

  The coloring material collides with the end face 50a of the second nozzle member 50 and is agitated. In addition, since the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 are arranged coaxially and the end face 50a is orthogonal (intersects) with respect to the arrow Q, the colorant is more reliably agitated. For this reason, the density | concentration of the dye or pigment in a coloring material is kept uniform. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the coloring material having an extremely high concentration from adhering to the nozzle 54 of the coloring nozzle 31.

  Moreover, when it penetrates into the 2nd nozzle member 50 from the inside of the 1st nozzle member 37, a coloring material will be pressurized rapidly. For this reason, the coloring material sprayed from the second nozzle member 50 toward the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3 is vigorously driven toward the outer surface 3 a of the electric wire 3. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the coloring material from adhering to the second nozzle member 50.

  In this way, since the coloring material can be prevented from adhering to the second nozzle member 50, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed from the second nozzle member 50 toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 by a certain amount. Further, since it is possible to prevent the coloring material from adhering to the second nozzle member 50, of course, the coloring material adhering to the second nozzle member 50 or the like has an influence on the direction in which the dropped coloring material is sprayed. Can be prevented. Accordingly, the coloring material can be reliably sprayed in a certain amount toward the desired position of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3, the desired position of the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 can be colored in a desired color, and coloring The location (the point 7 described above) can be maintained in a desired area (size).

  While the electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31 are relatively moved along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 3, the coloring nozzle 31 sprays the coloring material toward the electric wire 3 by a certain amount. Thus, the electric wire 3 is colored during the relative movement of the electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31. For this reason, since it is not necessary to stop the electric wire 3 in order to color the electric wire 3, work efficiency is not reduced. Further, since the coloring material is sprayed by a certain amount toward the electric wire 3 during the relative movement between the electric wire 3 and the coloring nozzle 31, any position of the electric wire 3 can be colored, and of course, the electric wire 3 is colored continuously. it can.

  The encoder 17 measures the movement amount of the electric wire 3, and the control device 19 controls the coloring nozzle 31 according to the movement amount of the electric wire 3. For this reason, when the moving speed of the electric wire 3 is increased, the interval at which the coloring material is sprayed can be shortened, and when the moving speed of the electric wire 3 is decreased, the interval at which the coloring material is sprayed can be increased. Thus, even if the moving speed of the electric wire 3 changes, the space | interval of the coloring material adhering to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 can be kept constant.

  Therefore, even if the moving speed of the electric wire 3 changes, the coloring material can be attached to the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 according to a predetermined pattern. That is, even if the moving speed of the electric wire 3 changes, the electric wire 3 can be colored according to a predetermined pattern.

  In the embodiment described above, the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 are separated from each other. However, in the present invention, the first nozzle member 37 and the second nozzle member 50 may be integrated.

  Furthermore, in this invention, you may use various things, such as an acrylic type coating material, ink (dye type | system | group, pigment type), and UV ink, as a coloring liquid and a coating material.

  Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, it has described regarding the electric wire 3 which comprises the wire harness routed to a motor vehicle. However, in the present invention, it is needless to say that the electric wire 3 may be used not only for automobiles but also for various electronic devices such as portable computers and various electric machines.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coloring nozzle 31 that colors the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3 is shown. However, the coloring nozzle 31 of the present invention may color various things in addition to the electric wire 3.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the coloring device of the electric wire provided with the coloring nozzle concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the coloring unit of the coloring device of the electric wire in alignment with the II-II line in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of each coloring nozzle and electric wire of the coloring unit shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the nozzle unit of each coloring nozzle of the coloring unit shown by FIG. (A) is a perspective view of the electric wire colored with the electric wire coloring apparatus shown by FIG. (B) is a top view of the electric wire shown by Fig.5 (a). It is explanatory drawing explaining the state which is supplying the washing | cleaning liquid in the nozzle cover of the coloring nozzle shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state in which a coloring material is sprayed from the coloring nozzle shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

3 Electric wires (goods)
3a Outer surface 31 Colored nozzle 33 Pressurized gas supply source (pressurizing means)
35 Insert member (receiving part)
37a Base end portion 37b Tip portion 39 Flow path 44 Valve body 50b Tip surface 54 Nozzle 55 Nozzle cover 56a End surface 62 Cleaning liquid supply source (cleaning liquid supply means)

Claims (2)

In a coloring nozzle for spraying a liquid coloring material by a certain amount toward the outer surface of the article and attaching the droplets of the coloring material to the outer surface of the article to color the article,
An accommodating portion for accommodating the coloring material;
A pressurizing means for pressurizing the colorant in the housing portion;
A nozzle that is formed in a cylindrical shape and flows into the housing portion as the colorant flows inside;
A valve body provided slidably on and away from a base end located in the accommodating portion of the nozzle, and spraying the coloring material from the nozzle by contacting and leaving the base end; and
A nozzle cover that covers at least the tip of the nozzle and allows the coloring material sprayed from the nozzle to adhere to the article;
Cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid for removing the coloring material attached to the nozzle from the nozzle in the nozzle cover,
In the state where the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means into the nozzle cover is maintained in the nozzle cover by the surface tension of the cleaning liquid, the coloring material is sprayed from the nozzle toward the article. Characterizing coloring nozzle.   The coloring nozzle according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the nozzle cover facing the article and a tip surface of the nozzle facing the article are provided on the same plane.

Images