US2184552A - Machine for marking electric conductors - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 26, 1939. A. P.- HINSKY 2,184,552 MACHINE FOR MARKING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed April 9, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 1 T 40 66 ll 9s I /10 86 i //02 lNV ENTOR ANTHONY P. HINSKY Dec'. 26, 1939. A. P. HINSKY 2,184,552

MACHINE FOR MARKING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed April 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 77 715 INVENTOR ANTHONY P HINSKY ATTORNE Filed April 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 52b 3Z6 7: 40 m W 23 96 1 #0 32 @I I 2% I" //6 /0a 77/ 1 lNVENTOR' ANTHONYPHINSKY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MARKING ELECTRIC CON- DUCTORS Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,096

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of electric conductors treated with saturants and other compounds to flame and water-proof the same as well as to provide color coatings on the conductors, and more particularly to the provision 'of a machine for printing or characterizing conductors of the class described preferably in and during the process of applying coatings thereto and especially the outer color coating, and still more particularly to wires coated with a Wax base material; and the object of the invention is to provide a printing or marking machine of the character described employing a printing or marking wheel preferably of such circumferential dimensions as to equal a predetermined number of inches so as to provide, by one or more marking characters on-the wheel, an indication of predetermined inch distance lengths of the conductor; a further object being to provide a backing roller adjustably and. resiliently supported to maintain a fixed pressure upon the conductor passed between said roller and the printing wheel; a further object being to provide means for inking the printing wheel with means for distributing the ink over the surface of the inking roller; a further object being to provide means for adjusting the mounting .of the inking roller with respect to the printing wheel so as to changethe surface of the inking roller engaging the wheel to distribute the wear thereon and to produce a longer life for such inking roller; a further object being to provide means for automatically applying an oil or wax film to the backing roller to form a cushion and shield preventing the defacing of the conductor in its passage over said backing roller, with means for automatically regulating the feedfof the lubricating film to the backing roller; a further object being to provide means for adjusting the pressure of the inking roller on the printing wheel; a further object being to provide a substantially sealed casing or housing whereby the various gears and operating mechanism of the machine may be operated in a bath of oil, said housing having a reservoir for the oil in the lower portion thereof; a still further object being to provide means for operating the printing wheel in synchronism with the means for drawing or feeding the conductor through the printing machine or unit so as to eliminate difierential movement between the conductor and the periphery of the printing wheel,

thereby producing on the resulting conductorprints or markings of clear definitions, and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a machine of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying 5 drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine made accordl0 ing to my invention with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 33 of 15 Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of broken parts of a conductor illustrating the manner of printing or characterizing the same with my improved machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the periphery of the printing wheel illustrating an arrangement of the type thereon.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged'cross sectional view of the outer portion of a conductor diagrammatically 25 illustrating a method of forming the marking in the conductor and illustrating a final outer coating, and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of operating the machine in synchronism with the means for drawing the conductor through the printing machine.

In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a suitableframe or casing I!) having a front wall II, a top wall I2, bottom supporting legs l3, as 35 seen in Fig. 1, and a central horizontal wall l4 having an upturned flange l5 at its rear end to form, in conjunction with side walls l5 and the front wall I I, a receptacle H for a lubricating oil, the supply to which and'the level of which may 40 be controlled through a suitable oil cup l8 mounted in one side wall 16, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A cover I9 is mounted at the rear of the frame or casing, and this cover serves to seal the entire chamber 20 in which the various gears and other mechanisms of the machine are arranged to provide thorough lubrication of the entire mechanism with the exception of certain of the mechanisms disposedoutwardly of the front 50 wall II. The latter is lubricated from time to time by any suitable means, as may be desired.

A main drive shaft 21 extends into the chamber 20 and outwardly through th' cover I!) and is provided with an adjustable p ey 22 driven through a V-belt 23, such pulley and V-belt drives being well known in the art.

Within the chamber 26 the shaft 2| has a drive gear 24 with which meshes a gear 25 on a type wheel shaft 26, the latter being supported in suitable bearings 21 in the front wall ll of the casing. The shaft 26 carries at its outer end a flanged head 28 having a reduced threaded stud for receiving a nut 30 for moving a clamp plate 3| toward the flange 28 in firmly gripping and sup-.

porting a type wheel 32 in connection with the shaft 26. With this construction, different type wheels may be quickly attached and detached with respect to the shaft, especially from the standpoint of changing the type matter on the wheel in different runs of the machine. In this connection it will be apparent that in the manufacture of the conductors, the names of jobbers. distributors or dealers may be applied to the conductor as well as other markings identifying the brand of the conductor, and the year or month or in fact actual date of the final production thereof. In some cases, the names of the consumers, especially when large firms or corporations, may be applied to the conductor. It will thus be seen that from time to time, different type wheels will have to be inserted.

In the construction shown, the type wheel 32 is beveled at the periphery thereof as seen at latter gear being arranged on a shaft 34 having a worm 35 thereon. One end of the shaft 34 is supported in a bearing block 36 arranged in the front wall Ii. The block has an outwardly extending stud 31 which forms a pivotal support for a lever 38, in one end of which is rotatably mounted a shaft 39 supporting an ink roller 46 later described. The other end of the shaft 34 is supporte'din a suitable'bearing 4| extending from one side wall of the casing. The bearing 4| also forms a support for one end of a shaft 42, the other end of which is supported in a bearing 43 in the other side wall. Arranged on the shaft 42 are a gear 44 and a worm 45, the gear 44 meshing with the worm 35, whereas the worm 45 meshes with a gear 46 on another shaft 4'! supported in suitable bearings 48 in the front wall ll, note Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The shaft-39 is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing 49 in the front wall II. On the inner end of this shaft is a gear 50 which meshes with the gear 33 so as to drive the ink feed roller 46. This roller consists of a grooved wheel in the periphery of which is supported a rubber ring 52 which ispreferably turned and finished to a true and predetermined diameter.

In mounting the printing roller upon the end of the shaft 32, the same is supported against a flange 39a on the shaft by a nut 53. It is preferred, however, that three washers 54, 54a, and

541) be provided. These washers may be so ar life to the ink feeding roller.

The other end 38a of the lever 36 is supported between adjustable screws 55 mounted in suitable lugs on the front of the machine so that the engagement of the inking roller 40 with the type on the circumference of the printing wheel may be regulated to control the distribution of ink thereon, as will be apparent.

Supported upon the face of the front wall ll of the casing is an ink trough or reservoir 56, note Fig. 1, into which ink may be fed through a supply gun 51, the nozzle of which extends into the reservoir as indicated in .section in Fig. 1. The gun has alsuitable screw feed actuated by means of a handle 58 whereby from time to time the supply of ink to the reservoir 56 may be replenished. Supported in suitable bearings 59 in the front wall II is a shaft 60, an outer reduced end 66a of which is coupled with a roller 6| for feedingink from the reservoir 56 to a series of ink transmitting rollers 62 for transmitting the ink onto the surface of the feed roller 40. The amount of ink delivered to theroller 62 is controlled by an adjdstable scraper 63 adjusted by means of a screw 64, note Fig. 1. In this way, the amount of ink I applied to the several rollers 62 is regulated.

Each of the rollers 62 is rotatably mounted in the free end of an arm 65 pivoted on the outer surface of a disc 66 secured to the outer end of the shaft 41, note Figs. 1 and 3. Springs 61 are supported in a hub portion 68 of the disc 66 and also in each of the arms 65 and serve to normally support the arms 65 against stop pins 69, which also limits centrifugal action of said arms. It will be understood that when the roller 62 engages the ink roller 46, the arms are depressed against the action of the spring 61, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.- V

Pivotally supported in a suitable bracket arranged upon the top wall I2 of the casing is an arm ll carrying at its free end a-fixed shaft 12 on which a hollow distributor wheel or drum 13 is mounted for back and forth reciprocating motion on the shaft 12' so as to distribute the ink on the surface of the ring 52 to provide a substantially even deposit of the ink on said surface; The drum or distributor 13 simply rests by gravity upon the ink wheel 40 or the surface of the ring 52, and the drum is driven by the frictional engagement thereof with the rubber ring 52. 14 having a gear or pinion 15 which meshes with a fixed gear 16 on the shaft 12. Keyed to the gear 15 is an eccentric or cam 11 which operates in connection with a grooved sleeve 18 arranged in fixed position upon the shaft 12 so that as the drum 13 rotates, the eccentric engaging the sleeve 'l8-will cause the drum to move forwardly and backwardly on the shaft I2 to the degree governed by the pitch of the cam 11. In' this manner a very simple and effective means is provided for producing the wiping or distributing operation upon the ink applied to the surface of the inking roller.

Arranged upon the inner end of the shaft 60 is a sprocket I9 and a similar sprocket 86 is arranged upon the shaft 41. A suitable chain 8| engages the sprockets l9 and 80 so that the roller 6| may be driven through the shaft 41, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Supported on a shaft 82 within the lower 'part of the frame, is a lever 83 having an upwardly extending arm 84 and two laterally extending arms '85 and 86. mounted in one side wall [6 of the casing is operated by a suitable crank 88'outwardly of said wall. The-inner end of the screw engages the arm 84 to control the pressure of the arm A hand operated screw 81 upon a spring 89 which seats upon an arm 99 arranged outwardly of the wall II upon the shaft 82.

An adjustable stop screw 9I is supported in the front wall of the frameand cooperates with an outwardly extending portion of the arm 86 to provide means for returning a guide and back ing roller 92 to a fixed position of adjustment with respect to the printing wheel 32 in the operation of replacing a conductor between the roller 92 and the printing wheel, or for any other purpose. The backing wheel 92 is supported upon a shaft 93 arranged in the free end of the arm 99 and rotates freely around a bearing 94. In this connection, in referring to the several bearings throughout the entire machine, all of these bearings will either be ball bearing or roller type, or what is commonly known as antifrictional bearings in order to provide free action of the entire mechanism of the machine. However, as these bearings are well known, no specific structure thereof is shown in order to simplify the illustration. The backing roller 92 is preferably grooved in the periphery thereof as seen at to receive a conductor 96. The groove is sufficiently deep to positively retain the conductor against displacement as well as to maintain proper alinement of the conductor with respect to the printing or type surface 32b of the printing wheel. In this way, a substantially accurate alining of the printed matter will be provided on the resulting conductor, as is indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 in which an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of a marking is shown on a conductor or on different sections thereof, it is preferred that aname of an individual or company asat 91 be applied and arranged longitudinally of the conductor. Also, for example, a date as at 98 may be applied thereto and inbetween the markings 91 and 98 may be arranged a series of transverse bars 99 which will maintain a substantially constant engagement of the type wheel with the conductor throughout the entire circumference of the type wheel. At predetermined intervals, other symbols as at I99 may be formed by a single character on the printing wheel to designate predetermined inch distances of the conductor between two of the marks I99. For example, if the periphery of the type wheel were two feet in diameter, the marks as at I99 would be two feet apart, which would indicate a two foot length of the conductor. In this connection it will be understood that the markings as at 99 may be socharacterized as to designate other degrees of a given length, or a plurality of type characters similar to the characters forming the marks I99 may be provided on the type wheel to indicate half-foot and one foot distances if de-.- sired. In this connection'it will also be understood that type wheels of different diameters may be used, suitable adjustments being provided in the drive of the machine to compensate for such changes in the size of the type wheel.

I also preferably employ means for applying a light oil or a wax film to the periphery of the backing roller 92 so asto provide a film-like cushion for the conductor 96 to prevent marking or defacing an outer color coating which has been applied thereto as at 96c, note Fig. 6. This means consists in supporting a brush I9I in a bracket I92 supported upon the arm 99 as indicated at I93 so as to maintain the brush I9I in fixed relationship with respect to the roller 92 as the same is-moved with the arm 99. The brush I9I has a flexible tube I94 coupled therewith. This tube couples with a pot or receptacle I95 through a coupling I96 having a needle valve feed control I91 and a glass gage I99. The latter serves as a means to indicate to the operator that a feed of the oil or other material to the brush I9I is being maintained. It will be understood that when wax is used, suitable means for heating the wax will be provided as well as means for applying the wax to the roller 92.

At I99 is shown an adjustable blade supported on the arm 99 and cooperating with the periphery of the backing roller 92 to remove the surplus'of lubricant or to maintain a constant film of the lubricant on the wheel, or to remove any foreign material which may collect thereon. It will be understood in this connection that an excess amount of this cushioning film might be detrieffective characteristics of the coating material,

from a proofing standpoint, lost.

It will be seen from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings that the gear 25 and in factthe sprocket 19 operates in the oil reservoir I1 of the casing. These elements will serve to distribute and feed the lubricating oil upwardly through the various gears and other mechanisms, which lubricant will return by gravity to the reservoir. This will form a constant circulation of the lubricating oil. While some of this oil will find its way through the several bearings, the mechanisms and the outer surface of the casing may be separately lubricated from time to time or whenever necessary, care being taken, however, to prevent the lubricant from contacting the inking mechanism.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have diagrammatically illustrated a part of a complete mechanism employed in the method of treating the conductor 96 which is more specifically dealt with in a companion application filed by me of equal date herewith and bearing Serial No. 201,097. However, for the sake of clarity in illustrating the synchronized operation of the printing machine with the feed of the conductor, I have indicated in said figure at II9 a capstan wheel which is employed to draw or feed the conductor 96 through the various treatment units of the apparatus as well as through the printing machine. For example, after drawing the conductor through the printing machine which is represented at Illa in Fig 7, the conductor is immediately passed through a unit III means II2 for applying a film of wax coating upon the entire conductor after the same has been printed, which wax coating is indicated at 96b in Fig. 6 of the drawings. After this the conductor 96. passes through another unit II3 having a water spray as at II 4 for immediately chilling and setting the wax film 9617, the conductor passing around spaced sheaves II5 which onto a take-up reel which is not shown.

On a shaft I I1 of one of the sheaves H5 is another adjustable pulley indicated at H9 around which the V-belt 23 also passes, so that by adhaving justing the pulleys 22 and H8, a synchronized operation may be maintained between the feed of the conductor 96 through the printing machine and the movement of the type wheel 32 with said conductor to provide substantially no differential movement between the wheel and the conductor, thus making it possible to produce type impressions as at 91, 98, 99 and I00,

. which will be clear-cut and of substantially accurate definition. It will be understood that the pulley H8 is driven by the rotation of the shaft II! in the passage of the conductor 96 around the sheaves H5, the conductor being drawn by the driven capstan wheel I I0. As an alternative, the drive may be directed to the capstan wheel as specifically shown in my companion application covering the method of producing conductors as described, which application is filed of equal date herewith.

It will be understood that to a large degree, the amount of ink applied to the printing wheel or the type characters 320 thereon may be regulated through the feed employed or the character of the ink so as to substantially fill the impression formed in the conductor 96 or the coating 96a thereon as is indicated at 960 in Fig. 6 of the drawings. On the other hand, if the amount of ink deposited does not fill the impression, the final wax coating will fill the remainder thereof to form a substantially smooth outer surface 9611 on the film 96b. The film coating is of course transparent so as not to interfere with the coloring of the coating 96a and the ink deposit 960. The latter is preferably of a color contrasting to that of the coating 96a. For example, if the coating 96a were white, any other color like red, blue, green, yellow and orange, etc., could be used. The same would apply to the printing of coatings 96a of any of the primary or other colors which may be employed. In some instances I have used bronze inks, especially in the printing of dark or black colored conductors.

My improved printing machine may operate.

upon a wire which is moved through the printing machine at the rate of 500 to 1000' per minute. It will thus be seen that a commercially practical type of marking is produced; that is to say, one which is consistent with conventional handling of electric conductors in coating or otherwise treating the same.

It may be said that the type wheel gears itself to the conductor by reason of the close relationship of the several markings longitudinally of, the conductor. It will of course be understood that a line or other markings may be used intermediate the name or title imprints depending entirely upon the desires or requirements of a manufacturer. In some instances the use of ink may be dispensed with and the type utilized to form impressions which will extend through the outer color coating and reach the inner darker coatings which are usually black, to form clearly readable markings on the conductor. These recesses or impressions may be coated or even filled with the outer transparent coating.

If wax is applied to the roller 92, it is preferred that the container I05 be electrically or otherwise heated to maintain the wax at the desired temperature for supply to the roller.

The unit consisting of the disc 66 and wheels or rollers 62 may be said to form a flier unit. By reason of the vast difference in diameters between the rollers 62 and the ink roller 40, the rollers 62 are rotated in the free ends of the arms 65 at a high speed when moved into frictional engagement with the roller 40.

The operation of my machine will be readily understood frornthe foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and .the following brief description. It will be understood that the type wheel 32 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by engagement of the gear 25 with the gear 24, the latter gear being driven through the adjustable belt drive as before stated. In the "rotation of the gear 24, the gear 33 is also driven, and the ink feed roller 40 is driven by engagement of the gear 50 with the gear 33, whereas the disc 60 is rotated, carrying the' rollers 62 therewith, through the worms and worm gears 35, 44, 45, 46 and the ink roller 6| for feeding the ink to the roller 62 is driven from a sprocket on the shaft 41 operated through the gear 46 and the sprocket 19 on the shaft 60. With the gear ratio employed, it will be understood that the surface of the ink roller 40 will travel at substantially the same speed as the surface of the printing wheel. As previously stated, the spreading drum 13 is driven through the medium of the wheel 40 and is given the back and forth reciprocating action to spread the,ink on the surface of the ring 52 before this surface contacts the type wheel.

The backing roller 92 is rotated freely on its axis simply by the slight frictional engagement which is established between the conductor and the wheel by the pressure. of the type wheel thereon. However, it will be understood that the backing roller 92 is free to be depressed against the action of the spring 89 should any obstructions come between the roller, type wheel and/or conductor. It will be understood that by adjusting the screw 81, the tension of the roller 92 upon the conductor may be regulated. When once regulated to suit a conductor of predetermined size, the adjustment screw 9| will be set so as to insure the proper return of the roller to operative position should it' be found desirable to lower the roller at any time in cleaning or adjusting the machine. The adjustment above referred to will also compensate for printing wheels of different diameters within predetermined limits. In this connection it will also be understood that the adjustment of the ink roller 40 will compensate for difierences in printing wheels, employed.

With my improved machine adjustments may be so regulated as to permit a printing operation on the conductor without in any way defacing or marring the coating materials applied on the conductor aside from the application of the type impressions thereto. It will also be understood that from time to time different colored inks may be employed in the machine by simply removing one trough 56 and substituting a new one therefor and cleaning the surfaces of the rollers 62, 40 the drum I3, and the face of the type wheel 32, which may be quickly accomplished by a suitable solvent for the printing materialor ink employed. I

In printing 'conductors having as an outer color coating 96a a material having a Wax base in accordance with the teachings in my prior Patents Nos. 1,887,851 and 1,890,291, I preferably employ an ink which will become dry or set quickly when contacting coating material of this type, especially when the latter is still warm. In this way the final wax film coating 96b may immediately be applied to the conductor after the same has been printed.

While I have diagrammatically illustrated the printing material as being imbedded in the coating material 96a as indicated at 960, in the use of some coating materials the printing may be substantially deposited upon the surface of the material with little or no depression therein. This is especially true when coating materials of a harder consistency are employed. In chilling the different types and kinds of color coating materials, difierent types of inks may be employed to suit the different coating materials used. However, I prefer the process of printing as herein diagrammatically illustrated, in that in subjecting the conductor to frictional engagement with conduits, in what is termed fishing operations, it is not likely to remove the printing material even though some of the outer film coating may be removed. However, this film coating is employed to provide the desired slick finish which facilitates the said fishing operations, in addition to employing a protective coating which provides a greater degree of protection for the deposit of ink prints or impressions on the surface of the conductor.

It will be apparent that my invention is not necessarily limited to the particular type and kind of drive for the machine as herein illus trated, as various types of chain and gear drives may be employed as is commonly known in the art, the only important feature being to maintain the synchronized operation of the printing wheel with the feed of the conductor. In some instances I may incorporate a positive drive for the roller 92 similar to the drive of the ink roller 40, in which event the roller 92 will be driven in synchronism with the feed of the conductor. However, in general uses, a freely rotating roller 92 will operate successfully especially on conductors of the average diameter and of the larger diameters.

It will be understood that with the particular drive of the printing unit herein disclosed, the printing unit is operated by the rotation of the sheave in the passage of the conductor there around, and as the printing wheel performs no operation other than forming the impressions in the conductor and moves with the conductor, no great amount of power is required for operating the marking machine. By using freely rotatable members in the machine, no load prevails which would interfere with the free operation thereof in the manner described.

In some uses of the invention the type wheel may simply have one or a limited number of markings or characters thereon, and this is especially true when it is desired to simply mark the conductor for the indication of lengths or for applying the shield or trade-mark of a manufacturer thereon. The type wheel and conductor being independently operated in synchronism does not require any definite engagement between the two distinct elements. It will also appear that the less number of markings or type characters appearing on the wheel will reduce the cost of producing the same.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: D

1. In a printing machine for printing on the colored coating of an electric conductor directly after the color coating has been applied to the to the type' characters of said wheel, a grooved guide wheel arranged outwardly of said casing for supporting and alining the conductor with respect to the periphery of said type wheel, means 'for adjusting the guide wheel vertically to maintainpredetermined positions with respect to the periphery of the type wheel to compensate for coated conductors of different sizes, said means comprising an adjustable stop limiting movement of the guide wheel in the direction of the type wheel, an adjustable speed drive pulley arranged outwardly of the opposite sideof the casing, and means within the casing driven by said pulley to operate said first named means and said type wheel, the latter in synchronism with the feed of the conductor so as to equalize the surface speed of the periphery of the type wheel with the surface speed of the conductor to produce clear, clean cut impressions or markings on the conductor by means of the type characters on the type wheel.

2. In a printing machine for printing on the colored coating of an electric conductor directly after the color coating has been applied to the conductor, a hollow casing, a driven type wheel of an exact predetermined diameter arranged outwardly of the casing and having type characters on the periphery thereof, means for supplying and distributing a regulated flow of ink to the periphery of said type wheel, means for adjusting the guide wheel vertically to maintain predetermined positions with respect to the pe riphery of the type wheel to compensate for coated conductors of different sizes, said means comprising an adjustable stop limiting movement of the guide wheel in the direction of the type wheel, an adjustable speed drive pulley arranged outwardly of the opposite side of the casing, means within the casing driven by said pulley to operate said first named means and said type wheel, the latter in' synchronism with the feed of the conductor so as to equalize the surface speed of the periphery of the type wheel with the surface speed of the conductor, to produce clear, clean cut impressions or markings on the conductor by means of the type characters on the type wheel, and means for applying a cushioning liquid film to the grooved periphery of the guide wheel.

3. In a printing machine for printing on the colored coating of an electric conductor directly after the color coating has been applied to the conductor, a hollow casing, a driven type wheel of an exact predetermined diameter arranged outwardly of the casing and having type characters on the periphery thereof, means for supplying and distributing a regulated flow of ink to the type characters of said wheel. a grooved guide wheel arranged outwardly of said casing for supporting and alining the conductor with respect to the periphery of said type wheel, means for adjusting the guide Wheel vertically to maintain predetermined positions with respect to the periphery of the'type wheel to compensate for coated conductors of different sizes, said means comprising an adjustable stop limiting movement of the guide wheel in the direction of the type wheel, an adjustable speed drive pulley arranged outwardly of the opposite side of the casing, means within the casing driven by said pulley to operate said first named means and said type wheel, the latter in synchronism with the feed of the conductor so as to equalize the surface speed of the periphery of the type wheel with the surface speed of the conductor, to produce clear, clean cut impressions or markings on the conductor by means of the type characters on the type wheel, means for applying a cushioning liquid film to the grooved periphery of the guide wheel, said last named means comprising a gravity fed applicator brush, and means 10 supporting the brush to move with the guide wheel in the adjustment and movement thereof to maintain the brush in predetermined arrangement with respect to said wheel.

4. In a printing machine for printing on the colored coating of an electric conductor directly after the color coating has been applied to the conductor, a hollow casing, a driven type wheel of an exact predetermined diameter arranged outwardly of the casing and having type characters on the periphery thereof, means for supplying and distributing a regulated flow of ink to the type characters of said wheel, a grooved guide wheel arranged outwardly of said casing for supporting and alining the conductor with respect to the periphery of said type wheel, a

swinging arm for adiustably supporting the guide wheel to maintain the groove of said wheel in predetermined position with respect to the periphery of' the type wheel to compensate for coated conductors of different sizes, an adjustable stop cooperating with the arm limiting the movement of the guide wheel in the direction of the type wheel to prevent distortion of the coated conductor in passing between said wheels, 9. resilient backing for said arm and guide wheel, adjustable means supporting said backing to provide quick manual movement of the guide wheel away from the type wheel in arranging a conductor between or removing the same from between said wheels, and means within the casing and driven by an adjustable driving means outwardly of the casing to operate the type wheel in synchronism with the feed of the conductor so as to equalize the surface speed of the periphery of the type wheel with the surface speed of the conductor to produce clear clean cut impressions or markings on the conductor by the type characters on the type wheel.

ANTHONY P. HINSKY.

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