US3788213A

US3788213A - Methods of and apparatus for marking successive sections of an elongated material

Info

Publication number: US3788213A
Application number: US00218327A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Brown; H Brown; G Besnyo; E Hornor
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1972-01-17
Filing date: 1972-01-17
Publication date: 1974-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-29

Abstract

A first code printing head is removably attached to one end of an arm of a turret mounted rotatably at the center thereof within a drum mounted on a constantly rotating drum shaft having successive portions of the circumferential surface thereof moved adjacent a path of travel of successive suctions of a jacketed cable transverse of and spaced from the drum axis. When the first head is oriented radially of the drum, the head marks a code on the successive sections of the cable being advanced in engagement therewith. The other end of the arm is adapted to support a second code printer head so that as the first head is moved out of the radial or printing position, the second head is moved into the radial position where the second code printer marks a different code on a subsequent cable having a different construction.

Description

United States Patent 91 Brown, deceased et a1.

[ METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF AN ELONGATED MATERIAL [75] Inventors: William B. Brown, deceased, late of Pasadena, Md. by Hazel V. Brown, representative; George Frank Besnyo, Towson; Eugene Marshall Hornor, Baltimore, both of Md.

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company,

Incorporated, New York, NY.

22 Filed: Jan. 17, 1972.

21 Appl. No.2 218,327

[52] US. Cl 101/37, 101/75, 101/109, 101/426 [51] Int. Cl B4lf 17/10 [58] Field of Search..... 101/36, 37, 75, 90, 91, 109, 101/426 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,633 5/1951 Preis 101/91 X 1,443,164 1/1923 Bracken 101/5 2,425,167 8/1947 Whitehead 101/90 UX Jan. 29, 1974 2,893,310 7/1959 Johnson 101/182 2,825,279 3/1958 Gottscho 101/75 3,552,308 1/1971 Minehart 101/37 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-E. W. Somers 57] ABSTRACT A first code printing head is removably attached to one end of an arm of a turret mounted rotatably at the center thereof within a drum mounted on a constantly rotating drum shaft having successive portions of the circumferential surface thereof moved adjacent a path of travel of successive suctions of a jacketed cable transverse of and spaced from the drum axis. When the first head is oriented radially of the drum, the head marks a code on the successive sections of the cable being advanced in engagement therewith. The other end of the arm is adapted to support a second code printer head so that as the first head is moved out of the radial or printing position, the second head is moved into the radial position where the second code printer marks a different code on a subsequent cable having a different construction.

24 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENIH] JAN 2 91974 SHEET 2 OF 6 PATENTED 3.788.213

SHEET U 0F 6 'amwe 5 04 I w METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF AN ELONGATED MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for marking successive sections of elongated material which are being advanced, and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for changing a coding mark to be applied to successive sections of cables being advanced through a commercially available footage printing machine without discontinuing the advance of the cables and for simultaneously resetting a footage marking device.

2. Technical Considerations and the Prior Art sections In the manufacture of power cables, it has been the practice to apply code marks on an outwardly facing surface of the cable which are indicative of the structure of the cable. Machinery for applying footage and code marks are commercially available. Commercial machines such as that depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,456 include a plurality of wheels or rollers over which the successive sections of strand material are passed and includes facilities for achieving a 360 marking of the strand material.

In the manufacture of electrical communications cables, it is customary to print a footage mark on the outwardly facing surface of the jacket at predetermined intervals. Although it has been customary to print footage marks on communications cables in the past, there has been no effort made to mark the cables with a code indicating structure. This means that installers in the field may have to use other means to determine the type structure of a particular cable. This may be time consuming and may become more of a problem as cable structures change over the years.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for applying indicia to a cable jacket which is indicative of the cable construction.

There are instances when the code must be changed for different structure cables but where the outside diameters of the successive different cables is the same. In situations such as this, manufacturing economies could be achieved if marking facilities included provisons for changing the coding head without stopping the line. In this way, the leading end of the next successive cable could be tied to the trailing end of a cable currently being run through the footage marking machine with a code change synchronized with the substantial beginning portions of the next successive cable being pulled through the footage marking machine.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for changing indicia on successive sections of an elongated material being advanced along a predetermined path.

Of course, after the trailing end of a cable has been advanced through the footage marking machine, the footage printing head may be reset to zero. Then as the next successive cable is advanced through the footage printing machine, the footage markings will begin from zero instead of cumulative to the length of the prior cable.

In at least one commercially available footage marking machine, facilities are provided for resetting the footage marking device to zero. A reset shaft has a helical gear attached to one end thereof which meshes with an orthogonal helical gear connected through a drive train to the footage marking device which protrudes through an opening in the drum. A drum cam is mounted on a drum shaft concentric with the reset shaft, the drum shaft being continuously turned. A reset cam having a pair of diametrically opposed notches cut therein is mounted on the reset shaft.

To reset the footage marking device, an operator causes a lever to be pivoted to drop a pawl into an uncovered one of the notches to lock the reset shaft with respect to the rotating drum. Since the drum is constantly being rotated, the locking of the reset shaft causes the relative motion between the helical gears to operate the drive system to reset the footage counting device.

It is also an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for changing the indicia to be applied to successive sections of cable being advanced along a predetermined path while resetting a footage marking device to a reference position.

It should be feasible that facilities for changing indicia would include a turret having printing heads mounted thereon with provisions for indexing selected ones of the heads into printing position. Heads not in use should be easily removable from the indexable turret. Detents may be used to mount heads in numbering wheels such as is shown in US. Pat. No. 923,773.

The feature of interchangeablility of marking rollers is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,562,557 where a marking roller is mounted rotatably on a hinged rod below a roller for applying a marking medium to the printing roller. When desired to interchange the rollers, a manually engageable portion is urged downwardly to cause a circumferentially recessed portion to be disengaged by hifurcating portions. The shaft is then swung downwardly about a pivotal connection and away from a leg where the marking rollers can be easily changed. When the interchange has been affected, the shaft is again connected to the leg.

A variety of arrangements for measuring elongated material and printing a marking on a card are shown in the prior art such as that typified in US. Pat. No. 2,128,709. There, a cloth measuring and yardage printing device includes a revolution counting mechanism which is disconnected automatically from a cloth measuring roll when the end of the cloth is reached. Facilities are provided which are responsive to the termination of the cloth past the measuring point of the measuring roll for permitting tilting of an unbalanced printing unit and consequent disengagement from a drive train.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for changing indicia for marking successive sections of an elongated material while the elongated material is being advanced.

It is also an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for changing the coding mark and resetting a footage printing device to zero between the advance of the trailing and leading ends of differently constructed cables through a conventional footage printing machine.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatus for changing the coding heads used to apply markings to successive sections of a cable while the cable is being advanced with provisions for ejecting the head which is not in a marking position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved head for applying a marking to successive sections of an elongated material being advanced along a path of travel.

A method of applying predetermined markings and sequence of markings to successive sections of an elongated material embodying certain principles of this invention includes the steps of advancing successive sections of the elongated material along a path of travel, marking successive sections of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined marking and with a sequence of markings, determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the elongated material is to be changed, and controlling the marking responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking to be applied to successive lengths of the successive sections of the elongated material as the material is being advanced and to restart the sequence of markings.

An apparatus for marking successive sections of an elongated material embodying certain features includes facilities for advancing successive sections of the elongated material along a path of travel, facilities for marking successive sectins of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel of the successive sections of the elongated material with a predetermined marking and with a sequence of markings, facilities for determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the material is to be changed and facilities responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking is to be changed for controlling the marking facilities to change the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the elongated material while the successive sections of the material are being advanced along the path of travel and for restarting the sequence of markings.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus including a marking device embodying the principles of this invention and which is used to apply selected coding marks to successive sections of a cable being advanced therethrough;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the marking device in FIG. 1 taken along lines 22 thereof which illustrates details of facilities for interchanging and ejecting coding heads and showing one of two code marking heads ina print position and in engagement with a section of the cable being advanced therethrough;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a footage marking de vice attached to the drum of the commercially available footage marking machine with provisions for resetting the device to a start condition; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the marking device and illustrating various mechanical arrangements for interchanging and ejecting the coding heads, and showing the drum in an instant of time in the rotation thereof with the coding head occupying the print position being removed from the cable;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the coding heads positioned in the drum and showing an opening formed in the drum for facilitating the rotation of the coding head mounting arrangement;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of an arrangement used to support the two coding heads spaced on a rotatably mounted turret within a drum of a commercially available footage marking machine;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the connection between one of the coding heads and the turret which is mounted for rotation within the drum;

FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the coding heads;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the coding head of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the coding head in FIG. 9 taken along lines l010 and showing provisions for holding the marking discs in selected positions; 7

FIG. 11 is a view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 2 taken along lines ll-ll thereof of an arrangement of mechanical elements which are connected to cause rotation of the turret to interchange the coding heads;

FIG. 12 is a view in elevation ofa portion of the apparatus in FIG. 2 and taken along lines 12-12 thereof and showing facilities for counting the length of the cable advanced through the apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 2 and taken along lines 13l3 thereof and showing an actuator bar which may be operated selectively by an air cylinder or a solenoid for ejecting or interchanging respectively, the coding heads;

FIG. 14 is a detail view of an arm in FIG. 13 and showing provisions for returning the arm to a generally vertical position upon deenergization of the solenoid; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an electrical circuit which is used to control the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a cable manufacturing line, designated generally by the numeral 20, for advancing and marking an outwardly facing surface of a jacket of successive sections of a cable 21. The line 20 includes a footage counter, designated generally by the numeral 22, a capstan 23, and a marking apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 24. The marking apparatus 24 may be a commercially available footage marking machine which is modifled in accordance with the principles of this invention to apply not only footage indicia but also coding marks which will indicate the cable structure to an installer.

The footage counter 22 includes a pair of opposed rollers 26-26 connected electrically to

mechanical counters

27 and 28. As the rollers 26--26 are turned rotatably by the successive sections of the cable 21 being advanced by the capstan 23, the footage counter 27 records the length. Cutover buttons for the footage counters 27 and 28 are used in cooperation with the marking apparatus 24 to effect a changeover of code markings to be applied to the cable jacket. The footage counter 22 and the capstan 23 are mounted on a supporting surface 29.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the marking apparatus 24 is mounted on a frame 31 and includes a plurality of

rollers

32, 33 and 34 over which successive sections of the cable 21 are advanced in order to have a footage mark and a code mark applied alternately thereto. The marking apparatus 24 also includes a drum 36 attached to a hollow drum shaft 37 (see FIG. 2) mounted rotatably in a bearing 38 supported in the frame 31.

Again, referring to FIG, 2, it can be seen that a hollow turret change or reset shaft 41 extends through the drum shaft 37 and is mounted freely rotatably in spaced

bearings

42 and 43 at opposite ends of the drum shaft. The left-hand end of the turret change shaft 41, as viewed in FIG. 2, extends through an opening 44 in a bulkhead plate 46 within the drum 36 with a bushing 47 connected to the turret change shaft and spacing a helical gear 48 from the drum shaft.

The helical gear 48 is one element of an arrangement which is used to reset a footage marking device, designated generally by the numeral 49, (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). As can be seen in FIG. 3, the helical gear 48 meshes with a smaller helical gear 50 mounted in a tight fit on one end of a shaft 51 and attached to a bushing 52 which is held in position on the shaft by a screw 53. The shaft 51 extends through a hex nut 54 and is rotatably mounted in a support 55 connected to the bulkhead plate 46 and has a bevel gear 56 mounted on the other end thereof. The bevel gear 56 is in meshing engagement with a second bevel gear 57 attached to one end of a shaft 58 which supports a plurality of marking discs 59-59 enclosed in a housing 61 supported on a mount 62 attached to the bulkhead plate 46 (see FIGGS. 2 and 3).

The discs 5959 extend through an opening 63 in a circumferential surface 64 of the drum 36. (See FIGS. 2 and 3). As the drum 36 is rotated, the discs 5959 are pressed into engagement with an inking pad (not shown) held on a roller 66 (see FIG. ll) that receives ink from a transfer roller 67 mounted for movement into and out of a supply 68.

In the event that an adjustment of the discs 5959 with respect to the helical gear, an operator loosens the screw 53. Then the operator holds the hex nut 54 with a wrench and turns the helical gear 58 to the position desired on the shaft 51. This overcomes problems encountered in keying the helical gear 50 to the shaft 51 in that then the'adjustment could be accomplished only in multiples of 360".

The shaft 41 is also of use in providing for the changing of the coding to be applied to the jacket of the cable 21. Referring once again to FIG. 2, it is shown that the vturret change shaft 41 extends beyond the helical gear 48 toward the front of the drum and has a bevel gear 71 attached thereto. The hollow turret change shaft 41 is also adapted to receive an ejecting rod 72 having a forward end 73 that protrudes beyond the bevel gear 71 and into a hole (see FIGS. 2 and 7) formed in a rear wall 75 of a turret, designated generally by the numeral 76.

The turret 76 provides the marking apparatus 24 with the capability of changing coding marks which are applied to successive sections of the cable 21 without discontinuing the operation of the line 20. As can best be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the turret 76 includes a base portion 77 having diverging

portions

78 and 79 connected to opposite ends thereof. The turret 76 is mounted on a bushing 81 within the base portion 77 which is supported rotatably on a stub shaft 82 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The stub shaft 82 has one end received and held in an enlarged front wall portion 83 of the drum 36 and has the other end extending angularly toward the turret change shaft 41 to support a bevel gear 84.

The bevel gear 84 is in meshing engagement with the bevel gear 71 to facilitate the rotation of the turret 76 and accompanying interchanging of the coding marks. Normally, the rotation of the drum 36 causes no relative motion between the bevel gears 71 and 84 since the turret change shaft 41 is normally unlocked and free wheeling. Therefore, as the drum 36 is rotated, the bevel gear 84, which is stationary with respect to the turret 76, merely revolves around the bevel gear which is turned rotatably with the unlocked shaft 41. Since the bevel gears 71 and 84 are identical, the shaft 41 in an unlocked condition is turned at the same rotational speed as the drum 36.

On the other hand, locking of the turret change shaft 41 against rotation locks the bevel gear 71 with respect to the drum 36. Then as the drum 36 is rotated, relative motion is caused between the bevel gears 71 and 84 to turn rotatably the turret 76 to move a first coding head, designated generally by the numeral 85 and held in an opening 86 in the diverging portion 79 from a mark or printing position adjacent the cable 21, as shown in FIG 2, and oriented radially of the drum to an eject position oriented axially of the drum. At the same time, a second coding head, designated generally by the numeral 87, supported from an opening 88 in the other diverging portion 78 of the turret 76 is moved from the eject position to the marking position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the

coding head

85 or 87, which has a plurality of coding discs 89-89 mounted rotatably on a shaft thereon, has portions of the discs protruding through an opening 90 in the circumferential surface 64 of the drum 36 when in the printing position. The opening 90 is diametrically opposed to the opening 63 through which the footage marking device 51 protrudes. A

coding head

85 or 87 in the eject position extends through an opening 91 substantially beyond a front face 92 of the drum 36 (see FIG. 5). As can best be seen in FIG. 5, the opening 91 in the drum 36 has a curvilinear shape to facilitate the rotation of the turret 76 and the

heads

85 and 87 mounted thereon into and out of the eject position.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 there is shown one of the coding wheels or heads 85 or 87 which are identical. The coding head, say 85, includes a yoke 93 having a pintle 94 extending laterally therefrom. The yoke 93 includes provisions for supporting rotatably the coding discs 8989. A shaft 96 extends through openings in the discs 8989 and is supported in

side arms

97 and 98 of the yoke 93. Each of the coding discs 8989 has a plurality of numerals or letters 99a-99h spaced around and protruding from the discs. An operator may code the cable 21 as required by selecting an appropriate sequence of numerals and/or letters 99a-99h from the sequentially arranged coding discs 89-89.

Provisions are also made for locking the discs 89-89 in a given position and for unlocking the discs to permit the operator to arrange another coding mark. A rod 101 having a flat face 102 (see FIG. 10) and a semicircular surface 103 is supported between the

arms

97 and 98 of the yoke and is received in a groove 104 formed longitudinally of the shaft 96. The end of the rod 101 extends through a generally semi-circular recess 106 formed in the side arm 98 of the yoke 93 and has a key 107 mounted pivotably thereon. The key 107 has a pin 108 extending laterally therefrom to facilitate the operator throwing the key to turn the rod 101 to present the flat face 102 to the discs 89-89. Each of the discs 89-89 has a plurality of notches 109-109 formed around the perephery of a central opening 110 therein with each of the notches being aligned with one of the numerals or letters 99a99h (see FIG.

Also, two diametrically opposed notches, say 1090 and 109g are connected by a passageway 111 in which is received a compression spring 112. The spring 112 urges a pair of diametrically opposed steel balls 113-113 associated with the passageway 111 into engagement with diametrically opposed detents or notches, say 1096 and 109g for example, of the rod to prevent turning thereof. When the key 107 is turned to present the flat face 102 thereof to the discs 89-89, the operator may rotate selected ones of the discs to arrange a desired code. During the turning of the discs 89-89, the detents 113-113 are merely urged inwardly as the detents ride over the unnotched portion of the opening 110.

The coding heads 85 and 87 also have provisions for locking the coding heads within the openings in the diverging

portions

78 and 79 of the turret 76. The shank or pintle 94 has an annular groove 115 formed therearound with a cavity 116 (see FIG. 9) formed in the shank and spaced from the groove. Also, the end of the shank 94 is formed with a half round portion 117 to be received in a half round opening 118 (see FIG. 7) of the rear wall 75 of the turret 76. When in position, a spring-biased detent 119 (see FIG. 2) adjacent the associated ones of the

openings

86 and 88 in the diverging

portions

79 and 78, respectively, of the turret 76 are spring-urged into engagement with the cavity 116 to hold the

coding head

85 or 87 within that opening.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there are shown facilities for controlling the footage marking device 49 to increase the numerals sequentially by a predetermined length to be applied to the cable 21. This length corresponds to the length of the cable 21 which is passed over the drum 36 during each revolution thereof and in one specific embodiment is equivalent to two feet.

A pivotably mounted rocker 120 extends from the housing 61 through an opening 121 in the bulkhead plate 46. The rocker 120 has a cam follower 122 attached to the end thereof for engaging the surface of a cam 123. The cam 123 is attached to the frame 31 so that as the drum 36 is rotated, the cam follower 122 causes the rocker 120 to move radially of the drum and causes through a gearing arrangement (not shown) the footage marking discs 59-59 to advance and mark the successive sections of the cable 21 with the appropriate footage marks.

It is important to note that the drum shaft 37 is being rotated continuously. This is accomplished by a belt drive including a belt 124 passed around a pulley 125 which is keyed to the drum shaft 37 (see FIG. 2). The belt 124 is passed around a tension guide pulley (not shown) and over a pulley (not shown) on a motor drive (not shown).

The right-hand end of the drum shaft 37, as viewed in FIG. 2, has a drum shaft cam 126 attached thereto and which includes a lobe portion 127. (See FIGS. 2, 4 and 11). The cam 126 is engaged by a follower 128 extending laterally from a pawl 129 formed at one end of a lever 131 mounted on a fulcrum 132. The lever 131 extends past a solenoid 133 (see FIG. 11) with a pin 134 extending laterally from the lever and received in a slotted opening 136 of an actuator bar 137 attached to a core 138 of the solenoid. The lever 131 has an irregularly shaped end 139 to receive a springbiased detent 141 to support the righthand end of the lever, as viewed in FIG. 11, in a raised position.

When the right-hand end lever 131 is in the raised position, the lever engages a limit switch 142 which is connected into an electrical control circuit. designated generally by the numeral 143 (see FIG. 15). Also, when the lever 131 engages the limit switch 142, the pawl 129 at the left hand end of the lever, as viewed in FIG. 11, engages one of two diametrically opposed notches 144-144 formed in the peripheral face of a turretchange cam 146 (see FIG. 11) attached to the turret change shaft 41. Each of the notches 144-144 includes a portion 147 oriented radially of the cam and a sloping portion 148.

Facilities are provided for counting the number of revolutions of the drum 36. As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 12, an arm 151 is keyed to an extension of the drum shaft 41 to rotate the arm with the drum 36. A magnet 152 is attached to each end of the arm 151 with the rotation of the arm causing the magnets to alternately be moved past a mercury wetted contact reed switch 153. With each pass of one of the magnets 152-152 past the switch 153, a signal is sent through the circuit 143 to a counter to record the printed length of the cable 21 being advanced through the apparatus 24. A retaining boss 156 is mounted on the turret change shaft 41' to space the arm 151 from the turret change cam 146. Since each revolution of the drum 36 represents the passage of two feet of cable 21 through the marking apparatus 24, the movement of each of the magnets 152-152 which are diametrically opposed, past the switch generates a signal representative of a foot of the cable.

The ejecting rod 72 extends rearwardly to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, through locking collars 161-161 and a sleeve bearing 162. The sleeve bearing 162 is supported by a pin connection 163 in an opening 164 formed in a lower end of an actuator bar 166. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the actuator bar 166 is mounted pivotably on a pin 167 extending laterally from a block 168 which is supported from the underside of the cantilevered leg 169 of an angle bracket 171 connected to the frame 31.

Provisions are made for rocking the actuator bar 166 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 or 4, in order to eject coding head in the eject position or to interchange the heads in the eject and print positions, respectively. An air cylinder 172 is pin connected to a bracket or stand sup ported on the cantilevered leg 169 of the angle bracket 171. The air cylinder 172 (see FIG. 13) has a piston rod 173 extending therefrom and is connected by a pin 174 to an upper end of the actuator bar 166.

The pin 174 extends through the actuator bar 166 and is connected to a plunger 176 extending from the core of a solenoid 177. The solenoid 177 is also supported on the cantilevered leg 169 and is connected through the electrical circuit 143 to the cutover switch associated with

counters

27 and 28 to be actuated when the leading end of a new code cable is in engagement with the marking apparatus 24.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the rearward movement to the right of the ejecting rod 72 will cause engagement of a dog 181 mounted pivotably by a pin 182 from the block 168, with a limit switch 183, suspended from the angle bracket 171 that projects rearwardly from the block. As can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, there is a second dog 184, identical to the dog 181, which is mounted pivotably on a pin 186 extending from the block 168 on the other side of the vertical bar 166.

The dog 181 has a stablizing rod 187 (see FIGS. 2 and 14) extending therefrom and transversely of the axis of the turret change shaft 41 while the dog 184 has a stabilizing rod 188 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 14) extending therefrom. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 14, the actuator bar 166 is received between and engages opposing portions of the circumferential surfaces of the stabilizing

rods

187 and 188. Moreover, the stabilizing

rods

187 and 188 extend through the

dogs

181 and 184 under the block 168. A tension spring 189 (see FIG. 14) is connected to the stabilizing

rods

187 and 188 under the block 168. In this way, the spring 189 urges the lowermost ends of the

dogs

181 and 184 together into engagement with the actuator bar 166. Through this arrangement the actuator bar 166 is maintained in a center, generally vertical, position, subsequent to movement of the ejecting rod 72 and release by air cylinder 172 or solenoid 177.

Going now to FIG. 15, there is shown the electrical circuit, designated generally by the numeral 143, for controlling the operation of the apparatus 20. The circuit 143 includes a cable measuring circuit 200 and a cable marker circuit 201 which are connected to a source of power 202 along

main lines

203 and 204. A cutover switch 206 is connected from the line 203 along a line 207 through a sequence relay 208 back to the line 204. Also a ready switch 209 is connected through junction point 211, through normally closed contact 246-1 of a time delay relay 246, through a junction point 210, through a contact 206-2 off the switch 206 and through a control relay 213. A relay 214 is connected between the junction point 210 and the line 204 with a normally open contact 214-1 thereof connected between the line 203 and the junction point 211. A normally open contact 213-1 of the control relay 213 is connected across the contact 206-2.

A control relay 216 is connected between the

lines

203 and 204 through a normally closed contact 217-1 of a sequencing relay 217. Also another control relay 218 is connected across the

lines

203 and 204 through a normally closed contact 208-1 of the sequencing relay 208.

As is also shown in the cable measuring circuit 200, a length counting switch 221, which is located at the capstan 23 and connected electrically thereto to count pulses as successive sections of the cable 21 are advanced through the capstan is connected across the

lines

203 and 204 through a junction point 222, through normally open contact 218-1 of the control realy 218, through a junction point 223 and through a counter 224 located at the operator's console. The switch 221 is similar to the mercury wetted contact reed switch 153 at the marking apparatus 24 and simply closes each time a magnet on the capstan counter wheel is driven past the switch. The counter 27, positioned at the capstan 23, is connected from the junction point 223 to the line 204.

Another set of counters, 227 and 28 are connected through junction point 229, through a normally closed contact 218-2 of the control relay 218 to the line 204. The

counters

224, 27, 227 and 28 are used as a basis of accuracy reference points to measure the cable length. The

counters

224 and 227 are mounted at the operator console while the

counters

27 and 28 are positioned at the capstan. The counters are arranged in pairs so that the

counters

224 and 27 are used together on a cable 21 while the

counters

227 and 28 are used to measure the length of the next cable being advanced through the line 20.

Another control relay 231 is connected along a line 232through a normally open contact 213-2 of the relay 213 from the junction point 222 to the line 204.

Branch circuits connected in parallel across the junction point 222 and the line 204 also includes a line 233 through a normally open contact 216-1 of the relay 216 and a marker totalizer 234 and a line 236 through a normally closed contact 216-2 of the relay 216 and through a marker totalizer 237. The

marker totalizers

234 and 237 continue to count and accumulate until the relay 216 is deenergized to close and open the contacts 216-1 and 216-2 respectively to switch over to the unused one of the totalizers. Also it is important to realize that the operator may not want to reset the marking length to zero at the start of a new length of cable 21 providing that the structure is the same. In that case, the first footage mark in the new length of cable is the next successive numeral following the last printed on the end of the previous length. To obtain the total length of cable, an operator merely subtracts the beginning mark from the ending mark.

Again referring to the cable measuring circuit 200, it can be seen that the mercury wetted contact reed switch 153 is connected across the

lines

203 and 204 through a line 238 through a junction point 239, through a normally open contact 216-3 of the relay 216 and through a marker counter 241. Also a second marker counter 242 is connected across the junction point 239 and the line 204 through a normally closed contact 216-4 of the relay 216.

In the past, when using the commercially available footage marking machine, an operator would depress the cutover switch 206 to change over on the counters when the length of the first cable 21 appeared on the counter. Simultaneously, the operator would mark the cable jacket with say a crayon. Then after the mark had been advanced to the footage marking apparatus 24, the operator would cut the cable at the crayon mark.

The distance between the counter wheel 22 and the printing head is approximately '11 feet. But in order to reset say the footing marking device 51 and interchange the heads and 87 requires 2 feet, the length of cable travel for one revolution of the drum 36. However, if the pawl 129 has just missed one of the notches 144, the length of cable that could be advanced through the apparatus 24 during reset could be as high as four feet. The average length of cable, then, that is advanced through the apparatus 24 during reset is three feet. Therefore, for automatic operation, the cable marker circuit 201 should be programmed to be rendered effective after an 8 foot length (11-3) of the cable has passed from the footage counter wheel 22 to the apparatus 24.

In order to accomplish this, a preset counter 243 is connected across the

lines

203 and 204 and may be preset to a predetermined length calculated as outlined hereinbefore according to the physical characteristics of the apparatus 20. For example, the preset counter herein is set to count down to eight feet represented by eight pulses at which time the preset counter closes a normally open contact 243-1 connected between the

lines

203 and 204 along a line 244 through a time delay relay 246.

Going again to Fig. 15, reference is made especially to the cable marking circuit 201 for controlling the operation of the interchanging of the coding heads 85 and 87. The circuit 201 includes a line 251 connected across the

main lines

203 and 204 through a selector switch 252 and ajunction point 253 to ajunction point 254.

Branch lines

256 and 257 connected across the

junction points

253 and 254 provide for connections of elements to effect the changeover of the turret 76. The sequence relay 217 is connected from the branch line 256 through a junction point 258 and a contact 246-2 of the time delay relay 246. A reset push button switch 259 is connected from the line 256 through a junction point 261, which is connected to the junction point 258, and then through the winding of the withdrawal solenoid 177 to the line 257. A contact 262-1 of a control relay 262 is connected from the line 256 through a junction point 263 to the junction point 261 with a normally closed contact 264 of a time delay relay 264 connected between the line 256 and the junction point 263.

The limit switch 142 operated by the lever 131 is connected from the line 256 along a line 266 through the time delay 264 to the line 257. The limit switch 183 which is operated by the sliding movement of the ejecting rod 72 is connected from the line 256 along a line 267 through a normally open contact 264-2 of the time delay relay 264, through a junction point 268 nad a control reset relay 262 to the line 257. The reset solenoid 133 is connected along a line 269 to the junction point 268 and the branch line 257. Finally, a selector switch 271 is connected along a line 272 through an air solenoid 273 to the branch 257.

Operation In operation, opportunities mayarise when differently constructed cables having the same outside diameter are to be advanced through the line 21. Of course, the cable 21 will be marked with indicia of footage and coded as to structure. In these instances, it would be desirable to change the coding of the marking applied to successive sections of the cable 21 on the fly. The successive sections of the cable 21 are being pulled through the apparatus by the capstan 23. The operator observes on the counter, say 224 at the console on the counter 27 at the capstan 23 that the end of the first length of cable 21 to be marked with a code presently set on the coding head 85 is approaching. The

counters

224 and 27 are pulsed through the reed switch 221 at the capstan.

It may very well be that the operator does not desire to reset the footage marking device to zero providing, of course, that the code does not change. It must be appreciated that if the code must be changed by interchanging

heads

85 and 87, then the footage marking device 49 will also be reset to zero. The footage printing or marking device 49 is only reset and the turret 76 rotated if the operator depresses the ready switch 209 beforehand to arm the circuit 201. Otherwise, the depression of the cutover switch 206 merely energizes the relay 208 to open the normally closed contact 208-1 to deenergize the relay 218. This would simply close nor mally open contact 218-1 and open the normally closed contact 218-2 to switch from the line counters 224 and 27 to the line counters 227 and 28.

Should the'operator desire to reset the printing head 49 to zero and/or change coding heads, the operator depresses the ready switch 209. Of course, if the operator desires only to reset without changing the code mark, the operator prior to reset the discs 8989 on the coding head 87 to the same as that presently used. It will be recalled that the counter 243 has been set to a predetermined footage which corresponds to the adjusted distance between the footage counter 22 and the marking apparatus 24.

The energization of the relay 214 closes the normally open contact 214-1 to hold in the relay after the ready switch 209 has been released. Subsequently, the operator depresses a cutover switch 206 to complete a circuit through the normally closed contact 212-1 of the time delay relay 212 and through the relay 213 to energize the relay 213. The energization of the relay 213 closes the normally open contacts 213-1 and 213-2. The closing of the contact 213-1 holds in the relay 213 after the cutover switch has been released. The depression of the switch 206 closes circuits through the sequence relay 208 to energize the relay and open the normally closed contact 208-1.

The opening of the normally closed contact 208-1 deenergizes the relay 218 to open the normally closed contact 218-2 and to close the normally open contact 218-1. The closing of the contact 218-1 completes a circuit through the alternating open and closed switch 221 and hence the

counters

224 and 27 at the console and at the capstan respectively. The opening of the contact 218-2 opens a circuit through the counters 227 at the operator's console and the counter 28 at the capstan.

The energization of the control relay 231 closes a normally open contact 231-1 to start the count down of the preset counter 243. The relay 231 is connected to the counter switch at the capstan 23 and duplicates the counter pulses. When the preset counter 243 reaches the preset number, the preset counter contact 243-l closes to complete a circuit through the time delay relay 246. The energization of the relay 246 opens a normally closed contact 246-2 to reset the preset counter to zero and condition the preset counter for another cycle of operation. Also, the energization of the relay 246 opens the normally closed contact 246-1 which deenergizes the relay 213. The deenergization of the relay 213 opens the normally open now closed contact 213-2 to deenergize the relay 231. The deenergization of the relay 231 opens the now closed contact 231-l to discontinue the countdown.

It should be observed that the depression by the operator of the switch 259 accomplishes the same function as the automatic operation through the preset counter 243 except for the transfer of the line or length counters 224 and 227 or 27 and 28. However, this necessitates an operator being at the marking apparatus 24 when the changeover is desired. Since it is customary for one operator to monitor several lines, this is not an approach to be relied on for normal operation.

The completion of the circuit through the time delay relay 246 closes instantaneously a normally open contact 246-3 in the cable marking circuit 201 to complete a circuit through the control relay 217 to energize the relay. The energization of the sequence relay 217 which pulses and opens the normally closed contact 217-1 to deenergize the control relay 216. It is of course assumed that the off-onswitch 252 has been operated to an on position.

The energization of the relay 216 closes the normally open contacts 216-1 and 216-3 and opens the normally closed contacts 216-2 and 216-4. This causes the switching from the marker totalizer 237 to the marker totalizer 234 and from the marker 242 to the marker 241. When the switch 252 is in the on position, a circuit is completed through the time delay relay 264 and the normally closed switch 142 to energize the relay. The energization of the relay 264 opens instantaneously the normally closed contact 264-1 and closes the normally open contact 264-2 after a delay of approximately 1.5 seconds. At this point, the circuit 201 is conditioned to reset or interchange coding heads on command.

The closing of the time close contact 246-2 completes a circuit from the junction point 258 through the contact 246-3 to the junction point 261 and through the winding of the withdrawal solenoid 177 to energize the winding.

The energization of the solenoid 177 urges the plunger 176 to the left as is viewed in FIG. 2 to pivot the actuator bar 166 about the pin 167. As the bar 166 is moved pivotably in a counterclockwise direction as is viewed in FIG. 2 about the pin 167, the dog 181 engages the limit switch 183. Simultaneously, the ejecting rod 72 which is attached through the

bearings

161 and 162 to the bar 166 is moved rearwardly. The energization or the operation of the limit switch 183 energizes completes a circuit from the line 256 through the limit switch, the now closed contact 264-2 and through the reset relay 262 and through the winding of the reset solenoid 133. Also, the energization of the relay 262 closes the contact 262-1 to lock in the circuit through the withdrawal solenoid 177.

The operation of the solenoid 133 to urge the lever 131 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11. As the lever 131 turns the pawl 129 seeks to engage with one of the notches 144-144. Of course, one of the notches 144144 is aligned with the lobe 127 on the drum shaft cam 126. Because of this and with the follower 107 extending from the pawl end of the lever 131, the pawl 129 cannot enter the notch 144 which is aligned with the lobe portion 127. Therefore, the turret change cam 146 continues to turn until the pawl 129 drops into the other one of the notches 144144.

When the solenoid 133 is actuated the actuator bar or core 138 tends to be withdrawn into the solenoid. However, because of the spacing of the notches 144-144 about the periphery of the turret change cam 146, the pawl 129 may not drop immediately into one of the notches. Therefore the core 138 is not drawn completely into the solenoid 133 which may cause excessive energy to be generated which burns out the solenoid. In order to overcome this when the core 138 is moved upwardly the rod 137 is pulled upwardly so that the pin 134 is moved toward the bottom of the elongated or slotted opening 136. This permits the solenoid 133 to seat completely although the notch 144 is not yet aligned with the pawl 129. The upward force of the compression spring 140 on the pin 134 urges the pawl 129 to seat within the notch 144.

As the right hand end of the lever 131 is moved upwardly as viewed in FIG. 10, the limit switch 142 is actuated to open the normally closed limit switch 142 to deenergize the relay 264. The deenergization of the relay 264 closes the normally closed contact 264-1, now open, to lock in the reset button and maintain the ejecting rod 72 withdrawn. The normally open, now closed, contact 264-2 opens to deenergize the relay 262 to deenergize the winding of the solenoid 133. Of course, at that time the holding power of the solenoid 133 is eliminated but the mechanical detent 141 is spring-biased inwardly to the left as is viewed in FIG. 10 into engagement with a notch 139 formed in the end surface of the lever 131.

As the pawl l29 drops into the uncovered one of the notches 144, the turret change shaft 141 is locked against rotation. However, the drum shaft 37 continues to rotate thereby causing relative motion between the drum shaft and the turret change shaft 41. Priorly, because the turret change shaft 41 was freely rotatable within the

bearings

42 and 43 extending through the frame 31, the beveled gear 57 on the turret 76 simply rotated about the beveled gear 56 mounted on the turret change shaft. However, when the turret change shaft 41 is locked in position, the beveled gear 84, which is fixed with respect to the turret 76 is caused to overcome the force of the detent 80 (see FIG. 6) and rotate the turret to move the coder head currently being used to imprint successive sections of the cable 21 from the printing position to an outwardly facing position as shown in FIG. 2. The coder head 87 which was in the outwardly facing position is moved into printing position to imprint a new code on successive sections of a different cable construction which is to be advanced through the apparatus 20.

As the drum shaft 37 continues to rotate, the lobe portion 127 is presented in engagement with the cam follower 128 extending from the pawl end of the lever 131. The lobe portion 127 causes the pawl end of the lever 131 to be urged upwardly to pivot the lever 131 about the fulcrum 132 to disengage the pawl 129 from within the notch 144. At that time, the turret change shaft 41 is rendered freely rotatable once again so there is no relative motion between the drum shaft 37 and the turret change shaft 41.

Also, when the lever 131 is pivoted clockwise as viewed in FIG. 10, the lever is moved out of engagement with the limit switch 142 to close the switch to reenergize the relay 264. The normally closed contact 264-1 opens to deenergize the winding of the withdrawal solenoid 177.

The time delay which is tied into the circuitry of the apparatus 20 is of special significance. Once the operator has put the apparatus into automatic control for changing the coding heads 85 and 87, a subsequent energization of the starting button will have no effect until after the time delay releases control of the circuit to place the circuit into condition for another cycle of operation.

It should also be observed from FIG. 2 that when the solenoid 177 is actuated to pivot the actuator bar 166 to withdraw the ejecting rod 72, that the front end thereof is withdrawn out of the bore 74 of the mounting

portion

78 or 79 which is currently not in use. This unlocks the mounting portion currently not in use so that the turret 76 may be turned rotatably through 180 to position that mounting head into position for coding successive sections of the cable 21. Of course, after the pawl has been disengaged from the notch 144 and after the solenoid 177 has been rendered inoperative to release the bar 166, the actuator bar is returned to a gen erally vertical position by the spring 189 extending under the block 181. This of course has the effect of moving the front end of the ejecting rod 72 within the opening 74 of the portion of the turret 76 which has just been removed from in-line service.

Additionally, as the shaft 41 is locked during the interchanging of the turret coding heads 85 and 87, the footage marking head 51 is also reset to zero to begin a recount on the successive sections of the next cable 26. This is caused by the interaction of the

helical gears

48 and 50. As the shaft 41 is locked into position during the changeover, the small helical gear 50 which is mounted on the drum 36 is caused to be rotated by the now stationary large helical gear 48. Hence, as the small helical gear 50 is revolved about the center line of the drum 36, the shaft 51 is turned to turn the small beveled gears 56 and 57 sufficiently to reset the discs 5959 of the counting head to zero.

Then when the shaft 41 is released from the locked position, and is freely rotatable with respect to the drum 36, the large helical gear 48 simply rotates as the small helical gear 50 is revolved thereabout, thereby causing no relative motion between the helical gears and hence not turning the shaft 51.

The footage marking device 49 is designed to increase the markings on the successive sections of the cable 21 in two foot increments. This is part of the commercial apparatus and includes the rocker 120 which extends rearwardly through a slot 121 within the baffle plate 46 of the drum. As the drum 36 is rotated the cam follower of the footage counter 49 is caused to move vertically upwardly and then downwardly to turn the appropriate disc 59-59 of the footage marking device 49.

Then the normally open contact 261-2 closes after a delay of approximately 1.5 seconds to assure that the locking shaft has moved off the limit switch 183 thereby allowing the limit switch to open. Otherwise the reset cycle would be repeated. This time delay also helps to prevent recycling should the reset button be held longer than necessary.

In at least one of the commercially available footage marking machines which may be modified in accordance with the principles of this invention, the footage marking device 49 is adjusted to be reset before the marking discs 59-59 engage with the transfer roller 67. This insures that the zero marks will be inked. Problems are encountered when adding the modification into that arrangement in that with the above-described turning of the footage marking device 49, the turret, which completes the change cycle in 180 of rotation of the drum 36 is still in the process of interchanging the

heads

85 and 87 when the opening 90 in the drum is moved adjacent the successive sections of the cable To overcome this, the construction of the drum shaft cam 126 and the drum shaft 31 is made so that the position of the drum shaft cam with respect to the drum shaft is adjustable. The position is set so that the turret is perhaps half through the change cycle as the opening is passed adjacent the path of travel of the cable 21. This insures that as the new head 87 is moved into the print position, the new head is not in engagement with the cable 21. Of course, the marking discs 5959 of the footage marking device 49 with this adjustment will have passed the transfer roller 67 before completion of the reset cycle. However, it is believed that there is sufficient residual ink on the discs 5959 to print a zero footage mark.

Should the operator be required to rearrange the discs 89-89 on the coding head 85 now in the eject position and aligned with the opening 91 in the radial surface of the drum 36, the operator may control the apparatus 24 to eject the head. The air cylinder 172 is controlled to move the rod 173 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, to rock pivotally the actuator bar 166 in a clockwise direction. The rocking of the actuator bar 166 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, moves the eject rod 72 through another increment of travel to the left.

The movement of the eject rod 72 through the increment, in addition to the increment travelled in locking the turret 76, is effective to eject the head 85. The end 73 of the rod 72 engages the pintle 94 and urges the head 85 outwardly of the opening 88 in the turret 76. The spring-biased detent 119 is compressed and urged out of the cavity 116 and rides along the surface of the pintle 94. Subsequently, the increment is determined to have the detent 119 engage with the walls of the annular groove to retain the head 85 in a removable position. The operator may now easily remove the head 85 in the eject position by grasping the head and imparting a pulling force thereto.

After the code is reset, the operator inserts the pintle 94 into the opening 88 of the turret 76 until the detent again engages the annular groove 1 15. Then the operator may use a tool specially designed to mate with the head 85 to further urge the pintle within the turret 76 until the detent is received in the cavity 116 and the end 117 in the semi-circular portion of the opening 88. It is important to recognize that the heads in the eject position may be changed while the marking apparatus is being used to code the successive sections of the cable 21.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of applying predetermined markings and sequence of markings to successive sections of an elongated material, which comprises the steps of:

advancing successive sections of an elongated material along a path of travel;

marking successive sections of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined marking and with a sequence of markings;

advancing successive sections of the cable along a the footage marking head being revolved about the locking the turret against rotation about the first axis causing the turret to revolve about the second axis determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the material is to be changed; and

controlling the marking responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking is to be changed to change the predetermined marking to be applied to successive lengths of the successive sections of the material as the material is being advanced and to restart the sequence of markings.

2. A method of applying a predetermined code marking to sucessive sections of a cable and applying a sequence of length marks to the successive sections of the cable interspaced between the code marks, which includes the steps of:

path of travel;

marking sucessive sections of a length of the cable as the successive sections are advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined code and with a sequence of length marks interspaced between the code markings;

detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the predetermined code and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with another predetermined code; and

controlling the marking in response to the detection of the end of the length of cable to change the code from the one predetermined code to the other while the material is being advanced, while path of travel;

mounting a pair of marking devices spaced apart on a turret;

mounting the turret for rotation about a first axis interposed between the marking devices with the marking devices capable of being revolved about the first axis and mounting the turret for revolution about a second axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the successive sections of the cable;

mounting a footage marking head for revolution about the second axis;

second axis being effective to periodically apply a footage mark to successive sections of the cable being advanced therepast;

with the axis of one of the marking devices being coincident with the second axis and with the axis of the other marking device being normal to the second axis and lying in a plane which passes through the path of travel; 6

while rotating the one marking device about the second axis and revolving the other marking device about the second axis;

the other marking device being revolved about the 6 detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the other marking device and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the one marking device;

unlocking the turret to permit rotation of the turret about the first axis; and

causing the turret to rotate about the first axis while the turret is being revolved about the second axis to position the other marking device with the axis thereof coincident with the second axis and to position the one marking device with the axis thereof normal to the second axis and lying in the plane of the path of travel;

resetting simultaneously the footage marking head to a reference position for restarting a sequence of length marks to be applied to the next length of cable; and relocking the turret.

4. A method of changing the markings which are applied by a marking device to predetermined successive sections of an elongated material, which includes the steps of:

advancing successive sections of the elongated material along a path of travel; mounting the marking device for movement between a marking position which is revolved about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the elongated material and a non-marking position lying generally along and rotated about the axis of revolution; the marking device in the marking position being effective to apply periodically a marking to predetermined successive sections of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel;

determining when the marking applied to the predetermined successive sections of the material is to be changed; and

controlling the movement of the marking device to move the marking device upon determination that a change in markings is to be effected. 5. A method of aplying a predetermined code marking to successive sections of a cable, which includes the steps of:

advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel;

mounting a first marking device for revolution about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the successive sections of the cable while mounting a second marking device for rotation about the axis;

the path of revolution about the axis passing adjacent the path of travel of the cable;

the marking device mounted for revolution about the axis being effective to periodically apply a predetermined marking to successive sections of the cable being advanced along the path of travel; orbiting the first marking device marking device about the axis while rotating the second marking device about the axis;

detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the first marking device and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the second marking device; and

moving the first and second marking devices to interchange the positions thereof to mark the next length of cable with the second marking device.

6. A method of applying selective markings to successive sections of a cable, which includes the steps of:

means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the predetermined code and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with another predetermined code; and means responsive to the detection of the end of the length of cable for changing the code from the predetermined code to the other predetermined code while the cable is being advanced and for simultaneously restarting the sequence of length marks. 10. Apparatus for applying a predetermined code marking to successive sections of a cable and applying a sequence of length marks to the successive sections of the cable interspaced between the code marks, which comprises:

advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel;

mounting a pair of marking devices spaced apart on a turret;

locking the turret against rotation about the first axis with the axis of one of the marking devices being coincident with the second axis and with the axis of means for determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the material is to be changed; and

means responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking is to be changed for controlquential length marks interposed between the code marks;

the other marking device being normal to the secmeans for advancing the cable along a path of travel; ond axis and lying in a plane which passes through first and second coding heads; the path of travel; means for holding one of the coding heads in a posicausing the turret to revolve about the second axis tion at least periodically in enagement with succeswhile rotating the one marking device about the sive sections of the cable and for holding the other second axis and revolving the other marking device one of the coding heads aligned with an axis spaced about the second axis; from and transverse of the path of travel; the other marking device being revolved about the means for mounting the holding means to revolve second axis being effective to periodically apply a about the axis; predetermined marking to successive sections of the one of the coding heads being mounted to revolve the cable being advanced along the path of travel; about the axis; detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked a footage marking head;

with the other marking device and the beginning of means for mounting the footing marking head for a next length of cable to be marked with the one revolution about the axis to position the footage marking device; marking device at least periodically in engagement unlocking the turret to permit rotation of the turret with successive sections of the cable;

about the first axis; and means for revolving the holding means and the causing the turret to rotate about the first axis while mounting means about the axis to revolve the one the turret is being revolved about the second axis coding head and the footage marking head about to position the other marking device with the axis the axis and to rotate the other coding head about thereof coincident with the second axis and to posithe axis; tion the one marking device with the axis thereof the one coding head in the cable engaging position normal to the second axis and lying in the plane of being effective to apply a predetermined marking the path of travel; and relocking the turret. to successive sections of the cable being advanced 7. The method of claim 6, which includes the step of along the path of travel; ejecting the marking device which is in the position means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be with the axis thereof coincident with the second axis. .marked with the first coding head and the begin- 8. An apparatus for marking successive sections of an ning of a next length of cable to be marked with the elongated material, which includes; other coding head; and

means for advancing successive sections of the elonmeans controlled by the detecting means for intergated material along a path of travel; changing the positions of the one code marking means for marking successive sections of the elonhead and the other code marking head and for sigated material being advanced along the path of multaneously resetting the footage marking device travel with apredetermined marking and with aseto mark the next length of cable with the other quence of markings; head and to restart the sequence of markings.

11. An apparatus for marking successive sections of a cable, which includes:

means for advancing the successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; a frame;

ling the marking means to change the predetera first hollow shaft extending through and mounted mined marking to be applied to successive sections rotatably in the frame; of the material are being advanced and to restart a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surthe sequence of markings. face thereof and having an opening formed in the 9. Apparatus for applying markings to successive seccircumferential surface thereof; tions of a cable, which includes: the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved romeans for advancing successive sections of the cable tatably therewith;

along a path of travel; a stub shaft mounted on the drum and extending to means for marking successive sections of a length of the interior of the drum;

cable as the successive sections are advanced along means for turning continuously the first shaft and the the path with a predetermined code and with sedrum;

a turret mounted rotatably on the stub shaft with one end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum and the other end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the circumferential surface of the drum;

the mounting of the turret on the drums being such that the turret moves with the drum without relative motion therebetween;

each end of the turret having a blind bore formed therein, an inner end of the bore having a stepped configuration, the bores being formed with the centerline of the one bore being coplanar with the path of travel of the cable and normal to the axis of rotation of the drum and with the centerline of the other bore coincident with the axis of rotation of the drum, further the turret having a hole communicating with the inner end of each bore to an external surface of the turret;

the turret having a spring-biased detent in each end of the arm and projecting transversely thereof into the associated bore at the end of the arm;

a first code marking head having facilities for changing the coding thereof;

the first code marking head having a mounting shaft extending therefrom, an end of the shaft having a stepped configuration;

further the code marking head having an annular groove formed in the outer surface of the mounting shaft and a cavity formed therein and interposed between the groove and the marking portion of the head;

a second code marking head identical to the first code marking head;

a footage marking device mounted on the drum for rotation therewith and mounted to engage periodically the successive sections of a length of cable to mark the cable with a sequence of marks;

each of the coding heads mounted on one end of the turret with the mounting shaft thereof received in the associated bore and with the detent associated with the end of the turret being received in the cavity in the mounting shaft and with the stepped configuration of the mounting shaft being received in the stepped bore in the turret;

a second hollow shaft extending through the first hollow shaft and mounted normally freely rotatably therein;

means for turning the second holow shaft with the drum;

the rotation of the drum causing the head aligned with the circumferential opening to be revolved about the drum axis and periodically moved into engagement with successive sections of the cable and to cause the head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum to be rotated about the axis of rotation of the drum;

a drum shaft cam mounted on the drum shaft and having a lobe formed therein;

a reset cam having diametrically opposed notches formed in the peripheral edge thereof, the lobe on the drum shaft being aligned with one of the notches;

a lever having a pawl formed in one end;

means mounting the lever with the pawl adaption to be moved pivotally into one of the notches;

the lever having a cam follower extending laterally thereof into the path of travel of the lobe;

means for rotating pivotally the lever;

means movable selectively in one direction for unlocking the turret and operating the rotating means and through first and second increments of travel in an opposite direction for locking the turret and ejecting the coding head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum, respectively;

the movement of the pawl into one of the notches being effective to lock the second hollow shaft against rotation and to cause relative motion between the drum and the second hollow shaft to cause the turret to rotate on the stub shaft to interchange the positions of the coding heads;

the continued rotation of the drum shaft cam causing the lobe thereof to engage the cam follower on the lever to raise the pawl out of the notch whereupon the second hollow shaft is unlocked to conclude the relative motion between the turret and the drum;

means responsive to the movement of the pawl out of the one of the notches for relocking the turret until the next change of coding heads is to be effected; and

means connected to the second hollow shaft and responsive to the locking thereof for resetting the footage counting device to restart the sequence of marks on the next successive length of the cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for turning the second hollow shaft with the drum includes:

a first bevel gear mounted on the end of the second shaft;

a second bevel gear mounted fixedly on the end of the stub shaft extending through the turret and in meshing engagement with the first gear; and

the unlocking of the turret and the locking of the second hollow shaft causing the second bevel gear to turn relative to the now stationary first gear and revolve about the first gear whereupon relative motion is caused between the turret and the drum and the turret is turned to move the second head into alignment with the path of travel of the cable and the first head into the eject position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means movable in one direction for unlocking the turret and operating the means for rotating the lever and through first and second increments of travel in an opposite direction of travel for locking the turret and ejecting the head, respectively, includes an eject rod mounted slidably within the second hollow shaft and having one end thereof extending toward the end of the mounting shaft of the coding head held in the turret and into the hole communicating the stepped bore of the end of the arm aligned with the opening in the radial surface coincident with the drum axis, the eject rod being returned through the first increment of travel in the opposite direction upon completion of the cycle to relock the turret, the eject rod being movable through the second increment of travel in the opposite direction for ejecting the coding head aligned with the radial opening in the drum, the detent being compressed and moved out of the cavity in the mounting shaft of the coding head in the eject position and riding along the surface of the mounting shaft until the detent is urged into the annular groove to retain loosely the head in the turret to facilitate removal by an operator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, which also includes:

means selectively operable for causing the eject rod to be wthdrawn in the one direction to unlock the turret to permit interchanging the heads and for causing the rod to be moved through the second increment of travel in the opposite direction for ejecting the coding head in the eject position. 15. An apparatus for changing the markings which are applied to predetermined successive sections of an elongated material being moved along a path of travel, which includes:

at least one marking head; means mounting the marking head for movement between a marking position which is periodically adjacent the path of travel of the successive sections of the elongated material and a non-marking position spaced a fixed distance from the path of travel;

means for determining when the changing of the markings is to be effected; and

means controlled by the determining means for moving the mounting means to move the marking head from one of the positions into the other one of the positions while the successive sections of the elongated material are being advanced along the path of travel adjacent the marking position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the marking position which is adjacent periodically to the path of travel of the successive sections of the elongated material is constantly substantially within a plane which contains the axis of the path of travel of the elongated material.

17. An apparatus for changing code markings which are applied to successive sections of a cable, which includes:

means for advancing the successive sections of the cable along a path of travel;

first and second coding heads;

means rotatably mounted for holding the first head in a marking position and the second head in an eject position;

means mounted rotatably about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel for supporting the holding means to position the first head in the marking position radially of the axis and the second head in the eject position axially of the mounting means; and

means normally locking the rotatably mounted holding means with respect to the supporting means and linearly movable in a first direction fo unlock ing the holding means to permit relative movement between the supporting means and the holding means to permit the second head to be moved into the marking position and the first head to be moved into the eject position and linearly movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for ejecting the coding head in the eject position.

18. Apparatus for changing coding heads which are used to mark a cable being advanced along a path of travel, which includes:

first and second coding heads,

means rotatably mounted for holding the first head in a printing position and the second coding head in an eject position;

means for orbiting the holding means about an axis transverse of and spaced from the path of travel of the cable, to periodically move the first coding head into engagement with successive sections of the cable;

the rotatably mounted means being normally locked with respect to the orbiting means with no relative motion therebetween;

means normally unoperated for unlocking the rotatably mounted means with respect to the orbiting means; and

means rendered effective with the unlocking of the rotatably mounted means for causing relative movement between the rotatably mounted means and the orbiting means to move the second head into the printing position and the first head into the eject position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, which also includes:

means for ejecting the coding head in the eject position.

20. An apparatus for applying selective markings to successive sections of a cable, which includes:

first and second marking devices each having a plurality of coding wheels mounted rotatably thereon which may be preset to a predetermined marking combination;

means mounted rotatably for holding the first marking device periodically adjacent a path of travel of the successive sections of the cable and for holding the second marking device removed from the path of travel;

means mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel for mounting the holding means to orient the first marking device radially of the axis and the second marking device axially thereof;

means for rotating the mounting means to orbit the first marking device about the axis and to rotate the second mounting means about the axis;

means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the first marking device and the beginning of a next successive length of cable to be marked with the second marking device, and

means controlled by the detecting means for rotating the holding means to interchange the first and the second marking devices to mark the next successive length of cable with the second marking device.

21. An apparatus for marking successive sections of a cable, which includes:

a frame;

a first hollow shaft extending through and mounted rotatably in the frame;

a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surface thereof and having an opening in the circumferential surface thereof;

the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved ro tatably therewith;

a stub shaft mounted on the drum and extending to the interior of the drum;

means for turning continuously the first shaft and the drum;

a first code marking head having facilities for chaning the coding thereof;

a second code marking head identical to the first code marking head;

each of the coding heads mounted on one end of the turret with the mounting shaft thereof received in the associated bore and with the detent associated with the end of the turret being received in the cav ity in the mounting shaft and with the stepped configuration of the mounting shaft being received in the stepped bore in the turret;

a second hollow shaft extending through the first hollow shaft and mounted -normally freely rotatably therein;

means for turning the second hollow shaft with the drum;

a drum shaft cam mounted on the drum shaft and having a lobe formed therein;

a lever having a pawl formed in one end;

means for rotating pivotally the lever;

the continued rotation of the drum shaft cam causing the lobe thereof to engage the cam follower on the lever to raise the pawl out of the notch whereupon the second hollow shaft is unlocked to conclude the relative motion between the turret and the drum; and

means responsive to the movement of the pawl out of the one of the notches for relocking the turret until the next change of coding heads is to be effected.

22. An apparatus for marking successive sections of elongated materials being advanced therethrough interchangeably selectively with codes, which includes: a first code marking head having facilities for changing the coding thereof, the first code marking head having a mounting shaft extending therefrom, an end of the mounting shaft being semicircular in cross-sectional shape, further, the code marking head having an annular groove and a cavity formed in the outer surface of the mounting shaft; a second code marking head identical to the first head; a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surface thereof and having an opening formed in the circumferential surface thereof; a pin mounted on the drum and extending to the interior of the drum; a frame; a first shaft extending through and mounted rotatably in the frame; the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved rotatably therewith; means for turning continuously the drum; a turret, which includes:

an arm being mounted rotatably on the pin of the drum with one end of the arm being aligned with the opening in the radial surface and the other end of the arm being aligned with the opening in the circumferential surface;

each end of the arm having an opening formed therein, an inner end of the opening being stepped with a semi-circular ledge, the openings being formed with the center line of the one opening being coplanar with a path of travel of the cable and normal to the axis of the drum and with the center line of the other opening coincident with the drum axis;

a spring-biased detent mounted in each end of the arm and projecting transversely thereof;

each of the coding heads mounted on an end of the arm with the shaft thereof received in the associated opening and with the detent associated with the end of the arm being urged into the cavity of the mounting shaft;

the mounting of the turret on the drum being such that the turret moves with the drum without relative motion therebetween;

an eject rod mounted within the second shaft and having one end thereof extending toward the end of the mounting shaft of the coding head held in

Claims

1. A method of applying predetermined markings and sequence of markings to successive sections of an elongated material, which comprises the steps of: advancing successive sections of an elongated material along a path of travel; marking successive sections of the elongated maTerial being advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined marking and with a sequence of markings; determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the material is to be changed; and controlling the marking responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking is to be changed to change the predetermined marking to be applied to successive lengths of the successive sections of the material as the material is being advanced and to restart the sequence of markings.

2. A method of applying a predetermined code marking to sucessive sections of a cable and applying a sequence of length marks to the successive sections of the cable interspaced between the code marks, which includes the steps of: advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; marking sucessive sections of a length of the cable as the successive sections are advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined code and with a sequence of length marks interspaced between the code markings; detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the predetermined code and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with another predetermined code; and controlling the marking in response to the detection of the end of the length of cable to change the code from the one predetermined code to the other while the material is being advanced, while restarting the sequence of length marks.

3. A method of applying a predetermined code marking to successive sections of a cable and applying a sequence of length marks to the successive sections of the cable interposed between the code marks, which includes the steps of: advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; mounting a pair of marking devices spaced apart on a turret; mounting the turret for rotation about a first axis interposed between the marking devices with the marking devices capable of being revolved about the first axis and mounting the turret for revolution about a second axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the successive sections of the cable; mounting a footage marking head for revolution about the second axis; the footage marking head being revolved about the second axis being effective to periodically apply a footage mark to successive sections of the cable being advanced therepast; locking the turret against rotation about the first axis with the axis of one of the marking devices being coincident with the second axis and with the axis of the other marking device being normal to the second axis and lying in a plane which passes through the path of travel; causing the turret to revolve about the second axis while rotating the one marking device about the second axis and revolving the other marking device about the second axis; the other marking device being revolved about the second axis being effective to periodically apply a predetermined marking to successive sections of the cable being advanced along the path of travel; detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the other marking device and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the one marking device; unlocking the turret to permit rotation of the turret about the first axis; and causing the turret to rotate about the first axis while the turret is being revolved about the second axis to position the other marking device with the axis thereof coincident with the second axis and to position the one marking device with the axis thereof normal to the second axis and lying in the plane of the path of travel; resetting simultaneously the footage marking head to a reference position for restarting a sequence of length marks to be applied to the next length of cable; and relocking the turret.

4. A method of changing the markings which are applied by a marking device to predetermined successive sections of an elongated material, which includeS the steps of: advancing successive sections of the elongated material along a path of travel; mounting the marking device for movement between a marking position which is revolved about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the elongated material and a non-marking position lying generally along and rotated about the axis of revolution; the marking device in the marking position being effective to apply periodically a marking to predetermined successive sections of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel; determining when the marking applied to the predetermined successive sections of the material is to be changed; and controlling the movement of the marking device to move the marking device upon determination that a change in markings is to be effected.

5. A method of aplying a predetermined code marking to successive sections of a cable, which includes the steps of: advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; mounting a first marking device for revolution about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the successive sections of the cable while mounting a second marking device for rotation about the axis; the path of revolution about the axis passing adjacent the path of travel of the cable; the marking device mounted for revolution about the axis being effective to periodically apply a predetermined marking to successive sections of the cable being advanced along the path of travel; orbiting the first marking device marking device about the axis while rotating the second marking device about the axis; detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the first marking device and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the second marking device; and moving the first and second marking devices to interchange the positions thereof to mark the next length of cable with the second marking device.

6. A method of applying selective markings to successive sections of a cable, which includes the steps of: advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; mounting a pair of marking devices spaced apart on a turret; mounting the turret for rotation about a first axis interposed between the marking devices with the marking devices capable of being revolved about the first axis and mounting the turret for revolution about a second axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel of the successive sections of the cable; locking the turret against rotation about the first axis with the axis of one of the marking devices being coincident with the second axis and with the axis of the other marking device being normal to the second axis and lying in a plane which passes through the path of travel; causing the turret to revolve about the second axis while rotating the one marking device about the second axis and revolving the other marking device about the second axis; the other marking device being revolved about the second axis being effective to periodically apply a predetermined marking to successive sections of the cable being advanced along the path of travel; detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the other marking device and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the one marking device; unlocking the turret to permit rotation of the turret about the first axis; and causing the turret to rotate about the first axis while the turret is being revolved about the second axis to position the other marking device with the axis thereof coincident with the second axis and to position the one marking device with the axis thereof normal to the second axis and lying in the plane of the path of travel; and relocking the turret.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes the step of ejecting the marking device which is in the position with the axis thereof coincident with the second axis.

8. An apparatus for mArking successive sections of an elongated material, which includes; means for advancing successive sections of the elongated material along a path of travel; means for marking successive sections of the elongated material being advanced along the path of travel with a predetermined marking and with a sequence of markings; means for determining when the predetermined marking to be applied to the successive sections of the material is to be changed; and means responsive to the determination that the predetermined marking is to be changed for controlling the marking means to change the predetermined marking to be applied to successive sections of the material are being advanced and to restart the sequence of markings.

9. Apparatus for applying markings to successive sections of a cable, which includes: means for advancing successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; means for marking successive sections of a length of cable as the successive sections are advanced along the path with a predetermined code and with sequential length marks interposed between the code marks; means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the predetermined code and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with another predetermined code; and means responsive to the detection of the end of the length of cable for changing the code from the predetermined code to the other predetermined code while the cable is being advanced and for simultaneously restarting the sequence of length marks.

10. Apparatus for applying a predetermined code marking to successive sections of a cable and applying a sequence of length marks to the successive sections of the cable interspaced between the code marks, which comprises: means for advancing the cable along a path of travel; first and second coding heads; means for holding one of the coding heads in a position at least periodically in enagement with successive sections of the cable and for holding the other one of the coding heads aligned with an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel; means for mounting the holding means to revolve about the axis; the one of the coding heads being mounted to revolve about the axis; a footage marking head; means for mounting the footing marking head for revolution about the axis to position the footage marking device at least periodically in engagement with successive sections of the cable; means for revolving the holding means and the mounting means about the axis to revolve the one coding head and the footage marking head about the axis and to rotate the other coding head about the axis; the one coding head in the cable engaging position being effective to apply a predetermined marking to successive sections of the cable being advanced along the path of travel; means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the first coding head and the beginning of a next length of cable to be marked with the other coding head; and means controlled by the detecting means for interchanging the positions of the one code marking head and the other code marking head and for simultaneously resetting the footage marking device to mark the next length of cable with the other head and to restart the sequence of markings.

11. An apparatus for marking successive sections of a cable, which includes: means for advancing the successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; a frame; a first hollow shaft extending through and mounted rotatably in the frame; a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surface thereof and having an opening formed in the circumferential surface thereof; the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved rotatably therewith; a stub shaft mounted on the drum and extending to the interior of the drum; means for turning continuously the first shaft and the drum; a turret mounted rotatably on the stub shafT with one end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum and the other end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the circumferential surface of the drum; the mounting of the turret on the drums being such that the turret moves with the drum without relative motion therebetween; each end of the turret having a blind bore formed therein, an inner end of the bore having a stepped configuration, the bores being formed with the centerline of the one bore being coplanar with the path of travel of the cable and normal to the axis of rotation of the drum and with the centerline of the other bore coincident with the axis of rotation of the drum, further the turret having a hole communicating with the inner end of each bore to an external surface of the turret; the turret having a spring-biased detent in each end of the arm and projecting transversely thereof into the associated bore at the end of the arm; a first code marking head having facilities for changing the coding thereof; the first code marking head having a mounting shaft extending therefrom, an end of the shaft having a stepped configuration; further the code marking head having an annular groove formed in the outer surface of the mounting shaft and a cavity formed therein and interposed between the groove and the marking portion of the head; a second code marking head identical to the first code marking head; a footage marking device mounted on the drum for rotation therewith and mounted to engage periodically the successive sections of a length of cable to mark the cable with a sequence of marks; each of the coding heads mounted on one end of the turret with the mounting shaft thereof received in the associated bore and with the detent associated with the end of the turret being received in the cavity in the mounting shaft and with the stepped configuration of the mounting shaft being received in the stepped bore in the turret; a second hollow shaft extending through the first hollow shaft and mounted normally freely rotatably therein; means for turning the second holow shaft with the drum; the rotation of the drum causing the head aligned with the circumferential opening to be revolved about the drum axis and periodically moved into engagement with successive sections of the cable and to cause the head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum to be rotated about the axis of rotation of the drum; a drum shaft cam mounted on the drum shaft and having a lobe formed therein; a reset cam having diametrically opposed notches formed in the peripheral edge thereof, the lobe on the drum shaft being aligned with one of the notches; a lever having a pawl formed in one end; means mounting the lever with the pawl adaption to be moved pivotally into one of the notches; the lever having a cam follower extending laterally thereof into the path of travel of the lobe; means for rotating pivotally the lever; means movable selectively in one direction for unlocking the turret and operating the rotating means and through first and second increments of travel in an opposite direction for locking the turret and ejecting the coding head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum, respectively; the movement of the pawl into one of the notches being effective to lock the second hollow shaft against rotation and to cause relative motion between the drum and the second hollow shaft to cause the turret to rotate on the stub shaft to interchange the positions of the coding heads; the continued rotation of the drum shaft cam causing the lobe thereof to engage the cam follower on the lever to raise the pawl out of the notch whereupon the second hollow shaft is unlocked to conclude the relative motion between the turret and the drum; means responsive to the movement of the pawl out of the one of the notches for relocking the turret until the next change of coding hEads is to be effected; and means connected to the second hollow shaft and responsive to the locking thereof for resetting the footage counting device to restart the sequence of marks on the next successive length of the cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for turning the second hollow shaft with the drum includes: a first bevel gear mounted on the end of the second shaft; a second bevel gear mounted fixedly on the end of the stub shaft extending through the turret and in meshing engagement with the first gear; and the unlocking of the turret and the locking of the second hollow shaft causing the second bevel gear to turn relative to the now stationary first gear and revolve about the first gear whereupon relative motion is caused between the turret and the drum and the turret is turned to move the second head into alignment with the path of travel of the cable and the first head into the eject position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, which also includes: means selectively operable for causing the eject rod to be wthdrawn in the one direction to unlock the turret to permit interchanging the heads and for causing the rod to be moved through the second increment of travel in the opposite direction for ejecting the coding head in the eject position.

15. An apparatus for changing the markings which are applied to predetermined successive sections of an elongated material being moved along a path of travel, which includes: at least one marking head; means mounting the marking head for movement between a marking position which is periodically adjacent the path of travel of the successive sections of the elongated material and a non-marking position spaced a fixed distance from the path of travel; means for determining when the changing of the markings is to be effected; and means controlled by the determining means for moving the mounting means to move the marking head from one of the positions into the other one of the positions while the successive sections of the elongated material are being advanced along the path of travel adjacent the marking position.

17. An apparatus for changing code markings which are applied to successive sections of a cable, which includes: means for advancing the successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; first and second coding heads; means rotatably mounted for holding the first head in a marking position and the second head in an eject Position; means mounted rotatably about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel for supporting the holding means to position the first head in the marking position radially of the axis and the second head in the eject position axially of the mounting means; and means normally locking the rotatably mounted holding means with respect to the supporting means and linearly movable in a first direction fo unlocking the holding means to permit relative movement between the supporting means and the holding means to permit the second head to be moved into the marking position and the first head to be moved into the eject position and linearly movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for ejecting the coding head in the eject position.

18. Apparatus for changing coding heads which are used to mark a cable being advanced along a path of travel, which includes: first and second coding heads, means rotatably mounted for holding the first head in a printing position and the second coding head in an eject position; means for orbiting the holding means about an axis transverse of and spaced from the path of travel of the cable, to periodically move the first coding head into engagement with successive sections of the cable; the rotatably mounted means being normally locked with respect to the orbiting means with no relative motion therebetween; means normally unoperated for unlocking the rotatably mounted means with respect to the orbiting means; and means rendered effective with the unlocking of the rotatably mounted means for causing relative movement between the rotatably mounted means and the orbiting means to move the second head into the printing position and the first head into the eject position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, which also includes: means for ejecting the coding head in the eject position.

20. An apparatus for applying selective markings to successive sections of a cable, which includes: first and second marking devices each having a plurality of coding wheels mounted rotatably thereon which may be preset to a predetermined marking combination; means mounted rotatably for holding the first marking device periodically adjacent a path of travel of the successive sections of the cable and for holding the second marking device removed from the path of travel; means mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from and transverse of the path of travel for mounting the holding means to orient the first marking device radially of the axis and the second marking device axially thereof; means for rotating the mounting means to orbit the first marking device about the axis and to rotate the second mounting means about the axis; means for detecting the end of a length of cable to be marked with the first marking device and the beginning of a next successive length of cable to be marked with the second marking device, and means controlled by the detecting means for rotating the holding means to interchange the first and the second marking devices to mark the next successive length of cable with the second marking device.

21. An apparatus for marking successive sections of a cable, which includes: means for advancing the successive sections of the cable along a path of travel; a frame; a first hollow shaft extending through and mounted rotatably in the frame; a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surface thereof and having an opening in the circumferential surface thereof; the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved rotatably therewith; a stub shaft mounted on the drum and extending to the interior of the drum; means for turning continuously the first shaft and the drum; a turret mounted rotatably on the stub shaft with one end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum and the other end of the turret being aligned with the opening in the circumferential surface of the drum; the mounting of the turret on the drums being such that the turret moves with the drum without relative motion therebetween; each end of the turret having a blind bore formed therein, an inner end of the bore having a stepped configuration, the bores being formed with the centerline of the one bore being coplanar with the path of travel of the cable and normal to the axis of rotation of the drum and with the centerline of the other bore coincident with the axis of rotation of the drum, further the turret having a hole communicating with the inner end of each bore to an external surface of the turret; the turret having a spring-biased detent in each end of the arm and projecting transversely thereof into the associated bore at the end of the arm; a first code marking head having facilities for chaning the coding thereof; the first code marking head having a mounting shaft extending therefrom, an end of the shaft having a stepped configuration; further the code marking head having an annular groove formed in the outer surface of the mounting shaft and a cavity formed therein and interposed between the groove and the marking portion of the head; a second code marking head identical to the first code marking head; each of the coding heads mounted on one end of the turret with the mounting shaft thereof received in the associated bore and with the detent associated with the end of the turret being received in the cavity in the mounting shaft and with the stepped configuration of the mounting shaft being received in the stepped bore in the turret; a second hollow shaft extending through the first hollow shaft and mounted normally freely rotatably therein; means for turning the second hollow shaft with the drum; the rotation of the drum causing the head aligned with the circumferential opening to be revolved about the drum axis and periodically moved into engagement with successive sections of the cable and to cause the head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum to be rotated about the axis of rotation of the drum; a drum shaft cam mounted on the drum shaft and having a lobe formed therein; a reset cam having diametrically opposed notches formed in the peripheral edge thereof, the lobe on the drum shaft being aligned with one of the notches; a lever having a pawl formed in one end; means mounting the lever with the pawl adaption to be moved pivotally into one of the notches; the lever having a cam follower extending laterally thereof into the path of travel of the lobe; means for rotating pivotally the lever; means movable selectively in one direction for unlocking the turret and operating the rotating means and through first and second increments of travel in an opposite direction for locking the turret and ejecting the coding head aligned with the opening in the radial surface of the drum, respectively; the movement of the pawl into one of the notches being effective to lock the second hollow shaft against rotation and to cause relative motion between the drum and the second hollow shaft to cause the turret to rotate on the stub shaft to interchange the positions of the coding heads; the continued rotation of the drum shaft cam causing the lobe thereof to engage the cam follower on the lever to raise the pawl out of the notch whereupon the second hollow shaft is unlocked to conclude the relative motion between the turret and the drum; and means responsive to the movement of the pawl out of the one of the notches for relocking the turret until the next change of coding heads is to be effected.

22. An apparatus for marking successive sections of elongated materials being advanced therethrough interchangeably selectively with codes, which includes: a first code marking head having facilities for changing the coding thereof, the first code marking head having a mounting shaft extending therefrom, an end of the mounting shaft being semicircuLar in cross-sectional shape, further, the code marking head having an annular groove and a cavity formed in the outer surface of the mounting shaft; a second code marking head identical to the first head; a hollow drum having an opening in one radial surface thereof and having an opening formed in the circumferential surface thereof; a pin mounted on the drum and extending to the interior of the drum; a frame; a first shaft extending through and mounted rotatably in the frame; the drum being mounted on the shaft to be moved rotatably therewith; means for turning continuously the drum; a turret, which includes: an arm being mounted rotatably on the pin of the drum with one end of the arm being aligned with the opening in the radial surface and the other end of the arm being aligned with the opening in the circumferential surface; each end of the arm having an opening formed therein, an inner end of the opening being stepped with a semi-circular ledge, the openings being formed with the center line of the one opening being coplanar with a path of travel of the cable and normal to the axis of the drum and with the center line of the other opening coincident with the drum axis; a spring-biased detent mounted in each end of the arm and projecting transversely thereof; each of the coding heads mounted on an end of the arm with the shaft thereof received in the associated opening and with the detent associated with the end of the arm being urged into the cavity of the mounting shaft; the mounting of the turret on the drum being such that the turret moves with the drum without relative motion therebetween; a second hollow shaft extending through the first hollow shaft and mounted normally freely rotatably therein; an eject rod mounted within the second shaft and having one end thereof extending toward the end of the mounting shaft of the coding head held in and into the opening in the end of the arm aligned with the opening in the radial surface; a first bevel gear mounted on the end of the second shaft; a second bevel gear mounted fixedly on the end of the rod extending through the turret and in meshing engagement with the first gear; the rotation of the drum causing the second gear to be revolved about the first gear to turn the first gear; a drum shaft cam mounted on the drum shaft and having a lobe formed thereon; a reset cam having diametrically opposed notches formed in the peripheral edge thereof, the lobe on the drum shaft cam being aligned with one of the notches; a lever having a pawl formed in one end; means mounting the lever with the pawl adapted to be moved pivotably into one of the notches; the lever having a cam follower extending laterally thereof into the path of travel of the lobe; means for rotating pivotably the lever; means moving the eject rod axially in a first direction for unlocking the turret operating the rotating means and in a second direction opposite to the first direction for ejecting the coding head aligned with the opening in the radial surface; means for causing the eject rod to be moved axially in the first direction; means responsive to the axial movement of the eject rod for actuating the rotating means for pivotably moving the lever to engage the pawl with one of the notches on the reset cam to lock the hollow shaft and to withdraw the rod and cause the second bevel gear to turn relative to the now stationary first bevel gear and revolve about the first gear whereupon relative motion is caused between the turret and the drum and the arm is turned to move the second coding head into alignment with the path of travel of the cable and the first head into the eject position; the continued rotation of the drum shaft cam causing the lobe thereof to engage the cam follower on the lever to raise the pawl out of the notch whereupon the second shaft is unlocked to conclude the relative motion between the turret and tHe drum; and means responsive to the movement of the pawl out of the notch for urging the rod into the opening of the turrent colinear with the drum shaft to lock the turret against movement.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, which also includes: means for causing the eject rod to be moved axially in the second direction to engage the mounting shaft of the head in the eject position and urge that head outwardly from the turret; and the spring biased detent being urged out of the cavity in the head and moved relatively along the mounting shaft until the detent engages the annular groove to hold the head in the arm loosely to facilitate removal by an operator.

24. A device for applying a predetermined code mark comprised of a sequence of identifying characters to successive sections of a cable being advanced along a path of travel, which includes: a frame; a shaft mounted in the frame, the shaft having a semi-circular groove formed longitudinally therealong, further, the shaft having a plurality of passageways spaced therealong, each of the passageways being formed along a diameter of the shaft; a plurality of discs mounted on the shaft in abutting relationship, each of the discs having a plurality of characters spaced about the periphery thereof, each of the discs having a plurality of notches spaced around the periphery of the walls of the opening through which the shaft extends, each of the notches being aligned with one of the characters; a pair of spaced detents mounted in each of the passageways; a spring interposed between each pair of the detents for urging the detents into diametrically opposed ones of the notches; and a rod extending longitudinally within the groove, the rod having a chordal portion thereof removed whereupon the discs are locked in preselected positions on the shaft when the circular portion of the rod is received in aligned ones of the notches in the discs and the discs are unlocked and capable of being turned when the circular portion of the rod is received in the groove of the shaft.