WO1987005263A1 - Appareil a imprimer des caracteres d'identification - Google Patents

Appareil a imprimer des caracteres d'identification Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1987005263A1
WO1987005263A1 PCT/GB1987/000090 GB8700090W WO8705263A1 WO 1987005263 A1 WO1987005263 A1 WO 1987005263A1 GB 8700090 W GB8700090 W GB 8700090W WO 8705263 A1 WO8705263 A1 WO 8705263A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cable
print
identification
carriage
head
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1987/000090
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Colin Jones
John Peter Foulsham
Original Assignee
Microtek Avon Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB868604796A external-priority patent/GB8604796D0/en
Priority claimed from GB868630505A external-priority patent/GB8630505D0/en
Application filed by Microtek Avon Limited filed Critical Microtek Avon Limited
Publication of WO1987005263A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987005263A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41K—STAMPS; STAMPING OR NUMBERING APPARATUS OR DEVICES
    • B41K3/00—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped
    • B41K3/02—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface
    • B41K3/04—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface and movable at right angles to the surface to be stamped
    • B41K3/10—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface and movable at right angles to the surface to be stamped having automatic means for changing type-characters, e.g. numbering devices
    • B41K3/102—Numbering devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/008—Numbering devices for printing on articles other than sheets or webs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to identification printing apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, to apparatus for printing identification on a cable or the like. It is known to print identification on cables or on tubing for attachment to cables by a variety of means.
  • One group of machines uses a print head comprising a number of wheels which are heated so as to print characters on the periphery of the wheel when pressed against foil overlying the cable or tubing. At present, these wheels are indexed by means of a toothed wheel which is manually aligned with the selected print wheel in the print head and then manually rotated to rotate the print wheel.
  • the present invention consists in apparatus for printing an identification on a cable or the like, including a print head having a plurality of side-by-side individually rotatable wheels with notches around their peripheries and print characters formed on the interposed lands, the wheels being mounted in the head with their notches axially aligned and an automatic indexing mechanism, including a carriage axially movable relative to the print head, a shaft rotatably mounted on the carriage, an indexing element mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and engagable in a notch of a print wheel according to the axial position- of the carriage, a first motor for moving the carriage, and hence the indexing element, axially to select the print wheel to be engaged by the indexing element and a second motor for rotating the shaft, and hence the indexing element, such that the indexing element indexes the selected print wheel to move a selected character to a print position.
  • the indexing element is a sprocket wheel
  • at least one of the motors is a stepper motor and the carriage is mounted on a lead screw driven by the first motor.
  • the second motor may be mounted on the carriage.
  • the above apparatus may be in the form of original equipment or in the form of a retrofittable unit for converting existing manual machines.
  • the invention may also include apparatus as defined above, having a plurality of print heads and a respective indexing element/shaft assembly and second motor for each print head.
  • apparatus may further comprise control means for the indexing mechanism for operating -3-
  • the control means may further operate the first motor such that the carriage moves a minimum distance in any given indexing cycle.
  • the print wheels may be moveable towards the cable but it is preferred that the apparatus includes a moveable anvil for engaging the cable with the print head either directly or through the medium of a coloured foil.
  • the anvil may have a groove or channel for receiving the cable and may be provided with clips or the like for retaining the cable in the channel during movement to and from the print head.
  • the apparatus may include means for varying the pressure applied by the anvil in accordance with the number and/or size of the characters to be printed.
  • the anvil may be solenoid activated and the pressure varying means may include means for varying the voltage supplied to the solenoid.
  • the voltage may be chopped and means may be provided for varying the period for which the chopped voltage is o££ or on, so as to vary the average voltage suppli to the solenoid.
  • the apparatus may further include means for feeding the cable past the print heads in a timed sequence with the operation of the apparatus.
  • the invention consists in apparatus for printing an identification on a cable o "the like,including a print head, an anvil for pressing the cable against the print head (either directly or indirectly) and means for varying the pressureapplied by the anvil in accordance with the physical characteristics of the identification to be printed.
  • the invention consists in apparatus " for printing .identification " on a cable ⁇ r. the like, including a pair of side-by-side print heads past which a cable can be moved and means for altering the identifications printed by the heads such that the upstream head, in the direction of cable movement, prints the same identification as that printed immediately previously by the downstream head.
  • the invention consists in apparatus for printing an identification on a cable or the like, including a print head and means for moving the cable into direct or indirect contact with the print head.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of printing apparatus
  • Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a printing machine of the apparatus of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the machine of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a partial end view on the arrow A of the machine of Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 illustrates a 'manual' print unit fitted automatic indexing apparatus
  • Figure 6 illustrates the engagement between a print wheel and sprocket wheel.
  • cable printing apparatus comprises a printing machine 10 through which a cable 11 is intermittently drawn by a driven reel 12 from a supply reel 13. The operation of the machine 10 and 5 reel 12 is controlled by a computer 14 having a key ⁇ board 15. In order to keep the cable taut, the supply reel 13 may also be driven and under computer control.
  • the printing machine 10 has a pair of print heads 16, 17 spaced 10 along the path of travel of the cable 11 and a movable anvil 18, which receives the cable in a channel 19.
  • Foil reels are provided at 20 and 21 so that coloured foil can be drawn between the print heads and the anvils and over tensioning rollers 22, 23. ,15
  • the anvil 18 is moved upwardly to press the cable against the print heads 16, 17 through the coloured foil to print the identification set on the print heads.
  • Each print head comprises a series of side- 20. by-side print wheels 24, each of which is notched about its periphery to provide interposed lands on which print characters are formed.
  • the wheels are heated (by means not shown) to assist the transfer of colour onto the cable. They are each individually rotatable to allow - 7 -
  • This adjustment is achieved by engaging a toothed or sprocket wheel 25 in the notches or recesses in the periphery of any given print wheel and rotating the sprocket wheel 25 to cause rotation of that print wheel.
  • a toothed or sprocket wheel 25 is provided for each print head 16, 17 and it will be seen that they are located on opposite sides of the print heads with respect to each other.
  • the sprocket wheels 25 are carried on respective shafts 26, for rotation therewith, which extend between walls 27 and 28 of a carriage 29.
  • This carriage is mounted for axial movement with respect to the print head 16, 17 by means o ' f a lead screw 30 to which it is threadingly engaged.
  • a stepper motor 31 is provided for rotating the lead screw 30 to achieve axial movement of the carriage 29 and the carriage in turn supports a pair of further stepper motors 32, 33 which are arranged to rotate respective shafts 26 by means of belt drives 34.
  • the sprocket wheels 25 can be located adjacent any respective print wheel 24 in the head 16 or 17 and can index that wheel by appropriate rotation caused by its respective motor 32, 33.
  • the indexing in any particular operation can be varied between heads. Indeed, if for example, one head is changing both tens and units
  • the computer 15 is arranged to select the
  • anvil 18 will now be described in more detail,- with reference to Figure 4.
  • the anvil 18 is mounted on a chassis 35 which is pivoted about a horizontal axis at 36.
  • the generally triangular chassis 35 is engaged at its lowest corner
  • the pressure applied by the anvil is desirably adjusted in accordance with the number or size of characters which are to be printed in any cycle.
  • This pressure is a function of the extent of movement of the chassis 35 and hence the solenoid 38.
  • the computer controls the average voltage supplied during the 'on' period of the solenoid as a function of the identificaitons to be printed and it can efficiently alter this by controlling the 'on' or 'off period of a chopped voltage supply to the solenoid.
  • the applicants' apparatus not only allows ready automatic indexing of the print head, but the provision of two controlled print heads enables the printing of the same identification at either end of the cable with considerable flexibility and speed.
  • To assist easy reading the printed characters in the 'same' identifications may be in the opposite order that the identification is always read from the nearest end. - 10 -
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a retrofittable automatic drive unit 40 for automating existing manually operated printing apparatus.
  • the unit 40 is coupled to and hence incorporates the existing sprocket wheel shaft 41 by a coupling 42.
  • the unit 40 has a frame 43 mountable on the existing apparatus and comprising support shafts 44, 45 and end plate 47.
  • the shaft 45 supports a carriage 48 which is drivingly engaged at 49 to the output shaft 50 of a first motor 51 mounted on plate 47 to move the carriage 48 along shaft 45.
  • Carriage 48 carries a second motor 52 which is engaged to shaft 41 by coupling 42 to rotate the sprocket wheel 25.
  • the sprocket wheel 25 can index any of the print wheels 24 in the manner described above. Control apparatus of the type shown in Figure 1 is again used.
  • the apparatus may be arranged to produce a synchronising signal so that printed lengths of cable can be cut whilst the cable drive is halted for printing to occur. It will be appreciated that the apparatus is designed to operate on a continuous cyclic basis to produce batches of individually identified cable lengths or it can be programmed to produce 'one-off cable lengths.

Landscapes

  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)

Abstract

Un appareil à imprimer des caractères d'identification sur un câble ou autre comprend, dans un mode de réalisation, une machine à imprimer (10), au travers de laquelle un câble (11) est tiré à l'aide d'une bobine entraînée (12) ou d'une bobine d'alimentation (13). Un ordinateur (14) est prévu, afin de commander le fonctionnement de la machine (10) et de la bobine (12). La machine (10) comprend une paire de têtes d'impression (16, 17), formée chacune d'une série de roues d'impression côte à côte (24). La position de ces roues (24) et, partant, les caractères d'identification imprimés, sont automatiquement réglables au moyen de roues dentées correspondantes (25), dont la position axiale est définie par un chariot (29) et dont la rotation est commandée par un arbre (26). La position du chariot est définie par un moteur pas-à-pas (31), tandis que la rotation des roues (25) est commandée par des moteur correspondants (32, 33). Le câble est comprimé contre les têtes d'impression au moyen d'une enclume (18) pouvant être actionnée, de façon à faire varier la pression appliquée selon l'étendue des caractères d'identification à imprimer.
PCT/GB1987/000090 1986-02-26 1987-02-06 Appareil a imprimer des caracteres d'identification WO1987005263A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8604796 1986-02-26
GB868604796A GB8604796D0 (en) 1986-02-26 1986-02-26 Retrofittable robot
GB868630505A GB8630505D0 (en) 1986-12-20 1986-12-20 Identification printing apparatus
GB8630505 1986-12-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987005263A1 true WO1987005263A1 (fr) 1987-09-11

Family

ID=26290410

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1987/000090 WO1987005263A1 (fr) 1986-02-26 1987-02-06 Appareil a imprimer des caracteres d'identification

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0259372A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7024787A (fr)
WO (1) WO1987005263A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0599644A1 (fr) * 1992-11-25 1994-06-01 Eubanks Engineering Company Appareil de marquage
EP2687376A1 (fr) * 2012-04-27 2014-01-22 Paul Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG Nummerier- und Markierungssysteme Mécanisme de numérotage

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1492155A (fr) * 1966-06-01 1967-08-18 Machine à post-marquer
EP0090706A1 (fr) * 1982-03-25 1983-10-05 AEROSPATIALE Société Nationale Industrielle Machine de compostage automatisée et unité de compostage pour une telle machine
DE3346424A1 (de) * 1983-12-22 1985-07-04 Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH, 2800 Bremen Vorrichtung zum drucken von beschriftungen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1492155A (fr) * 1966-06-01 1967-08-18 Machine à post-marquer
EP0090706A1 (fr) * 1982-03-25 1983-10-05 AEROSPATIALE Société Nationale Industrielle Machine de compostage automatisée et unité de compostage pour une telle machine
DE3346424A1 (de) * 1983-12-22 1985-07-04 Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH, 2800 Bremen Vorrichtung zum drucken von beschriftungen

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0599644A1 (fr) * 1992-11-25 1994-06-01 Eubanks Engineering Company Appareil de marquage
EP2687376A1 (fr) * 2012-04-27 2014-01-22 Paul Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG Nummerier- und Markierungssysteme Mécanisme de numérotage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0259372A1 (fr) 1988-03-16
AU7024787A (en) 1987-09-28

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