Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2l 84465
T&B 1188 PATENT
WIRE Ml~T.'Tt'T~'~ TlQT.nT'l~ DI~VICE
FIELD OF THE lNv~L.llON
This invention relates generally to identification
devices and pertains more particularly to apparatus,
methods and systems for providing printed wire markers
for application to electrical conductors.
RA~R~ROUND OF THE lNV~N ~ lON
One known practice in fabricating wire markers is to
form a wire marker sleeve from a continuous length of
extruded plastic tubing and to cut the sleeve into
markers of desired length. The markers are supplied to
the end user either with preprinting of desired
information or in blank for printing by the user. In
the latter case, the individual markers are provided in
assembly with a marker holding device which supports the
markers for imprinting.
One type of assembly of markers and a holding device is
shown in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,586,610.
The markers are extruded elongate cylinders and the
holding device comprises a flat planar member having a
plurality of openings through the planar surfaces, the
openings being arranged in pairs at opposite sides of
the planar member, which defines tabs which extend into
ends of markers and releasably retain the markers with
the planar member. The assembly may be inserted into a
typewriter or other printer for imprinting of the
desired wire information on the markers.
Another assembly of markers and holding device is seen
in U. S. Patent No. 4,865,895. Here, the holding device
comprises a first carrier strip pair having adhesive on
interior faces of the strips and markers are releasably
secured to the first carrier strip pair and extend
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outwardly thereof. A second carrier strip pair is
provided at the remote ends of the markers, again having
adhe~ive on interior faces of the strips and accordingly
releasably secured to the second carrier strip.
Typically, marker a~semblies are encased and, at the
user site, are removed from their case, loaded onto a
marker spool in a printer and fed into the printer
feeding mechanism. From applicant~' perspective, this
past practice is cumbersome and time consuming.
Further, they see presently known holding devices as not
a~suring high quality imprinting on markers thereby
held.
SUMMARY OF THE lNv~NllON
The primary object of the invention is to overcome the
foregoing shortcomings seen in the prior art marker
assembly handling and marker holding devices.
More particular objects of the invention are the
provision of an improved marker assembly handling
operation and system and the provision of improved
marker holding devices.
In attA;n;ng the former particular object, the invention
provides an elongate wire marker holder device for
supporting a wire marker for imprinting thereon,
comprising an elongate one-piece body defining an
elongate opening and first and second elongate body
portions cantilever-supported by the body in the opening
and having respective free ends spacedly juxtaposed at
a location distal from locations of contiguity of the
elongate body portions with the body to define a slot
therebetween.
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`_
A slot extends transversely of the body between the free
ends of the elongate body portions and, in a
particularly preferred embodiment, the slot is disposed
at an acute angle with respect to a longitll~;n~l axis of
the body. The first and second elongate body portions
are of respective different dimensions longitll~;n~lly of
the body. Further, the first elongate body portion is
desirably of length along a longitudinal axis of the
body which is a multiple of a length along the body
longitn~; n~l axis of the second elongate body portion.
The foregoing and other objects and features of the
invention will be further understood from the following
detailed discussion of preferred practices and
embodiments thereof and from the drawings wherein like
reference numerals identify like components and part
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a plan elevation of a wire marker assembly in
accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the wire marker
assembly of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the wire marker assembly
of Fig. 1 as would be seen from plane III-III of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan elevation of a further wire marker
assembly in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 5 is shows various types of wire marker labels.
Fig. 6 is a generalized showing of apparatus and system
in accordance with the invention.
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Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the front, left
side and top of a preferred embodiment of apparatus in
accordance with the invention.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the rear, right
side and top of the Fig. 7 apparatus.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the rear, left side
and top of the Fig. 7 apparatus including a wire marker
carton in disposition to be placed in a rear compartment
of the apparatus.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the rear, right
side and top of the Fig. 7 apparatus with the wire
marker carton in such disposition to be placed in a rear
compartment of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the lower portions of Figs. 1-3, a wire
marker holder of the invention comprises a one-piece
body 10 defining respective transversely spaced,
elongate openings 12 and 14 therethrough and first and
second elongate body portions 16 and 18, cantilever-
supported by body 10 at respective locations of
contiguity of the elongate body portions with the body.
Body 10 further defines slot lOa, longitll~;nAlly
disposed between the first and second elongate body
portions, particularly between juxtaposed ends 16a and
18a thereof. Slot lOa extends transversely of body 10
and is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the
longitll-l;nAl axis of body 10.
First and second elongate body portions 16 and 18 are of
respective different dimensions longitll~;nAlly of body
10, with the former being a length which is a multiple
of the length of the latter. Further, the first and
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second elongate portions will be seen to define
respective end parts in mutually overlapping relation
longitudinally of body 10.
Whereas the referenced lower portions of Figs. 1-3
depict the wire marker holder without a wire marker
thereby supported, the upper portions of Figs. 1-3
depict a wire marker 20 in assembly with the wire marker
holder.
In reaching the assembly of the upper portions of Figs.
1-3, wire marker 20 is disposed leftwardly of body 10
and thereabove, in longitll~;n~l alignment with elongate
body portion~ 16 and 18, and the former is displaced
outwardly of body 10. Wire marker 20 is generally
tubular and open at both ends thereof. Elongate body
portion 16 is now in~erted into the leftward open end of
wire marker 20 and fully into wire marker 20, this step
being facilitated by the tapered character of the free
end of the elongate body portion. Then, elongate body
portion 18 is displaced outwardly of body 10 and into
the other end of wire marker 20 and fully into wire
marker 20. At that juncture, the various parts are
released and wire marker 20 assumes its showing in the
upper portions of Figs. 1-3, i.e., in nesting relation
with elongate body portions 16 and 18 and generally flat
against them.
Turning to the upper portion of Fig. 4, a further wire
marker holder of the invention comprises a one-piece
body 10' defining respective transversely spaced,
elongate openings 12' and 14' therethrough and first and
second elongate body portions 16' and 18', cantilever-
supported by body 10' at respective locations of
contiguity of the elongate body portions with the body.
2 1 & 4 -1 ~ 5
Body 10' further defines slot lOa', longltll~;n~lly
disposed between the first and second elongate body
portions, particularly between juxtaposed ends 16a' and
18a' thereof. Slot lOa' extends transversely of body
10' and is disposed at an acute angle with respect to
the longitudinal axis of body 10'.
First and second elongate body portions 16' and 18' are
of respective different dimensions longit~;nAlly of
body 10', with the former being a length which is a
multiple of the length of the latter. Further, the
fir~t and second elongate portions will be seen to
define respective end parts in mutually overlapping
relation longitn~;n~lly of body 10'. Body 10' is shown
with conventional sprocket holes lOb~ and ; n~Y; ng
slots lOc', although markings, such as ink dots may also
be used.
Whereas the referenced upper portion of Fig. 4 depicts
the wire marker holder without a wire marker thereby
supported, the lower portions of Fig. 4 depict a wire
marker 20' in assembly with the wire marker holder.
Referring again to the upper portion of Fig. 4, elongate
body portion 16' will be seen to include opposed
serrated or wavy margins, i.e., each margin having
undulations 16b' with crests and adjacent valleys. The
crests are 80 dimensioned as to be in interference fit
with the interior of applied wire marker 20' and are
found to enh~nce retention of the marker with the
elongate body member.
Fig. 5 depicts various types of labels, L1 being a three
row, nine elements per row, single label, L2 being a
single row, nine element, single label, L3 being a
collection of four single row, two element labels,
mutually separable for use, and L4 being a collection of
two single row, four element labels, mutually separable
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for use.
Turning to Fig. 6, apparatus of the invention comprises
casing 22, having spooled, unmarked wire markers therein
and defining an exit opening (not shown) through which
the spool may be drawn. One body 10 and its associated
wire marker 20 are seen as having issued through the
exit opening and advancing toward printer 24.
Casing 22 includes on an exterior surface thereof
sensible indicia 26. Sensor 28 is moved into registry
with casing 22, or vice versa, to enable sensing of the
indicia and sensor 28 provides output signals on lines
30 indicative of the information contained in the sensed
indicia.
The information contained in the sensed indicia are
generally of "format" nature for printer 24, i.e., to
enable the printer, through control and information
signals provided thereto by microprocessor 34 over lines
36, to provide properly imprinted wire markers. In this
connection, microprocessor 34 receives the sensed format
information from sensor 28 over lines 30. The
information may be include such as pitch of spooled wire
markers (longitl~;n~l spacing between adjacent wire
markers), length and width of spooled wire markers,
number of wire markers spooled transversely, etc. i.e.,
information of the types of labels shown in Fig. 5 and
discussed above.
Microprocessor 34 receives or stores further information
which is user-originated, such as what is to be the
printing text, what is to be the printing font, etc.
Thus, since a given wire marker length will permit
different maximum numbers of characters for different
printing fonts, the microprocessor associates sensed
wire marker length with user-originate font selection
and user-originated measure of printing text to properly
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advise the printer of printing instructions. Likewise,
as another example, where the sensed indicia indicates
that there are plural wire marker~ to be presented to
the printer at the same time, i.e., plural transversely
spaced wire markers are spooled as shown also in Fig. 5,
the microprocessor is informed on the basis of sensed
information in respect of transverse ; nA~Y; ng of the
printing head per individual longitudinal spool wire
marker feed.
Microprocessor 34 provides signals also over lines 38 to
printer 24 for advancing wire marker~ from their casing.
As will be appreciated, the term "spool", while
connoting spirally wound, is intended to encompass any
succession of wire marker assemblies arranged in such
succession as to be advanced to a printer, e.g., a web
bearing wire markers adhesively ~ecured thereto and
arranged as a vertically-stacked, marginally-connected
series of web sheets.
As is shown in Figs. 7-10, apparatus 40 of the invention
includes housing 42, comprised of upper and lower
segments 42a and 42b, which are separable for effecting
adjustments, trouble shooting, repair, etc. Housing 42
supports keyboard 44 and LCD (liquid crystal display) 46
and includes a printing mechanism therewithin, cover 48
being openable for replacing a printing cartridge for
the printing mechani~m. Rearward open compartment 50
affords seating of a wire marker carton in housing 42.
Slot 52 iæ for the releasable receipt of a memory card
in (commonly known as PCMCIA) apparatus 40.
Compartment 50 includes floor 54 and forward detents 56
and 58. Lid 58 is pivotally supported by housing
segment 42b and includes detents 60 and 62. An interior
bo-~n~; ng sidewall of compartment 54 supports sensor
as~embly 64, which includes transducer assemblie~ 66,
shown as eight in number and each including a light-
2 ~ L 4 6 5
emitting diode (LED) or like source of radiant energy
and a photocell or like electrooptic transducer.
Wire marker carton 72 has sensible indicia panel 74,
with indicia 74a. In the illustrated indicia example,
eight indicia are present in configuration to register
with the eight transducer ass~mhlies 66, the indicia
being either radiant energy-reflective (unshaded) or
non-radiant energy-reflective (~h~eA). Apertures 76
and 78 are disposed for registry with detents 60 and 62
when lid 58 is closed, following seating of carton 72 on
compartment floor 54, and detents 58 and 60 likewise
register with apertures (not shown) in the forward panel
of the carton. Wire marker web 80 is illustrated as
having been drawn from carton 72 and threaded into the
printing mechanism of apparatus 40.
Given that there are eight indicia possibilities in
panel 74, and that the indicia are binary in nature,
reflective or non-reflective, it will be appreciated
that the panel may be configured in its indicia to
identify any specific one of two hundred and fifty-six
diverse carton wire marker contents. It should be
appreciated that more or less than eight indicia
possibilities may be provided.
By way of summary of the foregoing and introduction to
the ensuing claims, the invention will be seen to
provide, in one aspect, an elongate wire marker holder
device for supporting a wire marker for imprinting
thereon, comprising an elongate one-piece body defining
an elongate opening and first and second elongate body
portions cantilever-supported by the body in the opening
and having respective free ends spacedly juxtaposed at
a location distal from locations of contiguity of the
elongate body portions with the body to define a slot
therebetween. The slot is disposed at an acute angle
with respect to a longitllA;nAl axis of the body. The
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first and second elongate body portions are of
respective different dimensions longitl~;nAlly of the
body. The slot is disposed at an acute angle with
respect to a longitll~;nAl axis of the body. The first
elongate body portion is of length along a longitll~;nAl
axis of the body which is a multiple of a length along
the body longitll~; n~l axis of the second elongate body
portion. In a further embodiment, at least one of the
first and second elongate body portions defining an
undulated surface bordering the opening.
Preferably, the first elongate body portion defines the
undulated surface bordering the opening and the second
elongate body portion defines a non-undulated surface
bordering the opening.
In another aspect, the invention will be seen to provide
an elongate wire marker holder device for supporting a
wire marker for imprinting thereon, comprising an
elongate one-piece body defining an elongate opening and
first and second elongate body portions cantilever-
supported by the body in the opening and having
respective free ends defining respective end parts in
mutually overlapping relation longitudinally of the
body.
Further, the invention will be seen to provide a wire
marker assembly, comprising an elongate wire marker
holder device comprising an elongate one-piece body
defining an elongate opening and first and second
elongate body portions cantilever-supported by the body
in the opening and having respective free ends spacedly
juxtaposed at a location distal from locations of
contiguity of the elongate body portions with the body
to define a slot therebetween, and a wire marker
disposed in circumscribing relation to both of the first
and second elongate body portions.
2 ! ~
Additionally, the invention will be seen to provide a
wire marker assembly comprising an elongate wire marker
holder device for supporting a wire marker for
imprinting thereon, comprising an elongate one-piece
body defining an elongate opening and first and second
elongate body portions cantilever-supported by the body
in the opening and having respective free ends defining
respective end parts in mutually overlapping relation
longitll~;nAlly of the body, and a wire marker disposed
in circumscribing relation to both of the first and
second elongate body portions.
The apparatus for use in making printed wire markers
shown in Figs. 7-10 will be seen to comprise printing
means disposed in the apparatus for printing wire
markers, a carton-receiving compartment in the apparatus
and sensing means disposed adjacent the compartment in
the apparatus for generating electrical output signals
indicative of sensible indicia on a carton disposed in
the compartment.
The sensing means comprises a plurality of transducers
having respective fields of view exten~; ng into the
compartment. The apparatus further comprises a closure
lid for the compartment supported for movement into
engagement with a carton disposed in the compartment.
The lid includes at least one detent for retentive
engagement with a carton disposed in the compartment
upon movement of the lid into engagement with a carton
disposed in the compartment. The apparatus defines at
least one detent fixedly disposed therein for retentive
engagement with a carton disposed in the compartment.
The apparatus may further include a keyboard accessible
exteriorly of the apparatus and means for receiving a
magnetic disk, means for connecting the apparatus with
an external modem.
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A combination in accordance with invention includes
apparatus for use in making printed wire markers,
comprising printing means disposed in the apparatus for
printing wire markers, a carton-receiving compartment in
the apparatu~ and sensing mean~ dispoRed adjacent the
compartment in the apparatus for generating electrical
output ~ignals indicative of indicia sensed by the
sensing means and a carton disposed in the compartment,
the carton having sensible indicia thereon located in
registry with the sensing means.
Various changes to the particularly disclosed ~odiment
and practices may evidently be introduced without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is to be
appreciated that the particularly discussed and depicted
preferred embodiments and practices of the invention are
intended in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The true spirit and ~cope of the invention are set forth
in the ensuing claims.
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