The present invention relates to a method of attaching a label and wrapping a label, which is an informational element, completely around the perimeter of a continuously extruded or drawn, elongated article that is constantly moving in a linear motion in its longitudinal axis, without stopping. Examples of these articles that are constantly moving in a linear motion without stopping do to the manufacturing processes that produces them are: electrical armored cable, ropes albeit metal wire, plastic, wood boards, synthetic or natural fiber ropes, cables, wires, conduits, conductors, hoses, tubes, rods, belts, cords, fibers, aluminum or any other extrusion or any other continuously extruded, elongated articles that are manufactured without stopping during the labeling or marking procedure.
The subject invention generally relates to labeling and wrapping a label more than 360 degrees around the outer surface of a continuously manufactured, extruded, drawn, elongated article that is constantly moving in a linear motion without stopping, such as in the manufacturing of fiber optic cable, rope or metal wire rope, electrical cable, armored cable, wire, conductor, hose, tube, rod, belt, conduit, cord, metal extrusions, chain, etc. of any cross sectional shape. Prior to this invention, an automatic, precision, fast, cost effective acceptable method of attaching, wrapping and overlapping the edges of a label around a continuously manufactured, extruded, elongated article that is constantly moving in a linear motion without stopping, was never invented. Doing this process by hand is dangerous, sloppy and extremely costly. Printing and painting was used to add informational media to the extruded, drawn, elongated article but the characters are unreadable on the rough, corrugated, convoluted, woven, reticulated surfaces of the article that is constantly moving. Painting, which is another wet medium during application, has only been done with patterns like rings, stripes, dots, etc. and cannot produce readable characters on the rough surfaces of the continuously manufactured, elongated article that is constantly moving.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an elongated article such as rope, cable, wire, conductor, hose, tube, rod, belt, chain, cord of round, oval, rectangular or other cross sectional shape, comprises an outer surface having a helical shape comprising of alternating twisting fibers, strands or wires that create ridges and grooves disposed on the outer surface; and a informational element having a body, the body having an attaching side having possibly an adhesive disposed thereon, the attaching side attachable to the helical ridges and spanning across the helical grooves.
The labels may be called a tag, sticker, marker, decal, plate, canvass, brand, for identifying a continuous processed elongated article that is constantly moving.
In a variant of the informational element, the body has a thickness for maintaining the stiffness of the body across the grooves. This informational element can also be called a label.
In another variant, the informational element is comprised of polyolefin, other plastics, paper or metal.
In a further variant, the informational element is electrically conductive.
In still another variant, the informational element may have electrically conductive adhesive on the attaching side.
In yet a further variant, the informational element further comprises a human or machine readable side containing human recognizable indicia and/or colors thereon, or emblazoned with human and/or machine readable markings, colors, spots, stripes, holograms, etc.
In another variant, the human or machine recognizable indicia comprises alpha numeric characters, OCR, bar codes or no indicia at all.
In a further variant, a method is configured to attach an adhesive type informational element to a moving elongated article.
In yet another variant, the method is configured to attach the informational element to an elongated article, moving along its long axis.
In still another variant, the method is configured for affixing an elongated article or label to an informational element moving in a direction parallel to the informational element's or label's axis. The label has front and back sides and a perimeter. The method is configured to affix the label to the elongated article in a manner in which the label wraps completely around the circumference of the elongated article. The method may comprise: a push up movement or stroke that pushes the label and rolls it, contours it, configures it so it's received on a moving elongated article; a first roll down action downstream of the push up stroke disposed lateral to the moving elongated article and configured to fold down a side of a label onto the elongated article; a second roll down action downstream of the first roll down action disposed lateral to the moving elongated article on a side opposite to the first roll down action and configured to fold down a side of a label onto the moving elongated article; and an opposed push down action configured to receive a moving elongated article.
In another variant, the method is configured to affix the label to the moving elongated article in a manner in which the back side of the label is partially flush with an outer surface of the elongated article.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.
The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.
FIG. 13G1 depicts an alternative embodiment for pressing down a label to a moving rope;
The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms of these example environments. Description in terms of these environments is provided to allow the various features and embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different and alternative environments.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in applications, published applications and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in this document prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is directed toward a method for affixing an informational element or label to any moving, elongated article in continuous motion or rope like article, and more particularly some embodiments are directed to labeling helically twisted rope or metal wire rope or armored electrical cable or corrugated cable.
In one embodiment, referring to
In another embodiment, referring to
In an example implementation of the invention shown in
Persons who install or maintain a labeled armored electrical cable in accordance with the embodiments of the invention, can quickly and instantly read the labels to identify the country of origin, mfr, usage and strengths in the particular types of armored electrical cable, such as their classification, code, gauge, lubrication, maintenance notes, voltage rating, etc., even though they may not know the construction material or be able to see the internal strands or conductors. Knowing the type or function of a given cable without seeing the internal strands, and without having to memorize a code, can save time and reduce hazards.
Referring to
A sequence of labels can be repeated all along the length of the armored electrical cable. In one embodiment, labels may be placed on successive sections of a fiber rope or metal wire rope as it is dispensed from a forming machine and just before the rope is wound onto a take up reel, ready for shipping.
In the case of a labeling method that applies the label to a moving rope that has a very short distance before it enters the take up reel machine, the labeling method must be able to apply labels quickly and to apply and cure or shrink the label in a short time between when the rope appears out of the forming machine to when it is wound onto the shipping reel.
The labels may be called a tag, sticker, marker, decal, plate, canvass, brand, informational element, for identifying a continuous processed rope or metal wire rope, cable, wire, conductor, hose, tube, rod, belt, chain, cord of round, oval, rectangular or other cross sectional shape, that is attached to the outside surface at certain intervals and are emblazoned with human and/or machine readable markings or indicia, colors, spots, stripes, holograms, etc.
In another embodiment, depicted in
In a further embodiment, the label body does not attach continuously along the length of said rope or metal wire rope, cable, wire, conductor, hose, tube, rod, belt, cord of a particular cross sectional shape but is attached at certain intervals and thus requires the tag, label, to be of certain length along the rope or metal wire rope, cable, wire, conductor, hose, tube, rod, belt, cord of said cross sectional shape.
In one implementation of affixing a label to a rope in accordance with the present invention is attaching the label onto the rope after the rope is being manufactured, for example, after being stranded and helically twisted and shaped.
a depict one embodiment of a method for affixing one or more labels to a rope moving in line with the rope's axis. The labels have front and back sides and a perimeter. Referring to
In one embodiment, the rope 2 may be positioned to move over the peel blade 305 at a point along the edge 307 so that the label will form an unequal U shape around the rope when received by the bottom push up roller 220. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, illustrated in
In operation, an unlabeled rope or cable 2 moves in a direction in line with its axis as indicated by the thick arrows in the figures. A label dispenser dispenses labels adhered to a backing strip. As the backing strip moves over a peel blade, a label detaches from the backing strip and is caught by the bottom push up roller 220 and is pressed between the cable and the roller 220. As the roller rotates, the label is folded upward onto the sides of the rope so that two sides of the label are upright in a U shape. Next, the folded label moves with the rope into the first roll down roller and one side of the label is folded down. Subsequently, the rope with the label having one side folded down enters the second roll down roller 310b and a side wall pushes down the other side of the label. Subsequently, the labeled rope is moved under the top push down roller to further press the label against the rope.
In one alternative embodiment, shown in
Since the rope is moving, the label 2 has traveled off of the tamp pad 205 and the grooved tamp pad returns to a lowered position away from the moving rope 2 and another adhesive backed label may be dispensed onto the tamp pad 205. Vacuum holes 214 in the grooved tamp pad in the flat area of the grooved tamp pad are commencing with a vacuum condition to hold the label in place for a specified period of time until the grooved tamp pad is pressed against the moving rope and another U shaped attachment configuration cycle is repeated.
The labeled rope may then move into a bottom push up roller 220 for further securing the label to the rope. Next, the folded label moves with the rope into the first roll down roller and the shorter side of the label is folded down. Subsequently, the rope with the label having the shorter side folded down enters the second roll down roller 310b and a side wall pushes down the other taller side of the label. Subsequently, the labeled rope is moved under the top push down roller to further press the label against the rope.
In yet a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13G1, a second tamp having a channel configured to press down a shorter side of a U shaped label. Downstream, a third tamp pad may press down the other taller side of the label. The second and third tamp pads may be used in place of the roll down rollers 310a, 310b, but otherwise, the components in the above described embodiments may remain the same.
A heat tunnel with a specified opening and a specified length and a specified wattage for heat generation encompasses the moving labeled rope downstream of the rollers. When the moving labeled rope enters the heat tunnel, the heat is controlled specifically for shrinking the label in a specified way without damaging the text on the label. Independent of how large and bold any text displayed on the label is, the label will not absorb too much heat to damage the label. The heat is controllable for different sizes of labeled rope or any armored electrical cable or elongated article.
A release system with a specified range of opening causes the labeling and wrapping mechanisms to part or move away from the moving rope or cable. This is to eliminate damage to the labeling and wrapping mechanisms if damaged, frayed, stringy, etc. sections of rope or cable arrive at the labeling wrapping area.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architecture or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the method and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired methods can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired method of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations.
Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/941,737, filed on Jun. 4, 2007; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/985,643, filed on Nov. 5, 2007; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/985,978, filed on Nov. 6, 2007; and from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/020,392 filed on Jan. 10, 2008, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/133,355 filed Jun. 4, 2009, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in the respective entirety of each.