Information recorder on bundle of electric wires

• US 5,764,249 A
• Filed: 01/31/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukada, Kazumitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THINH H
• Application Number:
  US08/381,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 347/2, 347/4, 347/74, 364/468.19, 364/474.11
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

An information recorder on a bundle of electric wires for recording desired information on a bundle of electric wires is disclosed. In the information recorder, an adhesive-backed tape piece is wound around the bundle of electric wires, after which a part number, a production number and a conduction test passing mark of the bundle of electric wires are printed on the surface of the tape piece by an inkjet printer. Furthermore, a wiring harness producing apparatus comprising the information recorder on a bundle of electric wires is disclosed.

Claims

1. An information recorder on a bundle of electric wires, comprising:

an inkjet printer for printing desired information on a surface of a tape piece having a predetermined length and wound around a predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires;

driving controlling means for controlling driving of said inkjet printer in response to input of a signal related to said desired information; and

a tape piece winding device for winding said tape piece around the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires, wherein

said tape piece winding device comprises a wheel having a recess into which said tape piece and the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires is introduced in a state where a part of said tape piece is temporarily fastened to the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires and rotatable around the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires.

2. The information recorder on a bundle of electric wires according to claim 1, wherein

said desired information includes at least one selected from a group of a part number, a production number and a mark representing passing of a conduction test of the bundle of electric wires.

3. The information recorder on a bundle of electric wires according to claim 1, further comprising

information outputting means for outputting said signal to said driving controlling means.

4. The information recorder on a bundle of electric wires according to claim 1 wherein

said tape piece winding device winds said tape piece around an uneven protective tube with which a periphery of the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires is coated.

5. An information recorder on a bundle of electric wires according to claim 1, further comprising

means for holding the bundle of electric wires such that the surface of the tape piece wound around the bundle of electric wires is disposed in opposition to a print head of said inkjet printer.

6. An information recorder for a bundle of electric wires, comprising:

an inkjet printer for printing desired information on a surface of a tape piece having a predetermined length and wound around a predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires;

driving controlling means for controlling driving of said inkjet printer in response to input of a signal related to said desired information;

a tape piece winding device for winding said tape piece around the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires; and

a tape piece temporarily fastening device comprising means for cutting a longitudinal tape delivered from a roll around which the tape is wound to obtain said tape piece and for temporarily fastening a part of said tape piece obtained by cutting to the predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires.

7. A wiring harness producing apparatus comprising:

an assembly line on which a wiring harness assembling board holding a bundle of electric wires so as to assemble a wiring harness is conveyed in predetermined directions of conveyance;

a plurality of stations disposed along said assembly line; and

an information recorder on a bundle of electric wires disposed at one of said plurality of stations for recording desired information on said bundle of electric wires, said information recorder including an inkjet printer for printing desired information on a surface of a tape piece having a predetermined length and wound around a predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires held by said wiring harness assembling board, driving controlling means for controlling driving of said inkjet printer in response to input of a signal related to said desired information, and a tape piece winding device disposed at one of said plurality of stations for winding said tape piece around a predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires, wherein

said tape piece winding device includes a wheel having a recess into which said tape piece and the predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires is introduced in a state where a part of the tape piece is temporarily fastened to the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires and rotatable around the predetermined portion of the bundle of electric wires.

8. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

information outputting means for outputting said signal to said driving controlling means, and wherein

said desired information includes a mark representing passing of a conduction test of said wiring harness, and

said information outputting means comprises a conduction testing device disposed at one of said plurality of stations for testing a conduction of said wiring harness and outputting a signal corresponding to a result of the test to said driving controlling means.

9. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said desired information is suitable for a specification of said bundle of electric wires which is conveyed on said assembly line.

10. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said desired information also includes at least one selected from a group of a part number, and a production number.

11. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said information outputting means comprises storing means in which said desired information is previously stored.

12. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a tape piece position detecting means for detecting a position of said tape piece which is wound around the predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires, and

moving means for moving a print head of said inkjet printer to a position of said tape piece which is detected by said tape piece position detecting means.

13. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said tape piece position detecting means comprises a color identifying sensor.

14. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

said tape piece winding device winds said tape piece around an uneven protective tube with which a periphery of said predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires is coated.

15. The wiring harness producing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

holding means for respectively holding portions on both sides with said predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires interposed therebetween when said desired information is printed by said inkjet printer.

16. A wiring harness producing apparatus comprising:

an assembly line on which a wiring harness assembling board holding a bundle of electric wires so as to assemble a wiring harness is conveyed in predetermined directions of conveyance;

a plurality of stations disposed along said assembly line; and

an information recorder for a bundle of electric wires disposed at one of said plurality of stations for recording desired information on said bundle of electric wires,

said information recorder for a bundle of electric wires including

an inkjet printer for printing desired information on a surface of a tape piece having a predetermined length and wound around a predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires held by said wiring harness assembling board,

driving controlling means for controlling driving of said inkjet printer in response to input of a signal related to said desired information,

a tape piece winding device disposed at one of said plurality of stations for winding said tape piece around a predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires, and

a tape piece temporarily fastening device comprising means for cutting a longitudinal tape delivered from a roll around which the tape is wound to obtain said tape piece and for temporarily fastening a part of said tape piece obtained by cutting on the predetermined portion of said bundle of electric wires.