JP4477939B2 - Electric wire manufacturing method and electric wire manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire manufacturing method and an electric wire manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an electric wire provided with a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire.

  Various electronic devices are mounted on automobiles or the like as moving bodies. For this reason, the automobile or the like is wired with a wire harness in order to transmit electric power from a power source or the like or a control signal from a computer or the like to the electronic device. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to ends of the electric wires.

  The electric wire includes a conductive core wire and a covering portion made of an insulating synthetic resin that covers the core wire. The electric wire is a so-called covered electric wire. The connector includes a terminal fitting and a connector housing that accommodates the terminal fitting. The terminal fitting is made of conductive sheet metal or the like and is attached to the end of the electric wire to be electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is made of an insulating synthetic resin and is formed in a box shape. In the wire harness, the connector housing is coupled to the above-described electronic device or the like, so that each electric wire is electrically connected to the above-described electronic device via the terminal fitting, and transmits desired power and signals to the above-described electronic device. .

  When assembling the wire harness, the electric wire is first cut to a predetermined length, and then the covering portion such as the end of the electric wire is removed (peeled), and the terminal fitting is attached. Connect wires as needed. Thereafter, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Thus, the wire harness described above is assembled.

  The wires of the wire harness described above need to identify the size of the core wire, the material of the covering portion (change of the material depending on the presence or absence of heat resistance, etc.), the purpose of use, and the like. The purpose of use is, for example, an automobile system (system) in which electric signals such as airbags, ABS (Antilock Brake System) and vehicle speed information, and power transmission systems are used.

  Therefore, when an electric wire used in a wire harness is extruded and coated around the core wire with the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion described above, a colorant of a desired color is mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion, The covering portion has been colored in a desired color (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In this case, when changing the color of the outer surface of an electric wire, it is necessary to stop the extrusion coating apparatus which performs the above-mentioned extrusion coating. In this case, it is necessary to stop the extrusion coating device every time the color of the electric wire is changed, and the time and labor required for the production of the electric wire increase, and the production efficiency of the electric wire tends to decrease.

  Alternatively, the color of the colorant mixed in the synthetic resin has been changed while the extrusion coating apparatus performs extrusion coating. In this case, immediately after changing the color of the colorant, the color of the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion is a color in which the color of the colorant before the change of the covering portion and the color of the colorant after the change are mixed. . For this reason, it was in the tendency for the material yield of an electric wire to fall.

In order to prevent the reduction in the productivity of the wires and the reduction in the material yield of the wires, the applicant of the present invention, for example, manufactures a single-color wire and, if necessary, the outer surface of the wire as desired. It has been proposed to assemble a wire harness by coloring it (see Patent Document 4).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-111947 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-119833 JP-A-9-92056 International Publication No. 03/019580 Pamphlet

  As described above, when coloring the outer surface of a monochromatic electric wire after manufacture to a desired color, it is conceivable to apply liquid color ink or the like. In this case, since liquid color ink or the like is applied after the covering portion is formed, the liquid color ink or the like may be easily dropped from the outer surface of the covering portion.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire manufacturing method and an electric wire manufacturing apparatus that make it difficult to remove a colored color even if the outer surface of the covering portion is colored after the covering portion is molded.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a method of manufacturing an electric wire according to the present invention according to claim 1 includes a conductive core wire and a covering portion made of an insulating synthetic resin and covering the core wire. In the manufacturing method of an electric wire for manufacturing an electric wire provided, a synthetic resin is coated around the core wire by extrusion coating, an extrusion coating step of forming the coating portion, and a synthetic resin coated with the core wire immediately after the extrusion coating step A cooling step for cooling the outer surface of the covering portion, and a liquid colorant is sprayed by a certain amount toward the outer surface of the covering portion covered with the core wire cooled in the cooling step. And a coloring step of coloring at least a part of the surface into a color used for identifying the purpose of use of the electric wire .

An apparatus for manufacturing an electric wire according to a second aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing an electric wire for manufacturing an electric wire comprising a conductive core wire and a covering portion made of an insulating synthetic resin and covering the core wire. An extrusion coating unit that extrudes and coats a synthetic resin around the core wire to form the coating portion, and is disposed downstream and immediately after the core coating in the movement direction of the core coating unit, and the core wire A cooling unit that cools the outer surface of the covering portion that is made of a synthetic resin that is coated with , and the downstream of the cooling unit in the moving direction of the core wire and immediately after the cooling unit, and is cooled by the cooling unit At least a part of the outer surface of the electric wire is used to identify the purpose of use of the electric wire by spraying a certain amount of liquid coloring material toward the outer surface of the covering portion coated with the core wire. It is characterized with coloring unit for coloring the color, further comprising a being.

The electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to the second aspect , wherein the cooling unit is a die having a hole through which the electric wire extruded and covered by the extrusion covering unit passes. And a cooling device for cooling the die.

The electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to the third aspect , wherein the cooling device includes a nozzle that blows gas onto the die.

The electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect , wherein the die is attached to the extruded covering unit via a heat insulating material. It is a feature.

  According to the present invention described in claim 1, since the surface of the high temperature coating portion is cooled by extrusion coating, the crystal structure of the outer surface of the cooled coating portion is disturbed, and the outer surface of the coating portion Concavities and convexities are formed on the surface (also referred to as rough or sometimes rough). For this reason, the coloring material applied to the outer surface of the covering portion is less likely to fall from the outer surface of the covering portion.

  In this specification, when coloring the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire, the liquid coloring material is sprayed in a certain amount toward the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire, and the droplet of the coloring material is dropped. It is desirable that the electric wire is colored by being attached to the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire.

  The colorant as used in the present specification is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. Examples of organic substances include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes. As a more specific example, the coloring material referred to in the present specification indicates both a coloring liquid and a paint. The coloring liquid indicates that the dye is dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the paint indicates that the pigment is dispersed in the dispersion. For this reason, when the outer surface of the coating portion is colored with the coloring liquid, the dye penetrates into the coating portion, and when the outer surface of the coating portion is colored with the paint, the pigment adheres to the outer surface without penetrating into the coating portion. That is, to color the outer surface of the electric wire in this specification means to dye a part of the outer surface of the electric wire with a dye and to apply a pigment to a part of the outer surface of the electric wire.

  Further, the solvent and the dispersion liquid are preferably those having an affinity for the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion. In this case, the dye is surely soaked into the coating part, and the pigment is reliably adhered to the outer surface of the coating part.

  Further, the droplet ejection described in the present specification indicates that the liquid coloring material is urged and ejected toward the outer surface of the electric wire in a droplet state, that is, a droplet state.

Since the wearing color process immediately after the cooling step, so that the coloring before the heat of the covering portion becomes high temperature extrusion coating process wake. For this reason, it will color before the synthetic resin which comprises a coating | coated part hardens | cures, while it becomes easy for a dye of a coloring liquid to penetrate into a coating | coated part, and a pigment becomes easy to adhere | attach on the outer surface of a coating | coated part.

  Further, since the coloring step is performed immediately after the cooling step, the heat of the coating portion that has become high in the extrusion coating step can be reduced by the heat of vaporization that occurs when the coloring material that is colored in the coloring step dries.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cooling unit cools the surface of the high-temperature coating portion that is coated around the core wire by the extrusion coating unit, the crystal structure of the outer surface of the cooled coating portion is obtained. Disturbance occurs, and irregularities are generated on the outer surface of the covering (also referred to as rough or rough). For this reason, the coloring material applied to the outer surface of the covering portion is less likely to fall from the outer surface of the covering portion.
Since the coloring unit colors the outer surface of the electric wire immediately after the cooling unit, the coloring unit is colored before the heat of the coating portion that has become high temperature is reduced by the extrusion coating unit. For this reason, it will color before the synthetic resin which comprises a coating | coated part hardens | cures, while it becomes easy for a dye of a coloring liquid to penetrate into a coating | coated part, and a pigment becomes easy to adhere | attach on the outer surface of a coating | coated part.
In addition, since the coloring unit colors the electric wire immediately after the cooling unit, the heat of the coating portion that has become high temperature in the extrusion coating unit can be reduced by the heat of vaporization generated when the coloring material colored in the coloring unit dries. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the electric wire is passed through the hole of the die and the cooling device cools the die, the cooling unit can reliably cool the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cooling device includes a nozzle that blows gas to the die. For this reason, the cooling unit can reliably cool the die, and can reliably cool the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the die is attached to the extrusion coating unit via the heat insulating material. For this reason, it can prevent that the relative position of a die | dye and an extrusion coating | coated unit shifts | deviates during manufacture of an electric wire.

  Moreover, since the heat insulating material is provided between the die and the extrusion coating unit, the heat of the extrusion coating unit can be prevented from being transmitted to the die, and the heat of the die can be prevented from being transmitted to the extrusion coating unit.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, irregularities are formed on the outer surface of the covering portion, so that the coloring material applied to the outer surface of the covering portion is less likely to fall off the outer surface of the covering portion. For this reason, even if it colors the outer surface of this coating | coated part after shaping | molding of a coating | coated part, the colored color can be made hard to fall. Therefore, it can endure as an electric wire routed in an automobile or the like.

Will be colored before the synthetic resin constituting a coat covering portion hardens, with dye tends penetration of coloring liquid into the coating, the pigment in the outer surface of the covering portion is liable to adhere. For this reason, dye and a pigment become difficult to fall from the outer surface of a coating | coated part, and even if it colors on the outer surface of this coating | coated part after shaping | molding of a coating | coated part, the colored color can be made harder to fall. Therefore, it can endure as an electric wire routed in an automobile or the like.

  Further, since the coloring step is performed immediately after the cooling step, the heat of the coating portion that has become high in the extrusion coating step can be reduced by the heat of vaporization that occurs when the coloring material that is colored in the coloring step dries. Further, since the high temperature coating portion is colored, it is not necessary to heat for drying after the coloring material is colored.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the crystal structure of the outer surface of the cooled coating portion is disturbed and irregularities are generated on the outer surface of the coating portion, the coloring material applied to the outer surface of the coating portion is coated. It becomes difficult to fall from the outer surface of the part. For this reason, even if it colors the outer surface of this coating | coated part after shaping | molding of a coating | coated part, the colored color can be made hard to fall. Therefore, it can endure as an electric wire routed in an automobile or the like.
The synthetic resin constituting the covering portion is colored before it hardens, so that the dye of the colored liquid can easily penetrate into the covering portion, and the pigment can easily adhere to the outer surface of the covering portion. For this reason, dye and a pigment become difficult to fall from the outer surface of a coating | coated part, and even if it colors the outer surface of this coating | coated part after shaping | molding of a coating | coated part, the colored color can be made harder to fall. Therefore, it can endure as an electric wire routed in an automobile or the like.
In addition, since the coloring unit colors the electric wire immediately after the cooling unit, the heat of the coating portion that has become high temperature in the extrusion coating unit can be reduced by the heat of vaporization generated when the coloring material colored in the coloring unit dries. . Since the high temperature coating portion is colored, there is no need to heat for drying after coloring the coloring material.

In the third aspect of the present invention, since the electric wire is passed through the hole of the die and the cooling device cools the die, the cooling unit can reliably cool the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire. For this reason, an unevenness | corrugation can be produced reliably on the outer surface of the coating | coated part of an electric wire, and the coloring material apply | coated to the outer surface of a coating | coated part becomes difficult to fall from the outer surface of a coating | coated part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cooling device includes a nozzle that blows gas to the die. For this reason, the cooling unit can reliably cool the die, and can reliably cool the outer surface of the covering portion of the electric wire. For this reason, an unevenness | corrugation can be reliably produced by the outer surface of the coating | coated part of an electric wire, and the coloring material apply | coated to the outer surface of a coating | coated part becomes more difficult to fall from the outer surface of a coating | coated part.

In the present invention described in claim 5 , the die is attached to the extrusion coating unit via a heat insulating material. For this reason, it can prevent that the relative position of a die | dye and an extrusion coating | coated unit shifts | deviates during manufacture of an electric wire.

  Moreover, since the heat insulating material is provided between the die and the extrusion coating unit, the heat of the extrusion coating unit can be prevented from being transmitted to the die, and the heat of the die can be prevented from being transmitted to the extrusion coating unit. For this reason, the extrusion covering unit can prevent the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion from being cooled by the die, and can reliably form the covering portion. Further, the cooling unit can prevent the die from being heated by the heat of the extrusion coating unit, and can reliably cool the outer surface of the coating portion.

  An electric wire manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a manufacturing apparatus) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The manufacturing apparatus 1 is an apparatus for manufacturing the electric wire 2 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

  The electric wire 2 constitutes a wire harness that is routed to an automobile as a moving body. The electric wire 2 includes a conductive core wire 3 and an insulating covering portion 4. The core wire 3 is formed by twisting a plurality of strands. The strand which comprises the core wire 3 consists of an electroconductive metal. Moreover, the core wire 3 may be comprised from one strand. The coating | coated part 4 consists of synthetic resins, such as a polyvinyl chloride (Polyvinylchloride: PVC), for example. The covering portion 4 covers the core wire 3. For this reason, the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2 forms the outer surface of the covering portion 4.

  The covering portion 4 is a single color P. In addition, a desired colorant may be mixed into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4 so that the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 may be a single color P, without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4. The single color P may be the color of the synthetic resin itself. When the single color P is the color of the synthetic resin itself without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4, the covering portion 4, that is, the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 is said to be uncolored. Thus, “non-colored” indicates that the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 is the color of the synthetic resin itself without mixing the colorant into the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4. The outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 may be uncolored as described above, and may be a single color such as white.

  On the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2, a mark 7 including a plurality of first points 5 and a plurality of second points 6 is formed. The first point 5 is the first color B (indicated by parallel diagonal lines in FIGS. 7 and 8). The first color B is different from the single color P. The second point 6 is the second color R (indicated by parallel diagonal lines in FIGS. 7 and 8). The second color R is different from both the single color P and the first color B.

  The planar shape of each of the first point 5 and the second point 6 is round as shown in FIG. A plurality of first points 5 and second points 6 are provided, respectively, and are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2 according to a predetermined pattern.

  In the illustrated example, six first points 5 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2, then four second points 6 are formed, and further six first points 5 are formed. Yes. Further, the distance D1 in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2 between the centers of the first points 5 adjacent to each other, the distance D2 in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2 between the centers of the second points 6 adjacent to each other, and the first adjacent to each other. A distance D3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2 between the center of the first point 5 and the second point 6 is determined in advance.

  A plurality of the electric wires 2 having the above-described configuration are bundled and a connector or the like is attached to an end portion or the like to constitute the above-described wire harness. The connector is connected to a connector of various electronic devices such as an automobile, and the wire harness, that is, the electric wire 2 transmits various signals and electric power to each electronic device.

  Moreover, the electric wires 2 can be distinguished from each other by changing the colors B and R of the respective points 5 and 6 of the mark 7 to various colors. The colors B and R of the points 5 and 6 of the mark 7 are used for identifying the line type and system (system) of the wire 2 of the wire harness. That is, the colors B and R of the points 5 and 6 of the mark 7 of the electric wire 2 described above are used for identifying the purpose of use of the electric wires 2 of the wire harness.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that manufactures the electric wire 2 having the above-described configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a supply unit 10, an extrusion coating unit 11, a cooling unit 12, a coloring unit 13, an electric wire cooling water tank 14, and a winding unit 15.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures the electric wire 2 by running (moving) the core wire 3 in order to the supply unit 10, the extrusion covering unit 11, the cooling unit 12, the coloring unit 13, the electric wire cooling water tank 14, and the winding unit 15. The manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of pulleys 16 and the like for running (moving) the core wire 3 or the electric wire 2.

  The supply unit 10 supplies the core wire 3 in a state where the covering portion 4 is not covered. The extrusion coating unit 11 includes a cross head 17 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and a molten resin supply unit 18 shown in FIG. The cross head 17 is formed in a box shape having a pair of holes 19 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) through which the core wire 3 can be passed. The inner diameter of the aforementioned one hole 19 on the downstream side of the arrow K described later is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the electric wire 2 described above. The inner diameter of the other hole 19 on the upstream side of the arrow K is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the core wire 3 described above.

  The molten resin supply unit 18 once melts the above-described monochromatic P synthetic resin and supplies it into the crosshead 17 described above. In the extrusion coating unit 11, the molten resin supply unit 18 once melts the monochromatic P synthetic resin (at a high temperature) and supplies it into the crosshead 17, and the above-described around the core wire 3 passing through the hole 19 of the crosshead 17. The melted synthetic resin in the crosshead 17 is applied to the entire circumference of the core wire 3 supplied from the supply unit 10. Thus, the extrusion coating unit 11 extrusion-coats the single color P synthetic resin around the core wire 3 supplied from the supply unit 10 to form the coating portion 4. Immediately after the extrusion coating unit 11, the coating portion 4 is at a high temperature.

  The cooling unit 12 is arranged on the downstream side of the extrusion coating unit 11 in the traveling direction of the core wire 3 or the electric wire 2 (direction indicated by the arrow K in FIG. 1) and immediately after the extrusion coating unit 11. The arrow K is the moving direction of the core wire 3 and the electric wire 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cooling unit 12 includes a heat insulating material 20, a die 21, and a cooling device 22. The heat insulating material 20 is attached to the cross head 17 of the extrusion coating unit 11. The heat insulating material 20 is made of a material that is difficult to transmit heat, such as a porous body, and is used to maintain a temperature difference.

  The die 21 is made of a metal having thermal conductivity and is formed in a thick flat plate shape. The die 21 is attached to the heat insulating material 20. For this reason, the die 21 is attached to the above-described cross head 17, that is, the extrusion coating unit 11 via the heat insulating material 20. Further, the heat insulating material 20 and the die 21 are provided with coaxial holes 23 and 24 that communicate with the hole 19 of the crosshead 17, respectively. The inner diameters of these holes 23 and 24 are substantially equal to the inner diameter of the hole 19 of the crosshead 17 described above. For this reason, the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 that covers the core wire 3 by the cross head 17, that is, the extrusion covering unit 11, comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the holes 23 and 24 when passing through the holes 23 and 24.

  The cooling device 22 includes a cooling gas supply source 25 and a plurality of nozzles 26. The cooling gas supply source 25 contains a cooled gas such as air and supplies the gas into the nozzle 26 described above. The nozzle 26 blows the cooled gas supplied from the cooling gas supply source 25 onto the die 21. The cooling device 22 blows the gas cooled from the nozzle 26 onto the die 21 to cool the die 21. In the cooling unit 12, the cooling device 22 cools the die 21, and the electric wire 2 having the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 that is heated by covering the core wire 3 with the extrusion covering unit 11 is passed through the hole 19 of the die 21. By this, the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 mentioned above is cooled.

  The coloring unit 13 is disposed on the downstream side of the cooling unit 12 in the traveling direction of the core wire 3 or the electric wire 2 (the direction indicated by the arrow K in FIG. 1) and immediately after the cooling unit 12. The coloring unit 13 covers the core wire 3 with the extrusion coating unit 11 and forms the above-described points 5 and 6 on the outer surface 4a of the coating portion 4 that has become high temperature. That is, the coloring unit 13 colors a part of the outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4 of the electric wire 2 (marks the outer surface 4a).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coloring unit 13 includes a main body 30 installed on a floor such as a factory, an electric wire feeding mechanism 31, a coloring material ejection unit 32, an encoder 33 as a detecting means, and a control device 34. And.

  The main body 30 is formed in a box shape. The electric wire feeding mechanism 31 includes a pair of belt feeding units 35. The belt feeding unit 35 includes a driving pulley 36, a plurality of driven pulleys 37, and an endless belt 38. The drive pulley 36 is rotationally driven by a motor or the like as a drive source housed in the main body 30 or the like. The driven pulley 37 is rotatably supported by the main body 30. The endless belt 38 is a ring-shaped (endless) belt, and is stretched around the drive pulley 36 and the driven pulley 37. The endless belt 38 rotates around these pulleys 36 and 37.

  The pair of belt feeding units 35 are arranged along the vertical direction. The pair of belt feeding units 35 sandwich the electric wire 2 between them and rotate the driving pulley 36 in the reverse direction at the same rotational speed, thereby rotating the endless belt 38 and feeding out the electric wire 2. At this time, the pair of belt feeding units 35 moves the electric wire 2 along the arrow K in FIG. 2 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2. In addition, the arrow K has made the movement (running | running | working) direction of the electric wire 2 and the core wire 3 which were described in this specification, and is along a horizontal direction. For this reason, the belt feeding unit 35 moves the electric wire 2 along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the coloring material ejection unit 32 includes a plurality of coloring nozzles 39, a plurality of coloring material supply sources 40, a pressurized gas supply source 41, and the like. The plurality of coloring nozzles 39 are provided on the downstream side of the arrow K from the pair of belt feeding units 35 of the wire feeding mechanism 31. The plurality of coloring nozzles 39 are arranged at intervals along the arrow K. Further, the plurality of coloring nozzles 39 are provided above the electric wire 2 that is moved by the pair of belt feeding units 35 of the electric wire feeding mechanism 31.

  The coloring nozzle 39 described above sprays a liquid coloring material from a coloring material supply source 40 to be described later on the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 by a predetermined amount. The coloring nozzle 39 attaches droplets of the sprayed coloring material to the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 and colors (marks) at least a part of the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2.

  The coloring material supply source 40 accommodates the coloring material and supplies the coloring material to the coloring nozzle 39. One coloring material supply source 40 corresponds to each coloring nozzle 39. The colors B and R of the coloring material supplied from the coloring material supply source 40 to the coloring nozzle 39 are different from each other.

  The pressurized gas supply source 41 supplies the pressurized gas into the coloring material supply source 40. The pressurized gas supply source 41 supplies the pressurized gas into the colorant supply source 40 so that the colorant is quickly sprayed from the coloring nozzle 39.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the encoder 33 includes a rotor 57. The rotor 57 is rotatable around the axis. The outer peripheral surface of the rotor 57 is in contact with the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2 sandwiched between the pair of belt feeding units 35. The rotor 57 rotates as the core wire 3, that is, the electric wire 2 travels (moves) along the arrow K. That is, the rotor 57 rotates around the axial core as the core wire 3, that is, the electric wire 2 travels (moves) along the arrow K. Of course, the running (moving) distance of the core wire 3, that is, the electric wire 2 along the arrow K is proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 57.

  The encoder 33 is connected to the control device 34. The encoder 33 outputs a pulse signal to the control device 34 when the rotor 57 rotates by a predetermined angle. That is, the encoder 33 outputs information corresponding to the moving speed of the electric wire 2 along the arrow K toward the control device 34. Thus, the encoder 33 measures information according to the moving speed of the electric wire 2 and outputs information according to the moving speed of the electric wire 2 toward the control device 34. Normally, the encoder 33 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of movement of the electric wire 2 due to the friction between the electric wire 2 and the encoder mounting roll (rotor) 42. However, when the amount of movement and the number of pulses do not necessarily match depending on the state of the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2, speed information may be obtained at another location, the information may be fed back, and a comparison operation may be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 34 includes a box-shaped device main body 58 (shown in FIG. 2), a memory 59 as a storage means, a well-known ROM (Read-only Memory) 60, and a RAM (Random Access). Memory) 61, CPU (Central Processing Unit) 62, a plurality of valve drive circuits 63, and a plurality of interfaces (shown as I / F in FIG. 4, hereinafter referred to as I / F) 64 as connectors. ing. The control device 34 is a computer.

  The control device 34 is connected to the encoder 33 and each coloring nozzle 39 and controls the coloring unit 13 as a whole. The apparatus main body 58 accommodates the memory 59, the ROM 60, the RAM 61, the CPU 62, and the like described above. The memory 59 stores the pattern of the mark 7 formed on the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 described above. Specifically, the memory 59 has a position on the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 that forms the points 5 and 6 on the most downstream side of the arrow K among the marks 7, the number of points 5 and 6, and the point 5, The distances D1, D2 and D3 between the centers of 6 and the coloring nozzles 39 forming the points 5 and 6 are stored.

  Further, the memory 59 stores an interval L between the coloring nozzles 39. The memory 59 is a known nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. The ROM 60 stores an operation program for the CPU 62 and the like. The RAM 61 temporarily holds data necessary when the CPU 62 executes the calculation.

  The CPU 62 receives information regarding the moving speed of the electric wire 2 from the encoder 33. Further, the pattern of the mark 7 described above is input from the memory 59 to the CPU 62. Based on the moving speed of the electric wire 2 input from the encoder 33, the CPU 62 sprays a coloring material from a desired coloring nozzle 39 at a timing when the most downstream point 5 is formed at a predetermined position.

  The CPU 62 determines that the distance between the centers of the points 5 and 6 formed on the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 is the distances D1, D2 and D3 described above according to the moving speed of the electric wire 2 input from the encoder 33. In such a manner, droplets are sprayed from each coloring nozzle 39. Further, droplets are sprayed from each coloring nozzle 39 so that the size of the points 5 and 6 formed on the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 becomes a predetermined size. Thus, the CPU 62 causes the coloring nozzle 39 to eject (droplet) the liquid coloring material toward the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 to form the mark 7 described above.

  The valve drive circuits 63 and the I / Fs 64 are provided in the same number as the coloring nozzles 39 and correspond to the respective coloring nozzles 39. The valve drive circuit 63 is connected to the CPU 62. Further, the corresponding color nozzles 39 are connected to the valve drive circuit 63 via the I / F 64. The valve drive circuit 63 outputs the signal toward the coloring nozzle 39 via the I / F 64 or the like when a signal to be ejected from the corresponding coloring nozzle 39 is input from the CPU 62. When the valve driving circuit 63 outputs a signal for spraying from the corresponding coloring nozzle 39 toward the coloring nozzle 39, the corresponding coloring nozzle 39 sprays.

  In this way, the valve drive circuit 63 outputs droplets from the corresponding coloring nozzle 39 by outputting the above-described signal toward the corresponding coloring nozzle 39. The I / F 64 is used for electrically connecting the coloring nozzle 39 to which the valve driving circuit 63 and the like correspond. The I / F 64 is attached to the outer wall of the apparatus main body 58 or the like.

  The coloring unit 13 having the above-described configuration drops a coloring material from an arbitrary coloring nozzle 39 toward the electric wire 2 by a certain amount based on a command from the control device 34. In the illustrated example, the coloring unit 13 includes two coloring nozzles 39 and two coloring material supply sources 40.

  In the present specification, a coloring material having a viscosity of, for example, 10 mPa · s (millipascal second) or less is used. The colorant mentioned above is a liquid substance in which a colorant (industrial organic substance) is dissolved and dispersed in water or other solvent. Examples of organic substances include dyes and pigments (mostly organic substances and synthetic products). Sometimes dyes are used as pigments and pigments are used as dyes. As a more specific example, the colorant is a coloring liquid or a paint.

  The coloring liquid indicates that the dye is dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the paint indicates that the pigment is dispersed in the dispersion. For this reason, when the coloring liquid adheres to the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2, the dye penetrates into the coating portion 4, and when the paint adheres to the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2, the pigment does not penetrate into the coating portion 4. Adhere to 4a. That is, the coloring unit 13 dyes a part of the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2 with a dye or applies a pigment to the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2. For this reason, coloring the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 means dyeing (dying) a part of the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 and applying a pigment to a part of the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2. Show.

  Further, the solvent and the dispersion are preferably those having an affinity for the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4. In this case, the dye is surely soaked into the coating portion 4 and the pigment is securely adhered to the outer surface 4a.

  Further, the above-described droplet spraying indicates that the liquid colorant is urged and ejected from the coloring nozzle 39 toward the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 in a droplet state, that is, a droplet state.

  The electric wire cooling water tank 14 is provided on the downstream side of the arrow K of the coloring unit 13. The electric wire cooling water tank 14 cools the covering portion 4 of the electric wire 2 that has been heated by the extrusion covering unit 11.

  The winding unit 15 is provided on the downstream side of the arrow K in the wire cooling water tank 14. The winding unit 15 cuts the electric wire 2 composed of the core wire 3 and the covering portion 4 that covers the core wire 3 and a part of the outer surface 4a is colored into a desired length. The winding unit 15 is wound around a drum so that the electric wire 2 can be shipped.

  The electric wire 2 is manufactured as follows using the electric wire manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration. First, in step S1 in FIG. 9, the core wire 3 is supplied from the supply unit 10, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the non-colored synthetic resin is extruded and coated around the core wire 3 by the extrusion coating unit 11, the coating portion 4 is formed, and the process proceeds to step S3. Step S2 corresponds to an extrusion coating process.

  In step S <b> 3, as shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle 26 blows a cooled gas toward the die 21, and the cooling unit 12 is formed around the core wire 3 by the extrusion coating unit 11 through the die 21. The outer surface 4a of the covered portion 4 is cooled. Then, only the outer surface 4a is rapidly cooled, and the crystal structure of the outer surface 4a is disturbed, and the outer surface of the covering portion 4 is caused by the frictional force between the outer surface 4a and the inner surface of the hole 24 of the die 21. Fine irregularities occur in 4a (also referred to as rough outer surface 4a or outer surface 4a). Then, the process proceeds to step S4. Step S3 corresponds to a cooling process. For this reason, step S3, that is, the cooling process is performed immediately after step S2, that is, the extrusion covering process.

  In step S4, the coloring unit 13 applies a certain amount of coloring material from the plurality of coloring nozzles 39 in a certain amount based on both the information from the encoder 33 and the pattern stored in the memory 59 of the control device 34 in advance. Spraying toward the outer surface 4a. The colorant thus sprayed adheres to the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2, the solvent or the dispersion liquid evaporates, and the dye soaks or the pigment adheres to the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2.

  In this manner, the coloring unit 13 colors the coloring liquid or paint on the outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4 made of the single color P synthetic resin covering the cooled core wire 3 immediately after the covering portion 4 is formed. In step S4, the coloring unit 13 switches the coloring nozzle 39 to operate at a desired timing. Then, the process proceeds to step S5. Step S4 corresponds to a coloring process. For this reason, step S4, that is, the coloring process is performed immediately after step S3, that is, the cooling process.

  In step S5, the electric wire cooling water tank 14 is cooled by the extrusion coating unit 11 and partially cooled by the coloring unit 13, and the winding unit 15 covers the core wire 3 and the core wire 3 and the coloring unit. The electric wire 2 composed of the coating portion 4 colored in 13 is cut to a desired length and wound around a drum or the like. In this way, the electric wire 2 which comprises the wire harness mentioned above can be obtained.

  According to the present embodiment, since the cooling unit 12 cools the outer surface 4a of the high-temperature coating portion 4 that is coated around the core wire 3 by the extrusion coating unit 11, the crystal of the outer surface 4a of the cooled coating portion 4 is cooled. The structure is disturbed, and the outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4 is uneven (also referred to as rough or sometimes rough). For this reason, the coloring material applied to the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 is less likely to fall from the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4. For this reason, even if it colors the outer surface 4a of this coating | coated part 4 after shaping | molding of the coating | coated part 4, the colored color can be made hard to fall. Therefore, it can endure as the electric wire 2 routed in an automobile or the like.

  Since the electric wire 2 is passed through the hole 24 of the die 21 and the cooling device 22 cools the die 21, the cooling unit 12 can reliably cool the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 of the electric wire 2. For this reason, unevenness | corrugation can be reliably produced in the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 of the electric wire 2, and the coloring material apply | coated to the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 becomes difficult to fall from the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4. FIG.

  The cooling device 22 includes a nozzle 26 that blows gas onto the die 21. For this reason, the cooling unit 12 can reliably cool the die 21, and can reliably cool the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 of the electric wire 2. For this reason, unevenness | corrugation can be reliably produced by the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 of the electric wire 2, and the coloring material apply | coated to the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 becomes difficult to fall from the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4.

  A die 21 is attached to the crosshead 17 of the extrusion coating unit 11 via a heat insulating material 20. For this reason, it can prevent that the relative position of the die | dye 21 and the crosshead 17 of the extrusion coating | coated unit 11 slip | deviates during manufacture of the electric wire 2. FIG.

  Moreover, since the heat insulating material 20 is provided between the die 21 and the cross head 17 of the extrusion coating unit 11, heat of the extrusion coating unit 11 can be prevented from being transmitted to the die 21, and the heat of the die 21 can be prevented. 11 can be prevented. For this reason, the extrusion covering unit 11 can prevent the synthetic resin constituting the covering portion 4 from being cooled by the die 21 and can reliably form the covering portion 4. Moreover, the cooling unit 12 can prevent the die 21 from being heated by the heat of the extrusion coating unit 11, and can reliably cool the outer surface 4 a of the coating unit 4.

  Furthermore, since the coloring unit 13 is provided immediately after the cooling unit 12 and colors the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2, it is colored before the heat of the coating portion 4 that has become high temperature in the extrusion coating unit 11 is reduced. . For this reason, it will color before the synthetic resin which comprises the coating | coated part 4 hardens | cures, and it becomes easy for the dye of a coloring liquid to penetrate into the coating | coated part 4, and it becomes easy to adhere a pigment to the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4. . For this reason, dyes and pigments are more difficult to drop from the outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4, and even if the outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4 is colored after the forming of the covering portion 4, the colored color is more difficult to drop. it can. Therefore, it can endure as the electric wire 2 routed in an automobile or the like.

  Further, since the coloring unit 13 colors the electric wire 2 immediately after the cooling unit 12, the heat of the coating portion 4 that has become high temperature in the extrusion coating unit 11 is vaporized when the coloring material that is colored in the coloring unit 13 is dried. Can be lowered with heat. Since the high temperature coating portion 4 is colored, it is not necessary to heat for drying after the coloring material is colored.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, the cooling device 22 of the cooling unit 12 sprays the cooled gas on the die | dye 21, and is cooling the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 of the electric wire 2. FIG. However, the cooling device 22 of the cooling unit 12 according to the present invention may include a pipe 70, a refrigerant tank 71, an expansion valve 72, a compressor 73, and a heat exchanger 74, as shown in FIG. . In FIG. 10, the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  A part of the pipe 70 is attached to the die 21. The pipe 70 connects the refrigerant tank 71, the expansion valve 72, the compressor 73, and the heat exchanger 74 described above in series. The refrigerant tank 71 stores the refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger 74. The expansion valve 72 expands and cools the refrigerant in the refrigerant tank 71 and sends it to the compressor 73 through a pipe 70 attached to the die 21.

  The refrigerant in the pipe 70 flows from the expansion valve 72 toward the compressor 73, deprives the die 21 of heat, and is heated. That is, the refrigerant in the pipe 70 cools the die 21. The compressor 73 compresses and liquefies the refrigerant heated by the die 21 and sends it out to the heat exchanger 74. The heat exchanger 74 cools the refrigerant liquefied by the compressor 73 and sends it out to the refrigerant tank 71.

  The cooling device 22 described above is formed by the extrusion coating unit 11 by circulating the refrigerant through the pipe 70 in order through the refrigerant tank 71, the expansion valve 72, the compressor 73, and the heat exchanger 74 to cool the die 21. The outer surface 4a of the covering portion 4 is cooled. Also in the case shown in FIG. 10, the colorant applied to the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 is caused to be uneven by causing the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 to be uneven as in the embodiment described above. It becomes hard to fall off. For this reason, even if it colors the outer surface 4a of this coating | coated part 4 after shaping | molding of the coating | coated part 4, the colored color can be made hard to fall. Therefore, it can endure as the electric wire 2 routed in an automobile or the like.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, the outer surface 4a of the coating | coated part 4 of the electric wire 2 is cooled by cooling the die | dye 21 attached to the crosshead 17 of the extrusion coating | coated unit 11 via the heat insulating material 20. FIG. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 of the electric wire 2 may be cooled by the cooling device 22 of the cooling unit 12 directly cooling the cross head 17.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, the cooling device 22 of the cooling unit 12 may directly cool the outer surface 4 a of the covering portion 4 formed by the extrusion covering unit 11. In the case shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  Furthermore, in this invention, you may use various things, such as an acrylic type coating material, ink (dye type | system | group, pigment type), and UV ink, as a coloring liquid and a coating material.

  Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, it has described regarding the electric wire 2 which comprises the wire harness routed to a motor vehicle. However, in the present invention, it is needless to say that the electric wire 2 may be used not only for automobiles but also for various electronic devices such as portable computers and various electric machines.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid coloring material is sprayed by a certain amount to color the outer surface 4 a of the electric wire 2. However, in the present invention, the outer surface 4a of the electric wire 2 may be colored using other methods such as spraying a liquid colorant or impregnating the liquid colorant.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the coloring unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the coloring unit shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which mainly shows the structure of a control apparatus of the coloring unit shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the cooling unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire shown by FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the cooling unit illustrated in FIG. 5 is operating. It is a perspective view of the electric wire manufactured with the manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire shown by FIG. It is a top view of the electric wire shown by FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process of manufacturing an electric wire with the electric wire manufacturing apparatus shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the modification of the cooling unit shown by FIG. 6 is operate | moving. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the other modification of the cooling unit shown by FIG. 6 is operate | moving. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the further another modification of the cooling unit shown by FIG. 6 is operating.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric wire manufacturing apparatus 2 Electric wire 3 Core wire 4 Coating | coated part 4a Outer surface 11 Extrusion coating unit 12 Cooling unit 13 Coloring unit 20 Heat insulating material 21 Dice 22 Cooling device 24 Hole 26 Nozzle S2 Extrusion coating process S3 Cooling process S4 Coloring process K Core line ( Direction of travel (movement)

Claims (5)

In the method of manufacturing an electric wire for manufacturing an electric wire comprising a conductive core wire and a covering portion made of an insulating synthetic resin and covering the core wire,
Extruding and covering a synthetic resin around the core wire and forming the covering portion; and
A cooling step for cooling the outer surface of the covering portion made of a synthetic resin covering the core wire immediately after the extrusion covering step;
A liquid coloring material is sprayed by a certain amount toward the outer surface of the covering portion coated with the core wire cooled in the cooling step, and at least a part of the outer surface of the electric wire is identified for the purpose of use of the electric wire. A coloring process for coloring the color used for
The manufacturing method of the electric wire characterized by including. In an electric wire manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an electric wire comprising an electrically conductive core wire and an insulating synthetic resin and a covering portion covering the core wire,
An extrusion coating unit for extruding and covering a synthetic resin around the core wire, and molding the covering portion;
A cooling unit that is disposed immediately downstream of the extrusion coating unit in the moving direction of the core wire and immediately after the cooling unit and cools the outer surface of the covering portion made of a synthetic resin that covers the core wire;
A certain amount of liquid coloring material is disposed on the downstream side in the moving direction of the core wire of the cooling unit and immediately afterward, and toward the outer surface of the covering portion that covers the core wire cooled by the cooling unit. A coloring unit for spraying at a time and coloring at least a part of the outer surface of the electric wire into a color used for identifying the purpose of use of the electric wire;
An electric wire manufacturing apparatus comprising: The cooling unit is
A die having a hole through which an electric wire covered by extrusion by the extrusion coating unit passes;
A cooling device for cooling the dice;
The electric wire manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: The said cooling device was provided with the nozzle which sprays gas on the said die | dye, The manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The said die is attached to the said extrusion coating | coated unit through the heat insulating material, The manufacturing apparatus of the electric wire of Claim 3 or Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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