WO2014187662A2

WO2014187662A2 - Device and method for generating a three-dimensional image of an object

Info

Publication number: WO2014187662A2
Application number: PCT/EP2014/059100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Speith; Thorsten Bett; Thorsten Bornefeld; Michael Gockel
Original assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
Priority date: 2013-05-24
Filing date: 2014-05-05
Publication date: 2014-11-27
Also published as: WO2014187662A3; DE102013105372A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating a three-dimensional image of at least one side of an object with a contoured, non-planar shape. Said device (1) comprises several vanes (4) which can be displaced with respect to each other, said vanes moulding to the contoured, non-planer shape. Said device is characterized in that the vanes (4) have respectively a non-circular cross-section.

Description

Apparatus and method for generating a three-dimensional image of an object

The present invention relates to a device for generating a dreidimensi- onal image according to the preamble of claim 1. The device serves to produce such an image of an object from one side, wherein the device preferably has a receiving the object receiving, which is three-dimensionally adjustable. The invention further relates to a printer according to the preamble of claim 25 and the method of claim 26.

Marking elements are known from the prior art which are used on contacting devices for electrical or optical conductors or live components. Usually, such marking elements are combined into groups of identically sized marking elements and combined with corresponding holding elements to form marking-element mats, which can be quasi-integrally fed into a corresponding printer or supplied. Alternatively, a marking element mat also have only one marking element. By destroying the holding elements at corresponding predetermined breaking points on the marking element mats, the marking elements or the marking element can be singulated and attached to the contact devices provided for this purpose. The thermal transfer printing process has the advantage of high printing contrast and durable and long-lasting printing results, especially on plastic surfaces, for the printing of marking elements.

Due to the process, however, the thermal transfer printing method requires a flat pressing force of the surface to be printed with the ink ribbon or a stable, flat surface as a print carrier, which is not always the case with a marking element mat, in particular not with marking elements which are clipped onto cables. Such marking elements usually have on the side facing away from the side to be printed on the flat side half-round Schnappha- ken, with which the marking element is mounted on the cable. Due to the snap hooks, however, a stable, flat support of the marking element mats during printing can not be guaranteed with certainty.

For this reason, in particular for the printing of marking element mats with marking elements for cables which have snap-on hooks, recordings are made which comprise a corresponding marking element mat. take that for the marking element side to be printed results in a flat surface and the marking elements are stable and safe printable by thermal transfer printing process. This approach has been well proven in practice, but has the disadvantage that for each geometric expression of the marking elements or marking element mats a separate recording must be kept. This results in significant costs for the different shots and a growing with the number of different shots logistical effort for storing or keeping ready each required recording.

Also known in the art are so-called nail games, which are used to form three-dimensional images, e.g. to create a face by placing your face in front of the back of the nail board, closing your eyes and tilting your head backwards with the nail board. The metal pins moving in the nail board thus adapt to the facial features. Thereafter, the board is brought into a vertical position. On the front side of the board, which is covered by an opaque plastic, e.g. Plexiglas is formed, the facial contours are three-dimensional in the nail board and can be viewed.

A permanent fixation of the three-dimensional geometry formed by the round metal pins is not possible, so that with a corresponding movement of the nail board, the metal pins also move and the previously generated, modeled by the individual longitudinal displacement of the metal pins in the nail board three-dimensional facial image is abandoned.

Moreover, DE 10 201 1 006 980 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional shaped surface. The generated three-dimensional surface is used according to DE 10 201 1 006 980 A1, in particular the production of receptacles of cutting tools. The device according to the invention advantageously has longitudinally displaceable pins or nails with a round cross-section as abutment elements which form the three-dimensional surface. The pins are arranged like a matrix and form a so-called nail board, in which the pins are guided. The device further comprises at least one expansion element, with which during the molding of the three-dimensional surface, the position of one or more pins is fixed by applying a pressurized fluid to the expansion element. Furthermore, US 2012/0307590 A1 discloses a three-dimensional body scanning device. The device has a plurality of pins with a round cross section, each having a sensor at one end. The pins are guided in a frame. The displacement resistance of the pins is varied in a preferred embodiment of the invention via an iris, wherein the iris can be made of different materials. How the moving parts of the iris diaphragm are driven is not revealed.

A disadvantage of the technical solutions according to the prior art, with which a generated image of a three-dimensional body can be fixed, is the use of comparatively expensive fluidic pressure energy, or the design effort for fixing each individual pin by a corresponding holding element, such. an iris diaphragm and its drive. The invention therefore has the object, a device for generating a three-dimensional image of an object with a side facing away from the printed contoured, non-planar shape - in particular Markierungselementmatten- for printing this object - in particular a marking element mat with a printer - in particular with a thermal transfer printer to create, which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

The present invention solves this problem by the subject-matter of claims 1, 25 and 26. According to claim 1, there is provided an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image of at least one side of an article having a contoured, non-planar shape, said device having a plurality of relative mutually displaceable slide with which at least the question in question side of the contoured, preferably not planar shape is deformable (and depending on abzubildendem object is also molded), wherein the relatively movable slide (preferably over its entire length) each have a non-circular Have cross-section.

The invention is therefore based on the idea that the slide, with which a given object with non-planar shape can be molded, not circular shape to the required clamping of the slide or pins for fixing the image of an object with a contoured, non-planar shape to improve and simplify. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the slide is polygonal, preferably rectangular, more preferably executed square.

In a further preferred embodiment, the slides each have an opening, which is penetrated by a guide plate in the direction of the slider gap.

In a further preferred embodiment variant, the slides are designed to be movable in a sliding manner.

In a further preferred embodiment, the clamping or fixing of the slide takes place by turning a shaft on which leaf springs are arranged whose pressure force is directed against a pressure piece.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the subject invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a device according to the invention in the "learning position", as well as a marking element mat to be printed on FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of a device according to the invention

Fig. 1 in "learning position" with inserted marker element mat;

Figure 3 shows a spatial representation of a device according to the invention

Figure 1 in the locked position with embossed geometry for safe and level recording of a corresponding marking element mat.

Figure 4 is a partial exploded view of a part of the invention

Apparatus according to Fig. 3;

Figure 5 shows a spatially illustrated enlarged detail of a device according to the invention, in which in particular the locking mechanism is shown clearly visible; Figure 6 is a plan view of a device according to the invention, in which in particular the locking mechanism is shown clearly visible;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in "learning position" and a marking element mat in conjunction with a thermal transfer printer;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in "learning position" and a marking element mat in conjunction with a thermal transfer printer;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in "locking position" and a marking element mat in conjunction with a thermal transfer printer

In the following, Figs. 1 to 6 will be described.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show method steps for printing on an object having at least in particular a non-planar shape, in particular a marking element mat 2, in particular with a thermal transfer printer. The printing of a marking element mat 2 is to be understood purely as an example. Also just exemplary is the use of a thermal transfer printer to understand. A summarized representation of the method steps for printing an object with a contoured, non-planar shape facing away from the side to be printed - in particular a marking element mat 2- with regard to their sequence takes place according to the description of FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a device 1 for producing a three-dimensional image of at least one side of an object with a contoured, non-planar shape, wherein the device 1 has a plurality of slides 4 which can be displaced relative to one another, with which the contoured, non-planar shape can be shaped is and is molded before printing. Preferably, the object to be imaged and preferably to be printed in a further working step is a marking element 3 with at least one contoured, non-planar shape facing away from the side to be printed. Several of these marking elements 3 can be combined to form a marking element mats 2. The marking elements 3 are preferably designed for marking contacting devices which are used for electrical or optical conductors or live components for cables or for marking conductors or cables, which lead into corresponding contacting devices or are connected to them. Particularly preferably, the objects to be printed are designed for printing, in particular in the thermal transfer method. The device 1 has a plurality of slides 4 with non-circular or polygonal, preferably rectangular, here-exemplarily square cross section. Because of their polygonal cross-section, the slides 4 can be folded flat against each other so that they form a slide field which has slide rows 4a or slide gaps 4b of sliders 4 pressed against one another. The slider field thus formed is bounded by a base frame 5 on one side. The base frame 5 has a respective guide plate 6 per slide column 4b, that the slide 4 of the respective slide column 4b passes through. For this purpose, the slides 4 each have a slot-shaped opening 7 in the direction of the slider gap. The aperture 7 is designed on the respective slider 4 so that a vertical movement of the respective slider 4 in the direction of the drawing sheet level or from the drawing sheet level is possible. 1, the upper edge of the opening 7 of the respective slide 4 rests against the guide plate 6. The slides 4 can be made of different materials, such as plastic or metallic materials.

On the opposite side of the base frame 5, the slider field per slide column 4b a pressure piece 8. The pressure piece 8 also has a slot-shaped opening 9, which is penetrated by the respective guide plate 6. The opening 9 and the guide plate 6 have a corresponding, congruent geometry, so that the pressure piece 6 is not movable in the direction of the drawing sheet plane or out of the drawing plane. Each guide plate 6 is firmly connected at its one end to the base frame 5. At the base frame remote end, the guide plate 6 has a bore 10 which is penetrated by a rotatable shaft 1 1.

FIG. 2 shows a device 1 according to the invention after molding or after fitting a corresponding marking element mat 2. For molding or fitting the marking element mat 2, the marking element mat 2 was placed under the device 1, so that the slides 4 are supported on the marking elements 3 or on the marking element mat 2 and thereby produce a three-dimensional image of the marking element mat 2. This can be seen from the raised sliders 4 with different height levels with respect to the drawing level. The slide 4 are vertically movable accordingly through the opening 7. The shaft 1 1 has per pressure piece 8 at least one, advantageously two leaf springs 12 a and 12 b, which are attached to the shaft 1 1 and exert a compressive force on the respective pressure piece 8 during rotation of the shaft 1 1, so that the slide 4th are clamped in their slide gap 4b between pressure piece 8 and base frame 5 or are secured against vertical displacement relative to the drawing plane. By means of this non-positive clamping device operating in the manner of a slide gate, in cooperation with the positive guidance of the slides 4 with their openings 7 on the respective column-oriented guide plate 5 and the polygonal, preferably rectangular, more preferably square cross-section of the slide 4, which enables a secure clamping action, achieves a permanent fixation of the three-dimensional image of the marking element mat 2 in the device 1.

In Fig. 4, the slide 4 are shown separately from the other components of the device 1. Clearly visible are the guide plates 6 per slide line 4b, which pass through the opening 7 in the slide 4. Clearly visible is also the opening 7, whose length is designed so that the slider 4 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the drawing plane, but is positively fixed by the guide plate 6 with respect to the slider line direction. In Fig. 5, in particular the slide column-wise clamping device with the pressure piece 8, the shaft 1 1 and the respective guide plates 6 with bore 10 and the leaf springs 12a and 12b can be seen well. By a rotation of the shaft 1 1 in the arrow direction, the slider field is clamped in columns or fixed non-positively, so that the embossed three-dimensional image of the marker element mat 2 is fixed in the device 1. Optionally, each slider 4 can be individually spring-loaded in the direction of evasion in order to increase or ensure the contact force to the three-dimensional component.

In Fig. 6, the slider field is shown in a plan view. Clearly visible are the leaf springs 12 a and 12 b, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the guide plate 6 and each act on the pressure piece 8 of the respective slide column 4 b. By the two leaf springs 12a and 12b, which act equally on the pressure piece 8, a jamming or jamming of the slide 4 a slide column 4b on the guide plate 6 by unilateral force introduction into the slide column 4b avoided during the clamping process, also possible manufacturing tolerances of the slide 4 are compensated. As an alternative to two separate leaf springs 12a and 12b, a slotted leaf spring 12 can also be used, the two leaves 12a and 12b of which also act separately on the pressure piece 9, respectively.

For printing on at least one side of an object with a contoured, non-planar shape facing away from the side to be printed, in particular a marking element mat 2 using a device 1 according to the invention, in particular in the thermal transfer printing method, the following method is indicated:

First, a provided marking element mat 2 is placed with the side to be printed with respect to the storage level up on a provided flat surface 13. This is shown in FIG. 7. The planar base 13 may also be the printing film for a thermal transfer printer. The device 1 is inserted on its base frame 5 in a guide 14, which extends perpendicular to the flat surface 13. The device 1 provided in the guide is in the basic or "taught position", i.e. the respective leaf springs 12a and 12b are not in contact with the respective thrust piece 8 of a slider gap 4b.

In a subsequent method step, the device 1 is lowered onto the provided marking element mat 2. This is shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the side of the marking element mat 2 to be printed with a contoured, non-planar shape is shaped three-dimensionally by contour-congruent, vertical displacement of the slides 4 in the device 1.

In a further method step, the marking mat-specific recording or position of the slides 4 thus obtained in the device 1 is tensioned or clamped in a row by rotation of the shaft 1 1, so that the embossed three-dimensional geometry of the side of the marking element mat 2 facing away from the side to be printed on is is permanently fixed in the device 1.

In a further method step, the marking element mat specifically prepared device 1 is optionally rotated, so that the device 1 can be used as a receptacle for printing corresponding marking element mats 2 in a printer that can only print from top to bottom. The marking-mat-specific device 1 obtained in this way reliably picks up a marking element mat 2 to be printed on and produces the stable, flat surface to be printed, which is required in particular for the thermal transfer printing process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 marker element mat

3 marking element

4 slides

4a slider line

4b slider gap

5 basic frames

6 guide plate

7 breakthrough

8 pressure piece

9 breakthrough

10 hole

1 1 shaft

12 leaf spring

12a leaf spring

12b leaf spring

13 level underlay

14 leadership

Claims

claims

1 . Device (1) for producing a three-dimensional image of at least one side of an article having a contoured, non-planar shape, the device (1) having a plurality of relatively slidable slides (4) with which the contoured, non-planar shape can be shaped , characterized in that the slides (4) each have a non-circular cross section.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slides (4) each have a polygonal cross-section.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked, that the slide (4) each have a rectangular cross-section.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slides (4) each have a square cross-section.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (4) are made of a metallic material.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (4) are made of a plastic material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the embossed geometry of the article in the device (1) is fixable.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the embossed geometry of the article in the device (1) is fixed slide-block columns.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked, that the slide (4) in the direction of the slide gaps (4b) each have an opening (7).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (7) in each case slide column by way of a guide plate (6) is penetrated.

1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (7) in its vertical longitudinal extent is greater than the guide plate (6) passing through it, so that the slide (4) is movable in the vertical direction.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide plate (6) is fastened in each case to a base frame (5).

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide plate (6) in each case on its base frame side facing away from a bore (10).

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bore (10) of the guide plate (6) in each case by a shaft (1 1) is penetrated.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (1 1) per durchgriffenes guide plate (6) has two leaf springs (12a, 12b) and a split leaf spring (12), each having two leaf spring halves (12a, 12b) pronounces.

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leaf springs (12a, 12b) and the leaf spring halves (12a, 12b) are each arranged symmetrically to the guide plate (6) on the shaft (1 1).

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leaf springs (12a, 12b) and the leaf spring halves (12a, 12b) exert by pressing the shaft (1 1) a compressive force on a pressure piece (8), by the or . is clamped by the respective one slide gap (4b) against the base frame (5).

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each slide (4) is spring-loaded individually in the direction of deflection.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure piece (8) in the direction of the slide gaps (4b) each having an opening (9).

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (9) of the pressure piece (8) has a congruent geometry to the cross section of the guide plate (6).

21. Printer for printing on at least one side of an object with a contoured, non-planar shape, in which a device according to one of the preceding claims for receiving the object to be printed is provided during the printing operation.

22. A printer according to claim 21, characterized in that the object to be printed is a marking element mat (2).

23. A printer according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the printer is a thermal transfer printer.

24. A printer according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the printer is a laser printer.

25. A method for printing on at least one side of an article having a contoured, non-planar shape, comprising the following method steps: a) providing the article to be printed, b) providing a device (1) receiving the article to be printed, which several, relative to each other c) providing a flat base (13), d) providing a printer, e) depositing the article to be printed with the side facing away from the page to be printed on a flat surface (13), f) lowering a the device (1) receiving the object to be printed on the object to be printed, the slides (4) the device (1) movable, that are not clamped and thereby produce a three-dimensional image of the object, g) Schieberspaltenweises terminals of the slide (4) in the respective position of the slide (4) by rotating a shaft (1 1), whereby two in each case Leaf springs (12a, 12b) each slide column (4b) exert a compressive force on one pressure piece (8) per slide column (4b), h) Optional turning over the clamped device (1), so that the created, specifically contoured recording a corresponding to be printed I) inserting an object to be printed in the device (1), j) printing the object to be printed with a printer using the device (1).

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the objects to be printed are marking element mats (2).