Marker Strip Grid Layout for Universal Electrical Device Labeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marker strips for electrical devices require multiple designs to accommodate different grid dimensions, making it difficult to manufacture a continuous strip for rolling and requiring separate materials for latching and labeling, which complicates the marking process.

Innovation Solution

A marker strip with latching profiles arranged in a small grid dimension (≤2 mm) on one side, allowing for a single design to mark electrical devices with varying widths, manufactured from a single or dual plastic materials using extrusion or injection molding, enabling secure latching and precise labeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple marker strip designs are used to accommodate different grid dimensions, then the marking process can adapt to various electrical device widths, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different electrical device widthsVSAvoidnumber of marker strip designs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The marker strip is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate different grid dimensions (XR ≤ 2mm) through a single design. The latching profiles are arranged with sufficient density and the connecting regions provide flexibility to adapt to various electrical device widths without requiring multiple specialized marker strip designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The marker strip utilizes material property changes to achieve adaptability. By using plastics with different hardnesses in different regions (softer labelling field material for printing precision, harder latching profile material for secure engagement), the single marker strip design can effectively mark electrical devices across a range of widths while maintaining both latching security and labeling quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a continuous strip is manufactured for rolling, then productivity and ease of manufacture improve, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to offset in the grid of injection-molded strips

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous strip production for rollingVSAvoidgrid alignment of injection-molded strips

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the injection molding process with an extrusion process for manufacturing the continuous marker strip. Extrusion is better suited for producing long continuous strips with consistent cross-sections and integrated multi-material construction, avoiding the grid alignment offset problems inherent in joining multiple injection-molded segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The marker strip is manufactured as a multi-component coextrusion product, combining plastics of differing hardnesses in a single continuous manufacturing process. This approach produces a reliable continuous strip with integrated functional regions (labelling field and latching profiles) without requiring post-manufacturing assembly or joining operations that could introduce alignment errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If harder plastic material is used for the latching profile, then latching security improves, but labeling precision deteriorates due to material hardness affecting print quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatching securityVSAvoidlabeling precision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The marker strip features spatially differentiated material properties: the latching profiles are formed of harder plastic material to ensure secure engagement with electrical devices, while the labelling field is formed of softer plastic material to enable precise thermal transfer printing. This local quality differentiation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Manufacturing precision

If softer plastic material is used for the labelling field, then labeling precision improves, but latching security deteriorates due to insufficient material hardness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabeling precisionVSAvoidlatching security

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20230378668A1Marker strip and a series of electrical appliances with a marker strip

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 WEIDMULLER INTERFACE GMBH & CO

AI summary

A marker strip has a strip-shaped labelling strip formed of a first plastic material, which can be labelled on a first labelling side using a printer. A second side of the strip opposite the first side has a plurality of marker latching profiles formed of a second plastic material. The profiles are configured for latching in marker latching receptacles of serially arranged electrical devices. The marker strip has a main direction of extent and the latching profiles are arranged in the main direction of extent in a grid dimension on the second side of the labelling strip. The grid dimension in which the latching profiles are distributed on the second side of the labelling strip is smaller than or equal to 2 mm.