Apparatus for continuously producing raised marks on plastic cable jackets

Improvements of an apparatus in tandem with an extruder comprising apparatus for continuously producing raised marks on plastic cable jackets disposed in the immediate vicinity of said extruder producing the cable jacket having in combination:

• at least one rotatable drum disposed on one side of the cable emerging from the extruder with its circumferential surface coming into contact with the cable surface, said drum having marks or depressions on its circumferential surface corresponding to the outlines of the marks,
• an automatic advancing counting mechanism associated with said drum for forming length markings on said drum's circumferential surface with a powder container associated with the circumferential surface of said drum and having an outlet bearing on the surface of the drum in the area of the marks characterized by the combination of:
• means operatively associated with said at least one drum for driving said at least one of said drums including a stepper motor controlled synchronously with the cable take-off speed;
• means mounting said at least one drum so as to be vertically adjustable on swivel arms, said swivel arms being mounted on a movable carriage having means for locking the elements associated with and allowing said carriage to be movable;
• said carriage including a supply of plastic powder and pipe means interconnecting said powder supply to said container;
• and
• said container being pivotably mounted and positioned in the area of the marks on the surface of said drum and having biasing means operatively associated with said container for causing said outlet to bear against said drum's surface with a preselected pressure.