In wire processing systems and methods, a wire channel receives a wire. One or more fluid guides flow the fluid into the wire channel to move, along the wire, a component (e.g. a solder sleeve) positioned at least partially in the wire channel and coupled to the wire. Other features are also provided.

A method according to the teachings of the present disclosure may include disposing a sheath around a conductor assembly, with an outer surface of the sheath defining spaced apart crowns and valleys. An outlet of at least one ink jet print head may be positioned adjacent the sheath at an angle of 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The method may also include using at least one ink jet print head to print marking indicia on the sheath, the marking indicia indicating at least characteristic of the electrical cable assembly.

It is an objective of the invention to provide a high-power supply cable characterized in that even when mounted in a narrow space where the cable undergoes a repetitive bending motion, any undesirable deformation out of the bending plane is small. There is provided a power-supply cable including: an electric wire including an electrical conductor and a resin sheath covering the electrical conductor, the electric wire having a tendency to generate a curl under a no-load condition, the curl having a curling direction, the curling direction being a normal to the curl, the electric wire having one or more longitudinal ends; a connecting terminal disposed at one of the longitudinal ends of the electric wire; and a curling tendency direction indicator showing the curling direction, the indicator being disposed along a normal line to the curl of the electric wire.

A method according to the teachings of the present disclosure may include disposing a sheath around a conductor assembly, with an outer surface of the sheath defining spaced apart crowns and valleys. An outlet of at least one ink jet print head may be positioned adjacent the sheath at an angle of 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The method may also include using at least one ink jet print head to print marking indicia on the sheath, the marking indicia indicating at least characteristic of the electrical cable assembly.

An apparatus for controlling the printing on wire or cable. The apparatus including a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a user input connected to the bus, a display screen connected to the user input and the bus, a first storage system connected to the bus, data stored in the first storage system and displayable on the display screen, wherein the data includes manufacturing and print information, a printer connected to the bus, wherein the printer prints the data on the wire or cable, a communication device connected to the bus, and an identification device connected to the bus, wherein identification device receives information from a user.

A method according to the teachings of the present disclosure may include disposing a sheath around a conductor assembly, with an outer surface of the sheath defining spaced apart crowns and valleys. An outlet of at least one ink jet print head may be positioned adjacent the sheath at an angle of 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The method may also include using at least one ink jet print head to print marking indicia on the sheath, the marking indicia indicating at least characteristic of the electrical cable assembly.

A method of marking an optical fiber is disclosed, wherein the method includes forming an ink stream, moving an optical fiber over a fiber path that resides adjacent the ink stream, and periodically changing the position of the fiber path so that the optical fiber at least partially enters the ink stream so that the ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber. An optical fiber marking apparatus is also disclosed that includes payout and take modules that move the optical fiber over the fiber path, a marking unit configured to form an ink stream adjacent the fiber path, and a fiber positioning device that causes the optical fiber to periodically intersect the ink stream so that ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber.

A method according to the teachings of the present disclosure may include disposing a sheath around a conductor assembly, with an outer surface of the sheath defining spaced apart crowns and valleys. An outlet of at least one ink jet print head may be positioned adjacent the sheath at an angle of 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The method may also include using at least one ink jet print head to print marking indicia on the sheath, the marking indicia indicating at least characteristic of the electrical cable assembly.

An apparatus for controlling the printing on wire or cable. The apparatus including a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a user input connected to the bus, a display screen connected to the user input and the bus, a first storage system connected to the bus, data stored in the first storage system and displayable on the display screen, wherein the data includes manufacturing and print information, a printer connected to the bus, wherein the printer prints the data on the wire or cable, a communication device connected to the bus, and an identification device connected to the bus, wherein identification device receives information from a user.

A method of marking an optical fiber is disclosed, wherein the method includes forming an ink stream, moving an optical fiber over a fiber path that resides adjacent the ink stream, and periodically changing the position of the fiber path so that the optical fiber at least partially enters the ink stream so that the ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber. An optical fiber marking apparatus is also disclosed that includes payout and take modules that move the optical fiber over the fiber path, a marking unit configured to form an ink stream adjacent the fiber path, and a fiber positioning device that causes the optical fiber to periodically intersect the ink stream so that ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber.