Endless product with electromagnetically visible information carrier and method for determining the change in length of the endless product

Abstract

The invention relates to a continuous product (10) comprising a first layer (11) made of plastic or rubber, a second layer (12) made of plastic or rubber, and an information carrier (20) arranged between the first layer (11) and the second layer (12). The invention is characterized in that the information carrier (20) has a plurality of electromagnetically visible elements (22) arranged in a spatial pattern, the individual elements (22) and thus the spatial pattern of the elements (22) being detectable by a reading device (100). The invention further relates to a method for determining a change in length of the continuous product (10).

Description

The invention relates to a continuous product having a first layer of plastic or rubber and a second layer of plastic or rubber. The invention further relates to a method for determining the change in length of the endless product.DE 20 2013 012 003 U1 discloses an endless product in the form of a tube. The first layer forms an inner layer that is surrounded by a second layer as an outer layer. In other words, the tube has an inner tube (inner layer) and an outer cladding tube (outer layer).DE 20 2013 012 003 U1 also discloses an information carrier which is arranged between the inner tube and the outer cladding tube and is designed as a digit sequence or barcode. The outer cladding tube is made of a transparent polyolefin material, so that the information carrier can be recognized or read with the naked eye or by a corresponding reading device. The transparent cladding tube protects the information carrier from abrasion and wear.However, there are many applications for the continuous product in which the outer layer should be opaque for a wide variety of reasons. The marking arranged between the layers would then no longer be visible. Although the application of the marking on the outside of the outer layer for the purpose of visibility would be possible, the information carrier would then no longer be protected from abrasion and wear.It is also known to use an RFID chip as the information carrier, which is embedded between the layers of the continuous product. Since it is often required in the case of a continuous product that the information of the information carrier must be available repeatedly not only at one location but viewed in the longitudinal direction of the continuous product, even the use of an RFID chip whose production costs can be a few cent is associated with too high a cost.The object of the invention is therefore to provide an endless product which can be produced cost-effectively and has an information carrier which is protected from abrasion and wear and is not visible from the outside with the naked eye.The object on which the invention is based is achieved with the combination of features according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims relating to claim 1.According to the invention, it is provided that the information carrier has a multiplicity of electromagnetically visible elements which are arranged in a spatial pattern, wherein the individual elements and thus the spatial pattern of the elements can be detected by a reading device.The reading device can be based on an inductive measuring principle. The reader can generate an electric field which is varied by the proximity of the electromagnetically visible elements. The reading device detects the change in the electric field. The information carrier therefore does not have to emit active signals itself and only have said electromagnetically visible elements. The elements may be made of a metallic material. The information carrier can thus be produced cost-effectively.The endless product may be a hollow body such as a hose or a tube, preferably having a substantially circular cross-section. The first layer forms the inner layer. The second or outer layer is arranged radially outwards around the inner layer. Further layers may be provided. The endless product may also be a belt-shaped belt having a substantially rectangular cross section.The information carrier can have a carrier layer on which the elements are arranged. The carrier layer may be a plastic film, the film thickness of which may be less than 100 μm or 50 μm.The carrier layer can have a width that corresponds to the width of the endless product. The width extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the endless product. In the case of a hose or pipe, this feature is intended to correspond to a backing layer having a closed perimeter between the inner layer and the outer layer. Alternatively, the width of the carrier layer can be smaller than the width of the endless product, for example smaller than 50% of the width of the endless product. Accordingly, in the case of a hollow body, the carrier layer can also extend only over a part of the circumference between the first inner layer and the outer second layer.The carrier layer may be an elongated strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the continuous product. The strip can be provided continuously in the endless product in sections or even without axial gaps.The elements may be applied to the backing layer by an additive coating process. For example, in the exemplary embodiment with the elongate strip as carrier layer, individual beams can be printed on, which extend transversely to the longitudinal extent of the strip and then each form an element of the information carrier. Metallic or magnetic ink can be used for printing.It is also possible for the elements on the carrier layer to have been produced indirectly by a removal method. During the production of the information carrier, the carrier layer can be coated over its entire surface with a layer of a metal or magnetic material which cures under UV radiation. The UV-curable material is not printed completely, but only partially, with a UV protective layer, so that unprotected regions are present. During a subsequent UV curing, only those regions which are not covered by the protective layer cure. The protected and therefore also uncured regions are finally removed by brushes or the like, so that only the cured regions remain on the carrier layer.The elements may be made of metal or an electrically conductive plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The elements can alternatively or additionally also be made of a plastic which is filled with a metal filler.A reinforcing layer may be provided between the first layer and the second layer. The reinforcing layer may comprise a plurality of fibers or threads which form a braid, knit, nonwoven, knit or laid scrim.Individual filaments may be of the electromagnetically visible material or may be coated therewith. If, for example, a woven fabric with parallel threads and transverse threads running perpendicular thereto is used as the reinforcing layer, selected threads can be coated with a metallic material and thereby form individual electromagnetically visible elements. If the endless product has such a reinforcing layer, a separate carrier layer for receiving the elements can be dispensed with.Similar to a barcode, the spatial pattern can store readable information relating to the product properties of the continuous product (materials used, date of manufacture, etc.). The spatial pattern can also be used to map a code or marking sequence having cross- or autocorrelation properties, such that the code can be detected by comparison with a stored reference code. In this case, additional prefixes can be assigned to the code, from which prefixes the position of the information carrier in the endless product arises (for example code+length indication).In one exemplary embodiment, in order to increase the anti-forgery security, the spatial pattern is generated randomly during the production of the endless product. The information introduced in this case is preferably one-unique. On the basis of stored data in a database inaccessible by third parties, the randomly generated pattern can be identified and the originality or authenticity of the continuous product can thus be checked.A further object of the invention, the provision of a method for determining a change in length of the endless product described here, is achieved with the combination of features according to claim 15.According to the invention, it is provided that the endless product has a first pattern and a second pattern which, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the endless product, has a defined desired distance from the first pattern, wherein the endless product moves at a speed in the longitudinal direction and the time between the detection of the first pattern and the detection of the second pattern is measured by the reading device which is fixedly installed at a location. From the speed and the measured time, an actual distance can be determined, which is compared with the desired distance. If the actual state determined in this way corresponds to the desired distance (in the original state), the endless body is neither stretched nor jammed. A difference between the actual distance and the desired distance corresponds to the change in length. If the endless product is plastically stretched due to wear, overloading or other influences, the determined actual distance is greater than the defined desired distance.The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows a two-track information carrier; FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment with a reinforcing layer in cross section; FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a third exemplary embodiment in the form of a hose; and FIG. 5 shows a reinforcing layer with threads, of which individual threads are coated.Fig. 1 shows an endless product, which is designated in its entirety by 10. The endless product in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a belt with a rectangular cross section. The continuous product 10 has a first layer 11 and a second layer 12. The second layer 12 is indicated here merely by dot-dash lines. The first layer 11 and the second layer 12 are made of plastic or rubber which are opaque. The material of the first layer 11 may correspond to or be different from the material of the second layer 12. The layer thicknesses of the layers 11, 12 can be the same size or different. The endless product 10 should extend along a longitudinal direction 1 virtually unlimited. At least, the extension in the longitudinal direction 1 is substantially greater than the extensions of the endless product 10 perpendicular thereto.An information carrier 20 is arranged between the first layer 11 and the second layer 12, which information carrier is visible in the illustration of FIG. 1 on account of the second layer 12 only indicated (on account of the opacity of the layers 11, 12, the information carrier 20 cannot be seen from the outside with the naked eye.The information carrier 20 comprises a strip-shaped carrier layer 21 and a plurality of bar-shaped elements 22 which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction 1. The bar-shaped elements 22 are arranged in a spatial pattern, similar to a barcode, wherein the distance between the individual elements 22 is partly different. The elements 22 can also be of different widths, which is not shown in FIG. 1, however. The elements 22 are made of an electromagnetically visible material, such as a metal or an electrically conductive thermoplastic polyurethane, which can be detected by a reading device 100 in the form of an inductive metal detector. If the continuous product 10 is guided along the longitudinal direction 1 at a certain belt speed past the stationary installed reading device 100, the reading device 100 detects the individual elements and can recognize a spatial pattern from the time sequence of the individual measurement signals, in which the individual elements are arranged. A specific item of information can then be determined or assigned from the spatial pattern.In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the information carrier 20 has two parallel tracks 23, 24 in order to increase the information density of the information carrier 20. The reading device must then likewise be embodied in two tracks and be aligned with these tracks in order to be able to recognize and read out the two tracks.FIG. 3 shows the rectangular cross section of an embodiment of the continuous product 10, in which a reinforcing layer 13 is provided between the first layer 11 and the second layer 12. The thermal and / or mechanical dimensional stability of the continuous product 10 can be increased by the reinforcing layer 13. As FIG. 3 shows, the information carrier 20 is provided between the reinforcing layer 13 and the second layer 12.FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the endless product 10 according to the invention. the endless product 10 of FIG. 4 is designed as a tube having an inner diameter d and an outer diameter D, wherein the first layer 11 represents an inner layer and the second layer 12 represents an outer layer. Three information carriers 20 a, 20 b, 20 care provided between the layers 11, 12, which information carriers are arranged at a distance of 120° in each case, as seen in the circumferential direction. If the three information carriers 20 a, 20 b, 20 ceach receive the same information, the arrangement of the three information carriers 20 a, 20 b, 20 c makes it possible to reliably record the information by a reading device even if the continuous product should be twisted with respect to the reading device. Alternatively, an information carrier could extend over the entire circumference for the purpose of readability independent of the direction of rotation, wherein the elements / bars would then form individual rings.With the embodiment of FIG. 4, a multi-track reading of information could also be realized. In this case, the information carriers could then contain different information-similar to the multi-track nature of FIG. 2-which information is then read out by a plurality of reading devices distributed over the circumference.FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the reinforcing layer 13 already mentioned above. Here, the reinforcing layer 13 has a plurality of parallel threads 14 and transverse threads 15 arranged at right angles thereto, wherein individual ones of the threads 14 are coated with a metallic powder (see threads 14 a, 14 b, 14 cand 14 d). If the endless product 10 with such a reinforcing layer 13 is guided past the stationary reading device 100 in the longitudinal direction 1, it can detect the individual coated threads 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 dand recognize a corresponding spatial pattern.List of reference characters1 Longitudinal direction 10 Endless product 11 First layer 12 Second layer 13 Reinforcing layer 14 Thread (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) 15 Transverse thread 20 Information carrier 21 Carrier layer 22 Element / beam (10a, 20b, 20c) 23 Track 24 Track d Inner diameter D Outer diameterReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 20 2013 012 003 U1 [0002, 0003]

Claims

Endless product (10) having a first layer (11) made of plastic or rubber, a second layer (12) made of plastic or rubber and an information carrier (20) which is arranged between the first layer (11) and the second layer (12), characterized in that the information carrier (20) has a multiplicity of electromagnetically visible elements (22) which are arranged in a spatial pattern, it being possible for the individual elements (22) and therefore the spatial pattern of the elements (22) to be detected by a reading device (100).Endless product (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the endless product (10) is a hose, wherein the first layer (11) represents an inner layer which is surrounded by the second layer (12) as seen in the radial direction.Endless product (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the information carrier (200) has a carrier layer (21) on which the elements (22) are arranged.Endless product (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the carrier layer (21) has a width which corresponds to the total width of the endless product (10).Endless product (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the carrier layer (21) is an elongated strip extending in a longitudinal direction (1) of the endless product (10).Continuous product (10) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the elements (22) are applied to the carrier layer (20) by an additive coating method.Endless product (10) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the elements (22) have been produced indirectly by a removal process.Endless product (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the information carrier (20) is of multi-track design.Endless product (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elements (22) are made of an electrically conductive plastic.Endless product (10) according to one of claims 1 or 9, characterised in that a reinforcing layer (13) is provided between the first layer (11) and the second layer (12).Endless product (10) according to claim 10, characterised in that the reinforcing layer (13) comprises a plurality of threads (14, 15) which form a braid, a knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a knitted fabric or a laid scrim.Endless product (10) according to claim 11, wherein individual threads (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) comprise an electromagnetically visible material.Endless product (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that a code or a marking sequence with cross- or autocorrelation properties is mapped by the spatial pattern, so that the code can be detected by comparison with a stored reference code.Endless product (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that, in order to increase the security against forgery of the endless product (10), the spatial pattern is generated randomly, which is identifiable for checking the authenticity of the endless product (10) with the aid of stored data.Method for determining a longitudinal extent of an endless product (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the endless product (10) has a first pattern and a second pattern which, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the endless product, has a defined distance from the first pattern, wherein the endless product (10) is moved at a speed in the longitudinal direction (1) and the time between the detection of the first pattern and the detection of the second pattern is measured.

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