Laminated product with electronic identification member

Abstract

The invention mainly relates to a laminated product having a thickness adjustable by layer removal, this product comprising an alternating stack (10) of sheets and layers of an adhesive material, each sheet having an intrinsic resistance to tearing, and each layer of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets of the stack (10) to each other by a bonding force that is weaker than the resistance of the sheets to tearing, as a result of which each sheet can be detached from the stack (10) without tearing, the product comprising a recess (20) provided in the thickness of the stack (10), and an electronic identification member (30) arranged in the recess (20), characterised in that the product comprises a battery (34) for powering the electronic identification member (30) arranged in the recess (20).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Laminated product with electronic identification device. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates generally to rolled products and the tracking of such products. PRIOR ART AND DISADVANTAGES OF PRIOR ART

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a laminated product having an adjustable thickness by disintegration, this product comprising an alternating stack of sheets and layers of an adhesive material, each sheet having an intrinsic resistance to tearing, and each layer of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets of the stack to each other by a bonding force lower than the resistance of the sheets to tearing, as a result of which each sheet can be detached from the stack without tearing.

[0003] Products of this type are known from the prior art, and are used in particular as adjustment shims for mechanical assemblies. These assemblies generally have significant clearances at certain points, resulting from the combination of manufacturing tolerances. These clearances are compensated by inserting shims. The thickness of these shims is adjusted by removing the upper or lower sheets one by one, until the desired thickness is reached.

[0004] These shims are used in particular in industries where complete traceability of all parts is required, for safety or quality assurance reasons. This is the case, for example, in the aeronautics industry. Each part making up an aircraft is numbered and a quality assurance file is associated with it, including manufacturing plans, or at least their references, material certificates, manufacturing specification references, etc.

[0005] The serial numbers of peelable shims are generally marked with indelible ink by a stamp, on the upper face of the shim, at the time of manufacture

[0006] This technique does, however, have drawbacks, particularly because the upper sheets of the shim, bearing the serial number, are removed during the shim thickness adjustment operation. Once this operation is carried out, the shim is no longer identifiable. It can be lost, or interchanged by error with another between the moment its thickness is adjusted and the moment it is put in place. Furthermore, the marking is difficult to read on certain types of shims, such as composite material shims, which have a surface unsuitable for stamping, smooth or raster depending on the materials. Finally, the volume of information that can be marked on the shim is very small and is generally limited to the serial number of the shim.

[0007] To overcome this drawback, publication FR 2854098 discloses a laminated product in which an electronic identification member is integrated which includes not only the serial number of the product but also other information such as the manufacturer, the material constituting the product, the date of installation, the number and date of the order.

[0008] The information contained in the electronic organ is read via a reading unit which can be combined with computer means.

[0009] However, reading this information must be done at a very short distance from the electronic component, typically a few centimeters. This task is made difficult when the installed laminated product is difficult to access. Furthermore, it is only possible to identify one product at a time. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In this context, the present invention aims to overcome the defects mentioned above. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a laminated product having a thickness adjustable by disintegration, this product comprising an alternating stack of sheets and layers of an adhesive material, each sheet having an intrinsic tear resistance, and each layer of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets of the stack to each other by a bonding force lower than the tear resistance of the sheets, with the result that each sheet can be detached from the stack without tearing, which product comprises a housing provided in the thickness of the stack, and an electronic identification member arranged in the housing, characterized in that the product comprises a battery for supplying the electronic identification member arranged in the housing.

[0012] The product of the invention may also include the following optional characteristics considered in isolation or in all possible technical combinations: - The battery is secured to the electronic identification unit, the battery and the electronic unit forming an electronic assembly. - The battery is rechargeable. - The battery delivers a voltage between 2 and 5 V and an electrical charge between 40 and 60 mAh. - The battery has an extension axis and has an extension dimension between 1 and 4 mm, and a thickness less than 0.4 mm. - The electronic identification device has a thickness of less than 200 microns and / or a cross-section of less than 2.5 square millimeters. - The electronic device comprises a memory for storing identification information identifying or characterizing the product, and a remotely interrogable transmission device capable of transmitting the identification information stored in the memory. - The memory of the electronic identification device has a storage capacity of at least one megabyte. - The identification information stored in memory includes at least the product serial number. - The memory of the electronic identification device makes it possible to store at least a large part of the identification information, such as identification of the manufacturer of the product, type of product, order reference, customer identification, identification of the material constituting the product and reference of the material certificate, reference of the standard applicable to the manufacture of the product, reference of the technical specifications of the product, reference of the certificate of conformity, date of manufacture, reference of the delivery note, date of delivery. - Some of the identifying information is stored in memory in encrypted form. - The electronic component comprises means for measuring temperature and / or pressure and / or vibrations and / or irradiation, the device for transmission being capable of transmitting the results of the measurements made by said means. - The housing is delimited by an inner wall, a hardenable filling material filling the housing around the electronic component and the battery and securing them to the inner wall. - The filling material is a resin, for example epoxy, phenolic, vinylester or polyvinyl resin. - The sheets are made of a metallic or composite material. - The leaves all extend parallel to a reference plane, with the housing also extending parallel to the reference plane.

[0013] The invention also relates to a system for identifying and tracking laminated products, of thicknesses adjustable by disintegration, these products each comprising an alternating stack of sheets and layers of an adhesive material, each sheet having an intrinsic tear resistance, and each layer of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets of the stack to each other by a bonding force weaker than the tear resistance of the sheets, which results in each sheet being able to be detached from the stack without tearing, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of laminated products each provided with an electronic identification member and a battery supplying said electronic identification member, and a reading unit, the electronic member comprising a memory for storing identification information identifying or characterizing the product,and a transmission device capable of transmitting the identification information stored in the memory, the reading unit communicating with the transmission device of the electronic member and being capable of consulting the identification information stored in the memory.

[0014] The system may also include the following optional features considered individually or in all possible technical combinations: - The reading unit is portable and communicates remotely, without a wired connection, with the electronic organ. - The reading unit and the computer unit for managing the identification information are integrated into a portable identification device, the unit of reading being able to transmit to the computer unit the information read in the memory. - The reading unit is capable of transmitting to the electronic organ the identification information managed by the computer unit, for writing in the memory. - The computer unit performs the encoding and decoding of certain identification information stored in coded form in the memory. - The encoding and decoding of identification information is carried out using tables matching the information to be encoded and an alphanumeric code to be stored in memory. PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, among which:

[0016] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rolled product according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0017] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the electronic identification member 20 according to the arrows II of Figure 1;

[0018] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the product tracking device of the invention, showing the computer unit integrating the reading unit communicating with the electronic identification member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] It is first of all specified that in the figures, the same references designate the same elements regardless of the figure in which they appear and regardless of the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure.

[0020] It is also specified that the figures essentially represent one embodiment of the subject of the invention but that there may be other embodiments which meet the definition of the invention.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a rolled product of adjustable thickness by disintegration, the thickness being the vertical dimension of the product as shown in Figure 1.

[0022] This product comprises an alternating stack 10 of sheets 11 and layers 12 of an adhesive material. The product is prepared from thin sheets 11, generally with a thickness varying between 0.1 and 0.01 millimeters. These sheets 11 are coated with an extremely thin film of adhesive material, of the order of 0.002 millimeters, and stacked. The stacked sheets 11 then undergo a treatment consisting of applying very high pressure to them while subjecting them to prolonged heating cycles. The thickness of the layers 12 of adhesive material is even lower after treatment, this thickness becoming barely measurable.

[0023] Each sheet 11 has an intrinsic tear resistance, and each layer of adhesive material 12 connects two adjacent sheets 11 of the stack 10 to each other by a bonding force weaker than the tear resistance of the sheets 11. As a result, each sheet 11 can be detached from the stack 10 without tearing. A cutter is generally used to detach the sheets 11.

[0024] According to the invention, the product comprises a housing 20 formed in the thickness of the stack 10, and an electronic identification member 30 arranged in the housing 20.

[0025] The electronic device 30, commonly called a chip, comprises a memory 31 for storing identification information identifying or characterizing the product, and a transmission device 32 which can be interrogated remotely, capable of transmitting the identification information stored in the memory 31.

[0026] This identification information includes at least the product serial number.

[0027] According to a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the memory 31 has a large storage capacity, sufficient to store at least a large part of the following information: identification of the manufacturer of the product, type of product, serial number of the product, order reference, customer identification, identification of the material constituting the product and reference of the material certificate, reference of the standard applicable to the manufacture of the product, reference of the technical specifications of the product, reference of the certificate of conformity, date of manufacture, delivery slip reference, delivery date.

[0028] The memory 31 has a storage capacity of at least one megabyte, and preferably 1024 bits, which allows hundreds of thousands of alphanumeric characters to be stored.

[0029] This capacity is sufficient to store all of the information listed above. Some of the identification information is stored in the memory 31 in coded form, as will be seen later. This list is not exhaustive, and other information may also be stored in the memory 31, within the limits of its storage capacity. This other information may also replace some of the information listed above.

[0030] The transmission device 32 is also capable of remotely receiving identification information and transmitting it to the memory 31, which stores it.

[0031] The electronic device 30 is write-lockable.

[0032] The transmission device 32 comprises a copper winding 321, acting as an antenna, electrically connected to the memory 31.

[0033] The electronic component 30 typically operates at a frequency of 125 kiloHertz.

[0034] According to the invention, the product also comprises a rechargeable battery 34 of the lithium-polymer battery type, which may have a voltage of between 2 and 5 V, preferably between 3.6 V and 4.2 V, and even more preferably around 3.9 V, and a capacity of between 10 and 30 pAh, typically around 20 pAh. The battery 34 is secured to the electronic component 30, for example via a resin, and forms an electronic assembly 35.

[0035] The electronic assembly 35 formed by the battery 34 and the electronic member 30 is shown in Figure 2. It has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with a thickness of less than 0.5 millimeters. This parallelepiped typically has a length of the order of 3 millimeters and a thickness of the order of 0.2 millimeters.

[0036] Typically, the electronic member 30 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a thickness of less than 200 microns - and preferably of the order of 100 microns - and with a section of less than 2.5 square millimeters in a plane perpendicular to the thickness. This section is typically a square section, with a side length of 1.3 millimeters. In addition, the battery is also in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a thickness of less than 400 microns, typically of the order of 100 microns, with a length of between 1 and 4 millimeters, typically of the order of 3.1 millimeters, and with a width of between 1 and 2 millimeters, typically of the order of 1.7 millimeters.

[0037] As can be seen in Figure 1, the sheets 11 all extend parallel to a reference plane P, shown horizontal in Figure 1. The housing 20 preferably extends parallel to the reference plane P, to occupy as small a thickness of the product as possible.

[0038] This housing 20 is cylindrical, blind and opens through an open end 23 onto a side face of the product. It can be made very simply, for example using a drill.

[0039] It has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the electronic assembly 35.

[0040] The electronic assembly 35 is arranged in the housing 20, the axis of symmetry of the electronic assembly 35 being parallel to the axis of symmetry of the housing 20. The antenna 321 of the transmission device 32 is arranged on the side of the open end 23 of the housing 20. The housing 20 is delimited by an inner wall 21, a hard filling material 22, filling the housing 20 around the electronic member 30 and securing it to the inner wall 21.

[0041] This filling material 22 is typically a resin, for example of the epoxy, or phenolic, or vinylester or even polyvinyl type.

[0042] The invention also relates to a device 40 for identifying and tracking rolled products provided with an electronic identification member 30 such as that described above.

[0043] This device 40 comprises a computer unit 41 for managing identification information, and a reading unit 42 communicating with the unit computer 41 and with the transmission device 32 of the electronic member 30.

[0044] Advantageously, the device 40 forms a compact assembly, the size of a smartphone or a computer tablet, and therefore integrates the computer unit 41 - which comprises at least one processor and one memory area - and the reading unit 42 - which comprises for example an RFID type chip.

[0045] The reading unit 42 is able to consult the identification information stored in the memory 31 and to transmit it to the computer unit 41. To do this, it interrogates the electronic device 30 by sending a signal to the transmission device 32, the latter transmitting the identification information stored in the memory 31 to the reading unit 42.

[0046] The reading unit 42 is also capable of transmitting to the electronic device 30 the identification information managed by the computer unit 41, for writing in the memory 31, via the transmission device 32.

[0047] Computer unit 41 is equipped with database management software.

[0048] This software is programmed to present to the user of the device predetermined input masks, comprising fields corresponding to the identification information stored in the memory 31.

[0049] Information in the form of an alphanumeric code is stored in this form in the memory 31. This information is typically: product serial number, order reference, material certificate reference, product technical specifications reference, certificate of conformity reference, manufacturing date, delivery slip reference, delivery date.

[0050] Other information is stored in the memory 31 in coded form, because it would take up too much space in the memory 31 in its usual form or because it is in unsuitable forms. This information is typically: identification of the manufacturer of the product, type of product, identification of the customer, identification of the material constituting the product and reference of the standard applicable to the manufacture of the product.

[0051] The computer unit 41 performs the encoding and decoding of the identification information stored in encoded form in the memory 31.

[0052] Encoding and decoding are performed using tables included in the software, matching the information to be encoded and an alphanumeric code to be stored in memory.

[0053] The identification device 40 is portable, lightweight, small in size, and can be easily carried by a user.

[0054] The reading unit 42 comprises a buffer memory for storing the identification information, and the computing unit 41 comprises a display screen 411 and a control device 412.

[0055] The buffer memory makes it possible to temporarily store the identification information read in the memory 31 of the electronic member 30, or the identification information to be written in the memory 31 of the electronic member 30.

[0056] The screen 411 allows some of the identification information to be viewed, and parameters concerning the operation of the reading unit 42 to be displayed.

[0057] The control device 412 is preferably a real or virtual keyboard, and makes it possible to trigger the reading of the identification information in the memory 31 of the electronic member 30, the writing of this information in the memory 31 and the write locking of the electronic member 30.

[0058] The reading unit 42 communicates remotely, without a wired connection, with the electronic component 30, as shown in Figure 3.

[0059] The information is transmitted between the reading unit 42 and the electronic member 30 by waves or by optical means. For this purpose, the reading unit 42 comprises transmission means cooperating with the transmission device 32 of the electronic member 30.

[0060] Since the electronic device 30 is powered by a battery, the reading distance between said device and the reading unit is unimportant. The transmission range depends solely on the transmission power of the transmission device 32 and the reading unit 42, i.e. several meters.

[0061] The reading unit 42 communicates directly with the computer unit 41 within the identification device 40.

[0062] The procedure for "marking" the identification of a rolled product is as follows.

[0063] 1 / Introduction of the electronic assembly 35 formed of the electronic component 30 and the battery 34 secured together in the housing 20 of the product.

[0064] 2 / Filling of the housing 20 with the filling material 22, hardening.

[0065] 3 / Introduction by a user of identification information into the database of the computer unit 41, by filling in the different sections of the mask provided for this purpose.

[0066] 4 / Encoding of certain identification information by the computer unit 41, and transfer of all the identification information into the buffer memory of the reading unit 42.

[0067] 5 / Transfer of the identification information from the buffer memory of the reading unit 42 into the electronic device 30 and writing of the information into the memory 31, on command from the user.

[0068] 6 / Write lock of the electronic device 30, on user command.

[0069] The procedure for reading credentials is as follows.

[0070] 1 / Activation of the reading unit 42 via the computer unit 41.

[0071] 2 / Reading the identification information in the memory 31 of the electronic device 30, at the user's command, and transferring the information into the buffer memory of the reading unit 42.

[0072] 3 / Transfer of the identification information from the buffer memory of the reading unit 42 into the computer unit 41, at the user's command from the computer unit 41.

[0073] 4 / Decoding of the coded identification information, by the computer unit 41.

[0074] 5 / Visualization of identification information by the user using the masks provided in the database.

[0075] The product may be made with sheets 11 of metallic or composite material. In the case where the sheets 11 are metallic, precautions special measures must be taken to ensure the quality of the communication between the electronic device 30 and the reading unit 42.

[0076] The antenna 321 of the transmission device 32 of the electronic member 30 is in this case arranged in the immediate vicinity of the open end 23 of the housing 20. Furthermore, the internal diameter of the housing 20 is chosen to be sufficiently large relative to the external diameter of the electronic assembly 35. A minimum spacing, for example 0.5 millimeters, is maintained between the electronic assembly 35 and the internal wall 21 of the housing 20.

[0077] In an alternative embodiment, the electronic member 30 may comprise means for measuring the ambient temperature, the pressure exerted on the product, the vibrations or the irradiation. The measurement results are transmitted by the transmission device 32 to the reading unit 42, which in turn transmits them to the computer unit 41.

[0078] It is therefore clear that the invention makes it possible to identify laminated products in a reliable, durable manner, without the risk of losing information when the upper or lower layers of the product are peeled off to adjust their thickness.

[0079] A large amount of information can be stored in the electronic member 30, and therefore be physically permanently associated with the laminated product, which was not previously possible.

[0080] Furthermore, the presence of the battery provides the energy necessary for the electronic component to communicate at a distance - several meters - from the reading unit. In addition, the reading unit can communicate simultaneously with several electronic components 30 of several laminated products. In particular, simultaneous reading of several electronic components 30 or simultaneous writing in several electronic components 30 is possible.

[0081] Of course, the examples of achievements cited here are not limiting, and it is understood that it is possible to choose the type and size of the identification member according to the thickness of the laminated product, so as to obtain the best compromise between memory capacity and size. In any case, laminated products equipped with identification members combining a large capacity of storage and very low thickness also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0082] Furthermore, the invention's means of identification is tamper-proof and tamper-proof. Firstly, because the electronic components cannot be removed from the housings once the filling material has been poured. This would require destroying the shim or the electronic component itself. Secondly, because the electronic components can be write-locked or can only be used in read-only mode.

[0083] Fraud concerning the origin of rolled products is therefore made much more difficult, or even impossible for the first method of implementation, since all the data enabling the identification of the product is permanently accessible and cannot be falsified.

[0084] It should be noted that the laminated products described above are well suited to serve as peelable shims to catch the gaps of mechanical assemblies, particularly in the aeronautical industry where all parts are subject to very thorough monitoring and quality control.

Claims

Claims

1. A laminated product having an adjustable thickness by disintegration, this product comprising an alternating stack (10) of sheets (11) and layers (12) of an adhesive material, each sheet (11) having an intrinsic tear resistance, and each layer (12) of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets (11) of the stack (10) to each other by a bonding force lower than the tear resistance of the sheets (11), which results in each sheet (11) being detachable from the stack (10) without tearing, which product comprises a housing (20) formed in the thickness of the stack (10), and an electronic identification member (30) arranged in the housing (20), characterized in that the product comprises a power supply battery (34) for the electronic identification member (30) arranged in the housing (20).

2. Product according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery (34) is secured to the electronic identification member (30), the battery (34) and the electronic member (30) forming an electronic assembly (35).

3. Product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery (34) is rechargeable.

4. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery (34) delivers a voltage of between 2 and 5 V and an electrical charge of between 10 and 30 pAh.

5. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery (34) has an extension axis and has an extension dimension of between 1 and 4 mm, and a thickness of less than 0.4 mm.

6. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic identification member (30) has a thickness of less than 200 microns and / or a section of less than 2.5 square millimeters.

7. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic member (30) comprises a memory (31) for storing identification information identifying or characterizing the product, and a remotely interrogable transmission device (32) capable of transmitting the identification information stored in the memory (31).

8. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) is delimited by an inner wall (21), a hardenable filling material (22) filling the housing (20) around the electronic member (30) and the battery (34) and securing them to the inner wall (21).

9. System for identifying and tracking laminated products, of thicknesses adjustable by disintegration, these products each comprising an alternating stack (10) of sheets (11) and layers (12) of an adhesive material, each sheet (11) having an intrinsic tear resistance, and each layer (12) of adhesive material connecting two adjacent sheets (11) of the stack (10) to each other by a bonding force weaker than the tear resistance of the sheets (11), which results in each sheet (11) being detachable from the stack (10) without tearing, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of laminated products each provided with an electronic identification member (30) and a power supply battery (34) for said electronic identification member (30), and a reading unit (42), the electronic member (30) comprising a memory (31 ) storage of identification information identifying or characterizing the product,and a transmission device (32) capable of transmitting the identification information stored in the memory (31), the reading unit (42) communicating with the transmission device (32) of the electronic member (30) and being capable of consulting the identification information stored in the memory (31).,

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the reading unit (42) and the computer unit (41) for managing the identification information are integrated in a portable identification device (40), the reading unit (42) being capable of transmitting to the computer unit (41) the information read in the memory (31).

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