Apparatus for forming identification marks and method for forming identification marks

Abstract

To provide an identification mark forming apparatus and an identification mark forming method that can form an identification mark on an object to be marked by a new method. [Solution] An identification mark forming apparatus EA is provided with a mark forming means 10 that applies a marking agent MA to an object WK to be applied to, and forms a predetermined mark SM molded by the marking agent MA on the object WK. The marking agent MA is made to have improved fluidity when subjected to heat treatment, and the apparatus further includes a mark transition means 30 that applies heat treatment to the marking agent MA applied to the object WK to improve the fluidity of the marking agent MA, thereby inducing a deformation of the marking agent MA and transitioning the predetermined mark SM into an identification mark DM that can be individually recognized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an identification mark forming apparatus and an identification mark forming method.

Background Art

[0002] A technique for forming an identification mark on an object to be imparted is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a technique for forming an anti-counterfeiting pattern (identification mark) on a base material 9 (object to be imparted) by plate-free printing is disclosed. However, in recent years, a technique for forming an identification mark on an object to be imparted by a new method has been demanded.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an identification mark forming apparatus and an identification mark forming method capable of forming an identification mark on an object to be imparted by a new method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention employs the configuration described in the claims.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a predetermined fluidity improvement treatment is performed on a marking agent applied to an object to be imparted to improve the fluidity of the marking agent, and the morphological deformation of the marking agent is induced to shift a predetermined mark to an identification mark that can be individually recognized. Therefore, an identification mark can be formed on an object to be imparted by a new method. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] (A) to (G) are explanatory diagrams and operation diagrams of an identification mark forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. The X and Y axes are axes within a predetermined plane, and the Z axis is an axis perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Furthermore, in this embodiment, using the view from the front direction in Figure 1(A), which is parallel to the Y axis, as the reference, when directions are indicated without specifying a figure, "up" is the direction of the Z-axis arrow and "down" is the opposite direction, "left" is the direction of the X-axis arrow and "right" is the opposite direction, and "front" is the front direction in Figure 1(A), which is parallel to the Y axis and "back" is the opposite direction.

[0010] An identification mark forming apparatus EA for implementing the identification mark forming method of the present invention includes: a mark forming means 10 that performs a mark forming step of applying a marking agent MA to an object WK to be applied to, and forming a predetermined mark SM (see Figures 1(B) and (E)) molded by the marking agent MA on the object WK; a flow promoting means 20 that performs a flow promoting step of promoting the flow of the marking agent MA applied to the object WK; and a mark transition means 3 that performs a mark transition step of applying a heat treatment as a predetermined flow improvement treatment to the marking agent MA applied to the object WK to improve the flowability of the marking agent MA, thereby inducing a morphological deformation of the marking agent MA and transitioning the predetermined mark SM into an identification mark DM (see Figures 1(F) and (G)) that can be individually recognized. The device comprises a lamination means 40 that performs a lamination process to form an object WK by laminating an adhesive sheet AS as a covering material onto a base material BM; an energy application means 50 that performs an energy application process to apply heat HA as a predetermined energy to the adhesive sheet AS laminated onto the base material BM; a fixing means 60 that performs a fixing process to forcibly fix the marking agent MA applied to the object WK by applying ultraviolet irradiation as a predetermined fixing treatment to the marking agent MA applied to the object WK; an imaging means 70 that performs an imaging process to capture an identification mark DM to form an image and transmit the image to another device TA that performs a predetermined processing on the object WK; and a moving means 80 that performs a moving process to move the object WK. Furthermore, the MA marking agent employs a liquid ink that improves fluidity through a predetermined heat treatment, while simultaneously fixing through a predetermined ultraviolet irradiation treatment. Furthermore, the adhesive sheet AS undergoes hardening as a change specific to that heat HA when it is applied as a predetermined energy.

[0011] The mark-forming means 10 includes linear motors 11 as two drive devices that can move each slider 11A in the front-rear direction, linear motors 12 supported by each slider 11A and that can move slider 12A in the left-right direction, an inkjet nozzle 13 supported by slider 12A and that sprays marking agent MA into fine particles onto the object WK to be marked, forming a predetermined mark SM on the object WK that is molded by the collective shape of the marking agent MA, and an ink tank 14 as a storage device that stores the marking agent MA internally and sends the marking agent MA to the inkjet nozzle 13 via a hose 14A. In this embodiment, the mark-forming means 10 is configured to form a predetermined mark SM consisting of the letters "ABC" on the surface of the object WK to be marked, as shown in Figure 1(B).

[0012] The flow promotion means 20 includes a vibrator 21, which is a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the object WK to be treated.

[0013] The mark transfer means 30 includes a coil heater 31 as a processing device capable of applying heat HA.

[0014] The lamination means 40 includes a base plate 41 that directly or indirectly supports the components constituting the lamination means 40, a support roller 42 that supports a raw roll RS on which an adhesive sheet AS is temporarily attached to a strip-shaped release sheet RL, a guide roller 43 that guides the raw roll RS, a release plate 44 as a release means that folds the release sheet RL at the release edge 44A and peels the adhesive sheet AS from the release sheet RL, a pressing roller 45 as a pressing means that presses the adhesive sheet AS onto the object to be laminated WK and laminates it, a drive roller 46 supported on the output shaft (not shown) of a rotary motor 46A as a drive device and sandwiches the release sheet RL between itself and a pinch roller 46B, and a recovery roller 47 supported on the output shaft of a drive device (not shown) and constantly applies a predetermined tension to the release sheet RL between itself and the pinch roller 46B while the identification mark forming device EA is in automatic operation and recovers the release sheet RL.

[0015] The energy supply means 50 is shared with the mark transfer means 30 and includes a coil heater 51 as an energy supply device capable of supplying heat HA.

[0016] The fixing means 60 includes an ultraviolet light emitter 61, which is a fixing device capable of emitting ultraviolet UV light.

[0017] The imaging means 70 is equipped with a CCD camera 71 as an imaging device, and forms an image by magnifying the identification mark DM applied to the object WK to a predetermined magnification and imaging it, and transmits the image to another device TA.

[0018] The moving means 80 includes a linear motor 81 as a drive device and a support table 82 which is supported by a slider 81A of the linear motor 81 via a flow promoting means 20 and has a support surface 82A that can be held by suction using a pressure reducing means (holding means) not shown, such as a pressure reducing pump or a vacuum ejector.

[0019] The operation of the identification mark forming device EA described above will now be explained. First, the user of the identification mark forming device EA (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") sets the raw material RS as shown in the figure, with each component positioned in the initial position shown by the solid line in Figure 1(A). Then, a signal to start automatic operation is input via an operating means (not shown), such as an operation panel or a personal computer. The lamination means 40 then drives the rotary motor 46A to feed out the raw material RS. As shown in Figure 1(A), when the leading end of the adhesive sheet AS in the feeding direction is peeled off from the release sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded portion of the release sheet RL, which is folded back by the release edge 44A of the release plate 44, the driving of the rotary motor 46A is stopped. Next, when the user or a transport means (not shown), such as an articulated robot or a belt conveyor, places the base material BM in a predetermined position on the support table 82 as shown in Figure 1(A), the moving means 80 drives a depressurization means (not shown) to start suction holding on the support surface 82A, and then drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0020] Thereafter, when the base material BM reaches a predetermined position with respect to the laminating means 40, the laminating means 40 drives the rotation motor 46A and feeds out the raw fabric RS in accordance with the moving speed of the base material BM. As a result, the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL at the folded-back portion of the peeling sheet RL, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(A), it is pressed by the pressing roller 45 and laminated on the base material BM, and the application object WK is formed. Next, after the entire leading adhesive sheet AS is laminated on the application object WK and the application object WK is formed, when the leading end portion in the feeding direction of the next adhesive sheet AS following the leading adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded-back portion of the peeling sheet RL, the laminating means 40 stops driving the rotation motor 46A.

[0021] Then, when the application object WK reaches the energy application position EP of the energy application means 50 shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Next, the energy application means 50 drives the coil heater 51, applies heat HA to the adhesive sheet AS, and cures the adhesive sheet AS. Thereafter, when the adhesive sheet AS is cured, the energy application means 50 stops driving the coil heater 51 and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0022] Next, when the application object WK reaches the mark formation position MP of the mark formation means 10 shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Then, the mark formation means 10 drives the linear motors 11, 12 and the inkjet nozzle 13, sprays the granular marking agent MA onto the application object WK, and forms a predetermined mark SM on the surface of the application object WK as shown in Figs. 1(B) and (E). Next, after the predetermined mark SM is formed, the mark formation means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, then drives the linear motors 11, 12 to return the inkjet nozzle 13 to the initial position, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the right.

[0023] After that, when the object WK to be marked reaches the mark transfer position TP of the mark transfer means 30 indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Next, the mark transfer means 30 drives the coil heater 31 to apply heat HA to the marking agent MA to improve the fluidity of the marking agent MA, and the fluidity promoting means 20 drives the vibrator 21 to apply vibration to the marking agent MA.

[0024] Here, before the marking agent MA with improved fluidity is fixed to the object WK to be marked, it flows on the surface of the object WK to be marked or penetrates into the surface layer of the object WK to be marked, and as shown in FIG. 1(C), it morphs to connect with adjacent marking agents MA, or as shown in FIG. 1(D), it morphs to spread out alone, thus morphing into various shapes. Thus, by improving the fluidity of the marking agent MA to induce the morphological deformation of the marking agent MA, it becomes easier for the shape of the marking agent MA to morph into different individual shapes, and the predetermined mark SM, as shown in FIGS. 1(F) and (G), comes to be imitated by the marking agent MA that has morphed into various shapes and transitions into an identification mark DM that can be individually recognized. In this embodiment, the vibration applied from the vibrator 21 promotes the flow of the marking agent MA, and the morphological deformation of the marking agent MA becomes more prominent compared to when there is no such vibration. When it is detected by a detection means (not shown) such as a camera or a sensor that the predetermined mark SM has transitioned to the identification mark DM, after the fluidity promoting means 20 and the mark transfer means 30 stop driving the vibrator 21 and the coil heater 31, the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0025] Next, when the object WK to be marked reaches the ultraviolet irradiation position UP of the fixing means 60, indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Subsequently, the fixing means 60 drives the ultraviolet light emitter 61 and irradiates the marking agent MA with ultraviolet UV to forcibly fix the marking agent MA to the object WK. Next, once the marking agent MA is fixed to the object WK, the fixing means 60 stops driving the ultraviolet light emitter 61, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0026] Then, when the object WK to be marked reaches the imaging position RP of the imaging means 70, indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Next, the imaging means 70 drives the CCD camera 71 to capture the identification mark DM applied to the object WK to form an image, and transmits the image to another device TA. After that, the moving means 80 stops driving the depressurization means (not shown), and after releasing the suction hold on the support surface 82A, the user or a transport means (not shown) transports the object WK to the other device TA, at which point the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to return the support table 82 to its initial position, and the same operation as above is repeated thereafter. Furthermore, another device TA stores the image transmitted from the imaging means 70 in a storage device (not shown), and later captures the identification mark DM attached to the object to be assigned WK that is transported, forming an image of it. This image is then compared with the image stored in the storage device (not shown), and if a matching image is found, a predetermined process is applied to the object to be assigned WK that was captured by the imaging device (not shown).

[0027] According to the embodiments described above, the marking agent MA applied to the object WK is subjected to heat treatment to improve the fluidity of the marking agent MA, thereby inducing a morphological deformation of the marking agent MA and converting a predetermined mark SM into an identification mark DM that can be individually recognized. Thus, an identification mark DM can be formed on the object WK by a new method.

[0028] The means and processes in the present invention are not limited in any way as long as they can perform the operations, functions, or processes described for those means and processes, and are certainly not limited in any way to the components or processes of a single embodiment shown above. For example, the mark-forming means can be anything that can apply a marking agent to an object to be marked and form a predetermined mark molded by the marking agent on the object, and is not limited in any way as long as it is within the scope of the common technical knowledge at the time of filing (the same applies to other means and processes).

[0029] The marking means 10 may employ an articulated robot as a driving device instead of at least one of the linear motors 11 and 12, or a marking agent MA may be applied to at least one of the base material BM and the coating material. For example, characters such as "ABCDEF", "あいう", "壱弐参", numbers including Chinese numerals such as "12345", "一二三四", "百千万", and symbols such as "!#%&", "+", "-", "×", "÷", "、", "。A predetermined mark SM may be formed on the object to be marked WK in any form, such as symbols like "· / 」, patterns like "●■▲", "◎▽◇", etc. For example, a predetermined mark SM consisting of only one notation, such as only "A", only "1", only "#", only "●", etc., may be formed on the object to be marked WK. For example, a predetermined mark SM consisting of a notation formed by combining a plurality of things from the same form, such as "いろは", "AAA", "56298", "#$%!?", "●▽◇▲", may be formed on the object to be marked WK. For example, a predetermined mark SM consisting of a notation formed by combining one or more things from different forms, such as "あA1●#", "KをC3●▲!&", "%38語AA▲□+ / ", may be formed on the object to be marked WK. Instead of a collective shape, a predetermined mark may be imitated by one marking agent MA. On the object to be marked WK, a predetermined mark SM consisting of different notations may be formed for each unit. For all objects to be marked WK, a predetermined mark SM consisting of the same notation may be formed. The marking agent MA may be applied to the object to be marked WK in any form, such as a cube shape, a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, a spherical shape, an ellipsoidal shape, etc. As a marking device, for example, in addition to a letterpress printer, an intaglio printer, a lithographic printer, a silk printer or a screen printer that applies the marking agent MA to the object to be marked WK using a plate, an inkjet printer, a dot impact printer, a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer, a laser printer, etc. may be adopted. As long as a predetermined mark SM imitated by the marking agent MA can be formed on the object to be marked WK in consideration of the characteristics, qualities, properties, materials, compositions and configurations, etc. of the marking agent MA, any marking device may be adopted. While moving the object to be marked WK, or while suppressing the movement of the object to be marked WK, the marking device may be moved to apply the marking agent MA to the object to be marked WK. While moving the object to be marked WK, or while suppressing the movement of the object to be marked WK, the movement of the marking device may be suppressed to apply the marking agent MA to the object to be marked WK.

[0030] The flow promotion means 20 may employ an eccentric motor, piston vibrator, or electrodynamic motor as a flow promotion device, or it may employ a flow promotion device that applies vibration in any direction, such as vertical, horizontal, front-back, circumferential, or other directions, or vibration in a combination of these directions, and it is not limited to a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the target object WK or marking agent MA via the support table 82, but any flow promotion device may be employed, such as a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the target object WK or marking agent MA via a linear motor 81, or a flow promotion device that applies vibration directly or indirectly to the target object WK or marking agent MA without going through the components of the moving means 80, and for example, a flow promotion device that promotes the flow of the marking agent MA by blowing a gas such as air or gas onto the target object WK or marking agent MA may be employed, or a flow promotion device that promotes the flow of the marking agent MA by tilting the target object WK may be employed, or a plate A flow-promoting device that promotes the flow of the marking agent MA by bringing contact members such as shaped members, rod-shaped members, and brush-shaped members into contact may be used. Alternatively, a flow-promoting device that promotes the flow of the marking agent MA by applying energy such as electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays, or gamma rays, heating such as hot water or hot air, or cooling such as cold water or cold air to the marking agent MA applied to the object WK may be used. Any flow-promoting device that can promote the flow of the marking agent MA, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition, and structure of the marking agent MA, may be used. The flow of the marking agent MA may be promoted by moving the flow-promoting device while moving the object WK, or while suppressing the movement of the flow-promoting device while moving the object WK, or while suppressing the movement of the object WK, or the flow of the marking agent MA may be promoted by suppressing the movement of the flow-promoting device. The identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with such a device.

[0031] The mark transfer means 30 may move the processing equipment while moving the object to be marked WK, or while suppressing the movement of the object to be marked WK, to apply a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the mark agent MA; or it may suppress the movement of the processing equipment while moving the object to be marked WK, or it may apply a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the entire mark agent MA applied to the object to be marked WK, or to a part of the mark agent MA applied to the object to be marked WK; the processing equipment may include those that apply electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays, or gamma rays; those that apply heating media such as hot water or hot air; and those that apply cooling media such as cold water or cold air. Any type of treatment may be used, and any treatment that can improve the fluidity of the marking agent MA, taking into consideration its characteristics, properties, materials, composition and structure, may be used. It may also be provided independently of the energy supply means 50, without being shared with it. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), a coil heater 32 may be used as a treatment device that is placed inside the support table 82 or on the support surface 82A and capable of performing a heat treatment as a predetermined fluidity improvement treatment. Both coil heaters 31 and 32 may be used, or either coil heater 31 or 32 may be used.

[0032] The lamination means 40 may peel off the adhesive sheet AS from the roll RS, where a predetermined area partitioned by the cut is an adhesive sheet AS, and laminate it onto the base material BM, by forming a closed loop-shaped or a cut along the entire short width direction in the strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate that is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL, and then peel off the adhesive sheet AS from the roll RS, where a predetermined area partitioned by the cut is an adhesive sheet AS, and laminate it onto the base material BM, or it may use a strip-shaped adhesive sheet roll, where a strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL, and while the roll is being fed out, a closed loop-shaped or a cut along the entire short width direction is formed in the adhesive sheet substrate with a cutting blade as a cutting means, and then peel off the adhesive sheet AS from the roll RS, where a predetermined area partitioned by the cut is an adhesive sheet AS, and laminate it onto the base material BM, and when laminating the adhesive sheet AS onto the base material BM, the speed of the roll RS being fed out Lamination tension control may be performed to control the tension so that a predetermined tension is applied to the adhesive sheet AS, or so that tension is not applied. Alternatively, the adhesive sheet AS may be peeled off from a raw material RS that has been fan-folded, for example, without being wound, and laminated onto the base material BM. Alternatively, a pressing means may be employed in which the adhesive sheet AS is held by a holding member supported on the output shaft of a linear motor as a drive device and can be held by adsorption by a depressurization means (not shown) such as a depressurization pump or a vacuum ejector, and the adhesive sheet AS held by the holding member is pressed onto the base material BM for lamination. Alternatively, a recovery means may be employed to recover the release sheet RL without winding, for example by fan-folding, shredding, or haphazardly accumulating it. Alternatively, no recovery means may be employed, or an adhesive sheet AS that is not temporarily attached to the release sheet RL may be used. The lamination means 40 may laminate the adhesive sheet AS on only one surface or only the other surface of the base material BM, or on both the one surface and the other surface, or as shown in Figure 1(B), it may laminate the adhesive sheet AS on a part of one surface of the base material BM, or on the entire surface of one surface of the base material BM, or on all or part of all surfaces of the base material BM, or it may move the base plate 41 while moving the base material BM or while the movement of the base material BM is suppressed and the adhesive sheet AS is laminated onto the base material BM, or it may move the base plate 41 while moving the base material BM or while the movement of the base material BM is suppressed and the adhesive sheet AS is laminated onto the base material BM, or it may spray or apply the coating material and laminate the coating material onto the base material BM, and any method that can form the object WK to be applied by laminating the coating material onto the base material BM is acceptable, and it may or may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0033] The energy-imparting means 50 may impart a predetermined energy to the coating agent by moving the energy-imparting device while moving the object WK to be imparted, or while moving the object WK to be imparted, or while suppressing the movement of the energy-imparting device, and imparting a predetermined energy to the coating material, or imparting a predetermined energy to the entire coating material or a part of the coating material. Any type of energy-imparting device may be used, such as one that imparts electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays or gamma rays, one that imparts a heating medium such as hot water or hot air, or one that imparts a cooling medium such as cold water or cold air, and the characteristics and features of the coating agent may be taken into consideration. Any coating agent can be used as long as it can cause an energy-specific change in the coating agent, taking into consideration its properties, material, composition, and structure. It may also be provided independently of the mark transfer means 30, without being shared with it. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), a coil heater 52 may be used as an energy-transferring device that is placed inside the support table 82 or on the support surface 82A and can provide heat as a predetermined energy. Both coil heaters 51 and 52 may be used, or either coil heater 51 or coil heater 52 may be used. The identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with such a device.

[0034] The fixing means 60 may be an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by an electromagnetic wave irradiation treatment, such as irradiating it with electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays, or gamma rays; or it may be an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by a heating treatment, such as applying a heating medium such as hot air or hot water; or it may be an infrared irradiation device or an infrared irradiation device if the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by a cooling treatment, such as applying a cooling medium such as cold air or cold water. In the case of application, a blower or Peltier element may be used as fixing equipment. If the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by drying treatment such as blowing air or heating, a coil heater or blower may be used as fixing equipment. If the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by application treatment such as applying another substance, an oxygen spraying device or a hardening agent filling device may be used as fixing equipment. Considering the characteristics, properties, materials, composition and structure of the marking agent MA, the marking agent MA may be forcibly applied to the object WK. Any fixing device can be used as a fixing device as long as it can fix the marking agent MA to the object WK, and it may be provided in a location other than the position shown in the above embodiment, and it may be provided anywhere as long as it can forcibly fix the marking agent MA to the object WK, and the marking agent MA may be forcibly fixed to the object WK by moving the fixing device while moving the object WK or while the movement of the object WK is suppressed, or the marking agent MA may be forcibly fixed to the object WK by suppressing the movement of the fixing device while moving the object WK or while the movement of the object WK is suppressed, and a predetermined fixing process may be applied to the marking agent MA immediately after the marking agent MA has been applied to the object WK, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, or after the predetermined mark SM has been detected by detection means such as an imaging device or optical sensor or an AI tool, for example, and a predetermined fixing process may be applied to the marking agent MA, or it may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0035] The imaging means 70 may employ any imaging device, such as an infrared camera, ultraviolet camera, ultrasonic camera, X-ray camera, optical sensor, ultrasonic sensor, area sensor, line sensor, image sensor, digital camera, microscope camera, film camera, etc. It may also image the identification mark DM by magnifying it to 2x or 1000x, reducing it to 1 / 2x or 1 / 15x, or at 1x magnification. It may also image part or all of the identification mark DM applied to the object WK. It may also image the identification mark DM by moving the imaging device while moving the object WK or while suppressing the movement of the object WK. It may also image the identification mark DM while moving the object WK or while suppressing the movement of the object WK, with the movement of the imaging device suppressed. The identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with this. The imaging means 70 may perform imaging multiple times for a single object WK to be assigned, forming multiple images. In this case, one of these images, several of them (but not all), or all of them may be transmitted to another device TA.

[0036] The moving means 80 may be a support table 82 that cannot be held by suction on the support surface 82A, or the support table 82 may be supported by the slider 81A without the flow promoting means 20, or it may or may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0037] The identification mark forming apparatus EA may or may not be directly or indirectly connected to the flow promotion means 20, stacking means 40, energy supply means 50, fixing means 60, imaging means 70, or moving means 80, and the mark forming means 10, flow promotion means 20, mark transfer means 30, stacking means 40, energy supply means 50, fixing means 60, imaging means 70, and moving means 80 may be arranged in appropriate positions, and the mark forming process, flow promotion process, mark transfer process, stacking process, energy supply process, fixing process, imaging process, and moving process may be performed in an appropriate order. It is also possible to do so, for example, with the same arrangement configuration as the above embodiment, the energy application process may be performed after the mark formation process so that the energy application process is carried out simultaneously with the mark transfer process, or the arrangement configuration of the above embodiment may be changed so that the energy application means 50 is placed between the mark formation means 10 and the fixing means 60, or between the fixing means 60 and the imaging means 70, etc., as long as the mark formation means 10 and the mark transfer means 30 are placed in appropriate positions so that the mark formation process and the mark transfer process can be carried out as appropriate.

[0038] Other devices TA may be any device, such as a cleaning device, etching device, immersion device, cutting device, oxide film forming device, nitriding device, grinding device, sandblasting device, polishing device, painting device, lamination device, sheet bonding device, surface treatment device, drilling device, bending device, inspection device, verification device, irradiation device, plating device, counterfeit detection device, etc., and may be directly or indirectly connected to the identification mark forming device EA, or not connected at all. For example, it may be located in the same building, on the same site, or in a different building as the identification mark forming device EA, without being directly or indirectly connected to the identification mark forming device EA, or the object to be marked. The WK may be located inside the building or on the premises of the shipping destination, or other imaging equipment not shown may be used, which may be equivalent to or different from the imaging equipment of the imaging means 70, and any equipment that can form an image that can be matched by the matching equipment not shown may be used, and if no matching image is found as a result of matching by the matching equipment not shown, the object WK that was the target of imaging by the imaging equipment not shown may not undergo any predetermined processing, and operations such as removing the object WK or discarding the object WK may be performed, and the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with this.

[0039] The marking agent MA can be any substance whose fluidity is improved by a predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment. For example, it can be any oil-based or water-based ink, paint, varnish, coating, adhesive, etc., or molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. that are molten before fixing. It can also be thermosetting, energy ray curing, or drying curing type resins or adhesives that have not hardened before fixing. The predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment can be any predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment that improves fluidity, such as irradiation with electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays, or gamma rays, heating treatment by applying a heating medium such as hot water or hot air, cooling treatment by applying a cooling medium such as cold water or cold air, or dissolution treatment by dissolving other substances. The fluidity can also be promoted by any method, such as spraying gas, tilting, or contact of contact members. The marking agent MA may be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by any predetermined fixing treatment, such as electromagnetic wave irradiation, heating, cooling, drying, or application treatment. Examples of substances that can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by electromagnetic wave irradiation include ultraviolet-curing inks and paints, infrared-curing resins and adhesives, etc. Examples of substances that can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by heating include thermosetting resins and adhesives, etc. Examples of substances that can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by cooling include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. Examples of substances that can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by drying include paints, varnishes, coatings, adhesives, etc. Examples of substances that can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by application treatment include oxygen-bonding inks and resins, two-component mixed resins and coatings, etc. The marking agent MA may adhere to the target object WK by means of natural cooling, natural drying, natural oxidation, etc., even without a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of materials that adhere to the target object WK by natural cooling include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. Examples of materials that adhere to the target object WK by natural drying include paint, varnish, coating, adhesive, etc. Examples of materials that adhere to the target object WK by natural oxidation include resins, adhesives, etc., that harden by bonding with oxygen present in the atmosphere. The marking agent MA is designed to adhere to the target object WK by natural cooling, natural drying, natural oxidation, etc., even without a predetermined fixing treatment, or it may be forcibly fixed to the target object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of marking agents that adhere to the target object WK by natural cooling and are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. In this case, the fixing means 60 may employ a blower or a Peltier element as fixing equipment. Examples of marking agents that adhere to the target object WK by natural drying and are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include paint, varnish, coatings, adhesives, etc. In this case, the fixing means 60 may employ a coil heater or a blower as fixing equipment. Furthermore, while some materials are fixed to the target material WK by natural oxidation, others are forcibly fixed to the target material WK by a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of such materials include resins and adhesives that harden by bonding with oxygen present in the atmosphere. In this case, the fixing means 60 can employ oxygen spraying equipment, blowers, etc., as fixing equipment. The marking agent MA, which is forcibly fixed by a predetermined fixing treatment, may be one that does not permanently fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and is fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment, or it may be one that will eventually fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and the timing of its fixation to the object WK is accelerated by a predetermined fixing treatment.

[0040] The specified mark SM and identification mark DM may be modeled by a collective shape of multiple marking agents MA, or they may be modeled by a single marking agent MA rather than a collective shape. The identification mark DM may be a modified form of all marking agents MA that mimic a predetermined mark SM, or a modified form of some of the marking agents MA that mimic a predetermined mark SM, and may be used for determining whether an object WK to be marked is counterfeit, genuine or fake, altered or unacceptable, or for individual certification or unacceptable certification of an object WK to be marked, or for factual determination or qualification certification, and may be used for any purpose.

[0041] The object WK to be coated may have the coating material laminated on both one and the other surface of the base material BM, or it may consist only of the base material BM, or it may not have the coating material laminated on it, or it may be supported by an adhesive sheet different from the adhesive sheet AS, or it may be supported by an adhesive sheet and said adhesive sheet may be supported by a support member such as a ring-shaped member or a rod-shaped member.

[0042] The coating material can be anything that can cover the base material BM, such as adhesive sheets, adhesive tapes, adhesive tapes, adhesives, adhesives, resin materials, rubber materials, metal materials, solder, wax, varnish, etc. It can be a solid, a liquid, or a gel-like substance, and it can be larger, smaller, or the same size as the object WK to be coated. The predetermined energy can be any energy that causes a change specific to that energy, such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays or gamma rays, heating energy such as hot water or hot air, or cooling energy such as cold water or cold air. The specific change caused by the application of the predetermined energy can be any change, such as hardening, softening, shrinking, expanding, vaporizing, liquefaction, solidification, discoloration, oxidation, penetration, fixing, decrease in adhesive strength, or increase in adhesive strength. It can also be a material that does not cause a change specific to the predetermined energy when the predetermined energy is applied, and it does not have to be laminated onto the object WK to be coated.

[0043] The materials, types, shapes, etc., of the object to be marked WK, the base material BM, the marking agent MA, and the coating material in this invention are not particularly limited. For example, the object to be marked WK, the base material BM, and the coating material may be circular, elliptical, polygonal (such as triangle or square), or other shapes. The coating material may also be of a pressure-sensitive adhesive or heat-sensitive adhesive type. If a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet AS is used, it can be bonded by an appropriate method, such as providing a suitable heating means to heat the adhesive sheet AS, such as a suitable coil heater or the heating side of a heat pipe. Furthermore, such adhesive sheets AS can be any type, such as a single layer consisting only of an adhesive layer, a two-layer sheet with a substrate and an adhesive layer laminated together, a three-layer or more-layer sheet with one or more intermediate layers laminated between the substrate and the adhesive layer, a three-layer or more-layer sheet with one or more cover layers laminated on the upper surface of the substrate, a sheet in which the substrate, intermediate layer, or cover layer is provided in a peelable manner, a single-layer double-sided adhesive sheet consisting only of an adhesive layer, or a double-sided adhesive sheet with adhesive layers laminated on both outermost surfaces of one or more intermediate layers. In addition, the base material BM or the object to which the adhesive is applied WK can be, for example, a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon semiconductor wafer, a compound semiconductor wafer, or a diamond semiconductor wafer, as well as individual items such as food, a resin container, an information recording substrate such as a circuit board or optical disc, a glass plate, a steel plate, a ceramic, a wooden board, or a resin, or a composite object formed from two or more of these, and any form of component or article can also be targeted. The adhesive sheet AS may be any sheet, film, tape, etc., such as information labels, decorative labels, protective sheets, dicing tapes, die attach films, die bonding tapes, or recording layer forming resin sheets.

[0044] The drive equipment in the above embodiment may be electric motors such as rotary motors, linear motors, single-axis robots, and so-called articulated robots with two or three or more joints, or actuators such as air cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, rodless cylinders, and rotary cylinders, either individually or in combination directly or indirectly. Furthermore, the drive equipment may be capable of or incapable of torque control or speed control of the output section of the electric motors or actuators.

[0045] In the above embodiment, an object (hereinafter referred to as "object A") and an object moving relative to object A (hereinafter referred to as "object B"), that is, object A and object B moving relative to object A, object B may move relative to object A which does not move, object A may move relative to object B which does not move, both object A and object B may move, or either object A or object B may move as long as the result achieved by the movement is the same, if a rotating member such as a roller is used, a drive device for rotating the rotating member may be provided, the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a deformable material such as rubber or resin, or the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a non-deformable material, other members such as rotating or non-rotating shafts or blades may be used instead of rollers, or non-rotating members may be used, if a means or member for pressing an object to be pressed, such as a pressing roller or pressing head, is used, in addition to rollers, round bars, blade materials, brush-like members, a method of blowing gas such as air or gas may be used instead of or in combination with those exemplified above, or pressing The object may be made of a deformable material such as rubber, resin, or sponge, or it may be made of a non-deformable material such as metal or glass. If a means or member for peeling off the object to be peeled off, such as a peeling plate or peeling roller, is used, then a plate-shaped member, a round bar, a roller, or other member may be used instead of or in combination with those exemplified above. The object to be peeled off may be made of a deformable material such as rubber or resin, or it may be made of a non-deformable material. If a means or member for supporting (holding) the supported (held) member is used, then... In such cases, a configuration may be adopted in which the member to be supported is supported (held) by gripping means such as a chuck motor or chuck cylinder, Coulomb force, adhesive (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), adhesive agent (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), magnetic force, Bernoulli adsorption, suction adsorption, drive equipment, etc., or if a cutting means or cutting member is used to cut the member to be cut or to form a cut incision or cutting line in the member to be cut, a cutting method using a cutter blade, laser cutter, ion beam, thermal power, heat, water pressure, electric heating wire, spraying of gas or liquid, etc. may be used instead of or in combination with the examples given above.It may also be possible to move the object to be cut by combining it with appropriate drive devices. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] EA...Identification mark forming device 10…Mark forming means 20…Flow promoting means 30... Mark transition method DM…Identification mark MA... Marking agent SM... Designated mark WK... Items to be awarded

Claims

1. An identification mark forming apparatus comprising mark forming means for applying a marking agent to an object to be marked and forming a predetermined mark molded by the marking agent on the object, The marking agent is designed to have improved fluidity when subjected to a predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment. An identification mark forming apparatus further comprising a mark transition means that applies a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the marking agent applied to the object to be marked, thereby improving the fluidity of the marking agent and inducing a morphological deformation of the marking agent to transform the predetermined mark into an identification mark that can be individually recognized.

2. The identification mark forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow promoting means for promoting the flow of the marking agent applied to the object to be marked.

3. In an identification mark formation method, a mark formation step is performed in which a marking agent is applied to an object to be marked, and a predetermined mark molded by the marking agent is formed on the object to be marked, The marking agent is designed to have improved fluidity when subjected to a predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment. A method for forming an identification mark, characterized by further performing a mark transition step in which the marking agent applied to the object to be marked is subjected to a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to improve the fluidity of the marking agent, thereby inducing a deformation of the marking agent's form and transitioning the predetermined mark into an identification mark that can be individually recognized.

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