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 to be applied to. The marking agent MA is made to have improved fluidity when subjected to heat treatment, and the apparatus further includes a processing means 20 that applies heat treatment to the marking agent MA before it is applied to the object WK to make the marking agent more susceptible to deformation after it is applied to the object, thereby assisting in the transition of the predetermined mark into an identification mark that can be individually recognized.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Techniques for forming identification marks on objects to be marked are 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] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming an anti-counterfeiting pattern (identification mark) on a base material 9 (object to be marked) by plate-less printing. However, in recent years, techniques for forming identification marks on objects to be marked by new methods have been demanded.

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

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention employs the configurations 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 before being applied to an object to be marked, making the marking agent after being applied to the object to be marked liable to undergo morphological deformation, and assisting the transition to an identification mark in which a predetermined mark can be individually recognized. Therefore, an identification mark can be formed on an object to be marked 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), (E)) molded by the marking agent MA on the object WK; a processing means 20 that performs a processing step of applying a predetermined heat treatment as a fluidity improvement treatment to the marking agent MA before it is applied to the object WK to make the marking agent MA more susceptible to morphological deformation after it is applied to the object WK, and assisting in the transition of the predetermined mark SM into an individually recognizable identification mark DM (see Figures 1(F), (G)); and a flow promoting means 30 that performs a flow promoting step to promote the flow of the marking agent MA applied to the object WK. The device includes a fixing means 40 that performs a fixing process to forcibly fix the marking agent MA applied to the object WK to be marked by applying ultraviolet irradiation as a predetermined fixing treatment; a lamination means 50 that performs a lamination process to form the object WK by laminating an adhesive sheet AS as a coating material onto a base material BM; an energy application means 60 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; 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 to be marked; and a moving means 80 that performs a moving process to move the object WK to be marked. Furthermore, the MA marking agent employs an ultraviolet-curing liquid ink whose fluidity is improved by a heat treatment, which is a predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment. Furthermore, the marking agent MA in this embodiment is forcibly fixed by ultraviolet irradiation as a predetermined fixing 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 processing means 20 includes a coil heater 21 as a processing device for heating the marking agent MA present inside the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A, and a thermometer 22 as a temperature measuring device for detecting the temperature of the marking agent MA present inside the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A.

[0013] The flow promotion means 30 includes a vibrator 31, which is a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the object WK to be treated.

[0014] The fixing means 40 includes an ultraviolet light emitter 41, which is a fixing device capable of emitting ultraviolet UV light.

[0015] The lamination means 50 includes a base plate 51 that directly or indirectly supports the components constituting the lamination means 50, a support roller 52 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 53 that guides the raw roll RS, a release plate 54 as a release means that folds the release sheet RL at the release edge 54A and peels the adhesive sheet AS from the release sheet RL, a pressing roller 55 as a pressing means that presses the adhesive sheet AS onto the object to be laminated WK and laminates it, a drive roller 56 supported on the output shaft (not shown) of a rotary motor 56A as a drive device and sandwiches the release sheet RL between itself and a pinch roller 56B, and a recovery roller 57 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 56B while the identification mark forming device EA is in automatic operation and recovers the release sheet RL.

[0016] The energy supply means 60 includes a coil heater 61, which is an energy supply device capable of supplying heat HA.

[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 promotion means 30 and has a support surface 82A that can be held by suction using a pressure reduction means (holding means) not shown, such as a pressure reduction pump or a vacuum ejector.

[0019] The operation of the identification mark forming device EA described above will now be explained. First, with respect to the identification mark forming device EA in which each member is arranged at the initial position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1(A), after a user (hereinafter simply referred to as the "user") of the identification mark forming device EA sets the base material RS as shown in the figure, a signal for starting automatic operation is input via an operation means (not shown) such as an operation panel or a personal computer. Then, the processing means 20 drives the coil heater 21 and the thermometer 22, and based on the detection result of the thermometer 22, heats the marking agent MA existing inside the inkjet nozzle 13, the storage container 14, and the hose 14A, and maintains the temperature of the marking agent MA at a predetermined temperature, for example, 70°C. When the marking agent MA reaches the predetermined temperature, the laminating means 50 drives the rotation motor 56A to feed out the base material RS. As shown in FIG. 1(A), when the leading end portion in the feeding direction of the first adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded portion of the peeling sheet RL folded by the peeling edge 54A of the peeling plate 54, the drive of the rotation motor 56A is stopped. Next, when the user or a conveying means (not shown) such as an articulated robot or a belt conveyor places the base material BM at a predetermined position on the support table 82 as shown in FIG. 1(A), the moving means 80 drives a decompression means (not shown), starts adsorption and holding on the support surface 82A, and then drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0020] After that, when the base material BM reaches a predetermined position with respect to the laminating means 50, the laminating means 50 drives the rotation motor 56A to feed out the base material 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 portion of the peeling sheet RL, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), is pressed by the pressing roller 55 and laminated on the base material BM, and the application object WK is formed. Next, after the entire first adhesive sheet AS is laminated on the application object WK to form the application object WK, when the leading end portion in the feeding direction of the next adhesive sheet AS following the first adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded portion of the peeling sheet RL, the laminating means 50 stops the drive of the rotation motor 56A.

[0021] Then, when the object WK to be applied reaches the energy application position EP of the energy application means 60 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 60 drives the coil heater 61 to apply heat HA to the adhesive sheet AS and cure the adhesive sheet AS. After that, when the adhesive sheet AS is cured, the energy application means 60 stops driving the coil heater 61, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0022] Next, when the object WK to be applied 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 to spray the granular marking agent MA onto the object WK to be applied, and as shown in FIGS. 1(B) and (E), a predetermined mark SM is formed on the surface of the object WK to be applied. Next, when the predetermined mark SM is formed, after the mark formation means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, the linear motors 11, 12 are driven to return the inkjet nozzle 13 to the initial position. When the mark formation means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, the flow promotion means 30 drives the vibrator 31 to start applying vibration to the marking agent MA, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0023] After that, when the object WK to be applied reaches the ultraviolet irradiation position UP of the fixing means 40 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Next, when it is detected by a detection means (not shown) such as a camera or a sensor that the predetermined mark SM has shifted to the identification mark DM, after the flow promotion means 30 stops driving the vibrator 31, the fixing means 40 drives the ultraviolet emitter 41 to irradiate the marking agent MA with ultraviolet rays UV to forcibly fix the marking agent MA to the object WK to be applied.

[0024] Here, the marking agent MA sprayed onto the object WK flows along the surface of the object WK or penetrates the surface layer of the object WK before it can settle on the object WK. As shown in Figure 1(C), it deforms into various shapes by joining with neighboring marking agents MA, or as shown in Figure 1(D), it deforms into various shapes by spreading out independently. In this way, the marking agents MA deform into different shapes individually, so that a predetermined mark SM is molded by marking agents MA that have deformed into various shapes, as shown in Figures 1(F) and (G), and transitions into an identification mark DM that can be individually recognized. At this time, since the marking agent MA has been heat-treated to improve its fluidity, deformation occurs easily. As a result, the time it takes for a predetermined mark SM to transition into an identification mark DM is shortened, the timing of subsequent processes such as the fixing process and the imaging process can be accelerated, and the time required to form the identification mark DM can be shortened. In this embodiment, the vibrations applied by the vibrator 31 promote the flow of the marking agent MA, and the deformation of the marking agent MA becomes more pronounced compared to when there are no vibrations. When the marking agent MA is fixed to the object WK to be applied, the fixing means 40 stops driving the ultraviolet light emitter 41, and 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 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. Then, 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. Next, the moving means 80 stops driving the depressurization means (not shown) and releases the suction holding on the support surface 82A. After the user or a transport means (not shown) transports the object WK to the other device TA, the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to return the support table 82 to its initial position, and the above operation 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).

[0026] According to the embodiments described above, the marking agent MA is subjected to heat treatment before being applied to the object WK, making it easier for the marking agent MA to undergo morphological deformation after being applied to the object WK, thereby assisting in the transition of a predetermined mark SM into an individually recognizable identification mark DM. Thus, an identification mark DM can be formed on the object WK by a new method.

[0027] 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).

[0028] The marking means 10 may employ an articulated robot as a drive 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 notations combined from multiple ones of the same form, like "いろは", "AAA", "56298", "#$%!?", "●▽◇▲", may be formed on the object to be marked WK. For example, a predetermined mark SM consisting of notations combined from one or more ones of different forms, like "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. For 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 cube-shaped, cylindrical, prismatic, spherical, ellipsoidal, etc. As a marking device, for example, in addition to a letterpress printer, intaglio printer, lithographic printer, silk printer or screen printer that applies the marking agent MA to the object to be marked WK using a plate, an inkjet printer, dot impact printer, thermal printer, thermal transfer printer, laser printer, etc. may also 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 considering the characteristics, properties, nature, material, composition and structure, etc. of the marking agent MA, any marking device may be adopted. While moving the object to be marked WK, or in a state where the movement of the object to be marked WK is suppressed, 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 in a state where the movement of the object to be marked WK is suppressed, the movement of the marking device may be suppressed to apply the marking agent MA to the object to be marked WK.

[0029] The processing means 20 may employ a processing device that applies a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the marking agent MA present inside at least one of the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A, or the processing device may be located inside or outside at least one of the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A, or a processing device that applies a predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the marking agent MA sprayed from the inkjet nozzle 13 before it is applied to the object WK to be applied, or a temperature measuring device that detects the temperature of the marking agent MA present inside at least one of the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A may be employed, or the temperature measuring device may be located inside or outside at least one of the inkjet nozzle 13, storage container 14, and hose 14A, or the temperature of the marking agent MA may be maintained at, for example, 30 degrees, 100 degrees or 150 degrees, or for example, 50 degrees plus or minus 1 degree or 70 degrees plus There may be a predetermined range for the temperature to be maintained, such as minus 5 degrees Celsius, and the marking agent MA may be heated to any temperature as long as it adheres to the object WK at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature in which the identification mark forming apparatus EA is placed, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition, and structure of the marking agent MA. Any processing equipment may be used, such as cooling equipment like a Peltier element or the cooling side of a heat pipe to cool the marking agent MA, dissolution equipment like a blower or filling machine to dissolve gas or other substances into the marking agent MA, or energy ray irradiation equipment to irradiate the marking agent MA with energy rays such as ultraviolet or infrared rays. Any equipment that can improve the fluidity of the marking agent MA may be used, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition, and structure of the marking agent MA. Any temperature detection equipment that can detect temperature, such as a thermocouple or infrared camera, may be used, or may not be provided.

[0030] The flow promotion means 30 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, or 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, or a flow promotion device that promotes the flow of the marking agent MA by tilting the target object WK, 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 fixing means 40 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.

[0032] The lamination means 50 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 entire-length cut in the adhesive sheet substrate that is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL, and laminating the adhesive sheet AS onto the base material BM. Alternatively, a strip-shaped adhesive sheet roll in which a strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL may be used, and while the strip-shaped adhesive sheet roll is being fed out, a closed loop-shaped or entire-length cut in the adhesive sheet substrate may be formed with a cutting blade as a cutting means, and the adhesive sheet AS may peel off 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. Alternatively, the strip-shaped adhesive sheet AS may peel off from the roll RS in which a strip-shaped adhesive sheet AS is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL and laminate it onto the base material BM. When laminating the adhesive sheet AS onto the base material BM, the speed of the fed-out roll RS is... 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 50 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 laminate the adhesive sheet AS on the base material BM by moving the base plate 51 while moving the base material BM or while the movement of the base material BM is suppressed, or it may laminate the adhesive sheet AS on the base material BM while moving the base plate 51 while moving the base material BM or while the movement of the base material BM is suppressed, or it may laminate the coating material on the base material BM by spraying or applying the coating material, and any method that can form the object WK to be applied by laminating the coating material on 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 60 may apply a predetermined amount of energy to the coating material 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 applying a predetermined amount of energy to the coating material, or applying a predetermined amount of energy to the entire coating material or a part of the coating material, and the energy-imparting device may apply electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays or gamma rays, or a heating medium such as hot water or hot air, or a cooling medium such as cold water or cold air, or any other type of energy. Any device may be used, and any device may be used as long as it can cause the coating agent to undergo an energy-specific change, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition and structure of the coating agent. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), a coil heater 62 may be used as an energy supply device that is placed inside the support table 82 or on the support surface 82A and can supply heat as a predetermined energy. Both coil heaters 61 and 62 may be used, or either coil heater 61 or coil heater 62 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 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.

[0035] 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 30, or it may or may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0036] The identification mark forming apparatus EA may or may not be directly or indirectly connected to the flow promotion means 30, fixing means 40, stacking means 50, energy supply means 60, imaging means 70, or moving means 80. Alternatively, the mark forming means 10, processing means 20, flow promotion means 30, fixing means 40, stacking means 50, energy supply means 60, imaging means 70, and moving means 80 may be arranged in appropriate positions so that the mark forming process, processing process, flow promotion process, fixing process, stacking process, energy supply process, imaging process, and moving process can be performed in an appropriate order. For example, the arrangement configuration of the above embodiment may remain unchanged. Alternatively, the marking means 10 may apply the marking agent MA to the object WK, the moving means 80 may transport the object WK to the right, and the energy application means 60 may apply a predetermined energy to the adhesive sheet AS, so that the energy application process is performed after the marking process. Or, the arrangement configuration of the above embodiment may be changed so that the energy application means 60 is placed between the marking means 10 and the fixing means 40, or between the fixing means 40 and the imaging means 70, etc. It is sufficient that the marking means 10 and the processing means 20 are arranged in appropriate positions so that at least the marking process and the processing process can be carried out.

[0037] 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.

[0038] The marking agent MA can be any substance whose fluidity is improved by a predetermined fluidity-enhancing treatment, such as oil-based or water-based inks, paints, varnishes, coatings, adhesives, etc. It can also be molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc., which are molten before fixing. It can also be thermosetting, energy-ray curing, or drying-curing resins or adhesives that are not cured before fixing. It can flow even without any load applied when applied to the object WK, or it can flow when a load is applied when applied to the object WK, or it can flow when energy is applied when applied to the object WK, such as electromagnetic waves like ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, sound waves, X-rays, or gamma rays, or heating such as hot water or hot air, or cooling such as cold water or cold air. It can also be a substance whose flow is promoted by any method, such as gas spraying, tilting, or contact of contacting 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 object WK by natural cooling, natural drying, natural oxidation, etc., even without a predetermined fixing treatment, or it may be forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of marking agents that adhere to the object WK by natural cooling and are forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. In this case, the fixing means 40 can employ a blower or a Peltier element as fixing equipment. Examples of marking agents that adhere to the object WK by natural drying and are forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include paint, varnish, coatings, adhesives, etc. In this case, the fixing means 40 can employ a coil heater or a blower as fixing equipment. Furthermore, while some substances are fixed to the target object WK by natural oxidation, others are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of such substances include resins and adhesives that harden by bonding with oxygen present in the atmosphere. In this case, the fixing means 40 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.

[0039] 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 agent MA that mimics a predetermined mark SM, or a modified form of some of the marking agent MA that mimics a predetermined mark SM, and may be used for determining counterfeit goods, genuine goods, tampered goods, or pass / fail judgments of the object WK to be marked, or for individual certification or pass / fail certification of the object WK to be marked, or for factual determination or qualification certification, and may be used for any purpose.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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]

[0045] EA...Identification mark forming device 10…Mark forming means 20… Processing means 30…Flow promoting means 40… means of fixing 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 comprises processing means that apply the predetermined fluidity-improving treatment to the marking agent before it is applied to the object to be applied, thereby making the marking agent more susceptible to deformation after it has been applied to the object to be applied, and assisting in the transition of the predetermined mark into an individually recognizable identification mark.

2. The marking agent is designed to be forcibly fixed by a predetermined fixing treatment. The identification mark forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means for forcibly fixing the marking agent applied to the object to be marked by applying the predetermined fixing treatment to the object to be marked.

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

4. 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 processing step to apply the marking agent to the object to be applied to the object to be applied, thereby making the marking agent more susceptible to deformation after being applied to the object to be applied, and assisting in the transition of the predetermined mark into an individually recognizable identification mark.

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