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 employing new technologies. [Solution] At least one of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 is capable of post-application flow after being applied to the object WK. The marking agent application means 10 comprises a first marking agent application means 13 for applying the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, and a second marking agent application means 15 for applying the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are applied to the object WK so that they come into contact with each other, and the post-application flow of at least one of the applied first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 forms an identification mark DM that ensures individual recognition.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A technique for forming an identification mark on an object to be provided is known (for example, see 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 substrate 9 (object to be provided) by plate-less printing is disclosed. However, in recent years, new techniques have been demanded for forming an identification mark on an object to be provided.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an identification mark forming device and an identification mark forming method in which a new technique is adopted for forming an identification mark on an object to be provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

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

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a first marking agent and a second marking agent are applied to an object to be marked so that they come into contact with each other, and an identification mark with individual recognizability is formed by the post-application flow of at least one of the applied first marking agent and second marking agent. Therefore, an identification mark forming apparatus and identification mark forming method employing new technology can be provided for forming an identification mark on an object to be marked. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] (A) to (G) are explanatory diagrams of an identification mark forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and an explanatory diagram of the operation of the apparatus. (H) is an explanatory diagram of a modified example 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 marking agent application means 10 that performs a marking agent application step of applying a first marking agent MA1 and a second marking agent MA2 to an object WK to be applied to, and forming an identification mark DM (see Figures 1(D) and (E)) that has individual recognition capability with the applied first marking agent MA1 and second marking agent MA2; a flow promotion means 20 that performs a flow promotion step of promoting the flow of both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 applied to the object WK to be applied to; an identification mark verification means 30 that performs an identification mark verification step of verifying whether the identification mark DM can be individually recognized; and a means for verifying whether both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 applied to the object WK The device includes a fixing means 40 that performs a fixing process in which ultraviolet irradiation as a fixed fixing treatment is applied to forcibly fix both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object to be applied WK, a lamination means 50 that performs a lamination process in which an adhesive sheet AS as a covering material is laminated onto a base material BM to form the object to be applied WK, an energy application means 60 that performs an energy application process in which heat HA as a predetermined energy is applied to the adhesive sheet AS laminated onto the base material BM, an imaging means 70 that performs an imaging process in which an identification mark DM is captured to form an image and the image is transmitted to another device TA that performs a processing process in which a predetermined processing is applied to the object to be applied WK, and a moving means 80 that performs a moving process in which the object to be applied WK is moved. In this embodiment, both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 employ ultraviolet-curable liquid inks as forced-fixing agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by ultraviolet irradiation as a predetermined fixing treatment. Both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are capable of flowing after being applied to the target object WK. Furthermore, the adhesive sheet AS of this embodiment undergoes hardening as a change specific to the heat HA when heat HA is applied as a predetermined energy.

[0011] The marking agent application 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, a first inkjet nozzle 13 supported by slider 12A and that performs a first marking agent application process to apply the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, a first tank 14 as a first storage device that sends the stored first marking agent MA1 to the first inkjet nozzle 13 via a first hose 14A, and a slider 12A The system includes a second inkjet nozzle 15 as a second marking agent application means for performing a second marking agent application process in which the second marking agent MA2 is applied to the object WK to be applied, and a second tank 16 as a second storage device for sending the stored second marking agent MA2 to the second inkjet nozzle 15 via a second hose 16A. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are applied to the object WK to be applied so that they come into contact with each other, and the post-application flow of both the applied first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 forms an identification mark DM that ensures individual recognition. In this embodiment, the first marking agent MA1 is a black UV-curable liquid ink, and the second marking agent MA2 is a white UV-curable liquid ink. Furthermore, the first and second inkjet nozzles 13 and 15 of this embodiment apply the first and second marking agents MA1 and MA2 in fine granular form to the object WK to be marked, and form an identification mark DM consisting of the letters "ABC" as shown in Figures 1(B) and (C).

[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 identification mark verification means 30 comprises a CCD camera 31 as an imaging device, an image matching device 32 as a verification device, and a RAM 33 as a storage device, and is configured to verify whether or not the identification mark DM can be individually recognized. The CCD camera 31 forms an image by magnifying the identification mark DM formed on the object WK to be marked to a predetermined magnification and capturing the image. The image matching device 32 verifies the image captured by the CCD camera 31 by comparing it with the image stored in the RAM 33. If no matching image is found (including cases where no image is stored in the RAM 33), the device determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 can be individually recognized. Conversely, if a matching image is found, the device determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 cannot be individually recognized. The RAM 33 stores the image that the image matching device 32 has determined to be individually recognizable.

[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 includes a CCD camera 71 as an imaging device equivalent to the CCD camera 31, forms an image by magnifying and imaging the identification mark DM applied to the application target object WK at a predetermined magnification, and transmits the formed image to another device TA.

[0018] The moving means 80 includes a linear motor 81 as a driving device, and a support table 82 supported via the flow promoting means 20 on a slider 81A of the linear motor 81 and having a support surface 82A capable of being adsorbed and held by a decompression means (holding means) such as a decompression pump or a vacuum ejector (not shown).

[0019] The operation of the above identification mark forming device EA will be described. 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 the user of the identification mark forming device EA (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") sets the original fabric 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 laminating means 50 drives the rotation motor 56A to feed out the original fabric 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 driving 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] Subsequently, when the base material BM reaches a predetermined position relative to the lamination means 50, the lamination means 50 drives the rotary motor 56A to feed out the raw material RS in accordance with the movement speed of the base material BM. As a result, the adhesive sheet AS is peeled from the release sheet RL at the folded portion of the release sheet RL, and as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), is pressed by the pressure roller 55 and laminated onto the base material BM, forming the object to be applied WK. Next, after the entire leading adhesive sheet AS has been laminated onto the base material BM to form the object to be applied WK, when the leading edge in the feeding direction of the next adhesive sheet AS following the leading adhesive sheet AS has been peeled from the release sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded portion of the release sheet RL, the lamination means 50 stops driving the rotary motor 56A.

[0021] Then, when the object WK to be heated reaches the energy application position EP of the energy application means 60, which is shown by the dashed line in Figure 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 harden the adhesive sheet AS. After the adhesive sheet AS has hardened, 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 marked reaches the mark formation position MP of the marking agent applying 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 marking agent applying means 10 drives the linear motors 11, 12 and the first inkjet nozzle 13, and as shown in FIGS. 1(B) and (C), applies the granular first marking agent MA1 to the object WK to be marked to form the basis of the identification mark DM. Next, when the application of the first marking agent MA1 is completed, after the marking agent applying means 10 stops driving the first inkjet nozzle 13, it drives the linear motors 11, 12 and the second inkjet nozzle 15, and as shown in FIGS. 1(D) and (E), applies the granular second marking agent MA2 so as to contact the first marking agent MA1 applied to the object to be marked to form the identification mark DM. After that, when the application of the second marking agent MA2 is completed, after the marking agent applying means 10 stops driving the second inkjet nozzle 15, it drives the linear motors 11, 12 to return the slider 12A to the initial position. When the marking agent applying means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, the flow promoting means 20 drives the vibrator 21 to start applying vibration to the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left.

[0023] Here, since the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are provided so as to be able to flow after application, for example, as shown in FIG. 1(F), when the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 come into contact with each other, they flow individually and each undergoes various morphological deformations, or as shown in FIG. 1(G), when they come into contact with each other, they flow mutually and the individual boundary portions are intertwined to cause various morphological deformations, so that their patterns, colors, shapes, arrangements, etc. change variously to cause random facial expression changes. Thus, by causing the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to undergo random facial expression changes, it becomes impossible to form an identification mark DM having the same facial expression, or it becomes extremely rare to form an identification mark DM having the same facial expression, and the individual recognition ability of the identification mark DM is ensured. In this embodiment, the vibrations applied by the vibrator 21 promote the post-application flow of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2, and the random changes in the appearance of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 become more pronounced compared to when there are no vibrations, further improving individual recognition.

[0024] Next, when the object to be marked WK reaches the ultraviolet irradiation position UP of the fixing means 40 shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 80 stops driving the linear motor 81. Then, when the flow promoting means 20 stops driving the vibrator 21, the fixing means 40 drives the ultraviolet light emitter 41 and irradiates the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 with ultraviolet UV to forcibly fix the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object to be marked WK. When fixing is complete, the driving of the ultraviolet light emitter 41 is stopped. Subsequently, the identification mark verification means 30 drives the CCD camera 31 to capture the identification mark DM and form an image. After that, it drives the image matching device 32 and RAM 33 to compare and verify the image captured by the CCD camera 31 with the image stored in RAM 33. As a result of this verification, if the image matching device 32 determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 can be individually recognized, the identification mark verification means 30 drives the RAM 33 to store the image captured by the CCD camera 31 in preparation for future matching, and the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to move the support table 82 to the left. Furthermore, if, as a result of the above verification, the image matching device 32 determines that the identification mark DM that has been captured by the CCD camera 31 cannot be individually recognized, it may output a drive start signal, such as an electrical signal or a radio signal, to a warning means (not shown) such as a light emitter or sound emitter, to inform the user that individual recognition is impossible by light or sound, or it may output a drive start signal to a rejection means (not shown) such as a rejection device or drive device, to remove the object WK that has been captured by the CCD camera 31 from the identification mark forming device EA.

[0025] Subsequently, 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 and transmits the captured image to another device TA. The other device TA, upon receiving the image transmitted from the imaging means 70, stores the image in the storage device T3. Then, 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, the moving means 80 drives the linear motor 81 to return the support table 82 to its initial position, and the same operation as described above is repeated thereafter. Furthermore, other devices TA capture images of the identification mark DM applied to the object WK using imaging device T1 before or during the processing of the object WK, and verify the image by comparing the captured image with the image stored in storage device T3 using verification device T2. If a matching image is found as a result of verification by verification device T2, other devices TA will apply the prescribed processing to the object WK that was captured by imaging device T1 or continue the prescribed processing. On the other hand, if no matching image is found, other devices TA will not apply the prescribed processing to the object WK that was captured by imaging device T1 or will stop the prescribed processing midway. This prevents other devices TA from applying the prescribed processing to counterfeit products or inappropriate objects WK.

[0026] According to the embodiments described above, the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are applied to the object WK so as to come into contact with each other, and the application of both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 after application forms an identification mark DM that ensures individual recognition. Therefore, an identification mark forming apparatus EA and an identification mark forming method employing new technology can be provided for forming the identification mark DM on the object WK.

[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 just one embodiment shown in the above embodiments. For example, the flow-promoting means can be anything that can promote the flow of at least one of the first marking agent and the second marking agent applied to the object to be applied, and is not limited in any way as long as it is within the scope of the art in light of the common general knowledge at the time of filing (the same applies to other means and processes).

[0028] The marking agent application means 10 may apply the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to at least one of the base material BM and the coating material to form the identification mark DM. For example, it may form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 in any notation such as characters like "ABCDEF", "あいう", "壱弐参", etc., numbers including Chinese numerals like "12345", "一二三四", "百千万", etc., symbols like "!#%&", "+-×÷", "、。· / ", etc., patterns like "●■▲", "◎▽◇", etc. It may also form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 in such a way that there is only one notation, such as only "A", only "1", only "#", only "●", etc. It may form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 in a notation that combines a plurality of elements from the same format, such as "いろは", "AAA", "56298", "#$%!?", "●▽◇▲". It may form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 in a notation that combines one or more elements from different formats, such as "あA1●#", "KをC3●▲!&", "%38語AA▲□+ / ". It may form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 so that each object to be marked WK has a different notation. It may also form the identification mark DM by applying the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 so that all objects to be marked WK or a plurality of objects to be marked WK have the same notation or a partially same notation. As the first marking agent application means or the second marking agent application means, those that apply the first marking agent MA1 to the object to be marked WK in any form such as a mist form, a cube form, a cylindrical form, a prismatic form, a spherical form, an ellipsoidal form, etc. may be adopted. As the first marking agent application means or the second marking agent application means, for example, in addition to a relief printing machine, an intaglio printing machine, a lithographic printing machine, a silk printing machine or a screen printing machine, an inkjet printer, a dot impact printer, a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer, a laser printer, etc. may also be adopted. Considering the characteristics, properties, nature, material, composition and structure, etc. of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2,Any method can be used as long as it can apply the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK. For example, both the first and second marking agent application means may be made up of letterpress printing machines, or both may be made up of thermal printers. The first and second marking agent application means may be made up of the same type of machine. For example, the first marking agent application means may be made up of a letterpress printing machine and the second marking agent application means may be made up of an inkjet printer, or the first marking agent application means may be made up of a dot matrix printer. The first marking agent application means and the second marking agent application means may be made of different types of machines, for example, the second marking agent application means may be made of a screen printing machine, the second marking agent application means may be made of different types of machines The second marking agent MA2 may be applied in such a manner, or the first marking agent MA1 may be applied so as to be in contact with the upper part of the second marking agent MA2. Alternatively, for example, a single drive device having a first output unit and a second output unit, such as a linear motor having a first slider and a second slider, may support the first marking agent application means with the first output unit and support the second marking agent application means with the second output unit to move them, or separate drive devices may be provided for moving the first marking agent application means and for moving the second marking agent application means. The first marking agent application means and the second marking agent application means may be moved, or the second marking agent MA2 may be applied with the second marking agent application means while the first marking agent application means is applying the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, or the second marking agent MA2 may be applied with the second marking agent application means at the same time as the first marking agent application means is applying the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, or the ratio of the amount of first marking agent MA1 to the amount of second marking agent MA2 applied to the object WK may be 1:1, or 1:9, 3:7, 6:4,Any ratio, such as 9.5 to 0.5, may be used. The identification mark DM may be formed by moving the first marking agent application means and the second marking agent application means while moving the object WK, or while restricting the movement of the object WK, by restricting the movement of the first marking agent application means and the second marking agent application means. The marking agent application means 10 may apply the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object to be marked WK so that they are in mutual contact, and form an identification mark DM whose individual recognition is ensured by the post-application flow of only the applied first marking agent MA1; or it may apply the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object to be marked WK so that they are in mutual contact, and form an identification mark DM whose individual recognition is ensured by the post-application flow of only the second marking agent MA2; or it may apply the first marking agent MA1, which is either flowable after application or not flowable after application, to the object to be marked WK with the first marking agent application means; or it may apply the second marking agent MA2, which is either flowable after application or not flowable after application, to the object to be marked WK with the second marking agent application means.

[0029] The flow promoting means 20 may promote the flow after applying only the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, or it may promote the flow after applying only the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK, and an eccentric motor, piston vibrator or electrodynamic vibrator or the like may be used as the flow promoting device, and a flow promoting device that applies vibration in any direction, such as vertical, horizontal, front-back, circumferential, or a direction including at least one of these directional components, or a direction combining these directions, may be used, and the support table 8 The flow facilitator is not limited to one that applies vibration to the target object WK, the first marking agent MA1, or the second marking agent MA2 via 2. For example, any flow facilitator may be used, such as one that applies vibration to the target object WK, the first marking agent MA1, or the second marking agent MA2 via a linear motor 81, or one that applies vibration directly or indirectly to the target object WK, the first marking agent MA1, or the second marking agent MA2 without going through the components of the moving means 80. For example, a gas such as air or gas can be used to apply vibration to the target object WK, the first marking agent MA1, or the second marking agent A flow-promoting device may be used to spray MA2 and promote the flow after the application of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2; a flow-promoting device may be used to tilt the object WK to be coated and promote the flow after the application of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2; a flow-promoting device may be used to bring contact members such as plate-shaped members, rod-shaped members, and brush-shaped members into contact with the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 applied to the object WK to be coated and promote the flow after the application of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2; A flow-promoting device may be used to promote the flow of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 after application by applying energy such as electromagnetic waves (ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, radio waves, X-rays, or gamma rays), heating (such as hot water or hot air), or cooling (such as cold water or cold air). Any flow-promoting device may be used as long as it can promote the flow of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 after application, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition, and structure of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2.The flow accelerating device may be moved while the object WK to be applied is being moved, or while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, in order to promote the flow of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 after application. Alternatively, the flow accelerating device may be moved while the object WK to be applied is being moved, or while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, in order to promote the flow of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 after application. This may or may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0030] The identification mark verification means 30 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., or it may employ an imaging device that enlarges the identification mark DM by 2x, 1000x, etc., reduces it by 1 / 2x, 1 / 15x, etc., or captures it at 1x size, or it may employ an imaging device that captures part or all of the identification mark DM applied to the object WK, or it may employ an imaging device that sees through the object WK from the object WK side to capture the identification mark DM, or it may employ an imaging device that captures the identification mark DM, such as an image comparison tool, AI tool, etc., or it may employ any verification device that can verify the identification mark DM formed by a notation consisting of numbers, symbols or patterns, etc. It may be adopted, any type of storage device such as flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc. may be adopted, at least two of the imaging device, verification device and storage device may be configured as an integral part, at least one of the functions of the other two may be provided with any one of the functions of the imaging device, verification device and storage device, it may also function as an imaging means 70 by configuring the storage device to transmit the same image stored in it to another device TA, the identification mark DM may be imaged by moving the imaging device while moving the object to be marked WK, or while suppressing the movement of the object to be marked WK, while suppressing the movement of the imaging device and imaged with the identification mark DM, it may or may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0031] The fixing means 40 may be, in the case where the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed by electromagnetic wave irradiation treatment, such as irradiation with ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, radio waves, X-rays, or gamma rays, an electromagnetic wave irradiation device such as an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device may be used as the fixing device, or in the case where the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed by heating treatment, such as applying a heating medium such as hot air or hot water, a heating device such as a coil heater or an infrared irradiator may be used as the fixing device, or the first If the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed by a cooling process such as applying a cooling medium like cold air or cold water, cooling equipment such as a blower or Peltier element may be used as fixing equipment. If the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed by a drying process such as blowing air or heating, drying equipment such as a coil heater or blower may be used as fixing equipment. If the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed by a fixing agent application process such as applying other fixing agents such as oxygen or a hardening agent, Therefore, in the case of a forcibly fixing agent, fixing equipment such as oxygen spraying equipment or hardening agent application equipment may be used as fixing equipment, and any equipment that can forcibly fix the forcibly fixing agent to the target object WK, taking into consideration the characteristics, features, properties, material, composition and structure of the forcibly fixing agent, may be used as fixing equipment, and may be installed in a location other than the location shown in the above embodiment, and may be installed anywhere as long as the forcibly fixing agent can be forcibly fixed to the target object WK, and the forcibly fixing agent is installed on the target object Immediately after being applied to WK, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, a predetermined fixing treatment may be performed on the forcibly fixing agent, or the fixing device may be moved while the object WK to be applied to is being moved, or while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, in order to forcibly fix the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK, or the fixing device may be moved while the object WK to be applied is being moved, or while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, in order to forcibly fix the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK,The identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with this feature. The fixing means 40 may apply a predetermined fixing treatment only to the first marking agent MA1 applied to the object WK to be applied, thereby forcibly fixing only the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK, or it may apply a predetermined fixing treatment only to the second marking agent MA2 applied to the object WK to be applied, thereby forcibly fixing only the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK.

[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 coating material 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 coating material 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 coating material on the base material BM by spraying or coating the coating material, or any method that can form the object WK to be applied by laminating the coating material on the base material BM, or the base plate 51 may be moved while the base material BM is being moved or while the movement of the base material BM is being suppressed and the movement of the base plate 51 is being suppressed and the coating material on the base material BM may be laminated, or it may be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention or not.

[0033] The energy-imparting means 60 may impart a predetermined energy to the entire coating material or a part of the coating material. As the energy-imparting device, any type of energy-imparting device may be used, such as an electromagnetic wave-imparting device that imparts electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, radio waves, X-rays, or gamma rays; a heating device that imparts a heating medium such as hot water or hot air; or a cooling device that imparts a cooling medium such as cold water or cold air. Any type of device that can cause a change in the coating material specific to that energy, taking into consideration the characteristics, properties, materials, composition, and structure of the coating material, may be used. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the device may be arranged inside the support table 82 or on the support surface 82A and impart a predetermined energy A coil heater 62 capable of supplying heat as energy may be used as an energy supply device, both coil heater 61 and coil heater 62 may be used, or either coil heater 61 or coil heater 62 may be used, or the energy supply device may be moved while the object WK to be supplied with energy is moved, or while the movement of the object WK to be supplied with energy is suppressed, and the energy supply device may be moved while the movement of the object WK to be supplied with energy is suppressed, and the energy supply device may be moved, or it may not be provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0034] The imaging means 70 may be configured with an imaging device equivalent to or different from the imaging device of the identification mark verification means 30, or it may image the identification mark DM in a method equivalent to or different from the imaging device of the identification mark verification means 30, or it may perform multiple imagings on one object WK to be marked to form multiple images and transmit one of those images, some but not all of those images, or all of them to another device TA, or it may move the imaging device to image the identification mark DM while moving the object WK to be marked to, or while suppressing the movement of the object WK to be marked to, or it may suppress the movement of the imaging device to image the identification mark DM while moving the object WK to be marked to, or while suppressing the movement of the object WK to be marked to, or it may be provided in or not provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[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 20, 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 be directly or indirectly connected to the flow promotion means 20, identification mark verification means 30, fixing means 40, lamination means 50, energy application means 60, imaging means 70, moving means 80 or other apparatus TA, or it may not be directly or indirectly connected to them. Alternatively, the mark agent application means 10, flow promotion means 20, identification mark verification means 30, fixing means 40, lamination means 50, energy application means 60, imaging means 70, moving means 80 and other apparatus TA may be arranged in appropriate positions so that the mark agent application process, flow promotion process, identification mark verification process, fixing process, lamination process, energy application process, imaging process, moving process and processing process can be carried out in an appropriate order. For example, the operation may be changed while maintaining the arrangement configuration of the above embodiment, so that the energy application process is carried out after the mark agent application process, and the mark agent application means 10 applies the first mark agent MA After applying the first and second marking agents MA2 to the object WK, the moving means 80 may transport the object WK in the reverse direction, i.e., to the right, and the energy application means 60 may apply a predetermined energy to the adhesive sheet AS. Alternatively, the configuration of the above embodiment may be modified so that the energy application means 60 is placed between the marking agent application means 10 and the fixing means 40, or between the fixing means 40 and the imaging means 70, etc. For example, the operation and configuration may be modified so that a flow promotion process is performed between the first marking agent application process and the second marking agent application process, or so that a fixing process is performed between the first marking agent application process and the second marking agent application process, or so that a fixing process is performed between the first marking agent application process and the second marking agent application process, and then so that a fixing process is performed again after the second marking agent application process. The identification mark forming apparatus EA may perform an identification mark verification process before performing the fixing process. If the identification mark verification process determines that the identification mark DM cannot be individually recognized, the apparatus may repeat a retry operation, which involves driving the flow acceleration process for a predetermined time, or after a predetermined time has elapsed without performing the flow acceleration process, until the identification mark verification process determines that the identification mark DM can be individually recognized. Alternatively, if the retry operation is repeated a predetermined number of times and the identification mark verification process still determines that the identification mark DM cannot be individually recognized, the apparatus may output a drive start signal to a warning means or a elimination means, and remove the object WK that has been imaged by the CCD camera 31 from the identification mark forming apparatus EA.

[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 directly or indirectly connected to the identification mark forming device EA. For example, it may be located in the same building or on the same premises as the identification mark forming device EA without being directly or indirectly connected to the identification mark forming device EA, or it may be located in a different building or on a different premises than the same building or on the same premises as the identification mark forming device EA, or it may be located in the building or on the premises of the destination where the object to be marked WK was shipped, or it may be located anywhere, and may or may not be equipped with the identification mark forming device EA of the present invention. Other devices TA may configure imaging device T1, verification device T2, or storage device T3 with equipment equivalent to or different from the imaging device, verification device, or storage device of the identification mark verification means 30, or may image, verify, or store the identification mark DM in a manner equivalent to or different from the imaging device, verification device, or storage device of the identification mark verification means 30. Imaging device T1 can be any device that can form an image that can be matched by verification device T2, verification device T2 can be any device that can verify the image captured by imaging device T1 and the image transmitted from imaging means 70, and storage device T3 can store the image captured by imaging device T1 and can be any device that can store the image transmitted from imaging means 70.

[0038] The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 may be such that only the first marking agent MA1 is capable of flowing after application, or the second marking agent MA2 may be such that only the second marking agent MA2 is capable of flowing after application. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2, which are designed to flow after application, can be any material that flows after being applied to the object WK, such as oil-based or water-based inks, paints, varnishes, coatings, adhesives, etc., or molten metals, molten solders, molten resins, molten rubbers, etc. that are molten before fixing, or thermosetting, energy-ray curing, drying-curing, or mixed-curing resins or adhesives that are not cured before fixing, or materials that flow after application even without any load applied to the object WK, or materials that flow after application when a load is applied to the object WK, or materials that flow after application when energy is applied to the object WK, such as electromagnetic waves like ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, radio waves, X-rays or gamma rays, or heating such as hot water or hot air, or cooling such as cold water or cold air. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2, which are designed to be non-flowable after application, can be any material that does not flow after being applied to the object WK. Examples include marking agents used in dot matrix printers, thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, laser printers, as well as labels and adhesive sheets. When a marking agent that can flow after application is applied to such a marking agent that cannot flow after application, it will undergo various morphological changes and change into random appearances by flowing along the edges of the non-flowable marking agent or by seeping into the non-flowable marking agent, thus ensuring the individual recognition of the identification mark DM. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 may be those whose flow is promoted after application by any method, such as gas spraying, tilting, or contact of contacting members, or they may not have their flow promoted after application. If the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are both promoted to flow after application by the same flow-promoting device, the flow-promoting means 20 may promote the post-application flow of both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 with one flow-promoting device, or it may comprise a first flow-promoting device that promotes the post-application flow of the first marking agent MA1 and a second flow-promoting device that promotes the post-application flow of the second marking agent MA2, or if the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are both promoted to flow after application by different flow-promoting devices, the flow-promoting means 20 may comprise the first The flow accelerating means 20 may include a first flow accelerating device for accelerating the flow of the first marking agent MA1 after application, and a second flow accelerating device for accelerating the flow of the second marking agent MA2 after application. Alternatively, if only the first marking agent MA1 is flow accelerating after application by the flow accelerating device, the flow accelerating means 20 may include a flow accelerating device for accelerating the flow of only the first marking agent MA1 after application. Alternatively, if only the second marking agent MA2 is flow accelerating after application by the flow accelerating device, the flow accelerating means 20 may include a flow accelerating device for accelerating the flow of only the second marking agent MA2 after application. The first marking agent MA1 may be the only force-fixing agent, or the second marking agent MA2 may be the only force-fixing agent, or neither the first marking agent MA1 nor the second marking agent MA2 may be force-fixing agents. At least one of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 may be a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed to the object WK by any predetermined fixing treatment, such as electromagnetic wave irradiation, heating, cooling, drying, or application treatment. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the object WK by electromagnetic wave irradiation include ultraviolet-curing inks and paints, infrared-curing resins and adhesives, etc. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the object WK by heating include thermosetting resins, adhesives and toners, etc. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the object WK by cooling include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin and molten rubber, etc. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the object WK by drying include paints, varnishes and adhesives, etc. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the object WK by application treatment include oxygen-bonding inks and resins, two-component mixed resins and paints, etc. At least one of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 may be fixed to the object WK by means of natural cooling, natural drying, natural oxidation, etc., even without a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of substances that fix to the object WK by natural cooling include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. Examples of substances that fix to the object WK by natural drying include paint, varnish, coating, adhesive, etc. Examples of substances that fix to the object WK by natural oxidation include resins, adhesives, etc., that harden by bonding with oxygen present in the atmosphere. At least one of the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 is a marking agent that adheres to the object WK by natural cooling, natural drying, natural oxidation, etc., even without a predetermined fixing treatment, and may also be a forcibly fixable agent that adheres to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that adhere to the object WK by natural cooling and adhere to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc., in which case the fixing means 40 can employ a blower or a Peltier element as fixing equipment. Examples of forcibly fixable agents that adhere to the object WK by natural drying and adhere to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment include paint, varnish, coating, adhesive, etc., in which case the fixing means 40 can employ a coil heater or a blower as fixing equipment. Furthermore, while some agents are fixed to the target object WK by natural oxidation, examples of forcibly fixable agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment 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. In the case of a forcibly fixable agent in which the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by the same predetermined fixing process, the fixing means 40 may forcibly fix both the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 to the target object WK with one fixing device, or it may comprise a first fixing device for forcibly fixing the first marking agent MA1 to the target object WK and a second fixing device for forcibly fixing the second marking agent MA2 to the target object WK, or in the case of a forcibly fixable agent in which the first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by different predetermined fixing processes, the fixing means 40 may comprise the first The fixing means 40 may include a first fixing device for forcibly fixing the marking agent MA1 to the object WK, and a second fixing device for forcibly fixing the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK. Alternatively, in the case of a forcibly fixing agent in which only the first marking agent MA1 is forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing process, the fixing means 40 may include a fixing device for forcibly fixing only the first marking agent MA1 to the object WK. Alternatively, in the case of a forcibly fixing agent in which only the second marking agent MA2 is forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing process, the fixing means 40 may include a fixing device for forcibly fixing only the second marking agent MA2 to the object WK. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2, which are forcibly fixed by a predetermined fixing treatment, may be agents that do not permanently fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and are forcibly fixable agents that are fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment, or they may be agents that will eventually fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and are forcibly fixable agents whose fixing time to the object WK is accelerated by a predetermined fixing treatment. The first marking agent MA1 and the second marking agent MA2 may have the same composition or different compositions, the same viscosity or different viscosities, and are not limited to black and white, but may be any combination of colors such as red and light blue, gray and green, black and yellow, etc.

[0039] The identification mark DM may be a representation formed by a collective shape consisting of a first marking agent MA1 attached to multiple locations and a second marking agent MA2 attached to multiple locations; a representation formed by a collective shape of a first marking agent MA1 attached to multiple locations and a second marking agent MA2 attached to only one location; a representation formed by a collective shape of a first marking agent MA1 attached to only one location and a second marking agent MA2 attached to multiple locations; a representation in a predetermined shape formed by the first marking agent MA1 alone, with the second marking agent MA2 attached to multiple locations or to only one location in contact with the first marking agent MA1; or, as shown in Figure 1(H), a representation in a predetermined shape may not be formed by the attachment of the first marking agent MA1 alone, but the representation in a predetermined shape may be formed by the attachment of the second marking agent MA2 which is applied in contact with the first marking agent MA1. The identification mark DM may be used for determining whether an object WK is counterfeit, genuine, or tampered, or for determining whether it is acceptable or unacceptable, or for determining whether an object WK is acceptable or unacceptable, or for determining whether it is a factual determination or a qualification, and may be used for any purpose whatsoever.

[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, radio 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 first marking agent MA1, the second marking agent MA2, 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, and the coating material may have an adhesive form such as pressure-sensitive adhesive or heat-sensitive adhesive. If a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet AS is used, it may be bonded by an appropriate method, such as providing a suitable heating means such as a coil heater or the heating side of a heat pipe to heat the adhesive sheet AS. 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, or both object A and object B may move, and 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. 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. 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...Method for applying marking agent 13…First inkjet nozzle (first marking agent application means) 15…Second inkjet nozzle (second marking agent application means) 20…Flow promoting means 40… means of fixing DM…Identification mark MA1…First Marking Agent MA2... Second Marking Agent WK... Items to be awarded

Claims

1. An identification mark forming apparatus comprising a marking agent applying means for applying a first marking agent and a second marking agent to an object to be marked, and for forming an identification mark having individual recognition properties using the applied first marking agent and second marking agent, At least one of the first marking agent and the second marking agent is capable of post-application flow, which means it flows after being applied to the object to be marked. The marking agent application means comprises a first marking agent application means for applying the first marking agent to the object to be marked, and a second marking agent application means for applying the second marking agent to the object to be marked, wherein the first marking agent and the second marking agent are applied to the object to be marked so that they come into contact with each other, and the application of at least one of the applied first marking agent and the second marking agent creates an identification mark whose individual recognizability is ensured by the flow after application.

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

3. At least one of the first marking agent and the second marking agent is a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed to the object to be marked by a predetermined fixing treatment. The identification mark forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising fixing means for forcibly fixing the forcibly fixing agent applied to the object to be applied to by applying a predetermined fixing treatment to the forcibly fixing agent to the object to be applied.

4. In an identification mark formation method, a marking agent application step is performed in which a first marking agent and a second marking agent are applied to an object to be marked, and an identification mark having individual recognition properties is formed by the applied first marking agent and the second marking agent, At least one of the first marking agent and the second marking agent is capable of post-application flow, which means it flows after being applied to the object to be marked. The method for forming an identification mark is characterized in that the marking agent application step includes a first marking agent application step of applying the first marking agent to the object to be marked, and a second marking agent application step of applying the second marking agent to the object to be marked, applying the first marking agent and the second marking agent to the object to be marked so that they come into contact with each other, and forming the identification mark, in which individual recognition is ensured by the post-application flow of at least one of the applied first marking agent and the second marking agent.

Images