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 employ new technologies for forming identification marks on objects to be marked. [Solution] An identification mark forming apparatus EA is provided with a marking agent application means 10 that applies a marking agent MA to a marking area WA of an object WK to be marked, and forms a recognizable identification mark DM with the applied marking agent MA, and is further provided with an application part processing means 50 that forms a bonding reinforcement part CG in the marking area WA to improve the bonding strength with the marking agent MA.

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 marked is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] 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, new techniques have been demanded for forming an identification mark on an object to be marked.

[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 when forming an identification mark on an object to be marked.

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, since a bonding strengthening portion for improving the bonding force with the marking agent is formed in the marking region, it is possible to provide an identification mark forming device and an identification mark forming method in which a new technique is adopted when forming an identification mark on an object to be marked.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] (A) to (E) 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. (F) to (H) are explanatory diagrams of modified examples 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 marking agent MA to a marking area WA (see Figures 1(B) to (E)) on an object WK to be marked, and forming a recognizable identification mark DM (see Figures 1(C) to (E)) with the applied marking agent MA; a flow promotion means 20 that performs a flow promotion step of promoting the flow of the marking agent MA applied to the object WK after application; a verification means 30 that performs a verification step of verifying whether or not the identification mark DM is recognizable; and a fixing means 40 that performs a fixing step of applying ultraviolet irradiation as a predetermined fixing treatment to the marking agent MA applied to the object WK to forcibly fix the marking agent MA to the object WK. The device includes a marking area processing means 50 that performs a marking area processing step to form grooves CG (see Figures 1(B) to (E)) in the marking area WA as bonding reinforcement parts to improve bonding strength with the marking agent MA, a lamination means 60 that performs a lamination step to form a marking target object WK by laminating an adhesive sheet AS as a covering material onto a base material BM, an energy application means 70 that performs an energy application step to apply heat HA as a predetermined energy to the adhesive sheet AS laminated onto the base material BM, an imaging means 80 that performs an imaging step to capture an identification mark DM to form an image and transmit the image to another device TA that performs a post-processing step to apply a predetermined processing to the marking target object WK, and a moving means 90 that performs a moving step to move the marking target object WK. Furthermore, the marking agent MA in this embodiment is capable of flowing after being applied to the target object WK, and is a UV-curable liquid ink used as a forced-fixing agent that is forcibly fixed to the target object WK by UV irradiation as a predetermined fixing treatment. 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 the slider 12A in the left-right direction, an inkjet nozzle 13 supported by the slider 12A and that acts as a marking agent application device to apply the marking agent MA to the object WK, and a tank 14 as a storage device that sends the stored marking agent MA to the inkjet nozzle 13 via a hose 14A. In this embodiment, the inkjet nozzle 13 applies the marking agent MA in the form of fine particles to the object WK, and forms an identification mark DM consisting of the letters "ABC" as shown in Figures 1(C) and (D).

[0012] The flow-promoting means 20 includes a vibrator 21 as a flow-promoting device that applies vibration to the object WK to be treated, and by applying vibration, it assists in making it easier for the marking agent MA to enter the groove CG.

[0013] The verification means 30 includes 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 it can recognize the identification mark DM. The CCD camera 31 forms an image by capturing the identification mark DM formed on the object WK to be marked. The image matching device 32 performs verification by comparing the image captured by the CCD camera 31 with the image stored in the RAM 33. In this embodiment, the image matching device 32 compares the image captured by the CCD camera 31 with the image stored in the RAM 33 to detect matching and mismatching areas. A predetermined condition is that the ratio of matching areas to the total of matching and mismatching areas is 50% or more. If this predetermined condition is met, the device determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 is recognizable. Conversely, if the predetermined matching condition is not met, the device determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 is unrecognizable. RAM33 is capable of storing an image of a reference notation (in this embodiment, a notation consisting of the letters "ABC") that serves as the basis for the notation applied by the marking agent application means 10. The reference notation stored in RAM33 can be set arbitrarily.

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

[0015] The processing means 50 includes a linear motor 51 as a drive device that can move the slider 51A in the left-right direction, a linear motor 52 supported by the slider 51A as a drive device that can move the slider 52A in the front-rear direction, a linear motor 53 supported by the slider 52A as a drive device that can move the output shaft 53A in the up-down direction, a linear motor 54 supported by the output shaft 53A as a drive device that can move the slider 54A in the left-right direction, a rotary motor 55 supported by the slider 54A as a drive device that can rotate the output shaft 55A about the Z-axis, and a file member 56 supported by the output shaft 55A as a processing member.

[0016] The lamination means 60 includes a base plate 61 that directly or indirectly supports the components constituting the lamination means 60, a support roller 62 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 63 that guides the raw roll RS, a release plate 64 as a release means that folds the release sheet RL at the release edge 64A and peels the adhesive sheet AS from the release sheet RL, a pressing roller 65 as a pressing means that presses the adhesive sheet AS onto the object to be laminated WK and laminates it, a drive roller 66 supported on the output shaft (not shown) of a rotary motor 66A as a drive device and sandwiches the release sheet RL between itself and a pinch roller 66B, and a recovery roller 67 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 66B while the identification mark forming device EA is in automatic operation and recovers the release sheet RL.

[0017] The energy applying means 70 includes a coil heater 71 as an energy applying device capable of applying heat HA.

[0018] The imaging means 80 includes a CCD camera 81 as an imaging device equivalent to the imaging device of the verification means 30, forms an image by imaging the identification mark DM applied to the application object WK, and transmits the formed image to another device TA.

[0019] The moving means 90 includes a linear motor 91 as a driving device, and a support table 92 having a support surface 92A that is supported via the flow promoting means 20 on a slider 91A of the linear motor 91 and can be adsorbed and held by a decompression means (holding means) such as a decompression pump or a vacuum ejector not shown in the figure.

[0020] The operation of the above identification mark forming device EA will be described. First, for 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), a user (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") of the identification mark forming device EA sets the original fabric RS as shown in the figure, and after inputting an image serving as a reference notation into the RAM 33, 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 60 drives the rotation motor 66A 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 64A of the peeling plate 64, the drive of the rotation motor 66A 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 92 as shown in Fig. 1(A), the moving means 90 drives a decompression means not shown, starts adsorption and holding on the support surface 92A, and then drives the linear motor 91 to move the support table 92 to the left.

[0021] After that, when the base material BM reaches a predetermined position with respect to the laminating means 60, the laminating means 60 drives the rotation motor 66A and feeds out the raw sheet RS in accordance with the moving speed of the base material BM. As a result, the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL at the folded-back portion of the peeling sheet RL, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), it is pressed by the pressing roller 65 and laminated on the base material BM, and the application object WK is formed. Next, after the entire leading adhesive sheet AS is laminated on the base material BM to form the application object WK, when the leading end portion in the feeding direction of the next adhesive sheet AS following the leading adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded-back portion of the peeling sheet RL, the laminating means 60 stops driving the rotation motor 66A.

[0022] Then, when the application object WK reaches the energy application position EP of the energy application means 70 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), the moving means 90 stops driving the linear motor 91. Next, the energy application means 70 drives the coil heater 71, applies heat HA to the adhesive sheet AS, and cures the adhesive sheet AS. After that, when the adhesive sheet AS is cured, the energy application means 70 stops driving the coil heater 71, and the moving means 90 drives the linear motor 91 to move the support table 92 to the left.

[0023] Next, when the object to be marked WK reaches the marking position PP of the marking processing means 50 shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 90 stops driving the linear motor 91. Then, the marking processing means 50 drives the linear motors 51, 52 and the linear motor 53 to bring the file member 56 into contact with a predetermined pressing force at a predetermined position within the marking area WA, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A). After that, the linear motors 51, 52, 54 and the rotary motor 55 are driven to form a number of fine, irregular grooves CG in the marking area WA (see Figures 1(B) to (E)). At this time, the marking processing means 50 rotates the file member 56 in a constant direction or in forward and reverse directions with the rotary motor 55, and moves the rotary motor 55 and below back and forth in small increments or randomly in the left and right directions with the linear motors 51 and 52 to move the file member 56 in the forward, backward, left and right directions within the marking area WA. Next, once the formation of the groove CG in the marking area WA is complete, the marking processing means 50 stops driving the rotary motor 55, then drives the linear motors 51, 52, 54 and the linear motor 53 to return the filing member 56 to its initial position, and the moving means 90 drives the linear motor 91 to move the support table 92 to the left.

[0024] Subsequently, when the object to be marked WK reaches the mark formation position MP of the marking agent application means 10, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 90 stops driving the linear motor 91. Next, the marking agent application means 10 drives the linear motors 11 and 12 and the inkjet nozzle 13 to apply the granular marking agent MA to the marking area WA, as shown in Figures 1(C) to (E), to form the identification mark DM. After the application of the marking agent MA is complete, the marking agent application means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, then drives the linear motors 11 and 12 to return the inkjet nozzle 13 to its initial position. When the marking agent application means 10 stops driving the inkjet nozzle 13, the flow promotion means 20 drives the vibrator 21 to start applying vibration to the marking agent MA, and the moving means 90 drives the linear motor 91 to move the support table 92 to the left.

[0025] Here, since a groove CG is formed in the marking area WA, as shown in Figure 1(E), the marking agent MA applied to the marking area WA enters the groove CG, and the bonding strength to the object WK is improved due to various factors such as the anchoring effect and an increase in the bonding area (bonding area per unit projection plane). By improving the bonding strength of the marking agent MA to the object WK in this way, it is prevented that the marking agent MA will not detach from the object WK or deform, and the recognition of the identification mark DM can be ensured over a long period of time. In this embodiment, the vibrations applied by the vibrator 21 promote the post-application flow of the marking agent MA, and compared to when there are no vibrations, the penetration of the marking agent MA into the grooves CG is significantly increased, further improving the bonding force to the object WK to which the marking agent is applied.

[0026] Next, when the object WK to be marked reaches the ultraviolet irradiation position UP of the fixing means 40, indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 90 stops driving the linear motor 91. After that, when the flow promoting means 20 stops driving the vibrator 21, the fixing means 40 drives the ultraviolet light emitter 41 and irradiates the marking agent MA with ultraviolet UV to forcibly fix the marking agent MA to the object WK, and stops driving the ultraviolet light emitter 41 when fixing is complete. Next, the verification means 30 drives the CCD camera 31 to capture an image of the identification mark DM and form an image, and then 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. If, as a result of this verification, the image matching device 32 determines that the identification mark DM captured by the CCD camera 31 is recognizable, the moving means 90 drives the linear motor 91 and moves the support table 92 to the left. Furthermore, if, as a result of the above verification, the image matching device 32 determines that the identification mark DM, which has been captured by the CCD camera 31, is unrecognizable, 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 recognition is unrecognizable 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, which has been captured by the CCD camera 31, from the identification mark forming device EA.

[0027] Then, when the object to be marked WK reaches the imaging position RP of the imaging means 80, indicated by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the moving means 90 stops driving the linear motor 91. Next, the imaging means 80 drives the CCD camera 81 to capture the identification mark DM applied to the object to be marked WK to form an image, and transmits the formed image to another device TA. The other device TA, which receives the image transmitted from the imaging means 80, stores the image in the storage device T3. After that, the moving means 90 stops driving the depressurization means (not shown), and after releasing the suction holding on the support surface 92A, the user or a transport means (not shown) transports the object to be marked WK, at which point the moving means 90 drives the linear motor 91 to return the support table 92 to its initial position, and the same operation as above is repeated thereafter. Furthermore, other devices TA capture images of the identification mark DM applied to the object WK before or during post-processing steps such as when the object WK is being processed, using imaging device T1. Verification is then performed 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 either 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 either 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.

[0028] According to the embodiments described above, grooves CG are formed in the marking region WA to improve the bonding strength with the marking agent MA. Therefore, an identification mark forming apparatus EA and identification mark forming method employing new technology can be provided for forming identification marks DM on the object WK to be marked.

[0029] 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 means for applying the marking agent can be anything that applies the marking agent to the marking area on the object to be marked and forms a recognizable identification mark with the applied marking agent, 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).

[0030] The marking agent application means 10 may apply the marking agent MA to at least one of the base material BM and the coating material to form the identification mark DM. For example, it may apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM in any form of 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 apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM with a single notation, such as only "A", only "1", only "#", only "●", etc. It may apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM with a notation that combines multiple items from the same format, such as "いろは", "AAA", "56298", "#$%!?", "●▽◇▲". It may apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM with a notation that combines one or more items from different formats, such as "あA1●#", "KをC3●▲!&", "%38語AA▲□+ / ". It may apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM so that each object to be applied has a different notation, or it may apply the marking agent MA to form the identification mark DM so that all objects to be applied or a plurality of objects to be applied have the same notation or a partially same notation. As the marking agent application device, it may adopt a device that applies the marking agent MA to the object to be applied 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. As the marking agent application device, 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. As long as the marking agent MA can be applied to the object to be applied WK considering the characteristics, properties, nature, material, composition and structure, etc. of the marking agent MA, any device may be adopted. While moving the object to be applied WK or while suppressing the movement of the object to be applied WK, the marking agent application device may be moved to form the identification mark DM, or while moving the object to be applied WK or while suppressing the movement of the object to be applied WK, the movement of the marking agent application device may be suppressed to form the identification mark DM.

[0031] The flow promotion means 20 may employ an eccentric motor, piston vibrator, or electrodynamic vibrator as a flow promotion device, or a flow promotion 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 that combines these directions, or it may employ a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the object WK or marking agent MA via the support table 92, for example, a flow promotion device that applies vibration to the object WK or marking agent MA via a linear motor 91, or a flow promotion device that applies vibration directly or indirectly to the object WK or marking agent MA without going through the components of the moving means 90, or any other flow promotion device that applies vibration directly or indirectly, or it may employ a flow promotion device that sprays a gas such as air or gas onto the object WK or marking agent MA to promote the flow of the marking agent MA after application, or a flow promotion device that tilts the object WK to promote the flow of the marking agent MA after application, or a mark applied to the object WK A flow-promoting device may be used to promote the flow of the marking agent MA after application by bringing contact members such as plate-shaped members, rod-shaped members, or brush-shaped members into contact with the marking agent MA. Alternatively, a flow-promoting device may be used to promote the flow of the marking agent MA after application by applying energy such as electromagnetic waves such as 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 to the marking agent MA applied to the target object WK. Considering the characteristics, features, properties, material, composition, and structure of the marking agent MA, the flow-promoting device may be used. Any flow-promoting device can be used as long as it can promote the flow after application of the marking agent MA. The flow-promoting 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, to promote the flow after application of the marking agent MA. The identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with such a device.

[0032] The 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 images it at 1x size, or it may employ an imaging device that images 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 see the identification mark DM and images the identification mark DM, or it may employ any verification device, such as an image comparison tool, AI tool, etc., or it may employ a verification device capable of verifying the identification mark DM formed by a notation consisting of numbers, symbols, or patterns, etc. It may be used as a storage device, or any type of storage device such as flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc., or at least two of the imaging device, verification device and storage device may be configured as an integrated unit, or at least one of the functions of the imaging device, verification device and storage device may be equipped with at least one of the other two functions, or it may be configured to function as an imaging means 80 by transmitting the same image stored in the storage device to another device TA, or 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, or the identification mark DM may be imaged while suppressing the movement of the imaging device, or it may be equipped in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention, or it may not be equipped. When the verification means 30 verifies whether or not it can recognize the identification mark DM, it may, for example, set a predetermined condition that the proportion of matching portions to the total of matching portions is 30% or more, or 75% or more, or set a predetermined condition that the proportion of mismatching portions to the total of matching portions is 10% or less, or 60% or less, or it may detect only matching portions or only mismatching portions and set a predetermined condition based on the proportion of matching portions or mismatching portions to the entire marking, and any verification method may be adopted.

[0033] The fixing means 40 may be an electromagnetic wave irradiation device such as an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed by an electromagnetic wave irradiation treatment that irradiates it with electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, visible light, radio waves, X-rays or gamma rays, or if the marking agent MA is a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed by a heating treatment that applies a heating medium such as hot air or hot water, or if the fixing means 40 is an electromagnetic wave irradiation device such as an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed by a heating medium such as hot air or hot water, or if the fixing means 40 is an electromagnetic wave irradiation device such as an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by a heating treatment that applies a heating medium such as hot air or hot water, or if the fixing means 40 is an electromagnetic wave irradiation device such as an infrared irradiation device or an X-ray irradiation device if the marking agent MA is forcibly fixed by a heating medium such as hot air or hot water In the case of a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed by a cooling process that applies a cooling medium such as cold water, cooling equipment such as a blower or Peltier element may be used as fixing equipment. If the marking agent MA is a forcibly fixable agent that is 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 marking agent MA is a forcibly fixable agent that is forcibly fixed by a fixing agent application process that applies a fixing agent such as oxygen or a hardener, oxygen spraying equipment or a hardener application machine may be used as fixing equipment. A fixing agent application device such as a container may be used, and any device that can forcibly fix the forcibly fixing agent to the object WK may be used, taking into consideration the characteristics, features, properties, material, composition and structure of the forcibly fixing agent, and it may be provided in a location other than the location shown in the above embodiment, and it may be provided anywhere as long as it can forcibly fix the forcibly fixing agent to the object WK, and a predetermined fixing treatment may be performed on the forcibly fixing agent immediately after it is applied to the object WK, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, or the fixing device may be moved while the object WK is being moved or while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, and the fixing device may be moved while the movement of the object WK is being suppressed, and the fixing device may be provided or not provided in the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention.

[0034] The marking processing means 50 may use a multi-joint robot as a drive device such as a 2-axis or 6-axis robot instead of at least one of the linear motors 51, 52, 54, linear motor 53, and rotary motor 55. Alternatively, it may not use the linear motor 54 or rotary motor 55, and may use metal files, sandpaper, grinding wheels, abrasives, cutting fluids, blades, etc. as processing materials. Any material that can form a reinforced joint in the marking area WA may be used. The marking processing means 50 may employ a drive device that moves the processing member back and forth in small increments or randomly when forming a groove CG in the marking area WA, or at least one of the linear motors 51, 52, 54 may be used to move at least one of their sliders 51A, 52A, 54A back and forth in small increments or randomly, or to change the movement speed of at least one of their sliders 51A, 52A, 54A in small increments or randomly when forming a groove CG in the marking area WA, or a linear motor 53 may be used to move the file member 56 in small increments or randomly to make contact with the object to be marked WK in small increments or randomly, or to vary the pressing force of the file member 56 against the object to be marked WK in small increments or randomly, or when forming a groove CG in the marking area WA When forming grooves CG, the rotation speed of the filing member 56 may be increased or decreased in small increments or randomly by the rotary motor 55, or when forming recessed grooves CG in the marking area WA, the drive of at least one of the linear motors 51, 52, 54, the linear motor 53, and the rotary motor 55 may be stopped, or the drive and stop may be repeated in small increments or randomly, or when forming recessed grooves CG in the marking area WA, the object to be marked WK may be moved back and forth in small increments or randomly by the linear motor 91, or when forming recessed grooves CG in the marking area WA, a drive device may be used to move the object to be marked WK back and forth in small increments or randomly in the left and right or front and back directions, or a drive device may be used to rotate or reciprocate the object to be marked WK in small increments or randomly. The marking area processing means 50 may, for example, form a reinforced joint area consisting of numerous holes HL (see Figure 1(F)) or numerous grooves CG (see Figure 1(G)) in the marking area WA by knurling, cutting, laser processing or etching using a knurling roller, cutting machine, laser irradiation machine or etching equipment, or form a reinforced joint area consisting of numerous recesses CC (see Figure 1(H)) or numerous scratches SC (see Figure 1(H)) in the marking area WA by pre-treatment processing or scratching using a sandblasting machine or shot blasting machine, etc. A joint-reinforced section may be formed, or a joint-reinforced section consisting of numerous convex lines or uneven surfaces may be formed in the mark-applying area WA by additive manufacturing using a 3D printer or adhesive applicator, or a joint-reinforced section may be formed in the mark-applying area WA by applying an intermediate agent such as a primer or undercoat that has both good adhesion to the mark-applying area WA and good adhesion to the mark agent MA, by applying an intermediate agent such as a primer or undercoat that has both good adhesion to the mark-applying area WA and good adhesion to the mark agent MA. Any processing is acceptable as long as a joint-reinforced section that improves the bonding strength of the mark agent MA is formed. The marking processing means 50 may form a joint reinforcement part by uneven or uniform grooves CG, holes HL, recesses CC or scratches SC, protrusions, etc., or it may form a joint reinforcement part only on the base material BM, or it may form a joint reinforcement part only on the covering material, or it may form a joint reinforcement part on both the base material BM and the covering material, or it may form a joint reinforcement part on part or all of the marking area WA, or it may form a joint reinforcement part at multiple locations in the marking area WA.

[0035] The lamination means 60 may perform the lamination by forming a closed loop-shaped or entire width-length cut in the strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL, thereby peeling the adhesive sheet AS from the roll RS into an adhesive sheet AS and laminating it onto the base material BM; or it may employ a strip-shaped adhesive sheet roll in which a strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate is temporarily attached to the strip-shaped release sheet RL, and while the roll is being fed out, a closed loop-shaped or entire width-length cut may be formed in the adhesive sheet substrate with a cutting blade as a cutting means, thereby peeling the adhesive sheet AS from the roll RS into an adhesive sheet AS in an adhesive sheet AS 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 60 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 61 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 61 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.

[0036] The energy-imparting means 70 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 92 or on the support surface 92A and impart a predetermined energy A coil heater 72 capable of supplying heat as energy may be used as an energy supply device, both coil heaters 71 and 72 may be used, or either coil heater 71 or coil heater 72 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.

[0037] The imaging means 80 may be configured with an imaging device equivalent to or different from the imaging device of the verification means 30, or it may image the identification mark DM in a method equivalent to or different from the imaging device of the 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 the identification mark forming apparatus EA of the present invention, or it may not be provided.

[0038] The moving means 90 may be a support table 92 that cannot be held by suction on the support surface 92A, or the support table 92 may be supported by the slider 91A 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.

[0039] The identification mark forming apparatus EA may be directly or indirectly connected to the flow promotion means 20, verification means 30, fixing means 40, lamination means 60, energy application means 70, imaging means 80, moving means 90 or other apparatus TA, or it may not be directly or indirectly connected to them, and the mark agent application means 10, flow promotion means 20, verification means 30, fixing means 40, application part processing means 50, lamination means 60, energy application means 70, imaging means 80, moving means 90 and other apparatus TA may be arranged in appropriate positions, and the mark agent application process, flow promotion process, verification process, fixing process, application part processing process, lamination process, energy application process, imaging The process, movement process, and post-processing process may be carried out in an appropriate order. For example, the operation may be modified while maintaining the arrangement configuration of the above embodiment, so that the energy application process is performed after the marking agent application process. This can be done by applying the marking agent MA to the object WK with the marking agent application means 10, then the movement means 90 transports the object WK in the reverse direction, i.e., to the right, and the energy application means 70 applies a predetermined energy to the adhesive sheet AS. Alternatively, the arrangement of the above embodiment may be modified so that the energy application means 70 is placed between the marking agent application means 10 and the fixing means 40, or between the fixing means 40 and the imaging means 80, etc. The identification mark forming apparatus EA may perform a verification process before performing the fixing process. If the verification process determines that the identification mark DM is unrecognizable, 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 verification process determines that the identification mark DM is recognizable. Alternatively, if the retry operation is repeated a predetermined number of times and the verification process still determines that the identification mark DM is unrecognizable, the apparatus may output a drive start signal to a warning means or a removal means, and remove the object WK that has been imaged by the CCD camera 31 from the identification mark forming apparatus EA.

[0040] 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 devices equivalent to or different from the imaging device, verification device, or storage device of verification means 30, or may image, verify, or store the identification mark DM in a method equivalent to or different from the imaging device, verification device, or storage device of verification means 30. Imaging device T1 can be any device that can form an image that can be verified 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 80, 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 80.

[0041] The marking agent MA may be fluid after application or non-fluid after application; it can be any substance that can be applied to the target object WK to form an identification mark. The marking agent MA, which can flow after application, may be any type, such as oil-based or water-based inks, paints, varnishes, coatings, or adhesives; it may also be molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, or molten rubber that is in a state of flux before fixing; it may also be a thermosetting, energy-curing, drying, or mixed-curing type of resin or adhesive that has not hardened before fixing; it may flow after application even without any load applied to the object WK; it may flow after application when a load is applied to the object WK; or it may flow after application when energy is applied to the object WK, 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). The marking agent MA, which is designed to be non-flowable after application, can be any material that does not flow after being applied to the object WK to be marked. Examples include marking agents used in dot matrix printers, thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, laser printers, as well as labels and adhesive sheets. The marking agent MA may be one whose flow is promoted after application by any method, such as gas spraying, tilting, or contact with contacting members, or it may be one whose flow is not promoted after application. The marking agent MA does not have to be a forced-fixing agent, and may be a forced-fixing agent that is 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 forced-fixing agents that are 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 forced-fixing agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by heating include thermosetting resins, adhesives, toners, etc. Examples of forced-fixing agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by cooling include molten metal, molten solder, molten resin, molten rubber, etc. Examples of forced-fixing agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by drying include paints, varnishes, paints, adhesives, etc. Examples of forced-fixing agents that are forcibly fixed to the target object WK by application treatment include oxygen-bonding inks and resins, two-component mixed resins and paints, 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 one 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 this case, the fixing means 40 can employ a blower or a Peltier element as fixing equipment. Furthermore, 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 this 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. The marking agent MA, which is forcibly fixed by a predetermined fixing treatment, may be an agent that does not permanently fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and is forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment, or it may be an agent that will eventually fix to the object WK simply by being applied to it, and is forcibly fixed to the object WK by a predetermined fixing treatment to accelerate the fixing time to the object WK. The marking agent MA can be any color, such as black, red, blue, or yellow.

[0042] The identification mark DM may be a representation formed by a collective shape consisting of marking agent MA attached to multiple locations, or it may be a representation formed by marking agent MA attached to a single location rather than as a collective shape. 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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]

[0048] EA...Identification mark forming device 10...Method for applying marking agent 20…Flow promoting means 40… means of fixing 50...Method for processing the application part CG…concave groove (joint reinforcement part) DM…Identification mark MA... Marking agent WA... Marking area WK... Items to be awarded

Claims

1. An identification mark forming apparatus comprising a marking agent application means for applying a marking agent to a marking area on an object to be marked, and for forming a recognizable identification mark with the applied marking agent, An identification mark forming apparatus characterized by comprising a bonding reinforcement means for forming a bonding reinforcement portion in the marking region to improve the bonding strength with the marking agent.

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

3. The 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 a method for forming an identification mark, which involves applying a marking agent to a marking area on an object to be marked, and forming a recognizable identification mark with the applied marking agent, A method for forming an identification mark, characterized in that, prior to the marking agent application step, a marking agent application process is performed to form a bonding reinforcement portion in the marking area to improve the bonding strength with the marking agent.

Images