Measuring cup with bitmap pattern

Abstract

A measuring cup comprising: a bottom end; an open end opposite the bottom end; a side wall extending from the bottom end to the open end, the side wall having an outer surface; and a dose marking integral to the outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the dose marking includes a bitmap pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the side wall, the bitmap pattern including at least two rows of bits.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] A laser-marked measuring cup having a bitmap pattern.

Background Art

[0002] Many liquid and particulate products provide a measuring cup that can be used by a user to measure the amount of product used in an operation. For products such as dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents, particulate laundry fragrance additives, fabric softeners, beverage concentrates, shampoos, hair conditioners, pharmaceuticals, mouthwashes, etc., the measuring cup is attached to a container. The measuring cup may be attached to the container, attached to the closure of the container, or function as the closure of the container.

[0003]

[0004] ​Historically, the measurement marks on a plastic measuring cup have been provided by printing the measurement marks on the measuring cup, by providing the measurement marks on an in-mold label applied to the measuring cup, or by molding the measurement marks into the shape of the measuring cup as raised or recessed portions relative to the surrounding or adjacent material. Printing the measurement marks on a plastic measuring cup is a time-consuming process, and printing on a curved shape can be technically difficult. Further, the printed marks can be subject to wear and tear that can degrade the measurement marks during use, particularly if the measuring cup is placed in a washing machine with a fabric on which it is washed. In-mold labels require special equipment to handle the labels, and the completed measuring cups are relatively expensive to produce compared to measuring cups produced by other methods. Molding the marks into the shape of the measuring cup requires a special-shaped mold, and an expensive new mold is required to make changes to the measurement marks such as may be required when changing the formulation of the product. The molded measurement marks can be difficult for the user to perceive in a particular environment with poor lighting.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Considering the above limitations, there is a continuing unaddressed need for a measuring cup that can be produced at high speed, is inexpensive to produce, has durable measurement marks, has marks that are easily perceivable, and can be easily and inexpensively replaced.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A measuring cup comprising: a bottom end; an open end opposite to the bottom end; a translucent side wall extending from the bottom end to the open end, the side wall having an outer surface; and a dose marking integral to the outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the dose marking comprises a bitmap pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the side wall, the bitmap pattern comprising at least two rows of bits. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] It is a measuring cup. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a laser device. [Figure 3] This is a square-patterned bitmap. [Figure 4] This is a bitmap pattern in which the bits within a sequence of bitmap patterns are unevenly spaced. [Figure 5] This is a bitmap pattern in which the bits between columns of the bitmap pattern are unevenly spaced. [Figure 6] This is a bitmap pattern in which bits within a row are separated from each other by a first interval between their centers, and bits between rows are separated from each other by a second interval. [Figure 7] These are containers and measuring cups. [Figure 8] It is a measuring cup. [Figure 9] This is a measuring cup engaged with a container. [Figure 10] It is a measuring cup with a handle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A measuring cup 10 is shown in Figure 1. The measuring cup comprises a bottom end 20 and an open end 30 opposite the bottom end 20. The measuring cup 10 comprises a side wall 40 extending from the bottom end 20 to the open end 30. The side wall 40 has an inner surface 90. The side wall 40 has an inner surface 50 opposite to the outer surface 90. The measuring cup 10 comprises a dose indicator 60 integrated with the outer surface 90. At least a portion of the dose indicator 60 comprises a bitmap pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the side wall 40. The bitmap pattern comprises at least two rows of bits. The outer surface 90 may be curved to coincide with at least a portion of the dose indicator 60.

[0009] The dose markings 60 are markings on the side wall 40 relating to a portion of the volume of the measuring cup 10, measured perpendicular to the surface on which the measuring cup is placed. The measuring cup 10 may have two or more dose markings 60. The measuring cup 10 may have at least two dose markings 60. One of the dose markings 60 may be positioned to indicate a first volume or amount of liquid, and another dose marking may be positioned to indicate a second volume or amount of liquid different from the first volume or amount of liquid.

[0010] Measuring cup 10 contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PCT), glycol-modified PCT copolymer (PCTG), copolyester of cyclohexanedimethanol and terephthalic acid (PCTA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBCT), acrylonitrile styrene (AS), and styrene butadiene copolymer. The measuring cup 10 may be manufactured from a thermoplastic material selected from one of the following groups: copolymers (SBC), or polyolefins, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLPDE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic material may be recycled thermoplastic material, or a combination of unused and recycled thermoplastic material. The measuring cup 10 may be a single layer of material, or multiple layers of the same or different materials. The measuring cup 10 may contain more than about 1% by weight, optionally more than about 20% by weight, and optionally about 1% to 100% by weight of carbon from carbon capture. The measuring cup 10 may contain pulp.Pulp may be a component of the measuring cup 10, or an additive to the components of the measuring cup 10. The measuring cup 10 may be manufactured from paper, or cardboard, or other materials including pulp.

[0011] Pigments, colorants, and laser-absorbing additives may be added to the materials used to construct measuring cups. Titanium dioxide and carbon black are commonly used pigments to make thermoplastic materials opaque.

[0012] Lasers, including pulsed lasers and short-pulse lasers, can be used to form chemically or structurally modified bits of the dosage indication 60 described herein. A suitable selection of laser wavelengths in combination with pigments / colorants allows for favorable laser marking of surfaces by chemically or structurally modifying the surface of an article. Laser-absorbing additives can be added to provide sharper and more legible laser marks than can be achieved without such additives. These laser-absorbing additives generally absorb wavelength-specific laser energy and subsequently initiate a color change into the surrounding matrix (via local heating causing carbonization, foaming, etc.), or the laser-absorbing additive itself undergoes a chemical or physical change. Examples of laser-absorbing additives include titanium dioxide (TiO2), antimony tin oxide (ATO), ATO-coated substrates such as mica, Sb2O3, carbon black, bismuth oxide, mixed metal oxides, metal phosphates, effect pigments, zero-valent metals, and mixtures thereof. Examples of laser marking laser absorption additives are commonly sold under the trade name IRIOTEC by Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany, and under the trade name LASERSAFE by Eckart GmbH.

[0013] Lasers for use in this invention are commercially available and include nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond lasers. These short-pulse lasers can emit pulses applied at high energy density and high repetition rates, and the high energy and high repetition rate are important for enabling laser marking of the measuring cup 10 at high speed. The laser marks themselves, which are chemically or structurally modified bits, include marks produced by chemical modifications to the constituent material of the measuring cup 10, including oxidation, reduction, ablation, etching, foaming, carbonization, and bleaching.

[0014] The measuring cup 10 can be marked with chemically or structurally modified bits using any suitable laser. An example of a laser apparatus 200 equipped with a laser 220 useful for marking the measuring cup 10 is shown in Figure 2. The laser apparatus 200 includes laser 220, which can be any laser capable of generating sufficient energy to form chemically or structurally modified bits on the measuring cup 10, such as a UV laser having an output in the range of 1W to 60W and a laser wavelength of 355 nanometers, or an IR marking laser having an output in the range of 1W to 300W and a laser wavelength of 1064 nanometers. Such lasers are available from various suppliers, including the IPG ULPN-355-10-1-3-M marker or YLPN-1-1x350-50-3M MOPA module available from IPG Photonics (Oxford, MA, United States). Other forms and types of lasers are also possible, and different output ranges and settings may be used. The laser device may include an optical system that can be used to direct the laser beam and to change the energy density and / or spot size of the laser beam 228, as needed. The laser device may use a polygon scanner, for example, a high-throughput raster processing scanner system from Next Scan Technology. Such a scanning system may use a rotating polygon mirror for column scanning. The mirror surface may be a square that is repeatedly marked throughout.

[0015] In the laser apparatus 200 depicted in Figure 2, the laser 220 projects a laser beam 228 onto an X-mirror 222, which is rotated by an X-garbo 221. The X-mirror 222 and X-garbo 221 collectively form an X-garbo set. The laser beam 228 is then projected onto a Y-mirror 224, which is rotated by a Y-garbo 223. The Y-mirror 224 and Y-garbo 223 collectively form a Y-garbo set. The garbo sets cooperate to direct the laser beam 228 onto a desired chemically or structurally modified bit 229 to be marked on an article 227. The laser beam 228 typically passes through a lens 226 before reaching the article 227 to chemically or structurally modify the measuring cup 10. The distance from the lens 226 to the article 227 is the focal length 225. Mirrors having low mass that can be rapidly accelerated or moved by the associated garbos may be useful.

[0016] The combined optical elements of the laser device 200 function to sweep a laser beam 228 across the surface of the measuring cup 10 in a continuous pass, thereby marking the surface in a pattern with chemically or structurally modified bits. The laser beam 228, directed by the X-mirror 222, can sweep across the article along a first row in a grid in the X direction, while emitting pulses. The combination of the sweeping speed of the X-mirror 222 and the repetition rate of the laser pulses determines the spacing of the chemically or structurally modified bits along the X direction. The laser 220 can emit pulses while sweeping across the measuring cup 10 at a given location, thereby resulting in a chemically or structurally modified position, or the laser 220 can omit pulses while sweeping across the measuring cup 10 at a given location, thereby resulting in an unmarked position. The laser beam 228 can sweep across the measuring cup 10 at a constant speed while emitting and / or omitting pulses.

[0017] The laser beam 228 may then sweep across the measuring cup 10 along a second row of the grid (such as a row adjacent to the first row) while emitting pulses. The laser beam 228 may sweep across the first and second rows in the same or opposite directions. For example, the laser beam 228 may sweep across the first row from left to right and then sweep across subsequent / adjacent rows from right to left.

[0018] Frequency or repetition rate, measured in Hz, is the number of laser pulses a single laser can deliver per second. For example, a 1 MHz laser delivers 1,000,000 pulses / second, and a 100 kHz laser delivers 100,000 pulses / second. This lever can be important for processing a particular laser job in a short amount of time. More pulses available per unit time are inversely correlated with the cycle time in a given column for a particular job. Pulse energy is the amount of energy contained in a single laser pulse, typically measured in μJ or mJ. Average power = pulse energy (J) * Repetition rate (Hz or 1 / second). Typically, pulse energies range from 5 μJ to 2000 μJ (2 mJ), optionally from 7 μJ to 1000 μJ, and optionally from 10 μJ to 300 μJ. Peak power is equal to the pulse energy divided by the pulse duration, and can be less than 100 nanoseconds, less than 50 nanoseconds, less than 20 nanoseconds, less than 10 nanoseconds, or less than 1 nanosecond. Thus, pulse energy and pulse duration are linearly related to peak power. Shorter pulse durations, such as nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond lasers, allow for very high peak power, which is useful for marking objects.

[0019] Those skilled in the art will understand that for the measuring cup 10 to be marked with a chemically or structurally modified portion, the laser energy must be absorbed by the material constituting the measuring cup 10.

[0020] The laser energy can be absorbed by the material constituting the measuring cup 10, optionally by a thermoplastic material, or by a laser-absorbing additive incorporated into the material constituting the measuring cup 10. Therefore, the wavelength of the laser 220 must overlap with an absorption band in the spectrum of at least one of the materials, optionally the thermoplastic material, or the laser-absorbing additive incorporated into the measuring cup 10. For example, a pulsed laser utilizing 355 nm (UV) may be absorbed by TiO2 added to the article, 532 nm (green) may be absorbed by noble metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver, and copper, and 9-12 μm (IR) may be absorbed by PET, which may be the substrate of the article. Other combinations of laser wavelengths and the material of the measuring cup 10, optionally the thermoplastic material, or the laser-absorbing additive exist and are contemplated herein.

[0021] Measuring cup 10 can be marked with bits that have been chemically or structurally modified by processes such as foaming, carbonization, ablation, etching, reduction, oxidation, or chemical modification. The term foaming means the process by which a laser beam melts and vaporizes a portion of a material, creating bubbles that are trapped or partially trapped within the molten resin and, when cooled, diffusely reflect light. Foaming generally results in brighter markings in the laser-marked area, and this method can be used for dark or opaque and translucent materials. The term translucent, as used herein, means that the material, layer, article, or portion of an article being measured has a total luminous transmittance greater than 0% and less than or equal to 90%. The term transparent, as used herein, means that the material, layer, article, or portion of an article being measured has a total luminous transmittance greater than 90% and less than or equal to 100%. Translucent and transparent materials are light-transmitting. The term opaque, as used herein, means that the material, layer, article, or portion of an article being measured has a total luminous transmittance of about 0%. Total luminous transmittance is measured according to ASTM D1003.

[0022] Carbonization is a chemical modification process that produces a strong dark contrast on a light surface and is commonly used on carbon-containing polymers or biopolymers or natural materials such as leather and wood and pulp-based materials. When a material is carbonized, a laser heats the surface (at least 100°C) and emits oxygen, hydrogen, or a combination of decomposition products. Carbonization generally results in a dark, chemically modified bit with a higher carbon content, i.e., elemental carbon content or a higher carbon-to-hydrogen ratio, compared to the original material or adjacent unmodified constituent material. This makes it a good choice for lighter-colored articles, although the contrast may not be as pronounced on darker materials.

[0023] Chemical modification processes of reduction and oxidation involve laser energy altering the oxidation state of at least one component of an article, such as a laser-absorbing additive or opacifying pigment, resulting in discoloration or color change that is visible as a chemically modified bit. For example, energy imparted from a UV laser can accelerate the reduction of TiO2 to form titanium dioxide, in which case the oxidation state of titanium is reduced to less than +4, thereby resulting in a color change from colorless to blue, and from dark blue to black.

[0024] There are additional methods for marking measuring cups 10. For example, annealing is a laser process applicable to metals and other materials. The heat generated from the laser beam chemically alters the constituent material beneath the surface of the material through oxidation, which results in a change in color on the material surface.

[0025] Coloring is another chemical modification achievable as a result of chemical reactions that occur on a material when heat from a laser beam is applied to the constituent material. The change in hue will depend on the composition of the material being colored. For example, light-colored plastic materials often discolor during the laser etching process, resulting in darker markings from the resulting soot particles.

[0026] Laser engraving is the process of removing material from the surface of a workpiece as it is melted and evaporated by a laser beam, which creates an indentation on the engraved surface. Laser engraving is a structural modification of the sidewall 40, and may also be a chemical modification of the sidewall 40.

[0027] Removing material, sometimes also called etching, is the process by which a laser beam removes the top surface of a substrate or a coating previously applied to the substrate of an article. Contrast results from the different colors of the topcoat and the substrate, or from the different topography and texture of the etched area versus the adjacent area. Etching is a structural modification of the sidewall 40. There are no specific limits on the maximum or minimum depth of etching, but the depth to be etched is typically in the range of about 0.001 mm to about 2.0 mm, and includes any depth within the range of, for example, 0.010 mm, 0.075 mm, 0.100 mm, 0.200 mm, 0.300 mm, 0.400 mm, 0.500 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, and others.

[0028] Bleaching or photobleaching (sometimes called color fading) is a chemical modification, a photochemical change in which a chromophore (such as in a pigment or dye) or fluorophore molecule permanently loses its intrinsic color and / or can no longer fluoresce. This is caused by the cleavage of covalent bonds or nonspecific reactions between the chromophore / fluorophore and surrounding molecules.

[0029] In laser marking, spot size relates to the focal area where the laser beam contacts the object. Spot size is the diameter of a circular spot, or the average of 2-4 diameters measured around and within an irregularly shaped spot; therefore, the calculated diameter roughly corresponds to a circle with an area approximately equal to the area of ​​the spot. Spot size can be modified by focusing or defocusing the laser beam, but the fluence (energy per unit area) within the spot decreases as the spot is defocused. Theoretically, the minimum spot size achievable with any laser is the wavelength of the laser itself. In practice, the minimum spot size achievable with a pulsed laser can be approximately 7 μm to 20 μm. Spot sizes can range from approximately 5 μm to 300 μm, optionally 10 μm to 150 μm, optionally 20 μm to 100 μm, optionally 30 μm to 80 μm, and optionally 40 μm to 60 μm. Another way to think about spot size in the context of marking is to compare it to the size of a paintbrush used by a painter. Smaller spot sizes may be used when fine details are desired, and larger spot sizes may be used when larger areas are to be marked. However, laser marking mechanisms require a minimum fluence to achieve the desired mark, and therefore, the balance between pulse energy, pulse duration, pulse overlap, and spot size can be crucial.

[0030] Furthermore, while a region exists around the laser contact spot that may be heated during the marking process, the material may be little to no marking. The thermal-affected zone can still produce effects such as crystallization, which can affect the appearance and / or performance of the target material. Short-pulse lasers (nanoseconds) have some thermal-affected zone, but it is substantially smaller than that of microsecond-pulse lasers or continuous-wave (CW) lasers (e.g., CO2, longer-pulse IR lasers). Picosecond and femtosecond lasers, often referred to as ultrashort-pulse lasers, have little to no thermal-affected zone. This ability can be useful in controlling the thermal effects of marking.

[0031] The geometric shape of the bit spacing can also be a major contributing factor to the cycle time and fluence or energy per unit area supplied to the article. For example, the spacing between bits may be such that the bits do not overlap at all, or have 0% overlap. With 0% overlap, each individual laser pulse contributes to the energy supplied to the chemically or structurally modified bits of the measuring cup 10. If the laser does not have sufficient pulse energy or peak power to form the desired chemically or structurally modified bits, the pulse spacing can be reduced by an amount such that the chemically or structurally modified bits overlap in either one or both of the X and Y directions. Overlapping the chemically or structurally modified bits involves supplying two or more laser pulses to the area of ​​the measuring cup 10 where the chemically or structurally modified bits overlap, which provides a higher fluence or energy per unit area to that part of the article. In addition, the pulse spacing can be a critical lever for cycle time. If the laser has a fixed repetition rate or pulse frequency, in order to achieve the shortest process time, it is necessary to distribute the pulses as widely as possible while ensuring the desired mark type and mark contrast.

[0032] Pulse duration is the length of time a pulse continuously remains above half its maximum value. Shorter pulses can produce higher peak power at a typical average power output. This is because average power = pulse energy (J). * This is because the repetition rate is (Hz or 1 / second). The peak power is equal to the pulse energy divided by the pulse duration. Therefore, as the pulse duration becomes significantly shorter, the resulting peak pulse power becomes significantly higher. This peak power enables improved carbonization, foaming, ablation, etching, oxidation, reduction, etc., on the target being marked. Short-pulse lasers and ultrashort-pulse (pico / femto) lasers can utilize this phenomenon to mark parts and can drive marking mechanisms that are typically not found with longer-pulse lasers.

[0033] As mentioned, the laser device 200 sweeps a laser beam 228 across the measuring cup 10, but either laser pulses are emitted from the laser or no pulses are emitted. Marked positions occur when the laser 220 emits a pulse at a given position, and no position is marked when the laser does not emit a pulse at a given position. The laser beam 228 can be swept across the measuring cup 10 at a constant speed while the laser repetition rate is constant, and therefore the spacing of the bits is regular in the direction in which the laser beam is swept across the measuring cup 10 (i.e., the X direction).

[0034] The laser beam 228 can be swept across the measuring cups 10 in subsequent rows. The laser beam can be swept from left to right or right to left, and as it moves from row to row, it can be swept in the same direction or in alternating directions as it moves from row to row. A major contributing factor to reducing cycle time is sweeping the laser beam 228 in alternating directions as it moves from row to row. The rows may be substantially parallel to each other. The distance between adjacent rows is the Y distance. The rows may be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measuring cups 10. The rows may be parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the measuring cups 10. The rows may be aligned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the measuring cups 10.

[0035] Adjacent rows may be positioned directly above / below each other, or offset from each other. If the offset is too large, the image (i.e., icons or alphanumeric characters) produced by laser marking may appear blurred and illegible to consumers or machines.

[0036] Various bitmap patterns are illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. A bitmap pattern may include at least two sequences of bits R(R1, R2, R3, ..., Rn). Bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a sequence R may be irregularly spaced apart from each other or regularly spaced apart from each other. Bits 80 / possible positions 82 between sequences R may be irregularly spaced apart from each other or regularly spaced apart from each other. Optionally, bits 80 / possible positions 82 may be spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern within and between sequences R. Optionally, bits 80 / possible positions 82 between sequences may be aligned with each other.

[0037] In Figure 3, the bitmap pattern 70 is a square pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits 80 / possible positions 82. For reference, possible positions 82 that may be marked are illustrated as empty circles. The bitmap pattern 70 in Figure 3 has six columns R of bits 80 / possible positions 82 illustrated as R1 to R6 in the Y direction. Within each individual column R of the bitmap pattern 70 in Figure 3, adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 are separated from each other in a regular pattern; that is, adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 in a column R are separated from each other by the same distance.

[0038] In Figure 3, the columns R of bits 80 / possible positions 82, shown as R1 to R6, are aligned with each other, and the bits 80 / possible positions 82 are spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern between the columns R. That is, the bits 80 / possible positions 82 are substantially aligned with each other in the Y direction. In Figure 3, the spacing between adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a column R is the same as the spacing between adjacent columns R. Such a bitmap pattern 70 is a square bitmap pattern 70. Optionally, the columns R of the bitmap pattern 70 may be spaced apart from each other in the Y direction by a distance greater than the spacing between adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a single column R. The bitmap pattern 70 may be a rectangular bitmap pattern 70, where the columns of bits 80 / possible positions 82 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing between adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 having a single column of bits 80 / possible positions 82. If the columns R of bits 80 / possible positions 82 are aligned with each other and the bits 80 / possible positions 82 are separated from each other in a regular pattern between the columns R, the bitmap pattern may be a square or rectangular bitmap pattern 70.

[0039] Optionally, bits 80 / possible positions 82 between columns R may be aligned with each other, and the spacing between adjacent columns R may vary. For example, the spacing between pairs of columns, e.g., R1:R2, R2:R3, R3:R4, etc., may be different from each other or from adjacent pairs of columns R.

[0040] Optionally, the bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a column R of the bitmap pattern 70 may be unevenly spaced, as in non-limiting examples as shown in Figure 4. Within a column R of bits 80 / possible positions 82, the spacing between adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82 within the column R may differ from that of adjacent bits 80 / possible positions 82. One or more columns R of bits 80 / possible positions 82 may be aligned with each other. Optionally, each column R may have unevenly spaced bits 80 / possible positions 82, and the spacing between bits 80 / possible positions 82 within each column R may differ from the spacing between bits 80 / possible positions 82 within adjacent columns R. Such arrangement may result in a lack of consistent spatial relationships between bits 80 / possible positions 82 with or between a single column R.

[0041] Bits 80 / possible positions 82 may be spaced apart from each other in an irregular pattern between columns R, for example, as shown in Figure 5 as a non-limiting example. The spacing of bits 80 / possible positions 82 between columns R may be smaller in portions of the dose display that require higher resolution than in portions that do not require such high resolution.

[0042] As shown in Figure 6, as a non-restrictive example, the bits 80 / possible positions 82 constituting each of the columns R may be spaced apart from each other by a first interval S1, and the columns may be spaced apart from each other by a second interval S2. The second interval S2 may be different from the first interval S1. The second interval S2 may be greater than, equal to, or less than the first interval S1. Although not bound by theory, it is conceivable that the spacing between columns R may be greater than the spacing between bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a column, and still produce a clearly defined dose indication 60, and such a dose indication 60 may be marked faster than a dose indication 60 having columns R spaced apart by the same distance as the spacing between bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a column R. The spacing between columns R may be greater than or less than the spacing between bits 80 / possible positions 82 within a column R.

[0043] Embodiments of high-speed laser marking on articles and high-speed laser fabrication processes for marking articles are disclosed in U.S. Patent Applications No. 17 / 963,214, No. 17 / 963,215, No. 17 / 987,893, and No. 17 / 987,895.

[0044] The measuring cup 10 may be a closure 100 of the container 75 that removably engages with the container 75, as shown in Figure 7. The measuring cup 10 may have threads 85. The threads 85 may be on the inner surface 50 or on the outer surface 90. Optionally, the measuring cup 10 may removably engage with the container 75 via a tongue and groove fitting. Optionally, the threads 85 may be on an inner collar, for example, an inner collar extending from the bottom end 20 toward the open end 30 around a longitudinal axis L. The threads 85 on the inner collar may be oriented toward the longitudinal axis L or oriented away from the longitudinal axis L. The inner collar may be positioned between the side wall 40 and the longitudinal axis L.

[0045] When in use, the measuring cup 10 can function to contain the contents of container 75 within container 75. When the closure 100 is removed from container 75 and the open end 30 is turned upward, the closure 100 can function as a measuring cup 10 that can dispense the contents of container 75.

[0046] If the contents of the container 75 are solid objects such as particulate laundry products, the bottom end 20 does not need to be a closed bottom end. For example, the bottom end 20 may have an opening 110. The opening 110 can provide a pathway through which a consumer can sample the scent of the contents of the container 75. If the closure 100 is quickly fitted into the container 75, the opening 110 can provide a pathway for gas to escape so that the pressure inside the container 75 is the ambient pressure. For contents that release gas over time, the opening 110 can provide a pathway for such gas to escape from the container 75 or through which the scent of the contents of the container 75 can be sampled. The opening 110 may have an opening area smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the individual particles contained in the container 75. The opening 110 may have an opening area of ​​approximately 0.0001 m 2 Less than, optionally about 0.00001m 2 Less than, optionally approximately 0.000001m 2 It may have an opening area of ​​less than [amount missing].

[0047] The bottom end 20 may define the mounting surface 120 of the measuring cup 10. The mounting surface 120 is the surface on which the bottom end 20 of the measuring cup 10 rests when the open end 30 is facing upward. The bottom end 20 may be flat or substantially flat so that the entire bottom end 20 rests on the mounting surface 120. Optionally, the bottom end 20 may be shaped to rest on one or more flat and coplanar portions of the bottom end 20 so that the bottom end 20 can be stably mounted on a flat surface. Optionally, the bottom end 20 may be shaped to rest on three or more coplanar contact points so that the bottom end 20 can be stably mounted on a flat surface. When the bottom end 20 is mounted on a horizontal table, the mounting surface 120 coincides with the surface of the horizontal table on which the bottom end 20 rests. Optionally, the bottom end 20 may be rounded. For example, the bottom end 20 may be a dome or part of a dome. The measuring cup 10 as a whole may be dome-shaped.

[0048] The open end 30 may be defined by the peripheral rim 130. The side wall 40 may have a side wall height 140 between the mounting surface 120 and the peripheral rim 130. The side wall height 140 is measured perpendicular to the mounting surface 120. The side wall height 140 is a scalar quantity.

[0049] The dose marking 60 may have a dose marking height 150. The dose marking height 150 is measured perpendicular to the mounting surface 120. The dose marking height 150 is a scalar quantity. The dose marking height 150 can be measured over the maximum range of the dose marking perpendicular to the mounting surface 120 and may be about 20% to about 100% of the sidewall height 140 measured on the dose marking 60. A dose marking 60 having such a height relative to the sidewall height 140 may be easily identifiable by the user on the outer surface 90 of the measuring cup 10. The bitmap pattern 70 may offer advantages over the vector-generated dose marking 60 in that, for the same or similar desired overall visual impression as the dose marking 60, the bitmap pattern 70 that can be marked on the measuring cup 10 may often be faster than the vector-generated dose marking 60, which ultimately reduces the production cost of the measuring cup 10. Furthermore, at a given production rate per measuring cup 10, it may be possible to provide a larger bitmap pattern 10 than that which can be marked using a vector process. Larger bitmap patterns 10 can accommodate larger dose markings 60, which may be easier to use than smaller dose markings 60 that may be available using a vector process. High-speed marking of measuring cups 10 using a vector process tends to be limited to marking thin lines substantially parallel to the mounting surface 120 and may only include numbers in small font sizes (e.g., 14 points or less) that may be difficult for the user to see.

[0050] Vector processes tend to be slow because multiple fixed, short start and stop points require the Garbo set to spend most of its time accelerating to the user-defined maximum speed (determined by the product of pulse interval and repetition rate and the length of the vector distance). Longer vector distances allow the vector laser device to reach its maximum speed, while shorter vector distances cause the laser device to constantly accelerate and decelerate, never reaching the maximum speed, resulting in longer marking times.

[0051] The vector process is less accurate than the bitmap process at high speeds due to the acceleration / deceleration of the Garbo set that steers the laser beam. Specifically, the position of each laser mark must be communicated from computer-driven software to the laser marking device, and such communication must be updated during marking of the quantity indicator 60, for example, as the laser beam traverses a given row. A typical update frequency for this communication is about 10 μs, and therefore a laser that outputs pulses with a repetition rate of 100 kHz allows for updates in the communication for each individual laser pulse / mark. As the speed of the laser beam traversing the surface of the article increases, repetition rates exceeding 100 kHz are required to achieve the desired spacing between bits 80 in the row, and each update from the software thus has to communicate the positions of multiple marked bits 80 (or possible positions 82). Although the calculations can be performed almost instantaneously, in the extremely fast time domain of high-speed laser marking, the Garbo cannot respond so quickly, and the acceleration / deceleration shape of the vector process results in a considerable number of misplaced marked bits 80 within a given row R.

[0052] For a given region of the dose marking 60 larger than a straight line, the bitmap pattern 70 can be generated more quickly than the vector-marked dose marking 60. From a practical standpoint, considering the production speed limitations of the vector process, using the bitmap pattern 70 makes it possible to produce larger dose markings 60 than can be produced in a reasonable amount of time using the vector process. The bitmap pattern 70 constituting the dose marking 60, which is a continuous region present in more than approximately 0.5% of the outer surface 90 of the sidewall 40, can be practical for high-speed marking, which means that a high production speed of marked measuring cups 10 is possible. The dose marking 60 can be a continuous region present in more than approximately 0.5% of the inner surface, optionally more than approximately 0.75%, optionally more than approximately 1%, optionally more than approximately 1.25%, optionally more than approximately 1.5%, optionally more than approximately 3% of the outer surface 90, and optionally more than approximately 5% of the outer surface 90. The measuring cup 10 may have two or more dose markings 60, and the combined dose markings 60 may be located on more than 3%, optionally more than 3.5%, optionally more than 4%, optionally more than 5%, and optionally more than 8% of the outer surface 90. Larger dose markings 60 can make it easier for the user to measure the amount of product to be dispensed into the measuring cup.

[0053] The side wall 40 may extend around the longitudinal axis L. The dose marking 60 may include a continuous or discontinuous marking portion 160 parallel to the mounting surface 120. The marking portion 160 may traverse the side wall 40 at an angle greater than approximately 5 degrees around the longitudinal axis L. The longitudinal axis L may protrude through the bottom end 20 and the open end 30. The side wall 40 may not be marked along the marking portion 160 immediately adjacent to the dose marking 60. Such a dose marking 60 may be large enough to be visually apparent to the user and may provide a horizontal measuring line corresponding to the desired volume of contents of the container 75 used in measured quantities. By providing an unmarked portion directly adjacent to the dose marking 60, the dose marking 60 can be visually identified against an unmarked background that is part of the side wall 40.

[0054] The marking portion 160 may have a boundary 162 parallel to the mounting surface 120. The side wall 40 does not have to be marked along the boundary 162. The side wall 40 directly adjacent to the dose indication 60 does not have to be marked along the boundary 162 of the dose indication 60 which is oriented away from the mounting surface 120. The dose indication 60 may have a continuous or discontinuous marking portion 160 which extends to the boundary 162 of the dose indication 60 which is oriented away from the mounting surface 120 and parallel to the mounting surface 120. Optionally, the dose indication 60 may be a line or dashed line 163 which is parallel to the mounting surface 120 and crosses the side wall 40 by more than about 5 degrees about the longitudinal axis L. The boundary 162 can cross the side wall 40 by more than about 5 degrees about the longitudinal axis L. Optionally, the boundary 162 can cross the side wall 40 at an angle of more than approximately 10 degrees, optionally more than approximately 15 degrees, and optionally more than approximately 20 degrees, with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The longer the boundary 162 is with respect to the longitudinal axis L, the easier it may be for the user to recognize the boundary 162 and fill the measuring cup 10 with the desired volume of liquid or other material up to the boundary 162. The volume indicator 60 may be a continuous region 172. For example, the volume indicator 60 may be a bitmap pattern 70 that constitutes a measuring bar. Optionally, the volume indicator 60 may be a bitmap pattern 70 that constitutes a line parallel to the mounting surface 120.

[0055] The bits 80 forming the dosage markings 60 may contain air bubbles. The air bubbles may be distributed within the bits 80 in the material constituting the sidewall 40. During bubble formation, some of the air bubbles may erupt from the outer surface 90 of the sidewall 40, resulting in the outer surface 90 of the sidewall 40 having a rough surface. The dosage markings 60 may contain more air bubbles per unit area than the portion of the sidewall 40 adjacent to the dosage markings 60.

[0056] The bit 80 forming the dosage indication 60 may have a higher carbon content than the side wall 40 adjacent to the dosage indication 60. Such a bit 80 can be formed using a laser that carbonizes a portion of the side wall 40, such as the outer surface 90, or the material under the outer surface 90 and the outer surface 90, at the position where the laser is directed. Optionally, the side wall 40 may contain an absorption additive. The absorption additive in the bit 80 may have an oxidation state different from that of the absorption additive in the side wall 40 adjacent to the dosage indication 60. The oxidation state of the absorption additive may be higher or lower than that of the absorption additive in the side wall 40 adjacent to the dosage indication 60. Optionally, the bit 80 forming the dosage indication 60 may be ablated or etched with respect to the side wall adjacent to the dosage indication 60.

[0057] The side wall 40 of the measuring cup 10 may be translucent. The translucent side wall 40 can be practical to allow the user to see the contents being measured in the measuring cup 10 when the user looks at the outer surface 90 of the side wall 40.

[0058] To provide a dosage indication 60 that is easily perceptible by the user, it can be practical to have a difference in lightness between the outer surface 90 that coincides with the dosage indication 60 and the outer surface 90 that is away from the dosage indication 60. The comparison of continuous regions such as the dosage indication 60 can be achieved by automatically thresholding and masking the region of interest (ROI). In the CIELAB color space framework, the difference in lightness can be characterized by L * and can be found using the scanner settings as described herein by the 95% delta color value measurement method. The average L * of the ROI can be found using the scanner settings as described herein by the 95% delta color value measurement method. The outer surface 90 can have |ΔL * outside |, which is the value obtained by subtracting the average value of L * of a similarly sized region on the outer surface 90 away from the dosage indication 60 from the average value of L * of the outer surface 90 that coincides with the dosage indication 60. The absolute value is used to account for a dark indication on a bright surface or a bright indication on a dark surface. |ΔL * outside| can be approximately greater than 1, optionally greater than 3, or optionally greater than 10.

[0059] The outer surface 90, according to the 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white or black backing, has a 95% bin value absolute ΔL greater than approximately 1, optionally greater than approximately 3, optionally greater than approximately 5, and optionally greater than approximately 10. * It may have the following. The 95% delta color value measurement method uses a mixture of the marked 60 and the unmarked area for the ROI. Optionally, the outer surface 90 is measured according to the 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white backing or a black backing, with 95% bin values ​​greater than approximately 3, optionally greater than approximately 5, and optionally greater than approximately 10, according to the 95% delta color value measurement method. * It may have the following: Optionally, the outer surface 90 may have a 95% bin value ΔE greater than approximately 1, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white or black backing. Optionally, the outer surface 90 may have a 95% bin value ΔE greater than approximately 3, optionally greater than approximately 5, and optionally greater than approximately 10, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white or black backing. Although not bound by theory, it is assumed that an outer surface 90 having such a dose indication 60 would be easily identifiable and usable by the user.

[0060] The measuring cup 10 may be equipped with threads 85 or lugs. The threads 85 or lugs can be positioned on the outer surface 90 or inner surface 50 of the side wall 40. The threads 85 or lugs may be oriented toward or away from the longitudinal axis L. The threads 85 or lugs may be closer to the open end 30 than to the bottom end 20. The threads 85 or lugs may consist of continuous or intermittent threads around the outer surface 90 or inner surface 50. The threads 85 or lugs may be located longitudinally inward of the side wall 40. The lugs can be used on the inner surface 50 of the side wall 40 as a component of a bayonet mount that can connect the measuring cup 10 to the neck of a container 75 having complementary components of a bayonet mount.

[0061] The measuring cup 10 may have two dose markings 60 positioned radially around the longitudinal axis L, or even on opposite radial sides around the longitudinal axis L. The two dose markings 60 make it easier and quicker for the user of the measuring cup 10 to find the dose marking 60 to refer to when pouring the contents of the container 75 into the measuring cup 10.

[0062] The measuring cup 10 may further comprise an inner collar 230 protruding from the bottom end 20 so as to be between the side wall 40 and the longitudinal axis L (Figure 8). The inner collar 230 may extend continuously or partially around the longitudinal axis L. The inner collar 230 may comprise threads 85 or lugs oriented toward the longitudinal axis L. The inner collar 230 may comprise threads 85 or lugs oriented away from the longitudinal axis L. The threads 85 or lugs may mechanically engage with corresponding threads or lugs on the neck of the container 75. The inner collar 230 may extend from the bottom end 20 to the collar rim 240.

[0063] The measuring cup 10 can engage with a container 75 having a primary label surface 170, as shown in Figure 9. The primary label surface 170 of the container 75 is the surface of the container 75 intended to be displayed in a retail environment to a person intending to purchase the container 75. The retail environment may be a real environment such as a physical store where the container 75 and measuring cup 10 are present, or a virtual environment where the container 75 and measuring cup 10 are displayed on a screen. The primary label surface 170 of the container 75 may include the brand name of the product contained in the container 75 in a sufficiently large font so that it can be read by an observer at a distance of about 0.1 m to about 2 m under typical lighting conditions that occur in a typical physical store retail environment. The primary label surface 170 of the container 75 may be substantially in line with the local principal axis 180 of the container 75, and it is recognized that the primary label surface 170 may be a curved surface. The principal axis 180 is the axis of the container 75 that is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction in which the container 75 is intended to be viewed in the retail environment. The main spindle 180 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The main spindle 180 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and may pass through the longest dimension of the container 75 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.

[0064] The dosage marking 60 may be offset from the primary label surface 170 by an angle β exceeding approximately 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis L. That is, the angle β extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The visual appearance of the dosage marking 60 marked on the outer surface 90 when viewed from outside the measuring cup 10 may not be satisfactory. The dosage marking 60 on the outer surface 90, as perceived by the user looking at the outer surface 90, may be distracting. Therefore, it may be desirable to position the dosage marking 60 so that it is not presented in a straight line with the sight line 190 of the observer 195 of the primary label surface 170.

[0065] The side wall 40 may have two dose markings 60. Both dose markings 60 may be offset from the primary label surface 170 by an angle β greater than approximately 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis L. When arranged in this manner, both dose markings 60 may be oriented more laterally on the container 75, as opposed to being aligned with the primary label surface 170. This can reduce the visibility of the dose markings 60 when looking at the primary label surface 170.

[0066] Optionally, the bottom end 20 may have a bitmap pattern 70 of chemically or structurally modified bits 80 on the bottom end 20. The bitmap pattern 70 on the bottom end 20 may have at least two columns R of bits 80. The bitmap pattern 70 on the bottom end 20 may define instructions for use, dosage instructions, brand, date encoding, etc. The bitmap pattern 70 on the bottom end 20 may instruct the user to use the bitmap pattern 70 of the side wall 40 that constitutes the dosage indicator 60.

[0067] The measuring cup 10 may be equipped with a handle 12 extending from one or both of the open end 30 and the side wall 40 (Figure 10). The handle 12 may be sized and dimensioned to be grasped by an adult human hand. The handle 12 may be sized and dimensioned to be held between the sides of an adult's thumb and index finger. The handle 12 may have a handle length of approximately 10 mm to approximately 150 mm. The handle 12 may include a bitmap pattern 70 having at least two rows R of bits 80, the bitmap pattern 70 being an instruction for using the measuring cup 10.

[0068] The materials that make up measuring cup 10 can be colored. The color of the unmarked materials is yellow (L * =88.815, a * =13.05, b * =88.178), dark blue (L * =45.587, a * =11.407, b * =-57.519), dark purple (L * =40.877, a * = 52.184, b * =-36.827), light blue (L * =75.039, a * = -19.931, b * =-32.492), light purple (L * =61.052, a * =23.611, b * =-40.46), dark blue (L * =31.622, a * =24.242, b * =-60.097), or green (L * =77.91, a * = -43.147, b * = 57.65) is possible. For each of the aforementioned colors, the color coordinate L * a * , and b * These could be reported coordinates plus or minus 10% of the reported coordinates.

[0069] The materials constituting the measuring cup 10 may be colored. The colors of the unmarked materials constituting the measuring cup 10 may be as shown in Table 1. Color coordinates L of each embodiment * a * , and b * Each of these can be a reported coordinate plus or minus 10% of the reported coordinate.

[0070] [Table 1]

[0071] 0.97 mm thick polypropylene plaques with the colors shown in Table 1 were marked. The plaques were marked as described in Table 2.

[0072] [Table 2]

[0073] Plaques with the colors shown in Table 1 were laser-marked. The average CIELAB color at the marked position of the material, measured on the marked side of the material, was as shown in Table 3. Table 3 also shows the |ΔL between the marked and unmarked positions. * outside |Includes |ΔL * outside The term "|" is used to indicate that this side constitutes the outer surface 90 of the measuring cup 10. These differences indicate how clearly the marked position stands out from the unmarked material when the material is viewed from the side with the marked plaque.

[0074] [Table 3]

[0075] 95% Delta Color Value Measurement Method To measure the 95% delta color value of a visual effect placed on an article, the sample containing the visual effect to be analyzed must be identified. This is done by visually positioning the visual effect to be analyzed. If available, select an area with low curvature or an area that can be suitably flattened using pressure or a frame on the article and sample it. The sample is prepared by cutting a rectangular piece from the article so that the sample is nearly flat. To obtain the sample, first cut the piece from the article wall using sharp scissors (or other cutting means that do not destroy the sample piece itself). Carefully cut the sample to the desired dimensions using a sharp single edge, such as a GEM polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated stainless steel razor blade, available from Electron Microscopy Sciences (1560 Industry Road, Hatfield, PA 19440) (item number 71970). The center of the sample must include both the marked and unmarked areas. Scan the sample and analyze the circular region of interest (C-ROI) from the center of the sample. The C-ROI should contain at least 50,000 pixels. The pixel count can be calculated using the following formula.

[0076]

number

[0077] At least 10% of the circular area of ​​the sample must consist of a marked area, and at least 10% of the circular area of ​​the sample must consist of an unmarked area. The sample can be of any suitable size, as long as it is larger than a circle positioned at the center of the sample having the required diameter. The C-ROI should be free of any cutting edge artifacts and visible blemishes.

[0078] Since the visual perception of translucent samples can be influenced by the background color, it is best practice to evaluate the samples on white and black backgrounds. The samples are scanned separately with a white backing, then a black backing, for example, the backing being half white and half black of the 2856 Byko-chart Brushout 5DX card available from BYK-Gardner (Germany), or for the white backing being L * >91, -5 * <5 and -3 * <3 has a spatially consistent appearance, and the black backing is L * <8, -2 * <2 and -2 * It may consist of equivalents having a spatially consistent appearance of <2. The backing is placed on the opposite surface of the article from which the scanning image is collected. The sample is conditioned for 2 hours at approximately 23°C ± 2°C and approximately 50% ± 2% relative humidity before analysis.

[0079] ​​​​As described herein, a flatbed scanner capable of scanning the minimum value of 24-bit color at an optical resolution of 1200 dpi (maximum scanning resolution of the CCD element using the definition of ISO 14473) and having manual control of color management (a suitable scanner is the Epson PERFECTION V750 / V850 Pro or equivalent from Epson America Inc. (Long Beach, CA)) is obtained and calibrated. The scanner is interfaced to a computer running color calibration software capable of calibrating the scanner against an ISO 12641 compliant color reflective IT8 target, such as SilverFast from LaserSoft Imaging AG (Kiel, Germany), using a corresponding reference file compliant with ANSI method IT8.7 / 2-1993 (a suitable color calibration software is MONACO EZCOLOR or I1STUDIO, available from X-Rite Grand Rapids, MI, or equivalent). The color calibration software builds an International Color Consortium (ICC) color profile for the scanner, which is then used to color-correct the output image using an image analysis program that supports the application of ICC profiles (a preferred program is Photoshop or its equivalent, available from Adobe Systems Inc. (San Jose, CA)). The color-corrected image is then subjected to CIE L color analysis. * a * b * Convert to a color space (a suitable image color analysis software is MATLAB version 9.12, available from Mathworks, Inc. (Natick, MA)).

[0080] Before calibration and image acquisition, turn on the scanner for 30 minutes. Any automatic color correction or color management options included in the scanner software should be turned off (deselected). If automatic color management cannot be disabled, the scanner is not suitable for this application. Create and export the scanner's ICC color profile following the procedure recommended by the color calibration software. The scanning surface must be free from dirt, dust, streaks, and any other elements that could distort the image.

[0081] Two scans of the sample are performed for analysis. One scan is performed on each side of the sample. A scan that completely includes the sample is obtained and imported into 24-bit color image analysis software with a resolution of at least 1200 dpi (approximately 47.2 pixels / mm) in reflection mode. An ICC color profile is assigned to the image to generate a color-corrected sRGB image. Prior to analysis, this calibrated image is saved in an uncompressed format such as a TIFF file to preserve the calibrated R, G, and B color values.

[0082] Open the sRGB color calibration image in color analysis software such as MATLAB, and then select CIE L * a * b * Convert to a color space. This is done as follows: First, the sRGB data is scaled to the range [0, 1] by dividing each value by 255. Second, when the following operation is performed for all three channels (R, G, and B), the sRGB channels (represented by uppercase R, G, B, or comprehensively "V") are linearized (represented by lowercase r, g, b, or comprehensively "v").

[0083]

number

[0084] Next, the linear r, g, and b values ​​are multiplied by the matrix to obtain the XYZ tristimulus values ​​according to the following formula.

[0085]

number

[0086] Next, the XYZ tristimulus values ​​are rescaled by multiplying those values ​​by 100, and then, using the D65 reference white, CIE1976 L as defined in CIE 15:2004 Section 8.2.1.1. * a * b * Convert to a value.

[0087] CIE L * a * b * The images are analyzed by drawing the contour of the sample in each image. This can be done manually or using automated thresholding, assuming sufficient contrast between the sample and the aforementioned backing. The sample contour is used to create a binary image where the inside of the contour is the foreground and the outside of the contour is the background. From the binary image, the centroid of the sample, also known as the geometric center of the shape, can be found using standard image processing methods such as the "regionprops" function in MATLAB. The center of the shape is used as the center of the C-ROI. The C-ROI should cover approximately the same area of ​​the sample on both the marked and unmarked sides of the item.

[0088] L of each pixel within the C-ROI * a * , and b * The value is L of all other pixels within the C-ROI. * a * , and b * The value is compared to the absolute value ΔL. * And ΔE are calculated for each comparison. These are derived using the following formulas.

[0089]

number

[0090] For each pixel "i", ΔL * And ΔE is calculated for all pixels "j" that are not equal to "i".

[0091] These ΔL * And the cumulative histogram of ΔE values ​​is ΔL * And it is divided by the sum of the ΔE measurements. Therefore, the last bin value is 1, which represents 100% of the delta measurements. The bin size of the cumulative histogram is set to equal 0.1. The largest bin value less than 95% is recorded as the "95% bin value" for the sample in order to ignore any residual noise in the image.

[0092] The results are reported for each sample scanned using both white and black backing.

[0093] combination: Examples are shown below. 1. Measuring cup (10), The bottom end (20) and the open end (30) on the opposite side of the bottom end, A translucent side wall (40) extending from the bottom end to the open end, wherein the side wall has an outer surface (90) oriented away from the longitudinal axis (L) around which the side wall extends, A measuring cup (10) comprising a dose indication (60) integrated with the outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the dose indication comprises a bitmap pattern (70) of chemically or structurally modified bits (80) of the side wall, and the bitmap pattern comprises at least two rows (R) of the bits. 2. The measuring cup according to paragraph A, wherein the bits are spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern within and between columns, or the bits between columns are aligned with each other. 3. The measuring cup according to paragraph A or B, wherein the measuring cup is removably engaged with the container (75). 4. The measuring cup described in any one of paragraphs A to C, wherein the measuring cup is a closure (100) for a container (75). 5. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to D, wherein the bottom end is provided with an opening (110). 6. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to E, wherein the bottom end defines a mounting surface (120) for the measuring cup, the open end is defined by a peripheral rim (130), the side wall has a side wall height (140) between the mounting surface and the peripheral rim, the side wall height is measured perpendicular to the mounting surface, and the dose mark has a dose mark height (150) measured over the maximum range of the dose mark perpendicular to the mounting surface, and the dose mark height is approximately 20% to approximately 100% of the side wall height measured in the dose mark. 7. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to F, wherein the bottom end defines a mounting surface (120) for the measuring cup, the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), and the dosage indication comprises a continuous or discontinuous marking portion (160), the marking portion (160) having a boundary (162) parallel to the mounting surface, traversing the side wall by more than approximately 5 degrees around the longitudinal axis, and the side wall is not marked along the boundary. 8. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to G, wherein the bottom edge defines a mounting surface (120) for the measuring cup, the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), and the dosage markings include a line or dashed line (163) parallel to the mounting surface and crossing the side wall by more than 5 degrees around the longitudinal axis. 9. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to H, wherein the measuring cup comprises at least two such dosage indicators, one of which is positioned to indicate a first amount of the fluid material, and the other such dosage indicator is positioned to indicate a second amount of the fluid material that is different from the first amount of the fluid material. 10. A measuring cup as described in any one of paragraphs A to I, wherein the bottom surface is flat. 11. A measuring cup in which the dosage indication is described in any one of paragraphs A to J, which is a continuous area (172). 12. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to K, wherein the bit contains air bubbles, or the bit contains more air bubbles per unit area than the side wall adjacent to the dosage mark. 13. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to L, wherein the bit has a higher carbon content than the side wall adjacent to the dosage mark. 14. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to M, wherein the side wall contains a laser-absorbing additive. 15. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to N, wherein the side wall contains an absorbent additive, and the absorbent additive in the bit has a different oxidation state than the absorbent additive in the side wall adjacent to the dosage indication. 16. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to O, wherein the bit is ablated against the side wall adjacent to the dosage mark. 17. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to P, wherein the bit is etched onto the side wall adjacent to the dosage mark. 18. The side wall is translucent, and the measuring cup is as described in any one of paragraphs A to Q. 19. The outer surface, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white or black backing, has a 95% bin value absolute ΔL greater than approximately 1, optionally greater than approximately 3, optionally greater than approximately 5, or optionally greater than approximately 10. * A measuring cup having the characteristics described in any one of paragraphs A to R. 20. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to S, wherein the side wall has a side wall height (140) between the interior of the base and the open end, measured perpendicular to the mounting surface, and at least a portion of the dosage indication is located at a position less than 25% of the side wall height, measured from the mounting surface. 21. A measuring cup described in any one of paragraphs A to T, wherein the dosage indication is a continuous area (172) that occupies more than approximately 0.5% of the outer surface. 22. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to U, wherein the bits are arranged in a row (R), the bits constituting the row are separated from each other by a first interval (S1) between their centers, and the row is separated from each other by a second interval (S2), the second interval being greater than the first interval. 23. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to V, wherein the outer surface has a 95% bin value ΔE greater than about 1, optionally greater than about 3, optionally greater than about 5, or optionally greater than about 10, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white backing or a black backing. 24. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to W, wherein the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), and the measuring cup has two such dosage markings at positions that are radially opposite each other around the longitudinal axis. 25. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to X, wherein the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), the measuring cup engages with a container (75), the container has a primary label surface (170), and the dosage indication is offset from the primary label surface by more than approximately 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis. 26. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to Y, wherein the container has a primary label surface (170), the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), the measuring cup is engaged with the container (75), the side wall has two dose markings, and both dose markings are offset from the primary label surface by more than approximately 45 degrees around the longitudinal axis. 27. A measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to Z, wherein the outer surface is curved to coincide with at least a portion of the dosage indication. 28. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to AA, wherein the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), the side wall has threads (85) closer to the open end than to the bottom end, and the side wall is blow-molded at a position coinciding with the dosage marking and extends further away from the longitudinal axis than the threads. 29. The measuring cup according to any one of paragraphs A to BB, further comprising a handle (12) extending from one or both of the open end and the side wall.

[0094] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​listed. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the listed value and the functionally equivalent range encompassing that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "approximately 40 mm."

[0095] All documents referenced herein, including any cross-referenced or related patents or patent applications, and any patent applications or patents for which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. U.S. Patent Applications 17 / 963,214, 17 / 963,215, 17 / 987,893, and 17 / 987,895 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. No reference to any document shall be deemed prior art to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, nor shall any such invention be taught, suggested, or disclosed, either alone or in combination with any other reference. Furthermore, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in any document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition given to that term in this document shall prevail.

[0096] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications within the scope of the invention be covered in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A measuring cup (10), The bottom end (20) and the open end (30) on the opposite side of the bottom end, A translucent side wall (40) extending from the bottom end to the open end, wherein the side wall has an outer surface (90) oriented away from the longitudinal axis (L) around which the side wall extends, A measuring cup (10) comprising a dose indication (60) integrated with the outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the dose indication comprises a bitmap pattern (70) of chemically or structurally modified bits (80) of the side wall, and the bitmap pattern comprises at least two rows (R) of the bits.

2. The measuring cup according to claim 1, wherein the bits are spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern within and between the rows, or the bits between the rows are aligned with each other.

3. The measuring cup according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring cup is removably engaged with the container (75).

4. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom end is provided with an opening (110).

5. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom end defines a mounting surface (120) for the measuring cup, the open end is defined by a peripheral rim (130), the side wall has a side wall height (140) between the mounting surface and the peripheral rim, the side wall height is measured perpendicular to the mounting surface, and the dose mark has a dose mark height (150) measured over the maximum range of the dose mark perpendicular to the mounting surface, and the dose mark height is about 20% to about 100% of the side wall height measured in the dose mark.

6. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bottom end defines a mounting surface (120) for the measuring cup, the side wall extends around a longitudinal axis (L), the volume indication comprises a continuous or discontinuous marking portion (160), the marking portion (160) has a boundary (162) parallel to the mounting surface, traverses the side wall by more than 5 degrees around the longitudinal axis, and the side wall is not marked along the boundary.

7. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the measuring cup comprises at least two dose indicators, one of which is positioned to indicate a first amount of the fluid material, and the other dose indicator is positioned to indicate a second amount of the fluid material that is different from the first amount of the fluid material.

8. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bottom end is flat.

9. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the dose indication is a continuous region (172).

10. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the side wall contains a laser-absorbing additive.

11. The side wall is translucent, as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The aforementioned outer surface, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white backing or a black backing, has a 95% bin value absolute ΔL greater than approximately 1, optionally greater than approximately 3, optionally greater than approximately 5, or optionally greater than approximately 10. ＊ A measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 11, having the following:

13. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the side wall has a side wall height (140) between the interior of the base and the open end, measured perpendicular to the aforementioned surface, and at least a portion of the dosage indication is located at a position less than 25% of the side wall height, measured from the aforementioned surface.

14. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the bits are arranged in rows (R), the bits constituting the rows are spaced apart from each other by a first interval (S1) between their centers, and the rows are spaced apart from each other by a second interval (S2), the second interval being greater than the first interval.

15. The measuring cup according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the outer surface has a 95% bin value ΔE greater than about 1, optionally greater than about 3, optionally greater than about 5, and optionally greater than about 10, according to a 95% delta color value measurement method using either a white backing or a black backing.

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