Color-Coded Inlay System for Tooling Component Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying and marking components in manufacturing, such as stamping, engraving, and laser marking, are time-consuming, aesthetically inferior, and pose safety risks, while also being limited in providing cost-effective data for efficient assembly and setup, especially for complex tooling like injection molds with multiple water circuits and peripheral services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing color-coded inlays and pockets on tooling components for efficient identification and matching, where inlays with various indicia are inserted into recessed pockets on the tooling, allowing for easy recognition of connector sizes, flow directions, and other critical information, and can be organized on cards for convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If stamping, engraving, or laser marking methods are used to identify components, then component identification is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching colored inlays with identification indicia to the components during the manufacturing process, rather than marking them on-site. The inlays are prepared in advance with all necessary identification information (colors, numbers, symbols) already in place, eliminating the time-consuming stamping, engraving, or laser marking operations that would otherwise be required during assembly or setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical marking systems (stamping with mallets, engraving with high-speed cutters, laser marking systems) with a simpler inlay attachment system. Instead of using complex mechanical or thermal processes to create identification marks, the system uses pre-fabricated colored inlays that are attached to components, substituting complex mechanical marking operations with a simpler attachment process.
2Measurement precision
If stamping, engraving, or laser marking methods are used to identify components, then component identification is achieved, but aesthetic quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable colored inlays that are attached to components rather than permanently marking the component surfaces. These inlays can be easily applied and removed without damaging the underlying component surface, maintaining aesthetic quality. The inlays serve their identification purpose and can be replaced if needed, unlike permanent marking methods that permanently alter the surface appearance.
3Loss of information
If common marking methods are used on tooling with multiple services, then basic identification is provided, but cost-effective data for efficient assembly is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different colored inlays for different service types (e.g., blue for water circuits, red for air, yellow for electrical). Each inlay is specifically designed with color coding and indicia tailored to its particular service function, allowing workers to quickly identify and match corresponding components without having to read or interpret extensive text markings. This localized color-coding system provides efficient visual information for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes as the primary identification mechanism, with different colors representing different service types or functions. The colored inlays provide immediate visual differentiation between various components and their corresponding services, enabling efficient assembly and matching without requiring detailed reading of text markings. The color-coding system transforms complex identification data into simple, intuitive visual cues.
Data Source
AI summary
An inlay or identifier element system for identifying and/or matching corresponding parts of an apparatus includes a color coding or other indicia on a visible surface of an inlay and a pocket formed in a surface of the apparatus. The inlay is inserted in the pocket, which is positioned to identify a first part of the apparatus. A matching color coding or indicia is on a second part of the apparatus to be coupled to the first part. The visible surface of the inlay is flush with or sub flush with a portion of the surface of the apparatus that surrounds the pocket.