Threaded Fastener Barcode Marking on Roughened Coated Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for applying barcodes to steel threaded fasteners, such as carbon steel and stainless steel, face challenges including damage to surfaces, limited throughput, adhesion issues with functional coatings, and readability problems on bright surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a roughening step to increase the surface roughness of the marking surface, followed by a coating step and a marking step where a barcode is applied over the coating layer, using techniques like sandblasting and ink jet printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If laser-marking is used on coated fasteners, then marking can be applied, but surface damage occurs promoting corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking applicabilityVSAvoidsurface damage and corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces laser-marking (optical/thermal system) with mechanical roughening methods such as shot peening, sandblasting, or abrasive flow machining. This substitution eliminates the thermal damage and surface degradation caused by laser while achieving effective marking through mechanical means that do not compromise the protective coating or promote corrosion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If laser-marking is used for mass production, then marking can be applied, but throughput is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking capabilityVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the marking process into two independent stages: first, mechanical roughening of the surface (which can be performed rapidly and in parallel), and second, application of the marking material or contrast enhancement. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently and enables parallel processing, significantly increasing throughput for mass production applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If ink printing is applied on functional top coatings, then marking can be applied, but adhesion issues occur reducing environmental robustness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking applicabilityVSAvoidadhesion and environmental robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical roughening to the coating surface before applying the marking material. This preliminary action creates a textured surface profile that mechanically interlocks with the marking material, ensuring strong adhesion. The roughened surface provides anchoring points that prevent ink peeling or flaking under environmental stress, thereby improving environmental robustness while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If markings are applied on bright surfaces, then marking can be applied, but readability is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking applicationVSAvoidreadability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs marking materials with high contrast colors applied to the roughened surface. The mechanical roughening creates shadows and texture that enhance the visual contrast between the marking and the base surface. Additionally, the roughened surface diffuses reflected light, reducing glare and improving the readability of the marking under various lighting conditions while maintaining ease of manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves durable and machine-scannable markings on steel fasteners, improving adhesion and readability while being suitable for mass production.

Implementation Method 1

a roughening step, in which the marking surface is roughened, in particular mechanically roughened

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical roughening: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

The roughening step can include roughening the entire surface of the threaded fastener or just parts of the surface... In particular, the roughening step can include mechanical roughening, which includes abrasion... It is particularly preferred that the roughening step is a sandblasting step, in which the marking surface is roughened by sandblasting. Sandblasting includes propelling a stream of abrasive material against the marking surface.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSandblasting: Abrasion

Implementation Method 3

the marking step follows the coating step... in which the roughened marking surface is coated with at least one coating layer or with at least one overcoat layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoating: Coatings

Data Source

PatentUS20250188980A1Marked Threaded Fastener Manufacture and Fastener

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 HILTI AG

AI summary

A method for manufacturing a marked threaded fastener includes a providing step in which a threaded fastener having a marking surface is provided. Following the providing step, there is a roughening step in which the marking surface is roughened and, following the roughening step, there is a marking step in which a marking is applied to the marking surface.