Segmented Wood Marker Plate for Theft Detection and Hot Stamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wooden marker plates are difficult to detect when stolen or reattached to other logs due to their durability and ease of removal, and their manufacturing process is hindered by the need for multiple injection points for liquid plastic, which complicates the distribution and quality of features like anchors and grooves.

Innovation Solution

A wooden marker plate design featuring a countersink that extends from one edge to the other, allowing for easy breaking when attempted removal and enabling hot stamping of markings, while allowing plastic injection via a single point, with adjustable punctiform indentations for optimized breaking behavior and mold permeability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If grooves are added to the plate to enable easy breaking upon removal, then theft detection is improved, but the ability to hot stamp markings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft detection capabilityVSAvoidhot stamping capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is segmented into regions of different thickness: a thinner first region containing the depression that breaks easily for theft detection, and thicker second and third regions that provide sufficient material depth for hot stamping markings. This segmentation allows the plate to simultaneously具备 easy-breaking capability and hot stamping capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the plate have different local qualities in terms of thickness. The first region has reduced thickness for easy breaking, while the second and third regions maintain greater thickness for hot stamping. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between easy breaking and marking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple injection points are used for plastic injection, then complete filling of the mold is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold filling completenessVSAvoidinjection mold complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mold cavity is preliminarily designed with a depression (countersink) that creates a thinner first region. This preliminary structural preparation allows liquid plastic to flow more easily and fill the entire mold cavity from a single injection point, as the depression provides a pathway that reduces flow resistance and ensures complete filling without requiring multiple injection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the plate is made thinner for easy breaking, then theft detection is improved, but the strength to drive into wood deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeasy breaking upon removalVSAvoidinsertion strength into wood
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is divided into regions with different thicknesses: the first region is thinner for easy breaking, while the second and third regions are thicker to provide sufficient strength for driving the plate into wood. The fastening projections are located in the thicker regions, ensuring that the attachment mechanism has access to material with adequate strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The plate exhibits local quality variation in thickness: the central first region has reduced thickness for easy breaking, while the peripheral second and third regions maintain greater thickness for strength. This allows the plate to be both easy to break upon removal and strong enough for secure attachment during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 plate securely attaches to wood without breaking it, prevents theft by breaking upon attempted removal, facilitates hot embossing for markings, and simplifies mass production by allowing single-point plastic injection, ensuring strong attachment and easy detection of unauthorized removal.

Implementation Method 1

the depression on the second flat side, which is opposite the surface between the fastening projections, causes the plate to break when trying to pull or lever it out of the wood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress concentration:

Implementation Method 2

markings can be embossed in the hot embossing process on the small plate according to the invention without any problems

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot embossing:

Data Source

PatentEP1862992B1Die for marking wood, in particular for marking logs or planks
Publication Date: 2011.03.02 LATSCHBACHER
  • EP1862992B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1862992B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1862992B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The depression (3) extends from one edge (8) of the plate to the other edge (9) of the plate, in a direction parallel to the fastening projections on the other side of the plate. Two wavy fastening projections run between the opposite edges. The depth of the depression in the body (2) is one half of the thickness in the remaining regions, which are without the depression. The depression occupies the entire area between the fastening projections.