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EP0419377B2 - Verfahren, Vorrichtung und Farbstoff für Laserbeschriftung von Umhüllungen für elektrische Geräte - Google Patents

Verfahren, Vorrichtung und Farbstoff für Laserbeschriftung von Umhüllungen für elektrische Geräte Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0419377B2
EP0419377B2 EP90420405A EP90420405A EP0419377B2 EP 0419377 B2 EP0419377 B2 EP 0419377B2 EP 90420405 A EP90420405 A EP 90420405A EP 90420405 A EP90420405 A EP 90420405A EP 0419377 B2 EP0419377 B2 EP 0419377B2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
paint
marking
laser beam
coat
laser
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90420405A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0419377B1 (de
EP0419377A1 (de
Inventor
Jean Izoard
Louis-Claude Popon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BLANCOMME
Schneider Electric SE
Original Assignee
BLANCOMME
Schneider Electric SE
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26227571&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0419377(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from FR8912557A external-priority patent/FR2652480B1/fr
Priority claimed from FR8915853A external-priority patent/FR2654982B1/fr
Application filed by BLANCOMME, Schneider Electric SE filed Critical BLANCOMME
Publication of EP0419377A1 publication Critical patent/EP0419377A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0419377B1 publication Critical patent/EP0419377B1/de
Publication of EP0419377B2 publication Critical patent/EP0419377B2/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/267—Marking of plastic artifacts, e.g. with laser

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of marking an insulating support by laser beam. arranged on a molded plastic casing of an electrical apparatus, which is assembled on a flexible production line thanks to a PLC controlled by a system computer, the support or the marking area of the support being coated in a first workstation with at least one layer of paint, having binders and pigments, the layer of paint being dried when passing through a drying tunnel arranged after the first work station, and the marking of variable inscriptions according to the series produced then being carried out at the end of the production line in a second work station by the action of the laser beam causing deterioration of the binder, or etching of the painting which visualizes said marking.
  • the fitting of labels or the usual markings by pad printing, screen printing or offset process are ill-suited to these flexible manufacturing lines and involve time production stop at each end of series.
  • the marking equipment can then be integrated or form a link in a manufacturing or assembly chain.
  • the laser beam acts as a energy source applied punctually which causes a surface modification of the irradiated material, showing contrast with adjacent areas not affected by the beam.
  • Laser marking can be done using a mask with the inscriptions corresponding, this mask must be modified at each change of series or by guidance of the laser beam, which rewrites under the control of a computer system such as the computer, the text on each piece.
  • the latter registration system is significantly more flexible since it allows a change of registrations almost instantly, but the marking rate is significantly lower.
  • the second layer of paint is not laser reactive, and the inscription by beam laser is not controlled by the automation of the assembly line.
  • the label of a contactor is produced by marking with laser beam, which causes an attack on the plastic, and deterioration of the face of the case.
  • the marking is controlled by a detector with contacts integrated in the contactor.
  • the object of the present invention is to allow registration by laser beam. directly on a part manufactured on a flexible production line, and to improve the quality of the registration without degrading the room.
  • Placing one or more layers of paint or ink overcomes the characteristics of the support including its color and its reaction to the laser beam.
  • the reaction caused by the laser beam may be a chemical reaction of color change or vaporization of the painting or a physical reaction causing sufficient contrast.
  • the choice of colors and contrast can be increased by applying over the paint layer sensitive to the laser beam, a second coat of paint with normal characteristics.
  • pigments in the paint layer ensures the capture of the rays laser and their action on paint or on certain paint components to obtain sufficient contrast to the marking.
  • Different pigments can be used, in particular mineral pigments such as metal oxides which have a high stability grade temperature.
  • the pigmented layer is relatively thick, for example greater than 15 microns to form a screen preventing rays from reaching the support or if they manage to be mitigated enough to be incapable of a deterioration of the support.
  • the paint is with organic pigments the percentage of pigmentation by weight is of course significantly lower, for example a few percent and these pigments are broken down by the action of the laser beam. Pigments of course ensure their usual protective and coloring function.
  • a production or assembly line schematically represented by a product transporter 10 for products 12 includes a marking zone at the end of the chain consisting of four successive items 1, 2, 3, 4.
  • Products 12 are devices molded plastic insulator boxes such as range devices commercially known as Multi 9. The front of these devices carries inscriptions representative of the characteristics of the device manufactured or mounted on the chain 10.
  • the first station 1 on which the products 12 end is an application station for a layer of paint 14 on the product marking area.
  • This painting can be applied by appropriate means, in particular by projection, by postponement, by transfer to using an intermediate support, by an offset or pad printing process or by any another printing device, in particular by screen printing.
  • the transfer can be made in the injection mold of the plastic case.
  • the mold includes a device for unwinding a ribbon on which one has previously deposited one or two coats of paint.
  • the mold cavities are closed directly on the tape which withstands the injection temperature of the plastic. However, the paint comes into contact with the material that makes it melt and that forms a shell in the area sought.
  • the step-by-step advancement of the ribbon is linked to the closure system of the mold.
  • the paint can also be an ink or a varnish constituting a continuous coating on the marking area.
  • the paint used is a suitable paint reacting to the action of a laser beam so as to appear sufficient contrast for a direct labeling on product 12.
  • Product 12 coated with a layer of paint reactive laser then crosses a drying tunnel schematically represented by station 2 before arriving at a conventional marking station 3.
  • This marking station for example of the type pad printing, allows the affixing of the constant inscriptions it is say inscriptions appearing on all the products manufactured on the chain.
  • Products 12 subsequently arrive at last workstation 4 which is a laser marking station constituted by a source of a laser beam causing on the marking area a entry of variable data, i.e. data specific to each series of 12 products manufactured on the line.
  • the laser beam is advantageously guided by a automatic writing device controlled by the computer control system manufacturing line.
  • the laser beam of the YAG or C02 type strikes the layer 14 of reactive paint causing a superficial reaction of the latter to the point impact 16.
  • the movement of the laser beam registers variable data.
  • the registration speed is fast enough to follow the production rate of the line 10 and the control of the laser beam by the computer system allows a change instant marking at the end of each production series. It is clear that the constant inscriptions can also be carried by laser marking directly on the product which allows the removal of the marking station 3 by pad printing. For large production rates the marking by guidance of the laser beam can be replaced by a mask marking system which must be changed at each end series.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the layer of reactive paint 14 is coated with an additional layer 18 of standard paint.
  • This coating can be carried out at the same workstation 1 or on an additional workstation (not shown) in a manner well known to specialists.
  • the layer 18 paint is advantageously of a color different from that of the reactive paint 14 in order to have a difference in color between the external surface and the background of the engraving produced by the laser beam.
  • the surface layer 18 can be removed by the action of the laser and makes visible the activated part of the layer 14.
  • the surface layer 18 can be charred partially to associate its effect with the activated layer 14, causing a modification of the colour.
  • the choice of reactive paint for laser beam is determined by the appearance aesthetic and visual of the marking sought and by the nature of the support generally in plastic material but may be a different material.
  • the marking area is coated with a paint two-component gray polyurethane, the hardener being an isocyanate, and the percentage of pigmentation by weight of the paint layer is greater than 40% and close to 60%.
  • the pigments are essentially titanium oxide and iron oxide, making appear after the laser marking a black writing on a gray background with a deep engraving which accentuates the contrast.
  • the marking results mainly deterioration of the paint binder caused by absorption and reflection of the laser beam by pigments.
  • the support in this case the material of the molded case or product 12, is not affected by marking, because the pigmentation is sufficient to constitute a protective screen, totally or largely retaining the laser beam.
  • the presence of pigments prevents total removal of the binder.
  • the adhesion of the paint or the characteristics of the support are not altered by the marking, which is durable.
  • Pigments used can be other oxides including chromium oxide and be suitable for coloring desired, but the degree of pigmentation as well as the thickness of the paint layer must be sufficient.
  • the paint comprises organic pigments and under the action of the laser beam these pigments and the binder are broken down and eliminated to obtain the desired contrast. The thickness of the layer and the percentage of pigmentation are then weaker.
  • the support can be any material, in particular metal, plastic, paper, glass, the appropriate color, the choice of paint depending possibly the type of support. Likewise the method of applying the paint and its hardening have no influence on the marking which only affects the paint layer.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
  • Paints Or Removers (AREA)

Claims (2)

  1. Verfahren zur Laserstrahl-Beschriftung einer Isolierstofffläche, die an einem Spritzgußgehäuse (12) eines in einer flexiblen Fertigungsanlage (10) mit Hilfe einer durch ein EDV-System geführten Steuerung zusammengefügten elektrischen Schaltgeräts ausgebildet ist, wobei in einer ersten Arbeitsstation (1) mindestens eine Farbschicht mit Bindemitteln und Pigmenten auf die Fläche bzw. den Beschriftungsbereich der Fläche aufgetragen wird, die Farbschicht beim Durchlaufen einer hinter der ersten Arbeitsstation (1) angeordneten Tunneltrockenanlage (2) getrocknet wird und das Aufbringen produktserienabhängiger Beschriftungsbilder am Ende der Fertigungsanlage in einer zweiten Arbeitsstation (4) unter Einwirkung des Laserstrahls erfolgt, der eine Zerstörung des Bindemittels oder eine, die genannte Beschriftung sichtbar machende Gravur der Farbschicht bewirkt,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    die genannte Farbschicht durch einen für die Absorption und Reflexion des Laserstrahls ausreichenden Anteil von Pigmenten laserlichtempfindlich ist und auf einem Beschriftungsbereich der Isolierstofffläche in einer bestimmten Dicke aufgetragen wird, und
    die Heranführung des Laserstrahls an die einzugravierenden Punkte (16) durch das genannte EDV-System der Steuerung erfolgt, um ein produktspezifisches Beschriftungsbild zu erzeugen, wobei die Beschriftung durch eine Zerstörung des in der Farbe enthaltenen Bindemittels hergestellt wird, die aufgrund der Absorption und Reflexion des Laserstrahls durch die Pigmente eintritt, ohne das Untergrundmaterial zu beeinträchtigen.
  2. Beschriftungsverfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß auf die laserlichtempfindliche Farbschicht (14) eine Oberflächen-Farbschicht (18) aufgetragen wird, die dazu dient, durch den Laserstrahl verdampft zu werden.
EP90420405A 1989-09-22 1990-09-17 Verfahren, Vorrichtung und Farbstoff für Laserbeschriftung von Umhüllungen für elektrische Geräte Expired - Lifetime EP0419377B2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8912557 1989-09-22
FR8912557A FR2652480B1 (fr) 1989-09-22 1989-09-22 Procede et dispositif de marquage laser de boitiers moules d'appareillages electriques.
FR8915853A FR2654982B1 (fr) 1989-11-29 1989-11-29 Procede et peinture de marquage laser.
FR8915853 1989-11-29

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0419377A1 EP0419377A1 (de) 1991-03-27
EP0419377B1 EP0419377B1 (de) 1996-03-06
EP0419377B2 true EP0419377B2 (de) 2001-04-18

Family

ID=26227571

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90420405A Expired - Lifetime EP0419377B2 (de) 1989-09-22 1990-09-17 Verfahren, Vorrichtung und Farbstoff für Laserbeschriftung von Umhüllungen für elektrische Geräte

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0419377B2 (de)
DE (1) DE69025686T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2086389T3 (de)

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2668959A1 (fr) * 1990-11-08 1992-05-15 Merlin Gerin Procede et dispositif pour le depot d'une couche de peinture reactive au laser sur une piece moulee.
DE69219370T2 (de) * 1991-01-17 1997-11-06 United Distillers Plc Dynamische Lasermarkierung
DE19541027A1 (de) * 1995-11-05 1997-02-06 Daimler Benz Ag Lackierung für einen Gegenstand
TW363016B (en) * 1996-01-08 1999-07-01 Nippon Kayaku Kk Laser marking article having two or more layers of thin films on the surface thereof, method for laser marking of the article and ground composition for use in laser marking
DE19630478A1 (de) * 1996-07-27 1998-01-29 Quarzwerke Gmbh Verfahren zur Laserbeschriftung von Folien
DE19719065B4 (de) * 1997-05-06 2005-02-24 Tampoprint Gmbh Verfahren zum Aufbringen von Informationen auf einen Gegenstand
US6075223A (en) 1997-09-08 2000-06-13 Thermark, Llc High contrast surface marking
US6852948B1 (en) 1997-09-08 2005-02-08 Thermark, Llc High contrast surface marking using irradiation of electrostatically applied marking materials
AU1402299A (en) * 1997-11-14 1999-06-07 Cerdec Corporation Laser marking method and material
EP0922589A1 (de) * 1997-12-10 1999-06-16 Tekmax Inc. Verfahren zur Laserbeschriftung von thermoplastischen Kunststoffen
DE19954366A1 (de) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-17 Basf Ag Verfahren zur Beschriftung von Kunststoffoberflächen
US6791592B2 (en) 2000-04-18 2004-09-14 Laserink Printing a code on a product
US7238396B2 (en) 2002-08-02 2007-07-03 Rieck Albert S Methods for vitrescent marking
GB0226597D0 (en) * 2002-11-14 2002-12-24 Sun Chemical Bv Laser marking process
CN100439117C (zh) * 2005-11-29 2008-12-03 武汉矽感科技有限公司 自动生产线的激光打标系统及其方法
US9744559B2 (en) 2014-05-27 2017-08-29 Paul W Harrison High contrast surface marking using nanoparticle materials
CN106042696A (zh) * 2016-06-28 2016-10-26 广州市铭钰标识科技有限公司 一种管材打标方法
DE102018106580A1 (de) * 2018-03-20 2019-09-26 Erich Utsch Ag Verfahren zur zweifachen Markierung eines Kennzeichenschildes für ein Fahrzeug
US10583668B2 (en) 2018-08-07 2020-03-10 Markem-Imaje Corporation Symbol grouping and striping for wide field matrix laser marking

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1353064A (en) † 1970-06-22 1974-05-15 Eastman Kodak Co Converting metal images to formazan dye images
DE2361628A1 (de) † 1972-12-11 1974-07-04 Kansai Paint Co Ltd Verfahren zur verfaerbung von metallverbindungen durch bestrahlung mit laserstrahlen

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL8001731A (nl) * 1980-03-25 1981-10-16 Philips Nv Werkwijze voor het markeren van een kunststofoppervlak en voorwerp voorzien van een gemarkeerd kunststofoppervlak.
NL8204604A (nl) * 1982-11-26 1984-06-18 Wavin Bv Kunststofmateriaal.
JPS60255491A (ja) * 1984-06-01 1985-12-17 Daicel Chem Ind Ltd レ−ザ−記録用フイルム
JPS6129029A (ja) * 1984-07-19 1986-02-08 三菱電機株式会社 電磁継電器等における端子番号等の表示方法
AU597240B2 (en) * 1985-02-05 1990-05-31 Ciba-Geigy Ag Laser marking of pigmented systems
FR2580233B1 (fr) * 1985-04-12 1988-11-25 Rhone Alpes Projets Plast Procede pour rendre une matiere plastique sensible au rayon laser et permettre son marquage au laser et article obtenu notamment pour le marquage des animaux
AT389850B (de) * 1985-09-06 1990-02-12 Walter Sticht Druck- und beschriftungsverfahren fuer bauteile

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1353064A (en) † 1970-06-22 1974-05-15 Eastman Kodak Co Converting metal images to formazan dye images
DE2361628A1 (de) † 1972-12-11 1974-07-04 Kansai Paint Co Ltd Verfahren zur verfaerbung von metallverbindungen durch bestrahlung mit laserstrahlen

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Meyers Encycloädisches Lexikon, Bibliographisches Institut AG, Mannheim, 1972, korrigierter Nachdruck von 1981, Lexikonverlag †

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69025686D1 (de) 1996-04-11
EP0419377B1 (de) 1996-03-06
ES2086389T3 (es) 1996-07-01
EP0419377A1 (de) 1991-03-27
DE69025686T2 (de) 1996-09-26

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