Mold and Device for Marking Work Pieces

• US 20190329465A1
• Filed: 04/25/2018
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matriq AG
• Original Assignee: NTB Interstaatliche Hochschule fur Technik Buchs
• Inventors: Dietrich, Klaus, Machler, Mathias, Affolter, Samuel, Gutsche, Martin, Bernard, Andre, Cagin Bertsch, Emine, Grunenfelder, Jan, Jager, Raphael, Lutz, Vreni
• Granted Patent: US 11,225,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0211 resistance heating B29C2035/0811 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2037/90 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14286 means for heating the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/12 Dielectric heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0053 Moulding articles characterised by the shape of the surface, e.g. ribs, high polish mould construction therefor B29C33/42; surface shaping of articles B29C59/00; by incorporating filler in or near the surface B29C70/64
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/372 provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/73 of the mould B29C45/2642 and B29C45/2737 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/7306 Control circuits therefor

Abstract

A device for marking a work piece that is at least partially formed or reshaped through a thermal process is provided. The device includes a plurality of heating elements distributed laterally on a surface that is placed against the work piece and can be individually controlled for local heating of a work piece surface. Each of the heating elements includes a solid material with a surface structure and a heating structure. The surface structure includes at least one of a specifically or randomly varied topography. The surface structure can be at least partially heated through the heating structure.

Claims

1. A mold or a mold insert for marking an at least partially thermally formed or reshaped work piece having a work piece surface, comprising:

a mold surface facing the work piece surface of the formed or reshaped work piece; and

a plurality of heating elements arranged at the mold surface facing the formed or reshaped work piece,

wherein each of the plurality of heating elements is configured for a local heating of a portion of the work piece surface,

wherein each of the heating elements comprises a solid material portion having a surface structure oriented towards the work piece surface and a heating structure below the surface structure arranged to at least partially heat the surface structure, and

wherein the surface structure possesses a plurality of surface topographies being selected from the group comprising targeted varied topographies and random topographies.

2. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the surface structure comprises at least a portion of the mold surface that faces the work piece surface.

3. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the surface topographies are distributed in a targeted pattern or in random manner.

4. The mold or mold insert according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of surface topographies are formed in a targeted pattern providing strips between adjacent surface topographies.

5. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of surface topographies are formed such that on the work piece surface an optically recognizable structure stemming from the group comprising diffractive, holographic, geometric and optical structures is generated.

6. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the heating structure of each heating element is arranged spaced apart from the surface structure in the solid material.

7. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the heating structure at least partially forms the surface structure.

8. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the solid material of the heating elements comprises a plurality of stacked layers produced by thin film, thick film or PCB technology.

9. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the surface structure is made of a low-wear material or is coated with such a material.

10. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are arranged in a regular pattern at the mold surface.

11. The mold or mold insert according to claim 10, wherein the heating elements are arranged in a matrix form at the mold surface.

12. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are arranged as parts of letters, numbers, or decorative elements.

13. The mold or mold insert according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are chosen from the group encompassing electrical, thermofluidic, fluidic, optical, and chemical heating elements.

14. A system for marking an at least partially thermally formed or reshaped work piece, comprising:

a mold or a mold insert having

a mold surface facing the work piece surface of the formed or reshaped work piece, and

a plurality of heating elements arranged at the mold surface facing the formed or reshaped work piece; and

a controller connected individually with each of the plurality of heating elements,

wherein the controller is configured to individually control each of the plurality of heating elements for a local heating of the work piece surface,

wherein each of the heating elements comprises a solid material portion having a surface structure oriented towards the work piece surface and a heating structure below the surface structure connected with the controller and arranged to at least partially heat the surface structure, and

wherein the surface structure possesses a plurality of surface topographies being selected from the group comprising targeted varied topographies and random topographies.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to control the heating elements serially, in parallel or in groups of associated heating elements to drive the heating.

16. A method comprising marking an at least partially thermally formed or reshaped work piece using a mold or mold insert, wherein the mold or mold insert comprises:

a mold surface facing the work piece surface of the formed or reshaped work piece, and

a plurality of heating elements arranged at the mold surface facing the formed or reshaped work piece,

wherein each of the plurality of heating elements is configured for a local heating of a portion of the work piece surface,

wherein each of the heating elements comprises a solid material portion having a surface structure oriented towards the work piece surface and a heating structure below the surface structure arranged to at least partially heat the surface structure, and

wherein the surface structure possesses a plurality of surface topographies being selected from the group comprising targeted varied topographies and random topographies.