Identification in manufacture
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a workpiece in the course of its manufacture, in which the workpiece carrying an existing identification marking is supplied to an apparatus in which it is to be subject to a process that removes or obscures the marking, the marking is machine-read after the workpiece has been placed in the apparatus but before the process begins, data from the reading is put in store, and at the end of the process the identification is re-marked on the workpiece in accordance with the stored data while the workpiece is retained in a predetermined position in the apparatus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of identifying a workpiece in the course of its manufacture, in which the workpiece carrying an existing identification marking is supplied to an apparatus in which it is to be subject to a process that removes or obscures the marking, the marking is machine-read after the workpiece has been placed in the apparatus but before the process begins, data from the reading is put in store, and at the end of the process the identification is re-marked on the workpiece in accordance with the stored data while the workpiece is retained in a predetermined position in the apparatus.
157 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A method of identifying a workpiece in the course of its manufacture, in which the workpiece carrying an existing identification marking is supplied to an apparatus in which it is to be subject to a process that removes or obscures the marking, the marking is machine-read after the workpiece has been placed in the apparatus but before the process begins, data from the reading is put in store, and at the end of the process the identification is re-marked on the workpiece in accordance with the stored data while the workpiece is retained in a predetermined position in the apparatus.
- 7. Means for identifying a workpiece in the course of its manufacture, comprising reading means for reading a pre-existing identification marking on the workpiece, data storage means for storing said reading, marking means for applying identification markings connected to said storage means to be operable in accordance with the stored date of the pre-existing marking, and sequencing means being provided for actuating said reading means before a process is performed on the workpiece in which the pre-existing marking is removed or obscured, and actuating said marking means after the end of said process to re-apply the marking from said stored data.
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12. A machine tool having computer numerical control means for performing a manufacturing process on a workpiece, the machine tool further comprising means for reading a pre-existing identification marking on the workpiece and means for applying identification markings, the control means being arranged to actuate said reading means before the beginning of said process to read the pre-existing marking and store data from said reading during the process, and to actuate the marking means after the completion of said process in accordance with the stored data in order to re-apply the marking to the workpiece before downloading the workpiece.
Specification