Rubber product control method using identification marking

• US 6,173,892 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Kimijima, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Felten, Daniel S
• Application Number:
  US09/069,281
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/448, 235/462.01, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31307 Identification structure is partly a copy of operating structure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31319 Use data groups as inventory control value, adapt inventory need to new data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49302 Part, workpiece, code, tool identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

By linking together a first set of identification information and a second set of identification information, and by creating a database linking together manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information with the first identification information as a keyword, the burden on the user of controlling manufacturing can be lightened by, for example, the manufacturing information side informing the sales information side that the product renewal date is approaching. Further, a response can rapidly be made to demands from the user, and steps rapidly taken (i.e. transmitted to the manufacturing process and put into practice) to meet those demands.

Claims

1. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking comprising the steps of:

manufacturing rubber products using a variety of materials including a plurality of rubber materials, shipping said rubber products with a first identification marking given thereto, and controlling manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information at the point of manufacture based on said first identification marking,

wherein necessary information is output after being selected on the basis of said first identification marking, and at least one of the manufacturing information, the sales information, and the distribution information.

2. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, wherein said products are controlled using a database linking together and storing the manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information based on said first identification marking.

3. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first identification marking is given during a molding process, and said rubber products are controlled by using the first identification marking together with inspection results recorded from manufacturing process steps from molding to shipping inspection, and including steps of vulcanization and size selection.

4. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first identification marking is given during a molding process, and said rubber products are controlled by using the first identification marking together with inspection results recorded from manufacturing process steps from molding to shipping inspection, and including steps of vulcanization and size selection.

5. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second identification marking is given to each of the rubber materials constituting the rubber product during a manufacturing process prior to molding, and the products are controlled by relating the first identification marking to the second identification marking.

6. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second identification marking is given to each of the rubber materials constituting the rubber product during a manufacturing process prior to molding, and the products are controlled by relating the first identification marking to the second identification marking.

7. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:

forming renewable rubber products by replacing a portion of the rubber material of returned rubber products;

understanding the record of said rubber products from the first identification marking given to the returned rubber products at the time of renewing said rubber products, and indicating a renewal process program with optimal conditions to the manufacturing process based on the understood record;

shipping the renewed rubber product with a third identification marking given; and

controlling the manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information at the point of manufacture according to said first and third identification markings.

8. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 3, comprising the steps of:

forming renewable rubber products by replacing a portion of the rubber material of returned rubber products;

understanding the record of said rubber products from the first identification marking given to the returned rubber products at the time of renewing said rubber products, and indicating a renewal process program with optimal conditions to the manufacturing process based on the understood record;

shipping the renewed rubber product with a third identification marking given; and

controlling the manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information at the point of manufacture according to said first and third identification marking.

9. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 5, comprising the steps of:

forming renewable rubber products by replacing a portion of the rubber material of returned rubber products;

understanding the record of said rubber products from the first identification marking given to the returned rubber products at the time of renewing said rubber products, and indicating a renewal process program with optimal conditions to the manufacturing process based on the understood record;

shipping the renewed rubber product with a third identification marking given; and

controlling the manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information at the point of manufacture according to said first and third identification marking.

10. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said rubber product is a returned rubber product which can be renewed by replacing a portion of the rubber material, then a judgment is made, based on said first identification marking as well as manufacturing information, as to whether or not a shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time, and if it is judged that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time then sales staff are informed that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time.

11. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 3, wherein if said rubber product is a returned rubber product which can be renewed by replacing a portion of the rubber material, then a judgment is made, based on said first identification marking as well as manufacturing information, as to whether or not a shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time, and if it is judged that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time then sales staff are informed that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time.

12. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 5, wherein if said rubber product is a returned rubber product which can be renewed by replacing a portion of the rubber material, then a judgment is made, based on said first identification marking as well as manufacturing information, as to whether or not a shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time, and if it is judged that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time then sales staff are informed that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time.

13. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 7, wherein a judgment is made, based on said first identification marking and manufacturing information, as to whether or not a shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time, and if it is judged that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time then sales staff are informed that the shipped rubber product is nearing its renewal time.

14. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 3, wherein necessary information is output after being selected on the basis of said first identification marking, and the record of said inspection results.

15. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 5, wherein necessary information is output after being selected on the basis of at least one of said first identification marking and said second identification marking, and at least one of the manufacturing information, the sales information, the distribution information, and the rubber material.

16. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 7, wherein necessary information is output after being selected on the basis of at least one of said first identification marking and said third identification marking, and at least one of the manufacturing information, the sales information, and the distribution information.

17. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first identification marking is given to a rubber product by giving to said rubber product a label with said first identification marking given thereto.

18. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rubber products are vehicle tires.

19. A method for controlling rubber products using identification marking as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rubber products are aircraft tires.