WORKPIECE MARKING

Abstract

The invention relates to a workpiece with a manufactured surface structure that forms a decorative pattern, wherein an optically detectable coding is integrated in a reference area of the surface structure of the workpiece. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing a workpiece with such a coding or marking. Such a workpiece can, for example, be a workpiece or an object used in the field of furniture or components industry, in particular a piece of furniture or a part of a piece of furniture.

Claims

1. Workpiece with a manufactured surface structure that forms a decorative pattern, wherein an optically detectable code is integrated in a reference area in the surface structure of the workpiece.

2. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the coding comprises information parameters, wherein the position in the reference area and/or a relation of the area of the information parameters to the area of the reference area represent or contain information.

3. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the reference area is formed by a plurality of dots provided in the surface structure.

4. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the coding comprises information parameters formed as a corrugated structure.

5. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the coding is formed integrally with the workpiece.

6. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is formed in layers.

7. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is a furniture piece or a part of a furniture piece.

8. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the coding is configured to be optically detectable.

9. Workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the surface structure comprises a wood structure, a motif or an image.

10. Method for manufacturing a workpiece, wherein a coding is formed on the workpiece in the surface structure when creating the surface structure.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the coding is formed by an irregularly formed surface structure.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the coding is formed as a corrugated structure.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the workpiece is formed in layers.

14. Method according to claim 10, wherein the coding and/or the reference area is formed by inkjet printing, or by an additive process.

15. Method according to claim 10, wherein the coding is configured to be optically detectable.

16. Workpiece according to claim 6, wherein the workpiece is formed by an additive process.

17. Workpiece according to claim 8, wherein the coding is configured to be optically detectable by a 3D scanning method.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the workpiece is formed in layers by an additive process.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the additive process is a melt layer process.

20. Method according to claim 15, wherein the coding is configured to be optically detectable by a 3D scanning method.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a workpiece according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a workpiece according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained by means of the enclosed figures. Although the embodiments are to be understood purely as examples, and are not restrictive, features of the embodiments described below can also be used individually or in combination with other features to specify the invention. Moreover, the described embodiments can also be combined with each other to form further embodiments of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a plate-shaped workpiece provided with a surface structure. In the present example, the surface structure is intended to imitate a wood surface. In other embodiments, images, motifs or the like can also be provided as a surface structure.

[0032] The surface structure can be applied to the surface of a workpiece using a 3D printing method, or by means of an inkjet or laser printer. It is also possible to provide the surface structure in the surface of the workpiece when additively forming the workpiece.

[0033] The surface structure of the workpiece is used to imitate a wood surface which can be found in such a surface through cut annual rings, knotholes or other regularly or irregularly formed features.

[0034] In the surface of the workpiece, a reference area is defined between characteristic points A, B, C, D. In the present case, the characteristic points are formed by knotholes, wherein the type of the characteristic points is defined depending on the specifically selected surface structure. In the present embodiment example, points A-D are each central points in the area of the respective knothole.

[0035] To illustrate the reference area, the characteristic points A-D in FIG. 1 are connected by lines in such a manner as to depict a polygonal, two-dimensional area. The area defined by corner points A-D is also called the search field.

[0036] The workpiece shown in FIG. 1 further comprises information parameters I, II formed as knotholes on the surface of the workpiece. The information parameters I, II are characterized by an irregularly formed area. As in the case of the characteristic points, the configuration of information parameters I, II is defined depending on the specifically selected surface structure.

[0037] By means of an optical sensor, the surface of the workpiece can be detected, and the search field defined between the corner points A, B, C, D can be identified. Furthermore, the borders, and thus the area, of the information parameters I, II are detected. The arrangement of the information parameters I, II in the search field and the overlapping of the information parameters I, II with the border of the search field define individual information that is used to mark the workpiece.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the sensors are in communication with a database stored in a cloud, and therefore specific information can be retrieved based on the detection of the marking of a workpiece.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a second example of a workpiece with a surface formed similar to that shown in FIG. 1. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two information parameters I′, II′ are formed, the extent and dimension of which differ from those shown in FIG. 1. Owing to the arrangement as well as overlapping of the information parameters I′, II′ in or with the search field defined by the corner points A, B, C, D, information different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is stored, which accordingly specifies and identifies the workpiece shown in FIG. 2.

[0040] Since the characteristic points A, B, C, D and the information parameters in the embodiment examples are formed as knotholes, they are not perceived by the viewer of the workpiece as a marking in the sense of a barcode or QR code. Rather, the viewer sees the characteristic dots and the information parameters as part of the actual decorative pattern. Deviations between individual workpieces may be recognized by the viewer as variations in the decorative pattern when workpieces are arranged next to each other, for example in ceiling or floor panels. This fact thus contributes to increasing the perceived value of the workpiece.