METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE LASER MARKING OF PLASTIC LABELS

Abstract

A method for laser marking plastics labels includes providing at least one plastics label to be marked. A marking laser that is a diode laser having at least one laser diode and no other laser-active medium is provided. The plastics label is marked by laser marking with the marking laser.

Claims

1. A method for laser marking plastics labels, the method comprising steps of: providing at least one plastics label to be marked; providing a marking laser, wherein the marking laser is a diode laser having at least one laser diode, and wherein the marking laser has no further laser-active medium; and marking the plastics label by laser marking with the marking laser.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: two or more plastics labels to be marked are provided and marked, and the plastics labels are provided in an ordered, standardized structural composite including one of a label roll, a label sheet, a label tree, or a label card.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the labels are separated automatically after marking.

4. The method according to either claim 2, wherein the plastics labels are arranged in rows and/or columns in the structural composite.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plastics label comprises one of: polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbonate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or polyefin, or wherein the plastics label consists of one of: polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbonate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or polyefin.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: a wavelength of the marking laser is 375 nm to 2000 nm, and/or the marking laser is an edge emitter or the marking laser is a surface emitter.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the plastics label and a surface of the plastics label to be marked consist of a same plastics material that is marked directly by the marking laser, the surface to be marked not having a carrier film or coating, and/or the plastics label is a marker formed from a solid material in an injection molding process and has shaped elements and/or clamping elements for fastening to terminals of electrical installations, and/or the plastics label is a marker formed from a solid material in an injection molding process and has shaped elements and/or clamping elements for fastening to conductors, cables, or tubes of electrical installations.

8. The method according to wherein the plastics label has a surface to be marked having a width of 5 mm or less and a height of 11 mm or less.

9. A device for laser marking plastics labels, the device for providing a plastics label to be marked, the device comprising: one of a support or an infeed; and a marking laser, wherein the marking laser is a diode laser comprising at least one laser diode, and wherein the marking laser has no further laser-active medium.

10. The device for laser marking according to claim 9, further comprising a battery, the marking laser being battery-operated.

11. The device for laser marking, further comprising a separating device for separating standardized labels which are provided in an ordered manner in a structural composite.

Description

[0032] As a result, in particular individual labels and/or label strips can be provided in an automated and inexpensive manner, which labels and/or strips can then be automatically or manually mounted, for example, on a terminal block or other components of an electrical installation.

[0033] The invention is described in greater detail in the following with reference to drawings showing embodiments, in which, schematically:

[0034] FIG. 1A shows the provision of a plastics label to be marked;

[0035] FIG. 1B shows the provision of a marking laser and the marking of the plastics label from FIG. 1A;

[0036] FIG. 1C shows the separation of the plastics label.

[0037] First, a plastics label 2 to be marked is provided. In the present case, a plurality of plastics labels 2 to be marked are provided, which are provided as a label card 4 in an ordered, standardized structural composite. Predetermined breaking points are formed along horizontal and vertical dividing lines 6 of the label card 4 in order to simplify the separation of the labels 2 after labeling.

[0038] As can be seen from FIG. 1B, a marking laser 8 is provided in order to label the label card 4. In the present case, the marking laser 8 is a diode laser which comprises a laser diode and which has no other laser-active medium, such as an active fiber or the like.

[0039] The label card 4 is guided past the marking laser 8 in the infeed movement indicated by the directional arrow by means of an infeed 10 and is labeled or marked. In the present case, the label card 4 consists of a single plastics material, of which the surface 12 of each of the plastics labels 2 to be labeled is also made. The marking or labeling takes place in that the plastics material of the plastics labels 2 is discolored due to the energy input of the marking laser 8.

[0040] After the marking, the labels 2 are separated automatically by means of a separating device 14.

[0041] The device 16 for laser marking shown in FIG. 1B, which device comprises the marking laser 8, the infeed 10 and the separating device 14, is a battery-operated device 16 which is supplied with energy by means of the battery 18, which is also integrated.

[0042] FIG. 1C shows three exemplary variants which illustrate a separation of the card 4 into individual labels 2 along the horizontal and vertical predetermined breaking lines 6.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0043] 2 Plastics label [0044] 4 Label card [0045] 6 Dividing lines [0046] 8 Marking laser [0047] 10 Infeed [0048] 12 Surface [0049] 14 Separating device [0050] 16 Device for laser marking [0051] 18 Battery