METHOD FOR CONNECTING AN ITEM OF DISHWARE TO AN INFORMATION CARRIER, AND APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ITEM OF DISHWARE AND AN INFORMATION CARRIER

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of connecting an item of dishware (1) to a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (2) comprising the steps: providing the item of dishware (1), wherein the item of dishware (1) comprises a material selected from a group consisting of glass, ceramic and plastic or a combination thereof, and attaching the information carrier to the item of dishware. Contactlessly readable electronic information carriers applied to a self-adhesive carrier film are known. They can also be adhesively bonded to an item of dishware for identification thereof. In comparison according to the invention the above-mentioned method is further developed in that it further includes the steps: applying a cover layer of printing ink in such a way that the cover layer at least portion-wise covers a surface of the information carrier and the cover layer extends over a portion, which is not covered by the information carrier, on the surface of the item of dishware.

Claims

1. A method of connecting an item of dishware (1) to a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (2) comprising the steps: providing an item of dishware (1), wherein the item of dishware (1) is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of glass, ceramic and plastic or a combination thereof, and attaching the information carrier (2) to the item of dishware (1), characterised in that the method further comprises the step: applying a cover layer (3) of printing ink in such a way that the cover layer at least portion-wise covers a surface of the information carrier (2) and the cover layer (3) extends over a portion, which is not covered by the information carrier (2), of a surface of the item of dishware (1).

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the application of the cover layer (3) includes applying the cover layer (3) by printing or transferring the cover layer (3) in the form of a printed transfer image.

3. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the printing ink of the cover layer (2) is printed on to the surface of the information carrier (2) with a thickness of at least 100 m preferably a thickness of at least 200 m and particularly preferably a thickness of at least 250 m.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the information carrier (2) has a first and a second surface (6, 7), wherein a portion of the information carrier (2) projects with respect to the first surface (6), wherein the information carrier (2) is attached to the item of dishware (1) in such a way that the cover layer (3) is in engagement with the first surface (6) and the portion of the information carrier (2), that projects with respect to the first surface (6).

5. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that there is provided an item of dishware (1) having a receiving portion at least for a portion of the information carrier (2) in the form of a depression (15) or groove in the surface of the item of dishware (1).

6. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the method further includes the step of applying a carrier layer (9) of printing ink to a surface of the item of dishware (1), wherein the information carrier (2) is applied to the carrier layer (9).

7. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that a base surface of the information carrier (2) is smaller than an area of the carrier layer (9), wherein the cover layer (3) is applied in such a way that the cover layer (3) at least portion-wise covers the carrier layer (9).

8. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the method further includes the step: applying a frame (10) of printing ink to the surface of the item of dishware (1) or to a carrier layer (2) of printing ink so that the frame (10) leaves out an area which is at least as large as a base surface of the information carrier (2), wherein the cover layer (3) is applied in such a way that it at least portion-wise respectively covers the surface of the information carrier (2) and the surface of the frame (10).

9. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the cover layer (3) completely covers the frame (10).

10. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that application of the carrier layer (9) and/or the frame (10) and/or the cover layer (3) is effected by printing using screen printing, wherein the printing ink is a screen printing ink.

11. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the printing ink of the carrier layer (9) and/or the frame (10) is a ceramic printing ink, wherein after application of the carrier layer (9) and/or the frame (10) and prior to attachment of the information carrier (2) the ceramic printing ink is fired.

12. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the printing ink of the carrier layer (9) and/or the frame (10) and/or the cover layer (3) is an organic printing ink.

13. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the printing ink is hardened by the action of UV radiation and/or by heating the printing ink to a temperature of 70 C. or less, preferably 60 C. or less and particularly preferably 50 C. or less.

14. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the cover layer (3) is applied by printing with a printing head (15) of a printing apparatus, wherein the printing head (15) and the item of dishware (1) are moveable relative to each other, wherein after attachment of the information carrier (2) and prior to printing of the cover layer (3) a position of the printing head (15) is set relative to the information carrier (2) with the steps: reading out the information carrier (2) with a reading device (16), detecting a signal strength of a signal transmitted from the information carrier (2) to the reading device (16), determining a position of the information carrier (2) relative to the reading device (16) from the signal strength and changing the position of the information carrier (2) by movement of the item of dishware (1) with the information carrier (2) relative to the reading device (16) so that the region to be overprinted with the cover layer (3) is under the printing head (15).

15. An arrangement comprising an item of dishware (1) comprising a material selected from a group consisting of glass, ceramic and plastic or a combination thereof, and a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (2) attached to the item of dishware (1), characterised in that the arrangement has a cover layer (3) of printing ink, wherein the cover layer (3) at least portion-wise covers a surface of the information carrier (2) and the printing ink extends over a portion, which is not covered by the information carrier (2), of the surface of the item of dishware (1).

16. A printing apparatus for printing an item of dishware (1) comprising a printing head (15), and a reading device (16) which is so adapted that in operation of the printing apparatus it contactlessly reads an information carrier (2) arranged on an item of dishware (1).

Description

[0072] Further advantages, features or possible uses of the present invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of embodiments and the associated Figures.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier connected thereto in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an information carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a broken-away diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a broken-away diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a broken-away diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

[0078] FIGS. 6a) to 6e) show diagrammatic views of the steps of a method for fixing an information carrier to an item of dishware according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0079] FIG. 7 shows a broken-away diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,

[0080] FIG. 8 shows a broken-away diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinking glass with an information carrier according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and

[0081] FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] In the Figures identical components are denoted by identical references.

[0083] For the embodiments described hereinafter of the present invention it is assumed that an information carrier 2 is connected to a drinking glass 1. The combination of drinking glass 1 and information carrier 2 forms the arrangement according to the invention. A drinking glass, referred to hereinafter also as a glass for the sake of brevity, forms an example of an item of dishware in accordance with the present application.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through such a drinking glass 1 with an information carrier 2 which is attached thereto and which is covered by a cover layer 3 of printing ink, protected thereby, and connected to the drinking glass 1. The diagrammatic cross-sectional view in FIG. 1, independently of the specific configuration of the encapsulation of the information carrier, clearly shows the positioning of the information carrier 2 on the drinking glass 1. The positioning is the same for all embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0085] FIGS. 3 to 8 discussed hereinafter show enlarged parts of the diagrammatic view of FIG. 1 in the region of the transponder 2. In the cross-sectional views in FIGS. 3 to 8 the glass or its surface is shown as a flat shape. That appears justified by virtue of the greatly enlarged view of the part shown. In actual fact however the glass surface 8 of all embodiments is curved as shown in FIG. 1.

[0086] The information carrier being considered here is an RFID transponder as is diagrammatically shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. The transponder 2 includes a planar antenna structure (not shown in the Figures) applied by printing to a flat substrate 4 and a processing circuit integrated in a chip 5. By virtue of the structural configuration involved the chip 5 projects in relation to the first surface 6 of the otherwise flat structure of the substrate. The second surface 7 of the transponder 2 in contrast is completely flat and does not have any projections.

[0087] The view in FIG. 2 already shows one of the challenges overcome according to the invention, namely concealing the unevenness or the edges formed by the chip 5 projecting in relation to the first surface 6, and protecting the chip from being torn off.

[0088] In the first comparatively simple embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 the chip is attached directly on the surface 8 of the glass 1. In the illustrated embodiment the transponder 2 is provided with a self-adhesive film so that its second surface 7 is firstly glued to the glass surface 8.

[0089] After the transponder 2 has been glued in place the glass 1 is printed upon in the region of the transponder 2 with a cover layer 3 of a glass ink. That is found to be difficult for a number of reasons. On the one hand, two different materials have to be printed upon with the same glass ink of the cover layer, more specifically on the one hand the glass material of the drinking glass 1 and on the other hand the plastic material of the transponder 2. In addition the glass ink 3 cannot be fired in a subsequent working step as otherwise the transponder 2 would be damaged. Therefore the glass ink was carefully selected for the cover layer 3 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 but also for the cover layers 3 of all further embodiments as shown in the other Figures.

[0090] In addition in the embodiments in FIGS. 3 to 6 the glass ink must cover over the comparatively thick structure of the transponder 2 and level out the surface structure on the second surface 6 which is produced by the projecting chip 5. Otherwise there would not be an aesthetically attractive print image in respect of the cover layer 3.

[0091] Therefore an organic two-component glass ink comprising an ink component and a hardener was selected as the cover layer 3. That has the advantage that it is hardened comparatively quickly by heating the structure comprising the glass 1, the transponder 2 and the cover layer 3, but it manages without a firing operation. In the illustrated embodiment the glass ink of the cover layer 3 is so selected that, with suitable heating to a temperature of 65 C., it hardens dust-dry within 30 seconds.

[0092] That turns out to be a challenge in particular because the cover layer 3 must cover over the entire transponder with a thickness of 200 m. In other words the ink layer is of a thickness of up to 250 m.

[0093] In addition it is appropriate to so select the printing ink that the ink is of high viscosity in order to prevent the ink from running off the structure of the transponder 2 after the printing operation and prior to drying.

[0094] The embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention as shown in FIG. 3 is suitable in particular for colored glasses. If in contrast in the case of transparent glasses there is a wish to prevent a viewer being able to look through the transparent material of the glass 1 on to the transponder 2 then the transponder has to be applied to a non-transparent carrier layer.

[0095] Embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention with such a carrier layer are shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The carrier layer is applied by printing to the surface 8 of the glass 1 in a first step. The area in FIGS. 4 to 8 of the carrier layer identified by reference 9 is so selected that it is greater on all sides than the base surface of the transponder 2. With such a choice of the area of the carrier layer 9 the cover layer 3 can be applied by printing in such a way that it is in engagement only with the carrier layer 9, but not with the surface 8 of the glass. That facilitates the choice of the printing ink for the cover layer 3.

[0096] As the carrier layer 9 is printed on to the glass 1 prior to attachment of the transponder 2 to the structure there is the possibility of selecting the printing ink for the carrier layer 9 without the limitations which are to be taken into account when selecting the printing ink for the cover layer 3. In particular, as in the illustrated embodiments, it is possible to select for the carrier layer 9 a ceramic ink which has to be fired after the printing operation for complete hardening.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which a structural space of printing ink is provided for receiving the transponder 2, by printing on the glass 1. In order to clearly show the construction of the structure shown in FIG. 5 FIG. 6 explains the individual method steps when producing the structure, as are performed in succession. All printing steps, as are diagrammatically shown in succession in FIGS. 6a-6e, are carried out using a screen printing method.

[0098] Firstly a carrier layer 9 of a ceramic printing ink is applied by printing to the surface 8 of the glass 1. In a second printing step a frame 10, also comprising a ceramic printing ink, is printed on to the carrier layer 9. That ceramic ink has the advantage that it has a high level of resistance to mechanical damage but also a high level of dishwasher resistance. As the operation of printing the carrier layer 9 and the frame 10 is effected before attachment of the transponder 2 the ceramic ink can be fired prior to attachment of the transponder 2 at temperatures over 70 C. in order to completely harden it and to obtain its excellent chemical and mechanical properties.

[0099] After firing of the carrier layer 9 and the frame 10 the transponder 2 is introduced into the structural space 11 defined by the frame 10. FIG. 6c) shows a cross-sectional view through the structure with the transponder 2 while FIG. 6d) shows a plan view from above on to the structure. The area enclosed by the frame 10 is just so selected that the base surface of the substrate 4 of the transponder 2 can be completely received in that frame 10.

[0100] The height of the frame 10 is so selected that it is a little higher than the thickness of the substrate 4 of the transponder 2. In a concluding method step the cover layer 3 is applied by printing to the transponder 2 and the frame 10. That arrangement of the various ink layers produces a continuous surface 12 which substantially follows the configuration of the surface 8 of the glass 1. The structure created in that way satisfies high aesthetic demands while at the same time it ideally connects the transponder 2 to the glass 1 and protects the transponder 2.

[0101] The embodiment in FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 in that a masking layer 13 is provided between the carrier layer 9 and the frame 10. That serves to receive the chip 5 of the transponder 2 in a recess 14. Compared to the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5, the chip in this variant is turned round so that, instead of its first surface 6, a second surface 7 is in engagement with the cover layer 3. The evenness of the surface 12 of the cover layer 3 can also be further enhanced in that way.

[0102] In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 8 the glass 1 itself has a depression 15 serving to receive the chip 5 of the transponder 2. As previously in FIG. 7 the transponder is attached in such a way that the cover layer 3 is in engagement with the second surface 7 of the transponder. This embodiment dispenses with the frame of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7.

[0103] FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows the glass 1 in a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a screen printing head 17 and an RFID reading device 16. After the carrier layer 9 is printed on to the glass 1 and possibly further layers and after attachment of the transponder 2, the transponder 2 provides a register means. That makes it possible for the cover layer 3 to be precisely applied by printing over the transponder 2.

[0104] If a large number of glasses is printed with the screen printing apparatus in succession then the position of the printing head 15 can be set to be constant in the axial direction of the glass 1. The machine then has an abutment surface for the base surface or the bottom of the glass 1. In that way the axial position or height of the transponder 2 and thus the printing position is fixed in the axial direction. It will be noted that it is important for the printing head 15 to be positioned in the peripheral direction in such a way that the transponder 2 is overprinted with the printing process. For that purpose according to the invention a signal is read from the transponder 2 by means of the reading device 16. When the signal strength is at a maximum the transponder 2 is directly under the reading device 16 and is at a minimum spacing relative to the reading device. If, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 9 the printing head 15 and the reading device 16 are arranged in immediately mutually adjoining relationship then it is now possible to begin with the printing operation as it is guaranteed that the printing head 15 is directly over the transponder or immediately beside same. For establishing and maximizing the signal received by the reading device 16 the glass 1 is rotated about its axis, as indicated by the arrow 18.

[0105] At the same time a functional test of the transponder 2 can be carried out immediately prior to and/or after the printing operation involving the cover layer by virtue of the arrangement of the reading device 16 beside the printing head 15. In addition at that time the identification that the transponder 2 provides can be uniquely associated with the glass in a database. In particular the data of manufacture and the batch can be associated with the unique identification.

[0106] For the purposes of the original disclosure it is pointed out that all features as can be seen by a man skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the claims, even if they are described in specific terms only in connection with certain other features, can be combined both individually and also in any combinations with others of the features or groups of features disclosed here insofar as that has not been expressly excluded or technical aspects make such combinations impossible or meaningless. A comprehensive explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of features is dispensed with here only for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.

[0107] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description that illustration and description is only by way of example and is not deemed to be a limitation on the scope of protection as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0108] Modifications in the disclosed embodiments are apparent to the man skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the accompanying claims. In the claims the word have does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article a does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not exclude the combination thereof. References in the claims are not deemed to be a limitation on the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0109] 1 drinking glass [0110] 2 RFID transponder [0111] 3 cover layer [0112] 4 substrate [0113] 5 chip [0114] 6 first surface [0115] 7 second surface [0116] 8 glass surface [0117] 9 carrier layer [0118] 10 frame [0119] 11 structural space [0120] 12 area [0121] 13 masking layer [0122] 14 recess [0123] 15 depression [0124] 16 RFID reading device [0125] 17 screen printing head [0126] 18 arrow