PRODUCT PROVIDED WITH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Abstract

The invention provides a transparent product to which management information is provided such that said management information can be reliably transmitted, which is devised such that even though the product is used under a harsh environment, the indicated management information will be not peeled off, and a production method for the transparent product. The invention provides a transparent product provided with management information and indicating the management information for managing the product, characterized in that said management information is provided at a site where the product has a thickness, and inside thereof in the thickness direction, in which said management information can be visually recognized through at least one of the surfaces of said product in the thickness direction.

Claims

1. A product provided with management information, characterized in that said management information is provided at a site where the product has a thickness, and inside thereof in the thickness direction, in which said management information can be visually recognized through at least any one of the surfaces of said product in the thickness direction, wherein besides said management information, a distinguishing indication for discriminating at least one of the front side, the back side, and the reversal of the management information to identify the correct position of said management information is provided.

2. The product according to claim 1, wherein said management information is formed by surrounding the aligned dots by a line.

3. (canceled)

4. The product according to claim 1, wherein said product is a quartz glass product, in which said management information is formed by the process comprising the steps of: irradiating a laser light from a YAG pulse laser having a wavelength range of 1064 nm to 355 nm at the processing output of 0.9 W or more, which is set to focus on inside the product; and performing abrasion processing for sublimating and evaporating inside the said member.

5. A method for managing a product for the maintenance thereof based on management information provided in said product, comprising: the product is a product according to claim 1; the management information provided to surfaces of the product is read out permeably through any one of said surfaces in the thickness direction to acquire any one of the maintenance period, the date of the manufacture, and the manufacturer of said product,

6. The product according to claim 2, wherein said product is a quartz glass product, in which said management information is formed by the process comprising the steps of: irradiating a laser light from a YAG pulse laser having a wavelength range of 1064 nm to 355 nm at the processing output of 0.9 W or more, which is set to focus on inside the product; and performing abrasion processing for sublimating and evaporating inside the said member.

7. A method for managing a product for the maintenance thereof based on management information provided in said product, comprising: the product is a product according claim 2; the management information provided to surfaces of the product is read out permeably through any one of said surfaces in the thickness direction to acquire any one of the maintenance period, the date of the manufacture, and the manufacturer of said product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a product provided with management information according to a first embodiment: (A) a perspective view of the product; and (B) a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing the principle of ablation processing by laser light.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows plan views of products provided with a distinguishing indication for discriminating at least one of the front side, back side and reversal of the management information, showing several examples for distinguishing indications: (A) a plan view of a product with a distinguishing indication using a company name; (B) a plan view of a product with a distinguishing indication using brackets; and (C) a plan view of a product with a distinguishing indication using the characters “TOP” indicating the upward direction.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows perspective views of products provided with the management information according to Example 2: (A) a perspective view of a product formed with frosted glass on the back side; and (B) a perspective view of a product formed with frosted glass on the surface (laser light incident surface).

[0043] FIG. 4 shows perspective views of products provided with the management information according to Example 3: (A) an A-A longitudinal section schematic view, showing a state where the management information is indicated for a product of a large diameter pipe; (B) an A-A longitudinal section view, showing a state where the management information is indicated for a product of a small diameter pipe; and (C) an A-A longitudinal section view, showing a slate where the management information of small size is indicated for a product of a small diameter pipe.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows front views each showing the management information according to Example 4.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows enlarged front views each showing the management information cells according to Example 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0046] A product provided with management information and a manufacturing method of the product according to the embodiments of the invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings below. However, the product provided with the management information according to the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the invention, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 1(A) shows a product C1 provided with management information 10 according to a first embodiment. By ablation processing with laser light L, inside the product C1 formed of a transparent material, a QR code to be the management information 10 is formed.

[0048] FIG. 1(B) shows the principle of ablation processing by laser light, In this embodiment, the management information is formed by incidence of the laser light L to the surface (laser light incident surface) 11 of the transparently formed product C1. The laser light L is focused to a focal point P apart from the product surface (laser light incident surface) 11 by a distance of Z.sub.1 via the condenser lens 13. Since the energy density at the focal point P is set to be equal to or higher than the breakdown threshold inside the product, melting, deterioration, and the like occur in the region near the focal point P. The refractive index, the reflectance, and the like of the portion where the deterioration or the like has occurred are different from the other portions, so that the portion can be distinguished from the outside. That is, according to the above processing principle, the management information 10 can be formed inside the transparent product C1. In the surface (laser light incident surface) of the transparently formed product C1, the laser light L is set to be equal to or lower than the breakdown threshold value, so that fine unevenness (cracks or the like) never occurs on the surface.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable to provide a distinguishing indication for discriminating at least one of the front side, the back side and the reversal of the management information 10 in the transparent product C1. This is to make the acquisition operation accurate and reliable when acquiring (reading) the indicated management information 10. In this distinguishing indication, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the company name “ABC company” can be displayed at the bottom of the management information 10, being the distinguishing indication 20A, or as shown in FIG. 2(B), the bracket can be provided to interpose to the upper left part of the management information 10, being the distinguishing indication 20B, or as shown in FIG. 2(C), the characters “TOP” indicating the upward direction can be indicated at the upper portion of the management information 10, being distinguishing indication 20C. This distinguishing indication is not limited to the above examples, and it can be provided in various shapes at various positions provided that the acquisition (reading) operation of the information in the reading device is not hindered. By providing such a distinguishing indication, it is possible to recognize the right position of the management information 10, and to read the management information 10 accurately from the front surface.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0050] In Example 1, as shown in FIG. 1, it was confirmed by ablation processing with the laser light L whether or not the management information can be actually processed, and whether or not the processed management information can be read out.

[0051] In this Example 1, firstly, transparent products each made of two different materials, synthetic quartz glass (AQ manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) and natural fused quartz glass (GE 124 manufactured by Momentive) were used as a transparent material product. These two different kinds of transparent products were formed into a circular plate having an outer diameter φ.sub.1 of 50 mm, and a plate thickness t.sub.1 of 1 mm, both having a surface (laser light incident surface) 11, and a smooth and transparent back surface 12 and were used. In laser processing thereof, a YAG pulse laser having a wavelength range of 1064 nm to 355 nm was used as a light source, and the processing output was set to 1.5 W.

[0052] Here, in the this example, the reason why the laser processing output is set to 1.5 W is that the management information can be visually recognized, and the processing conditions that can be reliably read out can be confirmed in advance. That is, prior to the example, ablation processing is performed separately for each laser processing output to verify the visibility (whether visual recognition of a figure can be recognized) of the management information formed inside the product, and readability or not, and the results thereof were reflected.

[0053] Specifically, in this verification, as a transparent product, the synthetic quartz glass (AQ manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) formed with a flat plate having an outer diameter φ.sub.1 of 50 mm and a plate thickness t.sub.1 of 1 mm was used, and the laser output conditions were changed to form the management information, and then it was verified whether or not the formed management information can be visually checked and whether the information can be read out from the formed QR code by using a commercially available handy type code reader (manufactured by Keyence/model BT-75W). The management information was formed as a square shaped QR code having 13 mm length of one side, at a depth of about 0.1 mm from the product surface. Table 1 below shows the verification results.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Internal markings when laser output conditions are different No. Laser Output Conditions Visibility Readability 1 0.8 W X X 2 0.9 W ◯ ◯ 3 1.0 W ◯ ◯ 4 1.5 W ◯ ◯ Visibility: ◯ indicates that a figure can be visually checked. X indicates that a figure cannot be visually checked.

[0054] In this verification, as shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that the management information cannot be visually recognized when the laser processing output is 0.8 W, and the visibility and readability are allowable at the processing output of 0.9 W or more. Therefore, in the example, the laser processing output is set to 1.5 W or above, which provides reliably visibility and readability.

[0055] From the above verification results, in Example 1, the laser processing output was set to 1.5 W, and a square shaped QR code with a side of 13 mm was formed for said two different kinds of materials at a depth of about 0.1 mm from the surface of the product, and it was verified whether or not the materials can actually be processed, and further whether or not the information can be read out from the formed QR code with a commercially available handy type code reader (manufactured by Keyence/model BT-75W), even after the product having the QR code formed was put into an atmospheric furnace at a high temperature of 1150° C. for 60 minutes.

[0056] The results are shown in Table 2 below. That is, the following Table 2 shows experimental results as to the possibility of the laser processing relating to the materials of the two different kinds for the transparent products, and whether the information can be read out by the reading device.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Internal laser marking/QR code to quartz glass (double-sided transparent finish) plate Laser Processing Process- Read- No. Material Output ability ability 1 Synthetic quartz glass 1.5 W ◯ ◯ (AQ manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) 2 Natural fused quartz glass 1.5 W ◯ ◯ (GE 124 manufactured by Momentive)

[0057] As shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that, for transparent products formed with two different materials, it is possible to form the management information (QR code in this example) inside the product for either products, and the formed management information can be read out. That is, it was confirmed that the information can be formed internally and readably for materials (material) made by either natural raw material or chemical synthesis.

[0058] Furthermore, it was verified whether the transparent products in which the management information was formed can be used even under a harsh environment. Specifically, the above two different kinds of transparent products having the management information formed were introduced into an atmospheric furnace at a high temperature of 1150° C. for 60 minutes, and the availability of the products was confirmed. As a result, it was confirmed that the management information formed inside the product never peels off (or is blurred) and does not disappear even after it is put into a high temperature atmospheric furnace, and the information also can be read out by the code reader.

Example 2

[0059] In Example 2, the laser processing is performed on a transparent product in which one of the surface (laser light incident surface) 11 and the back surface is formed to be transparent, and the other surface is formed into a frosted glass shape, and it was verified whether or not the management information 10 can be formed inside thereof, and whether or not said information can be read out.

[0060] In Example 2, natural fused quartz glass (GE 214 manufactured by Momentive) formed into a flat plate having an outer diameter φ.sub.2 of 50 mm and a plate thickness t.sub.2 of 5 mm was used as a transparent product. Then, a sample product in which one side of the transparent product was made transparent, and the other side was roughened to form a frosted glass was provided. in this example, products respectively having a surface roughness of the frosted glass surface roughened into Ra 0.704 μm and Ra 3.270 μm were used, and each of them was processed with these two roughnesses on the surfaces and the back surfaces, i.e., products having total four different surface conditions were provided to use.

[0061] In the laser processing in this example, a YAG pulse laser similar to that in Example 1 was used, and the processing output was set to two different modes, i.e., 1.5 W and 9 W. By this laser processing, it was verified whether or not a square shaped QR code having one side of 13 mm can be formed at a depth of about 1.7 mm from the surface, and whether or not the information can he read out. Table 3 shown below shows the results.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Internal laser marking/QR code to a flat plate with different surface condition of each surface Surface Finish of Quartz Glass Substrate Surface (Laser light Laser incident Back Processing Process- Read- No. surface) surface Output ability ability 1 Transparent Frosted 1.5 W, 9 W ◯ ◯ (Mechanical glass (Ra polishing, 0.704 μm) Ra 0.02 μm) 2 Transparent Frosted 1.5 W, 9 W ◯ ◯ (Mechanical glass (Ra polishing, 3.270 μm) Ra 0.02 μm) 3 Frosted glass Transparent 1.5 W, 9 W X X (Ra (Mechanical 0.704 μm) polishing, Ra 0.02 μm) 4 Frosted glass Transparent 1.5 W, 9 W X X (Ra (Mechanical 3.270 μm) polishing, Ra 0.02 μm)

[0062] As shown in Table 3 (No. 1/2) and FIG. 3(A), to the transparent product C2 in which the surface (laser light incident surface) 11 is formed to be transparent and the back surface 12 is formed into frosted glass, the management information 10 can be formed by any of the laser processing outputs, and can be read out.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown in Table 3 (No. 3/4) and FIG. 3(B), to the transparent product C2 in which the surface (laser light incident surface) 11 is formed into a frosted glass shape and the back surface is formed to be transparent, the management information 10 could not be formed inside.

[0064] That is, it was confirmed that it is desirable to form the laser light incident surface transparently and smoothly in order to apply ablation processing by laser light to the inside of the product.

Example 3

[0065] In Example 3, laser processing was carried out on transparent products having different product shapes, and it was verified whether or not the management information 10 could be formed and read out. In particular, cylindrical transparent products with different cylindrical outer diameters were used.

[0066] In Example 3, a cylinder formed of natural fused quartz glass (GE 214 manufactured by Momentive) was used as a transparent product. As shown in FIG. 4, two different transparent products C3 were provided in which one is a large-diameter tube having an outer diameter φ.sub.3 of 280 mm and a plate thickness t.sub.3 of 5 mm, and the other is a small diameter tube having an outer diameter φ.sub.4 of 26 mm and a plate thickness t.sub.4 of 2 mm were used. In these two products, both the surfaces (laser light incident surfaces) 11 and the back surfaces 12 were formed to be transparent.

[0067] A YAG pulsed laser similar to those in Examples 1 and 2 was used for the laser processing, and the processing outputs were set to 5 different modes, 1.5 W, 3 W, 5 W, 7 W, and 9 W. By this laser processing, it was verified whether or not a square shaped QR code having one side of 13 mm or 6 mm can be formed at a depth of about 1.7 mm from the product surface, and whether or not the information can be read out. Table 4 shown below shows the results.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Internal laser marking/QR code to Quartz glass cylindrical substrate (both inner and outer surfaces were applied with a transparent baked finish) Cylinder Outer QR Code Laser Processing No. Diameter Size Output Processability Readability 1 φ280 mm □13 mm 1.5 W, 3 W, 5 W, 7 W, 9 W ◯ ◯ 2  φ26 mm □13 mm 1.5 W Δ X 3  φ26 mm  □6 mm 1.5 W, 3 W, 5 W, 7 W, 9 W ◯ ◯ Δ: Since the end of the code figure cannot be formed, it cannot be read out.

[0068] As shown in Table 4 (No. 1) and FIG. 4(A), to the transparent product C3 formed in a large diameter tube having an outer diameter φ.sub.3 of 280 mm, the management information 10 (QR code) in a square shape with one side of 13 mm could be formed by any of the laser processing outputs.

[0069] On the other hand, as shown in Table 4 (No. 2) and FIG. 4(B), to the transparent product. C3 formed in a small diameter tube having an outer diameter φ.sub.4 of 26 mm, the central part of the management information 10 (QR code) in the form of a square shape having one side of 13 mm could be formed, but the edge part thereof could not be formed. Since complete management information 10 was not formed, reading was also impossible.

[0070] However, as shown in Table 4 (No. 3) and FIG. 4(C), to the transparent product C3 formed in the small diameter tube, the management information 10 (QR code) having a square shape with one side of 6 mm could be formed inside.

[0071] From the above experimental results, it could be confirmed that when the transparent products C3 are formed in a cylindrical shape or the like, since the formation surface of the management information 10 is formed into a curved surface, it is necessary to adjust the formation region of the management information 10. By appropriately selecting and using the shape of the management information, for example, adjusting the size of the management information 10 depending on the shape of the transparent product, or forming the management information 10 in another shape with respect to the axial direction, it becomes possible to form the management information 10 reliably and accurately inside of the transparent product.

Example 4

[0072] In this example, when the management information is indicated by forming an opaque portion to a transparent product by ablation with laser light thereto, the “information indicating portion”, which is normally indicated in black or the like, was rendered opaque to form a two-dimensional code 10a (FIG. 5(A)), and the margin portion was made opaque to form a transparent “information indicating portion” of a two-dimensional code 10b (FIG. 5(B)), and the differences therebeteween in terms of the recognition rate when reading with a two-dimensional code reader were compared. As a result of reading by a two-dimensional code reader the two two-dimensional codes in which the patterns thereof were inverted each other, in a two-dimensional code in which an opaque portion is formed in the transparent product and the reflection rate of the light is made different, the reading performance by the two-dimensional code reader was deteriorated depending on the background appearing through the transparent portion. That is, depending on the reading environment of the reader, the reading accuracy was higher in the two-dimensional code 10b in which the margin portion was made opaque and the “information indicating portion” was made transparent. Therefore, it was confirmed that in order to improve the reading performance of the two-dimensional code reader, it is effective to form the management information such that the transparent portion is small when considering whether the “margin portion” or “information indicating portion” is made opaque. Also, it was confirmed that in order to improve the reading accuracy in any environment, it is effective to provide both the management information in which the “margin portion” is made opaque and the management information in which the “information indicating portion” is made opaque.

Example 5

[0073] In this example, the drawing composition of the cells constituting the management information was changed, and the difference in terms of the reading accuracy in the two-dimensional code reader was confirmed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) to 6(E), differences in terms of the reading accuracy by the two-dimensional code reader were compared by malting patterns different to be opaque by ablation processing.

[0074] In FIG. 6(A), one cell was a square (□) of a size L1 having a side of 500 ∥m, in which dots 30a, 13 dots vertically and 13 dots horizontally, were aligned to arrange within the cell, wherein the pitch P1 between every dots 30a within the cell was 40 μm. As a result, the reading accuracy by the two-dimensional code reader (hereinafter referred to as “reading accuracy”) was 90% or above. On the other hand, when in the same cell, but the number of dots, 6 dots vertically, and 6 dots horizontally aligned, was used, the reading accuracy was 50% or less.

[0075] In FIG. 6(B), one cell was a square (□) of a size L2 having a side of 320 μm, in which lines 30b were crossed to form a cross hatch within the cell. Experiments were conducted with different pitches P2 of the lines 30b, i.e., 10 μm, 40 μm, 80 μm, and 120 μm, and found that the reading accuracy was 90% or above at any pitch. However, it was confirmed as the line pitch is made smaller, the reading accuracy also increases, but the processing time becomes longer.

[0076] In FIG. 6(C), one cell was a square (□) of a size L3 having a side of 200 μm, in which dots 30a, 5 dots vertically and 5 dots horizontally, were aligned to arrange within the cell, wherein the pitch P1 between every dots 30a within the cell was 40 μm. As a result, the reading accuracy was 90% or above. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 6(D), when one cell was a square (□) of a size L3 having a side of 200 μm, similarly to the case as shown in FIG. 6(C), in which dots 30a, 3 dots vertically and 3 dots horizontally, were aligned to arrange within the cell, wherein the pitch P3 between every dots 30a within the cell was 80 μm, this could not hardly be read out by the two-dimensional code reader. As shown in FIG. 6(E), when one cell was a square (□) of a size L3 having a side of 200 μm, similarly to the case as shown in FIG. 6(C), in which dots 30a, 4 dots vertically and 4 dots horizontally, were aligned to arrange within the cell, wherein the pitch P1 between every dots 30a within the cell was 40 μm, and the outside of said cell was surrounded by line 30b, the reading accuracy was 90% or above. On the contrary, when one cell was of a size having a side of 200 μm, in which dots 30a, 4 dots vertically and 4 dots horizontally, were aligned to arrange within the cell, wherein the pitch between every dots 30a within the cell was 40 μm (without surrounding by the line), the reading accuracy was about 50%. From this, it could be confirmed that the reading accuracy can be improved even though fewer number of the dots aligned to arrange by surrounding a line of the periphery thereof (or the cell).

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

[0077] C1, C2, C3 Transparent Product [0078] 10 Management information [0079] 11 Surface (Laser light incident surface) [0080] 12 Back surface [0081] 13 Collecting lens [0082] 20A, 20B, 20C Distinguishing Indication [0083] L Laser light [0084] P Focus point [0085] φ Outer diameter [0086] t Plate thickness [0087] Z Distance