U.S. patent application number 09/972020 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for method for custom imprinting plastic identifier tags.
Invention is credited to Apana, Dennis, McCoy, William E., Nabers, William L..
Application Number | 20040211332 09/972020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26988161 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040211332 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Apana, Dennis ; et
al. |
October 28, 2004 |
Method for custom imprinting plastic identifier tags
Abstract
The invention is of an improved method and process for printing
plastic tag blanks for producing plastic identifier tags (such as
cattle ear tags). By printing images on tag blanks using
conventional ink jet printer technology and thereafter "welding"
the image to be plastic of the printed tag blank, a durable image
is provided all the tag without the need for undertaking
conventional hot stamp printing with its associated costs,
inconveniences, and even safety hazards as associated with the
heated metallic print blocks of such conventional method.
Inventors: |
Apana, Dennis; (Temple,
TX) ; McCoy, William E.; (Temple, TX) ;
Nabers, William L.; (Belton, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID G. HENRY
900 Washington Avenue
Waco
TX
76701
US
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 0088362 A1 |
July 11, 2002 |
|
|
Family ID: |
26988161 |
Appl. No.: |
09/972020 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09972020 |
Oct 5, 2001 |
|
|
|
09832303 |
Apr 10, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/487 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 11/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
101/487 |
International
Class: |
B41F 023/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An improved process for imprinting plastic identification tags
with durable indicia comprising the steps of: selecting a plastic
tag blank; printing indicia on said plastic tag blank to produced a
printed tag blank; and through use of heat means, effecting a
surface temperature on a printed surface of said printed tag blank
sufficient to partially melt said printed tag blank and thereby
weld said indicia to said printed plastic tag blank.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said heating means is a hot air
source.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said heating means is a radiant
heat source.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said heating means is an
electrical resistance radiant heat device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface temperature is
between approximately 350.degree. F. and 400.degree. F.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said printing is effected through
use of a computer-driven printer.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein said printing is effected through
use of a computer-driven ink jet printer
8. The method of claim 3 wherein said printing is effected through
use of a computer-driven printer.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein said printing is effected through
use of a computer-driven ink jet printer
10. The method of claim 5 wherein said printing is effected through
use of a computer-driven printer.
11. An improved process for imprinting plastic identification tags
with durable indicia consisting essentially of the steps of:
selecting a plastic tag blank; printing indicia on said plastic tag
blank to produced a printed tag blank; and through use of heat
means, effecting a surface temperature on a printed surface of said
printed tag blank sufficient to partially melt said printed tag
blank and thereby weld said indicia to said printed plastic tag
blank.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said surface temperature is
between approximately 350.degree. F. and 400.degree. F.
Description
CITATION TO PARENT APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application with respect to
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/649,642, from which
priority is claimed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to plastic identifier tags,
such as ear tags used for cattle identification, and processes for
their manufacturer.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Custom-imprinted plastic tags are used in a variety of
contexts to identify and/or track items or commodities. This is
particularly true in the cattle industry where plastic "ear tags"
are used to distinguish cattle of one herd or group from those of
others. Merely differentiating the colors of plastic ear tags is
not sufficient to adequately identify ownership of cattle, in part,
because there are insufficient tag colors available to provide
unique identifiers for each owner's cattle, even, for example, in
the context of one, large cattle handling facility. Therefore,
uniquely identifying indicia (numerals, letters, and/or logos) are
printed on plastic tag blanks.
[0006] The most cost-effective process for printing plastic ear tag
blanks has heretofore involved "hot stamping" images through the
use of thermal film ("hot stamp foil"). Using this process, a
sufficiently heated, metallic stamp block exhibiting a raised
character (a numeral or letter, for example) is pressed against a
plastic tag blank with a segment of hot stamp foil positioned
therebetween. The thermal "ink" from the hot stamp foil which
overlies the raised character on the stamp block is transferred to
and thermally welded onto the plastic tag blank.
[0007] The hot stamping process has worked well for a number of
years, but has certain drawbacks. As already mentioned, hot
stamping involves having metallic stamp blocks with raised indicia
for transferring the desired images to tag blanks. This, in turn,
eliminates any degree of flexibility and spontaneity in choosing
and printing images on tag blanks, particularly custom logos, etc.
If a custom design is to be printed on a tag blank, a custom stamp
block must be produced, often at significant expense relative to
the cost of the other elements of tag production. In addition, in
the case of producing individually numbered tags, stamp blocks must
be changed for each successive tag blank which is hot stamped.
[0008] Because of the requirement for changing out stamp blocks as
numbers or images are changed from one tag blank printing step to
another, persons involved in printing plastic tag blanks are
exposed to notable hazards as they manually remove and replace the
stamp blocks in close proximity to the dangerously hot surfaces and
components of the hot stamp machines.
[0009] Clearly, other methods for transferring images onto plastic
tag blanks would be faster, simpler, safer to workers, and much
more cost-effective. Such methods would include traditional means
by which letters and images are applied to plastic surfaces and
other industries. However, such conventional methods do not produce
images which are durable enough to survive the typical environment
in which plastic identifier tags (cattle ear tags, for example) are
used. To date, no one has suggested or provided a method by which
plastic identifier tags may simply be "printed" in any faster,
cheaper, and safer manner than the conventional hot stamp process,
while still producing a suitably durable image.
[0010] In view of the above, it would well serve the custom
imprinted plastic tag industry and its end users to provide an
improved process for printing plastic tag blanks, which process
obviates the use of heated metallic stamp blocks, yet still applies
indicia which is sufficiently durable to satisfy the needs of end
users. In addition to eliminating the use of heated metallic stamp
blocks with the associated cost and worker hazards such a new
process would also ideally provide substantially enhanced
flexibility in choosing indicia which would be applied to plastic
tag blanks and would involve a degree of simplicity of operation as
to make practical the printing of plastic tag blanks by end-users
(something which is practically prohibitive in view of equipment
costs, difficulties for end users in acquiring needed stamp blocks,
and user hazards as are all associated with conventional hot stamp
machine technology).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved method for printing plastic identifier tags.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved method for printing plastic identifier tags, which method
obviates the need for metallic stamp blocks (with indicia appearing
in relief on a stamping face thereof) to impart images onto plastic
tag blanks.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved method for printing plastic identifier tags, which method,
when compared to conventional hot stamp printing processes, is more
cost-effective, is safer for end users or tag vendor employees, and
provides greater flexibility in image selections, yet produces an
end product with printed indicia of at least similar durability as
that produced through conventional hot stamp processes.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved method for printing plastic identifier tags, which method
facilitates substantially greater flexibility in choosing and
printing images onto plastic tag blanks when compared to
conventional hot stamp methods for printing such items.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method for printing plastic identifier tags, which method
substantially reduces costs associated with printing custom images
onto plastic tag blanks when compared to conventional hot stamp
methods for printing such items.
[0016] In satisfaction of these and related objectives, the present
invention provides an improved method and process for printing
plastic tag blanks for producing plastic identifier tags (such as
cattle ear tags). The present method eliminates the need for
metallic print blocks and their associated cost, cumbersome
exchange during image changes, hazards associated with their
handling, and inflexibility of image selection and printing. The
present method, in turn, affords substantial flexibility in image
selection and printing, is extremely cost-effective, and is of a
simplicity which will facilitate tag printing at an end user
level.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Imprinted plastic tags for identifying property (plastic ear
tags for cattle, for example) are well-known. These tags are today
typically made of polyurethane and are available from a number of
suppliers, the supplier presently with the greatest market share
being Temple Tag, Inc. of Little River, Tex. The present method
involves use of conventional plastic ear tag blanks, and in no way
requires changes to such substrate.
[0018] Clearly, printing a plastic tag blank with a conventional
computer ink jet printer would in no way provide a sufficiently
durable image for end-use. However, the current inventors have
discovered that just such an image can be "welded" to the plastic
tag blank in such a way as to produce an exceptionally durable
image.
[0019] The present inventors have discovered that one may "weld" an
ink jet printed image onto (actually into) a plastic tag blank by
impinging the printed tab blank with heated air, or applying
radiant heat to the tag blank. The heat source should be selected
and positioned such that it effects a tag blank surface temperature
of between 350.degree. F. and 400.degree. F. for a duration of
between approximately 15 and 20 seconds.
[0020] The present inventors have discovered that the described
process melts a small amount of a plastic tag's polyurethane
material. This small portion of polyurethane allows the printed
image, in effect, to simply "sink" into the tag blank's surface (at
an apparently microscopic level), whereby a small layer of the tag
blank's plastic material disperses over the surface of the tag,
including that portion with the ink jet-printed image. The image
remains clearly visible, but is protected from abrasion or chemical
attack.
[0021] After the heat application is discontinued, the dispersed
polyurethane solidifies as a substantially impermeable coating over
the printed image, thereby rendering the image virtually as durable
as the plastic tag member itself.
[0022] One example of a heat source that has proven effective is a
hot air gun. A testing example was a simple paint stripping type
hot air gun which was held at approximately 1/4 inch from a printed
tag blank for approximately 20 seconds. This operation successfully
and optimally sealed the printed image.
[0023] Of course, a commercialized version of a system for
producing tags according to the present invention will preferably
involve a stationary, mounted heat source, likely with actuatable
timer cycle circuitry for automatically actuating the hot air
source for the prescribed period of time, and for positioning the
hot air source in the appropriate position and at the appropriate
distance from the tag blank for achieving optimal image sealing. In
view of the example provided above, constructing such an
arrangement will be well within the skills of anyone even nominally
skilled in manufacturing systems design.
[0024] Alternatives to hot air sources are, of course, perfectly
acceptable, because it is the heat that is impinged at the tag
blank surface, not the type of heat generating means that is used,
which is important. Alternative heat sources will include
electrical resistance heater banks which provide radiant heat,
gas-fired burner banks, and even "ovens" of some sort. Batch ovens
(those in-line in an assembly line-type arrangement) may be
particularly useful for assembly line-type production of printed
tag blanks, as the technology for effecting surface temperatures
based on heat introduced and dwelling time in ovens is a
well-established area of technology in a number of industries
(solder re-flow operations in printed circuit board manufacturing,
for example, and even certain pre-prepared food preparation
operations).
[0025] Although not tested to date, even microwave ovens
(particularly with the use of "browning vessels" may be effective
in sufficiently melting the tags to achieve the desired results).
Finally, heated platens which actually contact the surface of the
tag blank may be used, although this is not believed to be an
optimal method, because directly contact with the printing indicia
may involve some of the indicia and/or melted tag material sticking
to the platen when it is removed.
[0026] The ability to print images on plastic tag blanks affords
numerous advantages over conventional hot stamp tag printing
processes. As will be evident to anyone who uses a computer and ink
jet printer (or any other type of computer, graphics-capable
printer) to any typical degree, one may design and print limitless
image variations using a computer and ink jet printer combination.
In addition, any number of software packages will provide for
printing of sequential numbers or letters, and even bar codes.
Therefore, anything that can be readily printed with a computer and
attached the jet printer can now quickly and easily be applied to a
plastic tag blank.
[0027] The present method obviates the need for custom produced
metallic print blocks and in during the associated delays in being
able to print custom images. Because changing numbers, letters,
images, etc. merely involves changing that which the computer sends
to the printer, vendor workers and end users need never so closely
handle dangerously heated components as is necessary when changing
images in association with a conventional hot stamp process.
[0028] Because end users of plastic tags (cattle ranchers and feed
lot operators, for example) can be provided user-friendly software
packages for printing their tags, along with (if desired)
pre-loaded image files with the end-users' custom logos, etc.,
end-user use of the present process for printing plastic
identification tags is highly feasible and will be viable from a
cost standpoint.
[0029] Clearly, the conventional ink jet printer will not, in its
original, retail form, have suitable carriers for holding plastic
tag blanks during their printing. However, modifications of
existing printers for permitting the printing of nonstandard media
is well within the knowledge and skill sets of computer hardware
modifiers, and need not be detailed here are to provide an enabling
disclosure. Once suitable carriers are provided for the jet
printers selected for use with the present process, printing
proceeds substantially as if mere paper sheets were being printed
sequentially with desired images thereon.
[0030] Also evident is the fact that devices used to apply the heat
to the juxtaposed tag blank can be of a wide range of complexity
and automation. In theory (if not in practicality) one could
practice the present method through use of a hand-held paint
stripping hot air gun, as described above. However, it is
envisioned that some degree of automation and custom-designed
machinery will be desirable. Such machinery must merely include a
sufficiently heated air or radiant energy source to deliver
sufficient heat to the surface of a printed tag blank after the
blank is printed.
[0031] In any event, the specific machinery used to carry out the
present method is not part of the present invention (although such
may be the subject of a later, continuation-in-part patent
application). Rather the invention, at present, is of the method
which, at its heart, involves heat sealing, or "welding,"
printer-deposited images (whether of ink or suitable paint) onto
plastic tag blanks using any heat source which effects a surface
temperature on a printed plastic tag blank sufficient to "weld" the
printed image into the melted plastic material to form an
encapsulated shield which will protect the printed image after
processing.
[0032] Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed
in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed
embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions
will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the
reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore,
contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications
that fall within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *