Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D25/20—External fittings
  • B65D25/205—Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14836—Preventing damage of inserts during injection, e.g. collapse of hollow inserts, breakage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14836—Preventing damage of inserts during injection, e.g. collapse of hollow inserts, breakage
  • B29C2045/14844—Layers protecting the insert from injected material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C2045/14852—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles incorporating articles with a data carrier, e.g. chips
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
  • B65D2203/10—Transponders

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for providing a transport or storage structure with a remote-readable escort memory, the structure being produced by injection moulding from plastic.
• an escort memory encapsulated e.g. in an epoxy cup is attached e.g. by adhering or screwing to a finished injection moulded transport or storage structure that is to be identified, e.g. to a box, vessel, pallet or the like.
• solu ⁇ tions is that an escort memory is to be arranged in a product that has already been produced, e.g. in a plastic box, that is to be identified by the escort memory.
• the known methods are also laborious in the production.
• the outer dimensions of transport or storage structures, such as boxes, produced by known methods may change and this may complicate the treatment of the box e.g. on the production line.
• the identifier or escort memory can be detached from the product to be identified without breaking the product. This is especially disadvantageous when the escort memory is used for marking valuable or otherwise important products, since e.g. in case of theft it is more difficult to verify the original owner of the product if the escort memory has been detached from the product.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a new kind of method eliminating the problems of the known solutions.
• This is achieved with the method of the inven ⁇ tion, which is characterised in that the escort memory is first arranged in connection with a protective housing protecting the escort memory, that initial closing of the escort memory is performed by closing the protective housing protecting the escort memory, that final closing of the escort memory and the protective housing is performed by injection moulding: the initially closed protective housing that contains the escort memory is fully or in part encapsulated by injection mouldable plastic used for forming a wall for the transport or storage structure, and the protective housing and the escort memory are integrated into the wall.
• the method of the invention is based on the idea that the escort memory is integrated into the product to be identified during the production.
• the escort memory When integrated into the structure of a plastic box or a corresponding product during the injection moulding, the escort memory does not add to the outer dimensions of the product. It is important that the outer dimensions do not change; addition of an escort memory might make the outer dimensions of the product too large and thus complicate other treatment of the product. Also, the escort memory of a transport or storage structure is disposed in a wear-resistant place, i.e. integrated into the wall of the product, and not arranged onto the surface of the wall as in previously known methods. Since the outer dimensions do not change, the surface of the product to be identified remains smooth, i.e.
• the product has no joints that would be problematic in respect of erosion, resistance, tightness, cleaning, or e.g. bacterial growth; the last- mentioned is especially significant when a transport and storage structure to be identified, e.g. a box, is used in food industry, e.g. in abattoirs.
• the method of the invention is also advantageous in respect of the production process since the initial closing does not require that the whole product that is to be identified should be handled.
• the protective housing protecting the escort memory also improves the ability of the components of the escort memory that are sensitive to pressure and temperature to endure injection moulding. If desired, the escort memory can also be arranged inside the structure.
• the number of thefts can be reduced and the thefts cleared up more easily if the escort memory identifying a transport box cannot be detached without breaking the box.
• the invention also relates to a transport or storage structure - e.g. a box, vessel, pallet or the like - injection moulded from plastic and provided with a remote-readable escort memory, the structure com- prising an injection moulded wall and a remote-readable escort memory for identifying the transport and storage structure.
• a transport or storage structure e.g. a box, vessel, pallet or the like - injection moulded from plastic and provided with a remote-readable escort memory, the structure com- prising an injection moulded wall and a remote-readable escort memory for identifying the transport and storage structure.
• the transport or storage structure of the invention which is characterised in that the escort memory is encapsulated by a protective housing that is in essentially c part but comprises two elements facing each oth at the joint formed in initial closing, and that rae protective housing with the escort memory contained therein is integrated into the wall of the injection moulded transport or storage structure, and that the injection moulded plastic in the wall is arranged to perform final closing of the joint between the opposite elements of the protective housing.
• Fig. 1 shows a simplified general view of the escort memory and a device for reading it
• Fig. 2 shows the escort memory and the protective housing separately
• Fig. 3 shows the housing of Fig. 2 assembled and initially closed
• Fig. 4a shows a first embodiment of the first half of the protective housing for the escort memory as seen from the outside
• Fig. 4b shows a first embodiment of the second half of the protective housing for the escort memory as seen from the inside
• Fig. 4c shows a second embodiment of the first half of the protective housing for the escort memory as seen from the outside
• Fig. 4d shows a second embodiment of the second half of the protective housing for the escort memory as seen from the inside
• Fig. 5 shows the protective housing assembled from the two halves of the protective housing shown in Figs. 4a and 4b
• Fig. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the protective housing assembled from the two halves of the protective housing shown in Figs. 4c and 4d
• Fig. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the protective housing assembled from the two halves of the protective housing shown in Figs. 4c and 4d
• Fig. 6 shows how the escort memory with the protective housing is arranged in the wall of a plastic box
• Fig. 7 shows a mould used in the method
• Fig. 8 shows a detail of Fig. 7
• Fig. 9a shows a first embodiment of the arrangement of the escort memory with the protective housing
• Fig. 9b shows a second embodiment of the arrangement of the escort memory with the protective housing
• Fig. 9c shows a third embodiment of the arrangement of the escort memory with the protective housing
• Fig. 9d shows a fourth embodiment of the arrangement of the escort memory with the protective housing.
• Fig. 1 shows a simplified general view of the escort memory and a device for reading it. From Fig. 1 appears the structure of the identifying system.
• the identifying system comprises an escort memory 1 and a reading device 2.
• the escort memory 1 comprises a transmitter/receiver 3 and a coil 4 connected thereto.
• the reading device 2 comprises a transmitter/receiver 5 and a coil 6, into which the transmitter/receiver 5 feeds an AC signal containing the identifying data desired.
• the operation of the identi- fying system is based on mutual induction of the coils 4 and 6.
• the escort memory may be inductive, or it may be an RF-identifi»r or be operated by ultrasound.
• the data transmission ween an escort memory 7 and a reading device is t: ⁇ us based on an electromagnetic field or ultrasound.
• Fig. 2 shows the escort memory and the protect ⁇ ive housing separately.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the escort memory 7 in one part; this escort memory corresponds to the escort memory 1 of Fig. 1.
• the escort memory 7 of Fig. 2 comprises a transmitter/receiver and a coil as in Fig. 1.
• the escort memory 7 is encapsulated by a protective housing 8 that comprises two opposite elements or halves 8a and 8b.
• the elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing are essentially identical and they are arranged as a mirror image of each other, as shown in Fig. 3.
• the elements 8a and 8b i.e. the two halves of the protective housing, are closed at the joint surface e.g. in the manner of a snap fastener or by ultrasonic welding or adhering.
• the initial closing provides a so-called insert, which comprises an escort memory 7 and a protective housing
• Fig. 4a shows an outside view of the first half or element 8a of the protective housing for the escort memory.
• Fig. 4b shows the second element 8b from the opposite direction, i.e. from the inside or the side of the escort memory.
• Fig. 4b thus shows that the element 8b comprises a machined groove 10 for the coil, and a space 11 for a bare or encapsulated microcircuit and other possible components of the escort memory. It is possible to provide a groove 10 for the coil and a space 11 for the microcircuit in both halves of the protective housing.
• the microcircuit of the escort memory can be e.g. a permanently coded 'read only' microcircuit or a programmable 'read/write' microcircuit.
• Fig. 6 shows how the escort memory 7 with the protective housing 8a, 8b is arranged in a wall 14 of a plastic box 13.
• Fig. 6 also shows, on the right, a separate view of the escort memory 7 and the protective housing 8a, 8b.
• Fig. 7 shows a mould 15 used in producing a plastic box, the mould comprising an upper mould element 15a and a lower mould element 15b, which separate from each other along division plane A except that the part in the middle marked with lines belongs to the upper mould element.
• the mould also comprises a feed channel 16 below for molten plastic and a feeder 17, or a so-called core, with which the insert or the initially closed unit formed by the escort memory and the protective housing can be disposed in the mould 15.
• a space 18 between the mould elements 15a and 15b in Figs. 7 and 8 is where the plastic box 13 comprising the wall 14, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed from injection moulded plastic.
• a transport and storage structure injection moulded from plastic e.g. a plastic box 13 is provided with a remote-readable escort memory.
• the escort memory 7 is first arranged in the protective housing 8 protecting the escort memory or, more specifically, between the elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing 8.
• Initial closing of the protective housing 8 protecting the escort memory is then performed: the joint 9 between the two halves of the protective housing is e.g. welded or adhered, or the elements 8a and 8b are attached to each other, as shown in Fig. 5, with a plurality of fixing means 12a and 12b.
• the escort memory 7 and the protective housing 8, 8a and 8b, i.e. the insert, is then closed finally by injection moulding: the initially closed protective housing 8, 8a, 8b containing the escort memory 7 is encapsulated fully or in part by injection mouldable plastic used in the production of the wall 14 of the transport and storage structure, e.g. the plastic box 13, and the protective housing and the escort memory are integrated into the wall 14.
• the initially closed protective housing containing the escort memory 7 is disposed in the mould 15 used in the injection moulding of the transport or storage structure, in the space 18 defined by the mould, the space being filled with molten plastic in the injection moulding and thereby forming the wall 14 of the box.
• injection moulding is carried out in a manner known per se. Injection moulding is the most commonly used method in the production of especially thermoplastic products. It can also be used in the production of thermosetting plastic products.
• thermoplastic products are produced by injection moulding, the raw material used is solid granulated plastic, which is first plasticized by heat and by stirring. The plasticized moulding compound is injected into a mould. After a suitable cooling time, the mould is opened and the product, e.g. a thin-walled plastic box, is removed from the mould.
• Figs. 9a to 9d show different cross-sectional views of the wall 14 of the plastic box. They show different ways of integrating the insert or the initially closed unit comprising the escort memory and the protective housing 8a, 8b into the wall 14 of the thin-walled plastic box. Both elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing have an essentially smooth planar outer surface: the first element 8a has an outer surface 8c and the second element 8b has an outer surface 8d. As shown in Figs. 6, 9a and 9b, in an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention the wall 14 of the injection moulded transport or storage structure, e.g.
• the box 13 is injection moulded to be essentially on a level with at least one of the outer surfaces 8c, 8d of the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b containing the escort memory.
• the wall 14 is injection moulded to be on a level with both the outer surface 8c of the first element 8a and the outer surface 8d of the second element 8b of the protective housing.
• the housing 8 before initial closing of the protective housing 8a, 8b the housing 8 is filled with a filling agent, such as polyurethane, epoxy or silicone.
• a filling agent such as polyurethane, epoxy or silicone.
• Fig. 6 shows a transport or storage structure of the invention, e.g. a box, injection moulded from plastic and provided with a remote-readable escort memory 7.
• the term 'transport and storage structure' should here be understood to cover all different kinds of products, such as vessels, containers, pallets or the like used for transportation, moving, storage or the like of other products or things.
• the term also covers a part of a transport or storage structure, e.g. a cover or the like necessary for the operation.
• the thin-walled plastic box 13 comprises an injection moulded wall 14 and a remote-readable escort memory 7 for identifying the box 13 or, more widely, the transport or storage structure 13.
• the escort memory 7 is encapsulated by a protective housing 8 that is in essentially one part but comprises two elements 8a and 8b facing each other at the joint 9 when the housing is initially closed.
• the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b and the escort memory 7 contained therein are integrated into the wall of the injection moulded transport or storage structure, e.g.
• the box 13 and the injection moulded plastic of the wall 14 is arranged to perform final closing of the joint 9 between the opposite elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8.
• the opposite elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing 8 for the escort memory 7 are thin injection moulded plastic plates, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4.
• the thin plastic plates forming the protective housing have naturally been injection moulded much earlier and in some other connection than the injection moulded wall 14 of the box 13.
• FIG. 5 shows the protective housing 8 comprising the elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing 8 as shown in Figs. 4a and 4b, the escort memory 7 being arranged inside the protective housing in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 6.
• Fig. 4a the first half or element 8a of the protective housing is seen from the outside, whereas in Fig. 4b the second half or element 8b is seen from the inside or from the side of the escort memory.
• the second half 8b of the protective housing for the escort memory comprises a groove 10 for the coil of the escort memory and a space 11 for the escort memory circuit and other possible components.
• the structure shown in Fig. 5 is obtained by placing the first half 8a of the protective housing for the escort memory as shown in Fig. 4a against the second half 8b shown in Fig. 4b, but first an escort memory comprising an escort memory circuit and a coil has been attached to the second half.
• Figs. 2 to 6 and 9a to 9d show that in an advantageous embodiment of the invention the transport or storage structure 13 injection moulded from plastic and provided with an escort memory 7 is such that at least one of the opposite elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8 for the escort memory 7 comprises a feather edge 19a, 19b to facilitate gripping.
• a feather edge is especially easy to form when the elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8 are thin injection moulded plastic plates produced as described above.
• the feather edge 19a, 19b comprises one or more gripping lumps 19c, as shown in Figs. 4c and 9d.
• the gripping lumps enhance the grip between the insert and the product, e.g. the box 13; yet when provided at the feather edge 19a and 19b, the gripping lumps 19c do not add too much to the outer dimensions of the insert.
• the protective housing 8a, 8b comprises - for initial closing of the opposite elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8 for the escort memory - fixing means 12a, 12b, 12c arranged at the feather edge 19a, 19b of the elements 8a, 8b.
• the fixing means comprise apertures 12a in the first element 8a and pegs 12b in the second element 8b of the protective housing, the pegs connecting the elements 8a and 8b through the apertures 12a.
• the pegs 12b are provided with flexible projecting parts 12c that are arranged to connect the elements 8a and 8b of the protective housing 8. This kind of initial closing of the escort memory and the protective housing is advantageous and easy to perform.
• initial closing can be conducted in some other way, e.g. by ultrasonic welding or by adhering. Initial closing need not be hermetic, whereby it is not so expensive. It is advantageous to arrange the fixing means 12a, 12b at the feather edge 19a, 19b since the edge is the thinnest part of the protective housing.
• the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b of the escort memory also comprises press-on connecting means 23, 24 provided on the inside of the opposite elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8.
• the connecting means 23 may be e.g. recesses provided in the first element 8a of the protective housing.
• the recesses 23 are marked with dotted lines since they are on the reverse side or inside of the first element 8a of the protective housing 8 although Fig. 4c shows the element 8a from the outside.
• the connecting means 24 in Figs. 4d and 5a are counterparts 24 to the recesses.
• the connecting means 23, 24 enhance the initial closing particularly when fixing means 12a to 12c are used for closing large inserts: the connecting means 23, 24 inside the insert, close to its centre, stiffen and compress the structure of the insert.
• the transport or storage structure 13 of the invention injection moulded from plastic and provided with an escort memory is advantageously such that at least one of the opposite elements 8a, 8b of the protective housing 8 for the escort memory - or in practice, of the outer surfaces 8c, 8d of the elements - is injection moulded to be on a level with the wall 14 of the transport or storage structure, e.g. the box 13. This is easy to carry out since, as shown in Figs.
• the protective housing can be easily and simply disposed through the feeder 17 in the space 18 which is defined by the mould elements and in which the wall 14 is formed by injection moulding in such a way that the housing is in direct contact with the opposite mould elements 15a, 15b.
• the wall of the box to be injection moulded is relatively thick in relation to the thickness of the insert.
• the insert comprises an escort memory and a housing 8, 8a, 8b protecting it.
• the wall 14 is thick, it may be advisable to arrange the insert in the middle of the wall, whereby it is fully enclosed with injection moulded plastic. This is the firmest way of attaching the insert to the product, e.g. the box 13.
• the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b of the insert comprises peg-like projecting parts 20 projecting towards the mould 15a, 15b.
• the mould 15a, 15b can guide the insert to a desired position or symmetrically in relation to the wall 14.
• the peg-like projecting parts 20 also enhance the attachment of the insert to the wall 14 to be injection moulded.
• the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b thus comprises projecting parts 20 guiding the protective housing 8 during the injection moulding and serving as a mark 22 showing the position of the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b containing the escort memory.
• the mark 22 showing the position of the protective housing 8, 8a, 8b and thereby of the escort memory is thus a physical or optical mark 22 in the basic structure of the product to be identified, e.g. the box 13.
• a physical mark 22 is a projecting part 20, or a plurality of projecting parts, essentially on a level with the wall 14 of the transport or storage structure, e.g. the box.
• the projecting parts 20 have a colouring that is clearly different from that of the basic structure of the product to be identified.
• the two kinds of marks are easy to provide and they are wear-resistant unlike the present solutions since in the invention the mark 22 is also produced as an integral part of the transport and storage structure to be identified.
• it is thus the projecting parts 20 of the insert that are coloured and, if desired, also - or alternatively - the surfaces 8c and 8d of the insert; the darker insert can then be easily distinguished from the light plastic box.
• any other elements in Figs. 4c, 4d and 5a reference is made to Figs. 4a, 4b and 5 respectively.
• Fig. 9d also shows an embodiment with a thick wall 14, but in this advantageous embodiment the mould comprises guide pegs 21 that can be moved to two directions and that guide the insert symmetrically to the correct position.
• the guide pegs 21 are in the position shown in Fig. 9d; after the injection moulding they are pulled towards the mould 15a, 15b.
• the invention is described above with reference to the embodiments of the attached drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to them but that it may vary in many ways within the limits of the inventive idea presented in the attached claims.
• the number and shape of the components of the escort memory e.g. the shape of the coil, may vary.
• the protective housing of the escort memory need not be rectangular as in the Figs, but it may be e.g. circular.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Automatic Disk Changers (AREA)

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• 1992
  • 1992-05-29 FI FI922486A patent/FI90850C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1993
  • 1993-05-26 WO PCT/FI1993/000225 patent/WO1993024381A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1993-05-26 EP EP93910054A patent/EP0642446A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1993-05-26 CA CA 2136826 patent/CA2136826A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-05-26 JP JP6500234A patent/JPH08500797A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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