GB2391235A

GB2391235A - Producing a mark in soap

Info

Publication number: GB2391235A
Application number: GB0217552A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emre Oral; Semih Iscimenler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-30
Filing date: 2002-07-30
Publication date: 2004-02-04
Also published as: GB0217552D0

Abstract

A system for providing a mark or pattern throughout a solid soap includes the addition of a thermally activated chemical capable of producing a pigment when treated with a radiant energy beam of selected wavelength. The radiant energy beam required to promote pigment change may be provided by a laser.

Description

! 239 1235

SOAP MARKING

The invention relates to a method of laser marking a high-contrast and non wear marking through commercial and industrial soap bars of any desired form. The marking does not disappear even the soap is consumed until its last bit.

Soaps are usually marked with engravings, or printed surface marks that specify the brand or the logo of the manufacturer or the brand in order to be recognizable when consumers utilize it. However, with usage, the marks do wear off.

An object of this invention is to provide a new method that makes it possible to apply graphic inscriptions, such as logos or brand identities throughout the soap that will be permanent.

Accordingly, the invention provides a permanent marking method comprising the steps of mixing soap noddles with a thermally activated color changing, organic pigments such as Iriodin) LS Pigmente by Merck, a german company, irradiating said soap with a radiant energy beam having a wavelength selected to excite the color changing pigment to change color in accordance with the form of a marking to be applied, thereby forming a permanent marking throughout the soap.

The method of the present invention makes it possible to produce a direct, and rapid marking throughout the soap that is indelible and which is, therefore, abrasion and scratch-proof. The markings obtained are also, dimensionally stable, free from deformation, fast to light, and heat, easily legible, and have good contrast as well as very good edge definition. In addition, there is virtually no impairment of the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of the soap, e.g. mechanical.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a Nd:Yag Laser pointing to a soap through a mask to make the required mark.

As shown In Figure 1, a soap bar 1 that contains a thermally activated color changing, pigment such as Iriodin@) LS Pigmente by Merck is irradiated with a Nd:Yag laser 2 beam 3, through a mask of desired shape 4 and a lens 5, having a wavelength selected to excite the color changing pigment to change color 6 in accordance with the form of a marking to be applied, thereby forming a permanent marking throughout the soap.

Claims

l 3 a, CLAIMS

1. A thermally activated, chemically based soap marking method comprising the steps of mixing an organic pigment such as Iriodin LS Pigmente by Merck, a german company into the soap noodles, irradiating said soap with a radiant energy beam having a wavelength selected to excite the color changing pigment to change color in accordance with the form of a marking to be applied, thereby forming a permanent marking throughout the soap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic pigment can be replaced by a metal oxide that comprises a colorant coupled with an energy absorbing enhancer that comprises carbon black.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiant energy beam further comprises a laser beam having an energy level ranging between 1 and 30 watts, a spot size ranging between 5 and 200 microns, and a marking speed along the substrate ranging between 25 and 1000 mm/see as well as a wavelength between 190 nm to 1 100 nm.

4. The radiant energy described in claim 3 wherein the laser used to mark the soap can be an Nd:YAG laser, a CO laser, or a pulsed-UV laser.

5. The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the mask method is utilized

whereby the area to be marked is uniformly coated with the marking material and the radiant energy passes through a fixed, data specific mask and impinges onto the marking material to produce the desired mark;

6. The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the dot-matrix method is utilized whereby the area to be marked is uniformly coated with the marking material and the radiant energy passes through a computer controlled, changeable data, dot-matrix mask and impinges onto the marking material to produce the desired mark;

7. The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the beam deflection method is utilized whereby the area to be marked is uniformly coated with the marking material and the radiant energy passes through a beam steering head and impinges onto the marking material to produce the desired mark; and

8. The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the X-Y plotter method is utilized whereby the area to be marked is uniformly coated with the marking material and so the radiant energy moves on a gantry type X-Y mechanism utilizing mirrors and/or fiber-optics and impinges onto the marking material to produce the desired mark; and

9. The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the part moving method whereby the area to be marked is uniformly coated with the marking material and the work-piece to be marked is moved using an X-Y motor driven stage under a stationary beam which impinges onto the marking material to produce the desired mark;

10.The lasers described in Claim 4 whereas the area irradiation method is utilized whereby data specific marking material is uniformly applied to the surface of the work piece and the data specific marking area is irradiated by means of a beam steering mechanism or by means of moving the work piece under a stationary beam.