GB2413108A - Detachable label and in-mould labelling - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a label (1; 13; 29; 37; 43; 45; 49; 55) for attachment to a body of settable fluid material (11) (figure 4 not shown). The label comprises: a label sheet (3); and means (5) (figure 1 - not shown) for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface (7) of a mould (9) prior to introducing settable fluid material into the mould to maintain the label sheet (3) in attachment with surface (7) of said mould (9) as said body of settable fluid material is introduced into the mould; the label sheet (3) is capable of bonding with said body of settable fluid material as it sets and the label is capable of detaching from surface (7) on separation of the mould and the set body. A tracking system and a method of attaching a label are also disclosed. The label sheet is configured to carry data which may be in electronic form. The sheet may carry a data storage means 15, a controller 17 and an interface, which may be an antenna 19 to permit data to be read wirelessly from the label. A non-contact transceiver 23 (figure 4 - not shown) can wirelessly transmit data to and receive from the label. A tab 31 may be folded out to be embedded in the settable material.

Description

1 2413108

A LABEL AND A METHOD OF ATTACHING A LABEL

This invention relates to labels, and to a method of attaching labels. Preferred embodiments of the invention relate to a label for attachment to a body of gettable fluid material, and to a method of attaching a label to a body of gettable fluid material.

Product testing is undertaken in many manufacturing industries. For example, in the construction industry representative samples of concrete are routinely tested for compliance with the specifications for that material as stipulated, for example, by the architect to whose design the building concerned is being built.

In the construction industry, it is necessary not only to test the concrete supplied but also to track concrete batches as they move from a production plant to a construction site, and to track samples of those concrete batches as they progress to and through a test laboratory.

In the particular example of concrete, testing also continues once the concrete has hardened and has reached a designated age in order to determine the suitability of the concrete for the particular role it was designed to fulfill.

Concrete is typically produced at a batching plant that may be on- or offsite and then transported to the area in which it is to be used. Whether produced on- or off-site, it is normal practice to take a number of samples of the concrete from each batch that is produced, or from each truckload that is delivered, for testing and monitoring of the quality of the supplied concrete. Typically such samples are taken both at the point of production and the point of use. Although standards differ in different countries, usual practice is to pour a sample of the concrete into a receptacle, usually a metal or cardboard mould, in order to obtain a cube or cylinder sample of the concrete with a dimension that meets the local regulations, and then to test this sample intermittently for, inter alla, compressive strength.

As such tests are normally done to destruction, a number of samples need to be taken and stored for each batch if each batch of concrete is to be tested at different days (and hence at different ages). In large construction projects with many batches of concrete being delivered every day, the need for a number of samples per batch rapidly leads to a considerable number of test samples which require storage prior to, and during testing.

To properly tie any given sample to the batch of which it originally formed part, it is necessary to keep records that relate the test samples to particular batches produced or delivered to the site. t

Identification of different samples has previously been performed by simply pushing a written paper label into the uppermost surface of the fluid concrete test sample whilst the sample is still wet and in a mould. The label may include information such as the date on which the sample was taken, the grade of concrete, and an identification number, for

example.

Once any given concrete sample has hardened, the test sample is removed from the mould and the information is normally transcribed onto the sides of the test sample and into various written logbooks. The samples are then stored in a water-curing tank or in a mist room until sufficiently aged for testing after, for example, 7 days, 14 days or 28 days.

One of the greatest difficulties with this system is that the information associated with any given sample can easily be lost or changed. For example, labels can easily be damaged, information can be so poorly written on the labels as to be illegible, and information can be poorly transcribed from the labels into the logbooks. A farther problem is that information can unintentionally (or intentionally) be attributed to the wrong sample - a problem that can readily occur if two or more labels should become detached from their associated samples at the same time. As will be immediately apparent to those persons skilled in the art, loss of or changes to identifying information recorded on the sample labels not only reflects poorly on the accuracy of the testing process, but may also cause problems with the samples to go undetected - with potentially disastrous results.

As an alternative to hand-written labels it has previously been proposed to use more technologically advanced systems which employ labels that may be read electronically into computer databases. International PCT Patent Application No. WO01/31504 discloses a system where so-called REID (radio frequency identification) tags are attached to concrete samples simply by pressing the label into the top surface of the sample whilst it is still wet.

This previously proposed system, whilst providing a marked improvement to the old system of hand-written labels, can prove to be problematic particularly in the case of cylindrical samples. With cylindrical samples, the only surface that is accessible after the concrete has been poured (and whilst it is setting) is the uppermost surface of the cylinder, and it is this surface to which a load will subsequently be applied to test the compressive strength of the concrete when the sample has hardened. Clearly, if the label is obscured by the applied load during testing, then it is impossible to read data from the label whilst the testing is being undertaken.

A further problem is that as the label is accessible whilst the concrete sample is setting, it is possible for the label to be accidentally knocked off the sample, to be inadvertently pushed down into the sample to an extent where the label can no longer be read, or even for the label to be swapped for another label carrying information entirely unrelated to that sample.

To preserve the integrity of the testing process, to facilitate access to stored data during testing, and to avoid the inconvenience of having to deal with problems associated with damaged or missing labels, it would be advantageous if a label and a means for affixing labels could be devised that avoided, or at least ameliorated, the aforementioned problems.

To this end, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides: a label for attachment to a body of gettable fluid material, the label comprising: a label sheet; and means for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface of a mould prior to introducing the body of gettable fluid material into the mould; wherein: said detachable mounting means maintains the label sheet in attachment with the inner surface of said mould as said body of gettable fluid material is introduced into the mould; the label sheet bonds with said body of gettable fluid material to be attached thereto when the body of gettable material has set; and the label sheet detaches from the inner surface of the mould on separation of the mould and the set body of gettable material.

Preferably the detachable mounting means is an integral part of the label configured to detach from the mould when the label is detached therefrom.

Alternatively, the detachable mounting means may comprise a discrete component separable from the label sheet, the detachable mounting means remaining in attachment with the inner surface of the mould on detachment of the label sheet therefrom.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of attaching a label to a body of gettable fluid material, the label comprising a label sheet and means for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface of a mould, the method comprising the steps of: detachably mounting the label to the inner surface of the mould; introducing gettable fluid material to the mould; allowing the gettable fluid material to set, thereby forming a bond between the label sheet and the body of material; and separating the set body of material and the mould to detach the label from the inner surface thereof.

In a highly preferred arrangement, the label further comprises means for storing data; a controller for reading data from the data storage means; and an interface to enable data to be extracted from the label; the data storage means, controller and interface being carried by the label sheet. The interface may comprise an antenna for the wireless transmission and reception of signals to and from a remote transceiver.

Preferably, the label sheet is configured or is configurable such that one of the label sheet and the body of gettable fluid material penetrates the other when the label is attached to the body of gettable material whilst the material is in its fluid state, the penetration of the one by the other enhancing the attachment of the label to the body of gettable fluid material once the material has set.

Other preferred features and advantages of this and other embodiments of the invention, are set out in the dependent claims and hereafter in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

These preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of illustrative example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a label in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 1 S Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a label, and a mould for forming a concrete test sample; Figs. 3a to 3c are schematic representations of a concrete sample; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a product tracking system; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a label sheet in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 6 to 12 are plan view of label sheets in accordance with other embodiments of the invention As mentioned above, this invention relates to a label for attachment to a gettable fluid material. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the attachment of a label to a concrete sample whilst the concrete is in its fluid state. It will be appreciated, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited solely to labels for attachment to concrete, and that the label may be attached to any other type of gettable fluid material.

Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a label 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The label 1 comprises a label sheet 3 and means 5 for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface 7 of a mould 9 (part of which is depicted schematically in Fig. 2). In this arrangement the detachable mounting means 5 comprises a sheet which carries, on one face, means for releasably attaching the mounting sheet 5 to the label sheet 3, and on the opposite face, means for releasably attaching the mounting sheet 5 to the inner wall 7 of the mould 9.

In one embodiment, the mounting sheet carries an adhesive so that it can be adhered to the label sheet 3, and is magnetic so that it can be adhered to the inner wall of a suitable metallic mould. The face of the label sheet to which the mounting sheet is adhered can carry data (for example to permit the sample to be identified), and the opposite face (not visible) contacts the concrete when fluid concrete is poured into the mould and bonds thereto as the concrete sets.

To enable the label to be retained in attachment to the set concrete, the bond formed between the concrete and the label sheet is configured to be stronger that the magnetic bond between the mounting sheet and the metallic mould. The adhesive bond between the mounting sheet and the label sheet is non-permanent in the sense that the mounting sheet may be peeled off the label sheet, once the concrete sample has set and the mould and sample have been separated, to reveal the data carried by the label sheet 3. The mounting sheet could alternatively (or additionally) be transparent to reveal the data carried by the label sheet, but as the mounting sheet is liable to be dirtied during the sample forming process it is preferred for it to be removable.

As an alternative that is particularly useful if the mould is nonmagnetic, the face of the mounting sheet intended to be attached to the inner surface of the mould may also be provided with an adhesive. In this instance, the strength of the adhesive bond between the mounting sheet and the mould is configured to be less than the strength of the adhesive bond between the mounting sheet and the label sheet so that the mounting sheet and label sheet are detached from the inner surface of the mould on separation of the mould and concrete sample. If both faces of the mounting sheet are provided with an adhesive, then the face to be adhered to the mould may be covered by a removable backing layer prior to use.

In a further alternative arrangement, the mounting means may be provided as an integral component of the label sheet and be inseparable therefrom. In this instance, the mounting means need not comprise a sheet, but could instead be provided as discrete or joined regions of the label sheet. For example, the mounting means could comprise one or more magnets embedded within the label sheet.

Further modifications are possible. For example, both the bond between the label sheet and the mounting sheet, and the bond between the mounting sheet and the mould may be magnetic. Alternatively, the bond between the label sheet and the mounting sheet may be magnetic, and the bond between the mounting sheet and the mould may be adhesive.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is depicted part of a cylindrical mould 9 into which concrete may be poured to form a concrete sample. Prior to introducing concrete into the mould, the label of the present invention is attached to the inner surface 7 of the mould 9 by means of the aforementioned detachable mounting means 5. The strength of the bonds between the detachable mounting means and the mould, and the mounting means and the label sheet are sufficient to maintain the label in attachment with the inner surface 7 of the mould 9 whilst the mould is filled with concrete, and whilst the concrete sets. Once the concrete has set the mould can be removed, and as the mould is separated from the sample so the attachment between the mounting means and the mould is broken leaving the label attached to the set sample as it is separated from the mould.

Advantageously, as the label of the present invention is provided within the mould whilst the sample is poured and sets, the label is protected from damage whilst the sample sets, and access to the label is prevented. Furthermore, as the label (as will later be described) is attached to a side face of the set sample (as opposed to the top face as in the prior art), data carried by the label can be read even whilst the sample is being tested.

Figs. 3a to 3c are schematic representations of a concrete test sample 11 separated from a cylindrical mould (not shown) to which a label has been fitted, as described above in connection with Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3a, on removal from the mould the cylindrical sample carries with it the label 1 previously attached to the inner surface of the mould (as depicted in Fig. 2). The label sheet 3 of the label is partly embedded in the concrete such that only the mounting means 5 is exposed. As depicted in Fig. 3b, the mounting means 5 can be peeled away from the label sheet to leave the label sheet (and any data carried by the label sheet) exposed (as depicted in Fig. 3c).

As mentioned above, in the construction industry concrete test samples are typically taken from batches of concrete as they are produced at a production plant or as they are delivered to a building site. The concrete usually needs to be cured and hardened before testing is performed and the label I is intended to provide a means for carrying information regarding the test sample, primarily for the identification of that sample (and optionally also for the retention of important data concerning the sample) during the subsequent testing procedure (which may be undertaken over several days).

The concrete test sample 13 is typically formed by pouring concrete into a steel or cardboard mould, usually in the form of a hollow cube or hollow cylinder (as depicted in the figures). Typical dimensions for such a mould may be a 100 mm cube. Other mould shapes and dimensions such as 150 mm cubes, or 100 mm and 150 mm diameter cylinders (each having a height that is twice their respective diameter), may instead be used in order to meet the particular requirements of the jurisdiction in which the testing is done or the building is being constructed.

In the arrangements described above, the label sheet is configured to carry data. This data may simply be written onto the label sheet, or more preferably may be carried in an electronic form. To implement this arrangement the label sheet may carry a data storage means, a controller, and an interface. The data storage means 5 may comprise a separate component from the controller, or more preferably may be integrated with the controller 7.

The interface may comprise an antenna (for example in the form of an electrically conductive coil) to permit data to be read wirelessly from the label. As an alternative to an antenna, the interface could comprise a socket into which a data cable may be plugged, or indeed a simple set of electrical contacts that would enable data to be extracted from the label by a reader similar to conventional smartcard readers. However, as the label is intended to be embedded in concrete and is liable to become dirty, an antenna that is operable to communicate wirelessly with a remote transceiver is a much preferred option.

For reasons which will later be described it is advantageous for the coil, if provided, to extend about the entire periphery of the label. It will be appreciated, however, that the label could still function adequately if the coil antenna were only to extend through part of the label.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is depicted a plan view of a label sheet 13 in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. The label sheet 13 of this embodiment carries a data storage means 15, a controller 17, and an antenna 19 in the form of an electrically conducting coil. In this particular embodiment, the label sheet further comprises an aperture 21 extending through the label sheet to form a hole in the label, and through which concrete can penetrate when the label is affixed thereto. Once the concrete solidifies the penetration of the concrete through the label serves to enhance and strengthen the attachment of the label to the concrete sample.

As mentioned above, it is preferred for the interface to comprise an antenna, and in this guise the preferred form of label is capable of wirelessly receiving (by means of the antenna) data transmitted to it by a remote transmitter, to write the received data to the data storage device, and to extract and transmit that data as required to a remote receiver An advantage of this arrangement is that as there is no necessity for any form of physical connection with the label (as might be required if the label were to include an interface in the form of data transfer socket or smartcard contacts), there is no danger of the physical connection becoming damaged, or indeed filled with concrete.

As is depicted schematically in Fig. 4, in the preferred embodiment the data storage means of the label I is intended to be written to and be read by a non-contact transceiver device 23 (the like of which is well known in the art) that can wirelessly transmit data to and receive data from the label. In the preferred arrangement, the transceiver device and label are arranged to communicate with one another by means of radio frequency transmissions, although it will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that frequencies other than radio band frequencies may alternatively be employed. It will also be recognised by those persons skilled in the art that the data storage device need not necessarily be capable of having data written to it, and could instead comprise a readonly device pre-programmed with data, for example an identifier.

To facilitate transmission to and from a non-contact device 23, the label may comprise a buffer memory (not shown) in addition to the controller for controlling access to the data in the data storage device or the transmission of data from the data storage device. In the preferred form, the label I is a passive device that receives information and transmits only in response to signals from a remote device 23. As will readily be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, the interface can function not only as a means to conduct signals for transmission or reception, but also as a means for powering the remaining components of the label.

As mentioned above, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the data storage means and the controller are integrated as a unitary device. It will be appreciated, however, that these devices could instead be distinct, and further that additional components may be included. For example, some form of capacitance may be included in the label such that power derived from signals received from the remote device 23 can be stored. Alternatively, as those skilled in the art will be aware, a continued signal may provide sufficient power for operation of the label components as well as for the transmission of information through the interface. As such, it is not specifically necessary to include a power source within the label 1.

The data storage means can hold a variety of data regarding the sample beyond simply an identification number. For example, the data storage means may also hold data concerning one or more of the following: - the date of production of the test sample; - time of making of the test sample; - concrete workability test result; - mix code of concrete used; a mould identification number for the mould from which the cube was produced; - time of water added to the cement from which the sample is made; and - delivery note number of the delivery from which the sample was made.

It will be appreciated that the extent of data recorded is limited only by the data storage capacity of the data storage means. It will also be appreciated that the data to be stored will vary in accordance with the requirements of the product tracking system with which the label is intended to be used.

In addition to storing data in the label, it is additionally preferred for the label to carry a visual identification number, bar code or similar identifier (for example on the external face of the label) - the identifier permitting the identification of the label, and hence the sample to which it is attached, should data storage in or retrieval from the label fail for any reason. In such circumstances the remote reader could be provided with a reader (such as a bar code reader) for the visual identifier. As will be appreciated, the provision of an identifier - in the event of the interface being damaged - would still permit the sample to be reconciled with information relating to that sample in an external database of the product tracking system with which the label is used.

Such a system is depicted schematically in Fig. 4, and comprises a computing resource 25 which maintains a database 27, and which is arranged to communicate (preferably wirelessly) with the remote device 23. As is known in the art, the system is arranged to store data concerning the samples and testing of the samples, for recall and analysis as required. The database may be used in conjunction with a map of the site that indicates which batches were used where so that problems with the building at particular locations on-site may be reconciled with the particular batch or batches of concrete used at those locations.

Of particular concern, when affixing a label to a concrete sample that is intended for destructive or non-destructive testing, is that it is important that the label does not adversely affect the testing process, and the test results. For example, if the presence of the label should increase or decrease a strength test result by more than, for example, 1. 5 % then the label itself may be deemed to have an appreciable effect upon the strength of the concrete and hence may be deemed unsuitable.

To minimise the impact the label itself may have on sample test results, a relatively thin planar label is preferred. In the preferred arrangement, a substantially square label of perhaps less than SO mm width may be used. It is also preferred to ensure that the label is relatively thin, for example less than 2 mm thick and more preferably less than 1 mm thick.

A highly preferred label is approximately 0.5 mm thick.

The material for the label should also be chosen with care. For example, it is preferred that the chosen material does not have a compressive strength that is significantly greater than that of the concrete. The chosen label material should also be capable of resisting alkali attack from the pH of the concrete, for resisting heat generated during the concrete hardening process and be impervious to water and dirt from the sample or from the environment. The label should also be resistant to scratching and any knocks that might occur as the samples are handled or transported.

To meet these objectives, a synthetic material such as polyethylene may be used and laminated around the data storage means, controller and interface (and additionally any other components) to encapsulate those components within the material of the label. Lamination is preferred to moulding about the data storage means due to considerations relating to the acceptable dimensions of the label. Moulding is possible but it increases the thickness of the label, which then may affect the compressive strength test result of the concrete sample.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown a label 29 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention (the interface, data storage means and controller having been removed for clarity). In this embodiment, the label 29 is provided with at least one tab portion 31 that is separated from the remainder of the label sheet 3 by cut lines 33, and attached thereto by a fold line 35 (which may be perforated or scored to aid folding of the tab).

The tab portion 31 may be folded out of the plane of the label sheet (in a direction away from the mounting means (not shown)) such that the tab projects from the plane of the label sheet 3 and penetrates the concrete sample when the label is affixed to a sample. In a highly preferred arrangement, folding the tab out of the plane of the label opens an aperture in the label sheet (beneath the tab, and bounded by cut lines 25 and fold line 27) which is apt to be penetrated by concrete. This arrangement is advantageous in that not only does the concrete penetrate the label through the aperture, but also the label penetrates the concrete by means of the tab.

In a modification of this embodiment depicted in Fig. 7, the cut lines 33 may be formed in an "H" shape to provide two tab portions 31 separated from the label sheet by the cut lines 33 and connected thereto by respective fold lines 35, which again may be perforated or scored. In this arrangement, one or both tab portions 31 may be folded out of the plane of the label sheet 3 to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is attached thereto. As with the arrangement depicted in Fig. 5a, in the preferred arrangement folding one or both of the tabs out of the plane opens an aperture in the label sheet (beneath the one or both tabs, and bounded by cut lines 25 and fold lines 27) which is apt to be penetrated by concrete when the label is attached to a concrete sample.

Fig. 9 depicts a label 37 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention (components other than the label sheet having again been omitted for clarity) where tabs may be folded out of the plane of the label sheet to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is attached thereto. As shown, the label 37 includes fold lines 39 (which again may be perforated or scored to aid folding) which define, in this preferred arrangement, four peripheral triangular tab portions 41 - one at each corner of the label sheet 3. As with previous embodiments, the tab portions 41 can befolded out of the plane of the label sheet 3 to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is affixed thereto. The difference between this embodiment, and that depicted in Figs. 6 and 7 is, of course, that folding the tab portions 41 out of the plane of the label sheet 3 does not reveal an aperture in the label sheet which may be penetrated by concrete. As a modification of this embodiment, the label sheet may be provided with fold lines to define less than four tab portions, for example two tab portions at diagonally opposite corners of the label.

A label 43 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is depicted schematically in Fig. 8 (again with components other than the label sheet omitted for clarity). The label 43 of this embodiment is essentially a combination of the labels of depicted in Figs. 7 and 9 (although the arrangement of Fig. 6 could be substituted for that of Fig. 7 if desired). In this embodiment the label comprises fold lines 39 (which can be perforated or scored) which define four peripheral triangular tab portions 41, and "H"-shaped cut lines 33 which separate two internal tab portions 31 from the remainder of the sheet (the tab portions 31 being connected to the sheet by respective fold lines 35 (which again may be scored or perforated). One or more of the peripheral triangular tab portions 41 and one or both of the internal tab portions 31 can be folded out of the plane of the label (as previously described) to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is attached thereto. As before, folding one or both of the internal tab portions 31 out of the plane of the label reveals an aperture in the label that the concrete can penetrate when the label is attached to the sample.

Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a label 45 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention (again with components other than the label sheet removed for clarity). In this embodiment, the aperture 21 of the embodiment depicted in Fig. 5 has been replaced by a plurality of slots 47 which each extend all of the way through the label sheet 3, and into which the concrete can penetrate when the label is attached to the concrete sample.

The provision of a plurality of slots tends to provide a greater edge surface area on the internal openings of the slot to which the concrete can adhere, than the edge surface area provided by a single opening (of the type depicted in Fig. 5). The arrangement depicted in Fig. 10 may also include fold lines 39 of the type depicted in Fig. 9 (to define one or more peripheral triangular portions) to yet further enhance the attachment of the label to the sample.

Fig. 11 depicts a label 49 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention (again with components other than the label sheet removed for clarity). This embodiment is in many ways similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with a foldable tab portion 31, or in this case two such foldable tab portions 31, that can be folded out of the plane of the label sheet 3 to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is attached thereto.

The difference between this embodiment, and those depicted in Figs. 6 and 7 is that the cut lines 33 have been expanded to form channels 51 extending transversely (i.e. into the plane of the paper) through the label sheet. The channels provide access to exposed edges 53 of the label sheet 3 and the tab portions 31, to enable these edges to be sealed with a suitable waterproof sealant, such as epoxy (or similar) or by other means such as heat sealing, or ultrasonic welding. Sealing these edges helps to inhibit water ingress into the label, and hence helps protect the components provided therein. As before, the label 49 depicted in Fig. 11 may include fold lines such as those depicted in Fig. 9 to define one or more peripheral triangular tabs which can be folded out of the plane of the label to penetrate the concrete sample when the label is attached thereto.

Fig. 12 depicts another embodiment of a label 55 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The label 55 of Fig. 12 is similar to that depicted in Fig. 11 in that tabs foldable out of the plane of the label sheet 3 are bounded by channels 51.

However, the shape of the tabs 57 is different in this embodiment.

As shown the tabs 57 of this embodiment are trapeziums (i.e. quadrilaterals with two sides parallel), and the advantage of this arrangement is that the trapeziums are akin to barbs, and as such further resist removal of the tabs from the concrete as compared - for example with a tab such as those depicted in Figs. 7 or 8.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12, the tabs 31, 57 - particularly when used with a label that includes an electrically conducting ring as the interface - advantageously act as a means to deter persons from attempting to tamper with the label when it is attached to a set concrete sample. The reason for this is that whilst it might be possible to free a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the label sheet, further attempts to remove the label from the sample will tend to cause the label to tear (by virtue of the fact that the tabs penetrate and are secured within the body of the concrete), and if the attempted tampering continues the label will in fact tear through the electrically conducting ring (which is the preferred form of an antenna and interface) to thereby make it impossible to communicate wirelessly with the label, or indeed to access any data stored in the label.

In light of the foregoing it can be seen that the various embodiments of label and the method described herein do in fact provide an effective means to avoid or at least ameliorate some or all of the problems associated with the prior art. It should be noted, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein have been described merely by way of example, and that modifications and alterations to the embodiments disclosed may be made without departing from the scope of the invention claimed. For example, whilst some of the embodiments disclose tab portions which can be folded out of the plane of the label, it will be appreciated that the labels could be pre-formed with tab portions that extend out of the plane of the label - thereby obviating the need to fold the tabs out of the plane of the label.

A final point of note is that whilst the accompanying claims include particular combinations of features, the scope of the present invention is not limited solely to the particular combinations explicitly enumerated in the accompanying claims. Rather, the scope of the present invention extends to encompass any combination of features herein described irrespective of whether that combination has been explicitly enumerated in the accompanying claims.

Claims (38)

1. A label for attachment to a body of gettable fluid material, the label comprising: a label sheet; and means for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface of a mould prior to introducing the body of gettable fluid material into the mould; wherein: said detachable mounting means is operable to maintain the label sheet in attachment with the inner surface of said mould as said body of gettable fluid material is introduced into the mould; the label sheet is capable of bonding with said body of gettable fluid material to be attached thereto when the body of gettable material has set; and the label sheet is capable of detaching from the inner surface of the mould on separation of the mould and the set body of gettable material.

2. A label according to Claim 1, wherein the detachable mounting means is an integral part of the label configured to detach from the mould when the label is detached therefrom.

3. A label according to Claim 1, wherein the detachable mounting means comprises a discrete component separable from the label sheet, the detachable mounting means remaining in attachment with the inner surface of the mould on detachment of the label sheet therefrom.

4. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein the detachable mounting means comprises a mounting sheet.

5. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein the detachable mounting means is configured to magnetically attach the label to the mould.

6. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein the detachable mounting means includes adhesive for attaching the mounting means to said label sheet.

7. A label according to any preceding claim, comprising means for storing data; a controller for reading data from the data storage means; and an interface to enable data to be extracted from the label, wherein the data storage means, controller and interface are carried by the label sheet.

8. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein the label sheet is configured or is configurable such that one of the label sheet and the body of gettable fluid material penetrates the other when the label is attached to the body of gettable material whilst the material is in its fluid state, the penetration of the one by the other enhancing the attachment of the label to the body of gettable fluid material once the material has set.

9. A label according to Claim 8, the wherein a portion of the label is configured or is configurable to penetrate the body of gettable material when the label is attached thereto.

10. A label according to Claim 9, wherein said portion comprises a tab.

11. A label according to Claim 10, wherein said tab is foldable from a position where the tab lies in the plane of the label sheet to a position where the tab projects from the label sheet, the projecting tab being capable of penetrating the body of gettable fluid on attachment of the label thereto.

12. A label according to Claim 11, wherein said tab is foldable about a fold line to project from the label sheet.

13. A label according to Claim 12, wherein the fold line is perforated, scored or otherwise marked to facilitate folding of the tab.

14. A label according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the tab comprises a peripheral corner portion of the label sheet.

15. A label according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the tab is located within the periphery of the label sheet, the tab being separated from the remainder of the label along a cut line, and being connected thereto by a fold line.

16. A label according to Claim 15, wherein folding of the tab out of the plane of the label sheet forms an aperture through the label sheet which is penetrated by the body of gettable fluid material when the label is attached thereto.

17. A label according to Claims 15 or 16, wherein said tab is generally square or rectangular.

18. A label according to Claims 15 or 16, wherein said tab comprises a parallelogram having only two parallel sides, joined to the remainder of the label sheet by the shorter of said two parallel sides.

19. A label according to any of Claims 15 to 18, wherein said tab forms part of a line of weakness in the label sheet, the sheet being arranged to fracture along the line of weakness on attempted removal of the label from the material once set.

20. A label according to any of Claims 10 to 19 comprising a plurality of tabs.

21. A label according to any of claims 8 to 20, wherein the label is configured such that said body of gettable fluid material penetrates the label sheet when the label is attached thereto.

22. A label according to Claim 21, wherein the label includes an aperture through the label sheet, the aperture permitting said body of gettable fluid material to penetrate the label sheet when the label is attached thereto.

23. A label according to Claim 22, wherein said aperture is revealed by folding a tab portion of the label sheet from a position where it lies in the plane of the sheet to a position where it projects from the sheet.

24. A label according to Claim 23, wherein the projecting tab is arranged to penetrate the body of gettable fluid material on attachment of the label thereto.

25. A label according to any of claims 7 to 24, wherein the interface comprises an antenna to enable wireless communication between the label and a remote transceiver.

26. A label according to Claim 25, wherein the antenna comprises an electrically conducting ring.

27. A label according to Claim 26 when dependent on Claim 19, wherein fracture of the sheet causes the conducting ring to fracture to render the label unusable.

28. A label according to any of claims 7 to 27, wherein said data storage means, said controller and said interface and laminated within said label sheet.

29. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein said body of gettable fluid material comprises a test sample of concrete.

30. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein said label sheet is substantially planar, and has a thickness of less than 2 mm, preferably less 1 mm.

31. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein label sheet is of a material having a compressive strength substantially less than the compressive strength of concrete.

32. A label according to Claim 31, wherein said label sheet is of polyethylene.

33. A tracking system comprising a label according to any preceding claim, a data reader configured to read data from said label, and a computing resource operating a database, wherein the computing resource is configured to store data retrieved from said data reader in said database.

34. A label for attachment to a concrete test sample whilst the concrete is in its fluid state, the label comprising: a ring of electrically conductive material forming an antenna for the wireless transmission and reception of signals to and from a remote transceiver, a controller coupled to the ring antenna, and a data storage device coupled to the controller, wherein the controller, ring antenna and data storage device are carried by a planar label sheet, and the label sheet comprises a tab foldable out of the plane of the sheet to project therefrom and to reveal an aperture through the label sheet, the arrangement being such that the projecting tab penetrates the concrete test sample and the concrete test sample penetrates the aperture in the label sheet on attachment of the label to said sample, the label additionally comprising means for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface of a mould prior to introducing the body of gettable fluid material into the mould;

35. A method of attaching a label to a body of gettable fluid material, the label comprising a label sheet and means for detachably mounting the label sheet to an inner surface of a mould, the method comprising the steps of: detachably mounting the label to the inner surface of the mould; introducing gettable fluid material to the mould; allowing the gettable fluid material to set, thereby forming a bond between the label sheet and the body of set material; and separating the set body of material and the mould to detach the label from the inner surface of the mould whilst maintaining the attachment of the label to the body of set material.

IS

36. A method according to Claim 25, further comprising the step of removing the detachable mounting means from the label sheet.

37. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A method substantially as hereinbefore described.