JP2005138140A - Laser marking method, laser marking device and food - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser marking device and a laser marking method capable of directly marking visible information including two-dimensional codes generated based on various kinds of data including sound or the like as a multi-colored precise marking pattern on a surface of a food. <P>SOLUTION: The laser marking method comprises a data acquisition step of acquiring data to generate a marking pattern according to the request of a user via an image input means 20, a sound input means 21, an electronic storage medium reading means 22, a communication line network I or the like, a marking pattern generation step of generating the marking pattern including the two-dimensional codes based on the acquired data, a marking layer forming step of forming a marking layer consisting of edible materials on a surface of a food, and a laser marking step of directly performing dot marking by controlling a laser marker 40 or a pedestal 30 according to the marking pattern and the nature and the shape of the food, and irradiating laser beams on the surface of the food F. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser marking device, a laser marking method, and a food, and in particular, a laser marking device and a laser marking method for dot-marking an original image converted into digital data directly on the surface of food (confectionery, etc.), and dots by them. It relates to foods that have been marked.

As a technique for industrially forming an image pattern such as a photograph, a picture, or a character on the surface of the food itself, various methods have been conventionally used depending on the type of the food.
For example, in baked confectionery such as cookies and chocolate confectionery, a method in which edible powder is dispersed on the surface and then fixed by heating, a method of printing using edible ink, or In this method, a pre-formed heating mold is brought into contact with the surface, and only that portion is selectively baked and discolored to form a pattern. A method of forming a typical pattern is known.

However, the above method requires a mold and a plate for food printing, which requires cost and labor for manufacturing, and it is very difficult to form a pattern that requires resolution as shown in the photograph. . Therefore, in order to immediately form a wide variety of image patterns on the food surface on the spot, using a laser processing device to which data is input from the image processing device, the image pattern is applied to the food surface according to the given image pattern. A technique for selectively irradiating a laser beam to form an image pattern is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-113585 A (page 2-4, FIGS. 1 and 5)

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, an edible layer of a color different from that of the ground food is formed on the surface of the food on which the image pattern is formed, and a part thereof is welded by laser light irradiation. Or the image pattern was formed by vaporizing. However, since the layer of the edible body formed on the food surface is a single layer, it is limited to the expression of one color.
In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 1 only forms an arbitrary image pattern such as a character, a picture, or a photograph on the surface of food, and further information can be obtained from the formed image pattern. There wasn't. Further, there has been no description of a use form in which food is used as an information carrier for transmitting various information.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to generate a marking pattern including a two-dimensional code based on various data including voice and the like, and to perform marking on the surface of food, and laser marking To provide an apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser marking method and a laser marking apparatus capable of forming a multicolor and precise marking pattern by dot marking. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a food containing a two-dimensional code and having a multicolor and precise marking pattern directly marked on the surface.

  According to the laser marking method of claim 1, the subject is a laser marking method for marking visible information by irradiating a surface of food with laser light, and acquiring data for generating the visible information A data acquisition step, a marking pattern generation step for generating a marking pattern made of visible information including a two-dimensional code based on the acquired data, and a laser irradiation unit is controlled according to the properties of the marking pattern and the food And a laser marking step for directly marking the surface of the food.

  Thus, the laser marking method according to claim 1 directly laser-marks the visible information generated based on the data acquired according to the user's request on the surface of the food according to the user's request. be able to. Visible information is a marking pattern including a two-dimensional code generated based on acquired data. Since the present invention is a laser marking method, visual information desired by the user can be marked on the food on the spot. In addition, any information that can be two-dimensionally encoded can be attached to food and provided to users, so characters, logo marks, pictures, photographs, etc. that have been used in the past Information having contents different from the contents expressed in such a form can be attached to the food, and visible information having a larger amount of information can be attached to the food.

  According to claim 2, the two-dimensional code is a unit cell in which dots formed by laser light irradiation are arranged vertically and horizontally in n × n or n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). It is preferable to be formed by. As described above, when a two-dimensional code is formed by dots, cells having a uniform depth can be formed by arranging the dots vertically and horizontally in the cell, so that the reading accuracy of the two-dimensional code is improved. Can do.

  At this time, as described in claim 3, more specifically, the two-dimensional code is generated by converting voice information or identification information for specifying the voice information. If it does in this way, it will become possible to exchange voice information via food. For example, it is possible to acquire digital data of a two-dimensional code attached to food via a CCD camera or the like of a mobile phone and reproduce the sound included in this digital data as it is with a speaker of the mobile phone. Alternatively, the audio information specified by the digital data can be acquired via the network and reproduced as it is with the speaker of the mobile phone. In this manner, food having a novel usage form in which voice information is exchanged via a two-dimensional code attached to the surface can be provided, and convenience is improved.

  In the data acquisition step, the data for generating the visible information may include at least one of an image input unit, a voice input unit, an electronic storage medium reading unit, and a communication line network. It is preferable to be acquired via If comprised in this way, since data can be acquired via various input means and media, the convenience will be improved.

And, as described in claim 5, before the laser marking step, a marking layer forming step of forming at least one marking layer made of an edible body on the surface of the food is performed, and the laser marking step In the above, the marking layer is irradiated with laser light, and the edible body at the irradiated portion is welded, while the edible body that has not been welded is removed from the surface of the food to expose the underlying layer. It is preferable.
In addition, as described in claim 6, before the laser marking step, a marking layer forming step of forming at least one marking layer made of an edible body on the surface of the food is performed, and the laser marking step In the above, it is preferable that the marking layer is irradiated with laser light, the edible body at the irradiated portion is melted and removed, and the underlying layer is exposed.

  When marking is performed by such a method, dots are formed by an edible body that has been welded or removed by laser light irradiation. Since the marking pattern can be formed by the dot arrangement, the visible information can be expressed accurately. Thereby, for example, in an amusement park, a sightseeing spot, etc., it is possible to provide food with a sense of presence that is marked with an image of a commemorative photo taken locally or an image of a photo taken during an attraction experience.

  At this time, as described in claim 7, at least two marking layers are formed, and each layer has a color different from that of an adjacent layer, and in the laser marking step, the marking layer It is preferable that visible information consisting of at least three colors is formed on the surface of the food by irradiating with laser light. In this way, it is possible to mark visible information of multiple colors and improve expressive power.

  Moreover, the said subject is a laser marking apparatus which marks visible information by irradiating the surface of food with a laser beam according to the laser marking apparatus of Claim 8, Comprising: The mounting surface which mounts the said food An input unit to which data for generating the visible information is input, a laser irradiation unit that irradiates the laser beam to directly mark the surface of the food, and the input data And generating a marking pattern made of visible information including a two-dimensional code, controlling the laser irradiation unit according to the marking pattern and the property of the food, and applying the laser irradiation according to the shape of the surface of the food. A control unit that controls the position of the mounting surface on the axis along the optical path of the laser beam or the irradiation direction of the laser beam. It is solved by.

If comprised in this way, it will become possible to carry out the laser marking of the visible information produced | generated based on the data acquired according to the user's request directly on the surface of the food according to the user's request. In addition, a marking pattern can be formed by an arrangement of dots formed by laser light irradiation, so that visible information can be expressed accurately. This visible information can include a two-dimensional code generated based on the acquired data. In addition, it is possible to mark a surface of a food having a curved surface or an uneven shape while always focusing the laser beam on the surface. Therefore, even if the surface of the food is not formed flat, accurate marking can be reliably performed, the expressive power can be improved, and the reading accuracy of the two-dimensional code can be improved.
In this case, as described in claim 9, the input unit is preferably configured to be connected to at least one of an image input unit, a voice input device, an electronic storage medium reading unit, and a communication line network. is there. If comprised in this way, since data can be acquired via various media, the convenience will be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the food of claim 10, the problem is solved by the fact that the two-dimensional code is directly marked on the surface by the laser irradiation unit. As a result, it is possible to mark visible information having a larger amount of information compared to marking characters, logo marks, pictures, and photographs as in the prior art. In the eleventh aspect, the two-dimensional code may be configured to include a two-dimensional code in which voice information or identification information for specifying the voice information is encoded. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to utilize a foodstuff as an information carrier for transmitting various information including audio | voice information, and the foodstuff which has a novel utilization form will be provided.

  As described above, in the present invention, visible information generated based on data acquired according to a user's request can be marked on the surface of the food according to the user's request on the spot. . And this visible information can be made into the marking pattern containing the two-dimensional code produced | generated based on the acquired data. Therefore, visible information having contents different from conventional ones and visible information having a larger amount of information can be attached to food. More specifically, various information including voice information or identification information that specifies voice information is two-dimensionally encoded and marked on the food, thereby allowing various information to be transmitted through the food. Therefore, convenience is improved.

  Further, in the present invention, a marking layer made of an edible body is formed on the surface of the food, and the marking layer is irradiated with laser light, and the edible body at the site irradiated with the laser light is welded or removed. , Dots are formed on the surface of the food. Since the visible information is formed by the dot arrangement, the visible information can be expressed accurately. At this time, if at least two marking layers having different colors from the adjacent layers are formed, the visible information can be marked in three or more colors including the color of the food surface serving as the base, and the expressive power is high. Be improved.

  Further, in the present invention, it is possible to perform marking while always focusing the surface of the laser beam on a food having a curved surface or an uneven shape. Therefore, precise marking can be performed reliably, the expressive power is improved, and the reading accuracy of the two-dimensional code can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Further, the arrangement, shape, and the like described below do not limit the present invention, and various modifications can be made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the laser marking apparatus of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the laser marker of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the flow of data marked on the food of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram of the laser marking method of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the marking pattern (photograph) of the embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the marking layer is formed by selectively irradiating the marking layer of the embodiment with laser light. FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an example of a two-dimensional code formed by dot marking, and FIG. 9 shows a marking pattern formed by selectively removing the layer formed on the surface of the food by laser light irradiation. Explanatory view showing the FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process in which a plurality of the marking layer is partially removed multicolor marking pattern is formed.

  Hereinafter, the laser marking device, the laser marking method, and the food of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of laser marking device)
First, the configuration of the laser marking device S according to the present invention will be described. This laser marking device S is suitably used for marking marking patterns such as characters, pictures, logo marks, photographs, and two-dimensional codes. As shown in FIG. 1, data control as a control unit is performed. The apparatus 10 includes a pedestal 30 as a placement portion on which a material to be marked is placed, and a laser marker 40 as a laser irradiation portion.

  The data control device 10 generates marking data based on data input via various input means, a communication line network, and the like, and operates a laser marker 40 described later using the generated marking data. A control unit 11 composed of a CPU for performing arithmetic processing and control, an operation unit 12 composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., a display unit 13 composed of a monitor, a liquid crystal screen, etc., an image input means 20, an audio An input unit 14 constituted by an interface board or the like for connecting to the input means 21, the electronic storage medium reading means 22 or the like and taking in data, and a communication unit 15 constituted by a modem or the like connected to the communication network I And a storage unit 16 for storing various data.

  For example, a scanner is used as the image input unit 20 connected to the input unit 14. As a result, analog data relating to original images such as characters, pictures and photographs written on a paper surface can be read by the internal sensor, and the read analog information can be converted into digital data and input. Moreover, you may make it input the data corresponding to patterns, such as a character and a figure input by handwriting, using the tablet which consists of a pen and a plate-shaped input part. Alternatively, a CCD camera, a digital camera, a video camera, or the like built in the mobile phone may be connected to the input unit 14 so that captured image data can be directly input.

The voice input means 21 can be configured using, for example, a microphone that converts a change in air pressure into an analog change in voltage, and a conversion device that samples the analog fluctuation data, converts it into digital data, and outputs the digital data. . These image input means 20 and sound input means 21 directly generate data on the spot.
The input unit 14 is connected to an electronic storage medium reading means 22, which allows data to be input via an electronic storage medium (CD-ROM or other medium) that stores existing data. it can.

  A communication network I such as the Internet is connected to the communication unit 15. Thereby, it is possible to access the external terminal via the communication network I and download and acquire data from the external terminal.

  The storage unit 16 includes a ROM 16a, a RAM 16b, a hard disk 16c, and the like. The ROM 16a stores a control program for operating the CPU 11, and the RAM 16b is used as a work area for temporarily storing data. The hard disk 16c stores existing data such as voice, characters, pictures, logo marks, photographs, or marking pattern data based on these. The hard disk 16c stores parameter information. This information is obtained by setting the conditions for performing laser marking according to the properties and shape of the food that is the marking material. Conditions include laser frequency, output, number of printing, beam diameter, irradiation time, and the like. These conditions are read by the CPU 11 when performing laser marking.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 30 moves the placement plate 32 having a placement surface 31 on which the food F is placed on the upper surface, and the placement plate 32 along the laser beam emission direction. A position adjustment mechanism 33 (not shown) is provided. The position adjustment mechanism 33 includes a drive circuit, and the drive circuit operates the position adjustment mechanism 33 based on a drive signal input from the control unit 11. Thereby, the placing surface 31 is moved up and down in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 2 according to the uneven shape or curved shape of the surface of the food F, and marking is always performed while the surface of the food F is focused on the laser beam. Can do.

  The laser marker 40 is a conventionally known one, such as a YAG laser, a CO2 laser, a YVO4 laser, a UV laser, or a green laser. In this example, a configuration in which the data control device 10 and the laser marker 40 are installed on a one-to-one basis is shown. However, a plurality of laser markers 40 are connected to the data control device 10 and food that is a material to be marked. The laser marker 40 that emits an appropriate laser beam may be selected according to the property of F. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a YAG laser device as an example of the laser marker 40. In the laser marker 40, the laser beam output from the YAG laser oscillator 50 is changed in optical path by the leveling mirror 56, narrowed by the aperture 55, and then expanded by the Galileo expander 57. Further, after the beam diameter is adjusted by the aperture 58, it is attenuated by the attenuator 46, the optical path is changed / adjusted by the galvanometer mirror 47, condensed by the fθ lens 59, and irradiated on the surface of the food F.

  The YAG laser oscillator 50 is provided with an ultrasonic Q switch element 43 for obtaining pulsed laser light having an extremely high peak output (peak value). The YAG laser oscillator 50 further includes a total reflection mirror 51, an internal aperture 52, a lamp house 53, an internal shutter 44, and an output mirror 54, and an external shutter 45 is provided on the output side of the YAG laser oscillator 50. The ultrasonic Q switch element 43, the internal shutter 44, the external shutter 45, the attenuator 46, and the galvanometer mirror 47 are controlled by the controller 41. The controller 41 performs the above control based on the data transmitted from the data control device 10.

(Laser marking method)
Next, referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, using the laser marking device S configured as described above, an image pattern such as a character, picture, or photograph input or selected by a user or desired information is encoded. A method of marking the food F with the marking pattern made of the two-dimensional code or the like will be described. In this embodiment, a chocolate candy is taken as an example of the food F.

First Example In the first example, a laser marking device S is installed in a confectionery corner of an amusement theme park. As shown in FIG. 4, the user inputs the digital data of the photograph brought into the data control apparatus 10 using the image input means 20 such as a scanner or the electronic storage medium reading means 22 at the confectionery corner. On the other hand, the user selects a favorite one from a plurality of chocolate confectionery samples prepared in the confectionery corner. And the marking pattern created based on the digital data of the inputted photograph is marked on the surface of the chocolate confectionery selected by the visitors. As a result, chocolate confectionery with a realistic photograph on the surface is immediately provided on the spot.

  It should be noted that the photograph is not only brought by the user as a hard copy or data, but also provided with a photographing corner in the confectionery corner and photographed on the spot by a digital camera connected to the laser marking device S. It may be configured. In addition, a photograph is automatically taken at a predetermined place with participation in the attraction in the park, the digital data is transferred to the laser marking device S via the communication network I, and the photograph is taken after the attraction ends. You may comprise so that the chocolate confectionery in which was drawn may be provided. Alternatively, the voice input means 21 may be used to input a sound with a sense of realism to the data control device 10, convert it to a two-dimensional code, and mark it with a photograph.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the laser marking method of this example. First, in the data acquisition step, photograph bitmap data for creating a marking pattern for marking the food F is acquired (step S1). That is, when analog data of a photograph is input to the scanner as the image input means 20 by the user, the analog data is read by the scanner and the digital data is output to the data control device 10. In addition, when a photograph is taken on the spot by a digital camera connected to the laser marking device S, digital data is directly output from the digital camera to the data control device 10. The digital data is stored in the RAM 16b of the data control device 10 in a bitmap file format.

  The user can check the image stored in the RAM 16 b of the data control device 10 by displaying the contents of the bitmap file on the screen connected to the display unit 13. At this stage, for example, a desired image is selected from the logo mark or character image of the amusement theme park stored in the hard disk 16c, and a bitmap file of the desired image is created in combination with the input photo. May be. As is well known, in a bitmap file, an image is expressed as an array of dots.

  Next, in the marking pattern generation step, marking pattern 1 is generated (step S2). In this example, as will be described later, since a chocolate confectionery having a thin film layer of a color different from the base is provided on the surface, the marked photograph is expressed in a single color. Therefore, the control unit 11 of the data control device 10 converts the bitmap file data into binary data consisting of only black and white, or grayscale data. Grayscale shading can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the number of dots per unit area. In other words, in dot marking, by specifying the size of the dots to be marked, the distance between dots (step size), or the density, the gray scale light and dark tone can be freely expressed, and a clear and highly accurate photograph can be expressed. be able to.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, by specifying a smaller dot size and adjusting the number of dots per unit area, a photograph converted into grayscale data having continuous shading is expressed. can do. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, when a photograph converted into binarized data is expressed, it can be expressed by marking with a relatively large dot. In this way, the size of the dots to be marked, the distance between dots (step size), or the density is designated according to the binarized data or grayscale data created by converting from the bitmap file, and the marking pattern 1 is Created.

  Next, the marking layer forming step (step S0) will be described. In this example, the food F is a plate-shaped chocolate confectionery selected from several types of confectionery samples by the user. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, edible powder 61 of a color different from that of the underlying chocolate 60 is electrostatically applied uniformly on the surface. Therefore, a thin film layer of this powder 61 is formed on the surface of the food F. In this example, food F in which a thin film layer is previously formed by powder 61 is prepared. That is, the marking layer formation step (step S0) is performed before the data acquisition step (step S1), but any stage can be performed as long as it is before the laser marking step (step S3) described later. good.

Next, the laser marking step (step S3) will be described. In the laser marking step, marking conditions are set, a marking material is set, and then laser light is irradiated. First, in setting the marking conditions, considering the properties of the food F, the laser parameters such as the wavelength of the irradiated laser, the beam diameter, the frequency of the Q switch element, the wattage, the power, the dot irradiation time, the number of markings, etc. Set.
Subsequently, the food F is placed on the placement surface 31 of the pedestal 30. Here, it is determined at which position on the food F the character is to be marked, and the food F is aligned in the marking area.

  The food F is irradiated with laser light using the laser marker 40. That is, the controller 41 of the laser marker 40 controls the ultrasonic Q switch element 43, the internal shutter 44, the external shutter 45, the attenuator (light attenuator) 46, and the galvanometer mirror 47 based on the above-described marking pattern and marking conditions. Thereby, a laser is irradiated on the food F. In dot marking, dots can be arranged at the irradiation position by intermittently irradiating the laser beam while controlling the irradiation position of the laser beam. At this time, by setting the vertical and horizontal distances between the dots to a predetermined interval, dots aligned vertically and horizontally are formed.

When the laser beam is irradiated, the powder 61 electrostatically applied to the surface and the underlying chocolate 60 are formed on the irradiated portion of the thin film layer formed on the surface of the food F, as shown in FIG. Heated locally, the powder 61 is welded to the chocolate 60 and fixed. Thereafter, when the surplus powder 63 that has not been welded is removed by air blow or the like, the underlying chocolate 60 is exposed at the portion that has not been welded and fixed, as shown in FIG. 7C. As a result, as shown in the diagram on the right side of FIG. 7C, a round dot-shaped collection of welding powder 62 is formed on the surface of the food F on the portion irradiated with the laser light. As a result, a marking pattern composed of an array of dots is formed on the surface.
As described above, by dot marking, a highly accurate photograph can be marked on the surface of the chocolate confectionery, and a chocolate confectionery on which a photograph full of realism is drawn can be provided on the spot.

  In addition, even if the surface of the chocolate confectionery as the food F selected by the user has a curved surface instead of a flat surface, or has an uneven surface, the pedestal depends on the shape of the irradiated food surface. By controlling so as to adjust the height of the 30 placement surfaces 31, it is possible to always mark the surface of the food F while focusing the laser beam. Further, the laser light may be focused on the surface of the food F by adjusting the galvano mirror 47 of the laser marker 40 to adjust the optical path of the laser light.

Second Example In the second example, the laser marking device S is installed in a general confectionery store. The user converts, for example, a photograph of a person celebrating a birthday and data that specifies voice messages or voice information into a chocolate product decorated for a birthday gift cake, for example. And ask to mark. A person who is given the gift confectionery with the chocolate product can read the two-dimensional code using, for example, a CCD camera of a mobile phone, and reproduce the sound using the speaker of the mobile phone. Alternatively, music or message data specified by the data contained in the two-dimensional code can be downloaded by accessing the Internet and reproduced as it is with a speaker of a mobile phone. Thereby, a clear and highly accurate photograph is drawn on the surface, and chocolate confectionery to which audio information is added is provided.
Of course, the information to be two-dimensionally coded may be a message using character information such as alphanumeric characters, kanji, or kana characters. In addition, for example, a homepage address can be marked with a two-dimensional code, and if the address is accessed, a greeting card containing an image or a message can be displayed. Furthermore, for example, it is possible to mark a simple moving image as a two-dimensional code. And you may make it mark combining these information suitably.

  In addition to the user visiting the confectionery store directly and inputting digital data such as photos and messages, the digital data is sent to the confectionery store via the communication network I, and the confectionery store is based on the data. It can also be set as the system which produces a marking pattern and manufactures the confectionery picture which gave the marking. Moreover, it can also operate as a confectionery marking shop that performs only marking without producing confectionery. In this case, a service is provided in which the user brings, for example, handmade confectionery and marks a desired marking pattern on the surface.

Hereinafter, regarding the laser marking method of the second example, description of the same contents as those of the first example is omitted, and only different portions will be described. In this example, in the data acquisition step, data relating to audio information is acquired together with the bitmap data of the photograph for creating a marking pattern for marking the food F. In the marking pattern generation step, a marking pattern including the two-dimensional code 1a is generated.
First, as in the first example, the data of the bitmap file of the photograph is converted into binary data consisting of only black and white, or grayscale data, and data relating to audio information is converted into a two-dimensional code.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the two-dimensional code 1a is a combination of black cells 2a and white cells 2b arranged in a matrix to form a light and dark pattern. The black cells 2a and white cells 2b are set to 0 and 1, respectively. Correspondingly, two-dimensional array data having 1 bit per cell is formed. As the format, a data matrix, Veri code, QR code, Aztec code, Maxi code, PDF417, micro PDF, or the like can be used.

The two-dimensional code 1a of this example is a dark pattern unit cell in which, for example, substantially circular dots in plan view are arranged vertically and horizontally in n × n or n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). It is formed by arranging square or rectangular unit cells. The dots 5 do not have to be substantially circular in plan view and may be substantially rectangular in plan view. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two-dimensional code 1a can be configured as one dot per cell, or as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional code 1a can be configured as an array. Thus, the size of the two-dimensional code 1a can be adjusted according to the marking area.
As described above, the two-dimensional code can be marked on the surface of the chocolate candy by dot marking, and various information including voice information can be transmitted through the food.

(Modification 1)
In the first example and the second example, the powder 61 at the portion irradiated with the laser light is welded in a round dot shape, and a marking pattern is formed using the color of the powder 61 as a marking color. In Modification Example 1, the marking pattern is formed by using the color of the powder 61 of the thin film layer as the ground color and the color of the underlying chocolate 60 as the marking color.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the thin film layer 64 formed on the surface of the chocolate candy is fixed to the underlying chocolate 60 in advance. The thin film layer 64 can be, for example, a chocolate layer colored in a different color from the underlying chocolate 60. When the laser beam is irradiated, as shown in FIG. 9B, the thin film layer 64 on the surface is locally heated and melted, and then vaporized and removed by the energy of the laser beam. As a result, as shown in the diagram on the right side of FIG. 9B, the base chocolate 60 is exposed in a round dot shape at the portion irradiated with the laser beam. In this way, a marking pattern can be formed using the color of the thin film layer 64 as the background color and the color of the underlying chocolate 60 as the marking color.

(Modification 2)
In the first example, the second example, and the modified example 1, only one thin film layer is formed on the surface of the chocolate confectionery. Therefore, the marking pattern is limited to that which can be expressed by a single color shading. On the other hand, the modified example 2 can mark a multicolor marking pattern.

In Modified Example 2, as shown in FIG. 10A, thin film layers 65 and 66 made of edible bodies having colors different from those of adjacent layers are formed on the surface of the underlying chocolate 60, and this chocolate confectionery is formed. Laser marking is applied to the surface of
When the laser beam is irradiated, first, as shown in FIG. 10B, the first thin film layer 66 is locally heated and melted, and then is vaporized and removed by the energy of the laser beam. . As a result, as shown in the diagram on the right side of FIG. 10B, the second thin film layer 65 is exposed in a round dot shape at the portion irradiated with the laser light. Next, when the second thin film layer 65 is irradiated with laser light, the second thin film layer 65 is locally heated and melted as shown in FIG. Then, it is vaporized and removed by the energy of the laser beam. As a result, as shown in the diagram on the right side of FIG. 10C, the base chocolate 60 is exposed in a round dot shape in the portion irradiated with the laser beam.
In this way, a plurality of thin film layers made of edible bodies of different colors are exposed up to a predetermined layer according to the marking pattern, thereby forming a marking pattern made of an array of multicolored dots.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the laser marking apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the condition which mounted the foodstuff on the mounting base of the laser marking apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the laser marker of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the flow of the data marked by the laser marking method of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the laser marking method of an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the marking pattern (photograph) of an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in which a marking layer is partially welded and a marking pattern is formed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the two-dimensional code formed by dot marking. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in which a marking layer is partially removed and a marking pattern is formed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in which a some marking layer is partially removed and a multicolored marking pattern is formed.

Explanation of symbols

1 marking pattern, 1a 2D code, 2 cells, 2a black cell, 2b white cell, 5 dots, 10 data control device, 11 control unit (CPU), 12 operation unit, 13 display unit, 14 input unit, 15 communication unit , 16 storage unit, 16a ROM, 16b RAM, 16c hard disk, 20 image input means, 21 voice input means, 22 electronic storage medium reading means, 30 pedestal, 31 mounting surface, 32 mounting plate, 33 position adjustment mechanism, 40 Laser marker, 41 Controller, 43 Switch element, 44 Internal shutter, 45 External shutter, 46 Attenuator, 47 Galvano mirror, 50 Laser oscillator, 51 Total reflection mirror, 52 Internal aperture, 53 Lamphouse, 54 Output mirror, 55 Aperture, 56 Leveling Mirror, 57 Galileo Kispanda, 58 aperture, 59 lens, 60 chocolate, 61 powder, 62 welding powder, 63 surplus powder, 64-66 thin film layer, F food, I communication line network, S laser marking device

Claims (12)

A laser marking method for marking visible information by irradiating a surface of food with laser light,
A data acquisition step of acquiring data for generating the visible information;
A marking pattern generating step for generating a marking pattern made of visible information including a two-dimensional code based on the acquired data;
A laser marking step of controlling a laser irradiation unit in accordance with the marking pattern and the property of the food to directly mark the surface of the food.   The two-dimensional code is formed of unit cells in which dots formed by laser light irradiation are arranged vertically and horizontally in n × n or n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). 2. The laser marking method according to 1.   3. The laser marking method according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional code is generated by converting voice information or identification information for specifying the voice information. 4.   The data for generating the visible information in the data acquisition step is acquired through at least one of an image input unit, a voice input unit, an electronic storage medium reading unit, and a communication line network. Item 2. A laser marking method according to Item 1. Before the laser marking step, a marking layer forming step of forming at least one marking layer made of an edible body on the surface of the food is performed,
In the laser marking step, the marking layer is irradiated with laser light, and the edible body of the irradiated portion is welded, while the edible body that has not been welded is removed from the surface of the food and is The laser marking method according to claim 1, wherein the layer is exposed. Before the laser marking step, a marking layer forming step of forming at least one marking layer made of an edible body on the surface of the food is performed,
2. The laser marking step according to claim 1, wherein in the laser marking step, the marking layer is irradiated with a laser beam, and the edible body at the irradiated portion is melted and removed to expose the underlying layer. Laser marking method. The marking layer is formed in at least two layers, and each layer has a different color from the adjacent layer,
The visible information consisting of at least three colors is formed on the surface of the food product by irradiating the marking layer with laser light in the laser marking step. Laser marking method. A laser marking device that marks visible information by irradiating the surface of food with laser light,
A placement section having a placement surface for placing the food;
An input unit to which data for generating the visible information is input;
A laser irradiation unit for directly marking the surface of the food by irradiating the laser beam;
Based on the input data, a marking pattern made of visible information including a two-dimensional code is generated, and the laser irradiation unit is controlled according to the marking pattern and the property of the food, and the shape of the surface of the food is set. A control unit that changes the position of the mounting surface on the optical path of the laser light emitted from the laser irradiation unit or on the axis along the optical path by controlling the laser irradiation unit or the mounting unit according to A laser marking device comprising:   9. The laser marking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the input unit is connected to at least one of an image input unit, a voice input unit, an electronic storage medium reading unit, and a communication line network.   A food product characterized in that a two-dimensional code is directly marked on the surface by laser light irradiation.   The two-dimensional code is formed by unit cells in which dots formed by laser light irradiation are arranged vertically and horizontally in n × n or n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). Item 10. The food according to Item 9.   The food according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the two-dimensional code is generated by converting voice information or identification information for specifying voice information.

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