WO2005123265A1 - The application of microdots as identifier labels - Google Patents

The application of microdots as identifier labels Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005123265A1
WO2005123265A1 PCT/AU2005/000363 AU2005000363W WO2005123265A1 WO 2005123265 A1 WO2005123265 A1 WO 2005123265A1 AU 2005000363 W AU2005000363 W AU 2005000363W WO 2005123265 A1 WO2005123265 A1 WO 2005123265A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nozzle
passage
discharge part
discharge
microdots
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2005/000363
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ian P Allen
Original Assignee
Datadot Technology Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2004903361A external-priority patent/AU2004903361A0/en
Application filed by Datadot Technology Limited filed Critical Datadot Technology Limited
Publication of WO2005123265A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005123265A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/24—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
    • B05B7/2402—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device
    • B05B7/2405—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device using an atomising fluid as carrying fluid for feeding, e.g. by suction or pressure, a carried liquid from the container to the nozzle
    • B05B7/2424—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device using an atomising fluid as carrying fluid for feeding, e.g. by suction or pressure, a carried liquid from the container to the nozzle the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the application of microdots to an article to provide identification of that article, for example in the event of theft. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the application of identifying microdots to a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, motorcycle, boat, or jet ski.
  • identifying microdots to a vehicle for identification purposes.
  • identifying microdots due to their very small size and large number, at least several thousand per vehicle, it is unlikely that all of the microdots will 'ever be able to be removed so it is likely that there will always be some microdots remaining on different parts of the vehicle for subsequent identification.
  • a method of applying microdots as identifier labels to an article comprising: providing a container having a body containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots therein and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part coupled to the body and having a passage with an inlet portion and a discharge outlet, and a nozzle separately formed from the discharge part and adapted to be fitted into the discharge part; releasably fitting the nozzle onto an outlet component of a system for supplying air under pressure; feeding air under pressure via the nozzle and into the passage so that air flowing through the passage draws the mixture from the container body into the passage for discharge through the discharge part for application to the article; and removing the nozzle from the outlet component of the air supply system after use and disposing of the container, the discharge part, and the nozzle whereby the outlet component of the air supply system remains free from any contamination with the microdot/adhesive mixture and can thereby be used for a subsequent application without the
  • a container assembly for use in the method defined above, the container assembly comprising a body containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part coupled to the body and having a passage with an inlet portion and an discharge outlet, a draw tube leading from the mixture to the passage, and a nozzle separately formed from the discharge part and fitted into the passage in the discharge part such that air fed under pressure via the nozzle into the passage draws the mixture into the passage via the tube for discharge through the discharge part for application to the article.
  • the discharge part and the nozzle are each fabricated as separate one-piece plastics mouldings.
  • the outlet component is an air gun having a discharge nozzle over which the inlet end of the first mentioned nozzle is releasably fitted.
  • Figure 1 shows the main components of an application system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and including a container for a microdot/adhesive mixture, a discharge part, and an air gun onto which the discharge part when fitted to the container is applied; and
  • Figure 2 shows an alternative form of discharge part.
  • the system comprises a disposable container 2 having a large number of microdots, for example 10,000 for application to an automobile, and a viscous adhesive into which the microdots are mixed prior to application.
  • the microdots which are each approximately 1mm in diameter carry indicia discrete to the particular article to which the microdots are to be applied and in the case of a vehicle that indicia is preferably the VL which is a discrete, internationally recognised, identification code used by all major vehicle manufacturers.
  • the indicia is able to be read by the eye through a magnifying lens.
  • the adhesive itself preferably includes ultraviolet detectable particles or molecules to facilitate identification of the applied microdots under ultraviolet light.
  • the container 2 has an opening at the upper end of the body, as shown a screw threaded opening, which is initially supplied with a closure cap, the cap being removed prior to use and replaced by a discharge part 4 which is screwed onto the container body in place of the cap. It is however to be understood that instead of using a cap and discharge part which screws onto the container body, a secure press-on or snap-on fitting with an appropriate sealing structure could alternatively be used.
  • the discharge part 4 is in the form of a one-piece plastics moulding with a discharge passage 6 into which leads a tube 7 extending from the mixture within the body of the container 2 whereby the mixture is drawn into the passage 6 through the tube 7 for discharge via an outlet end 8 of nozzle-like form when air under pressure is fed through the passage 6.
  • the air is fed into the discharge passage via a nozzle 10 which is a second plastics component of one-piece form which is fitted into the inlet end of the discharge passage 6.
  • the nozzle 10 extends outwardly to terminate in an inlet fitting 10a which is mounted over the nozzle 12 of an air gun 14.
  • the nozzle 12 of the air gun 14 includes an O-ring 16 which seals within the inlet fitting 10a so that the nozzle 10 is sealingly and securely attached to the nozzle 12, but is removable therefrom.
  • the nozzle 10 itself is a friction fit within the discharge passage 6 of the discharge part 4.
  • the lid In use, to apply the microdots to a vehicle or other article, the lid is removed from the microdot container 2 and if the adhesive is not pre-supplied within the container it is added at that stage.
  • the discharge part 4 with draw tube 7 is then applied to the upper end of the container body.
  • the separate nozzle 10 may be pre-fitted into the discharge passage 6 in which case all that is then necessary is to mount the discharge part 4 with nozzle 10 over the outlet nozzle 12 of the air gun 14.
  • the nozzle 10 can be first fitted onto the outlet nozzle 12 and then fitted into the discharge passage 6.
  • the nozzle 10 together with the discharge part 4 and container 2 is removed from the outlet nozzle 12 of the gun 14 and disposed. It will be readily understood that since the nozzle 12 of the gun is isolated by means of the nozzle 10 from contacting the microdot/adhesive mixture during discharge, the gun nozzle 12 will remain free from contamination and will therefore not require any cleaning for successive uses.
  • Figure 2 shows a modified version in which the nozzle 10 is snap-fitted into the discharge passage 6 and has at its outer end an inlet fitting 10a for releasable snap-fitting over a complementary formation on the nozzle part of the air gun.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

Microdots as identifier labels are applied to an article drawing a mixture of microdots and adhesive from a container (2) using pressurised air. A discharge part (4) is coupled to the container (2) and has a passage (6) with an inlet portion and a discharge outlet (8). A nozzle (10) separately formed from the discharge part (4) is fitted into the passage (6) in the discharge part (4); the nozzle (10) is fitted onto an outlet component (14) of a system for supplying air under pressure. Air fed under pressure via the nozzle (10) and into the passage (6) draws the mixture from the container body into the passage (6) for discharge through the discharge part (4) for application to the article. After use the nozzle (10) is removed from the outlet component (14) of the air supply system and the container (2), the discharge part (4), and the nozzle (10) are then discarded. Accordingly the outlet component (14) of the air supply system remains free from any contamination with the microdot/adhesive mixture and can thereby be used for a subsequent application without the need to clean it.

Description

THE APPLICATION OF MICRODOTS AS IDENTIFIER LABELS
The present invention relates to the application of microdots to an article to provide identification of that article, for example in the event of theft. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the application of identifying microdots to a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, motorcycle, boat, or jet ski.
The application of identifying microdots to a vehicle for identification purposes is known. A batch of microdots encoded with identifying data discrete to that particular vehicle and each readable by the eye under magnification, is applied to the vehicle in a number of different places using a strong adhesive. In the event of theft, although an attempt may be made to remove identifying microdots, due to their very small size and large number, at least several thousand per vehicle, it is unlikely that all of the microdots will 'ever be able to be removed so it is likely that there will always be some microdots remaining on different parts of the vehicle for subsequent identification.
A requirement exists for a simple and inexpensive system for applying the microdots.
Further, it is a fundamental requirement of such a system that contamination of microdots between successive batches is completely avoided.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of applying microdots as identifier labels to an article, said method comprising: providing a container having a body containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots therein and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part coupled to the body and having a passage with an inlet portion and a discharge outlet, and a nozzle separately formed from the discharge part and adapted to be fitted into the discharge part; releasably fitting the nozzle onto an outlet component of a system for supplying air under pressure; feeding air under pressure via the nozzle and into the passage so that air flowing through the passage draws the mixture from the container body into the passage for discharge through the discharge part for application to the article; and removing the nozzle from the outlet component of the air supply system after use and disposing of the container, the discharge part, and the nozzle whereby the outlet component of the air supply system remains free from any contamination with the microdot/adhesive mixture and can thereby be used for a subsequent application without the need to clean it.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a container assembly for use in the method defined above, the container assembly comprising a body containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part coupled to the body and having a passage with an inlet portion and an discharge outlet, a draw tube leading from the mixture to the passage, and a nozzle separately formed from the discharge part and fitted into the passage in the discharge part such that air fed under pressure via the nozzle into the passage draws the mixture into the passage via the tube for discharge through the discharge part for application to the article.
Preferably the discharge part and the nozzle are each fabricated as separate one-piece plastics mouldings.
Preferably the outlet component is an air gun having a discharge nozzle over which the inlet end of the first mentioned nozzle is releasably fitted.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the main components of an application system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and including a container for a microdot/adhesive mixture, a discharge part, and an air gun onto which the discharge part when fitted to the container is applied; and Figure 2 shows an alternative form of discharge part.
As shown in Figure 1, the system comprises a disposable container 2 having a large number of microdots, for example 10,000 for application to an automobile, and a viscous adhesive into which the microdots are mixed prior to application. The microdots which are each approximately 1mm in diameter carry indicia discrete to the particular article to which the microdots are to be applied and in the case of a vehicle that indicia is preferably the VL which is a discrete, internationally recognised, identification code used by all major vehicle manufacturers. The indicia is able to be read by the eye through a magnifying lens. The adhesive itself preferably includes ultraviolet detectable particles or molecules to facilitate identification of the applied microdots under ultraviolet light. The container 2 has an opening at the upper end of the body, as shown a screw threaded opening, which is initially supplied with a closure cap, the cap being removed prior to use and replaced by a discharge part 4 which is screwed onto the container body in place of the cap. It is however to be understood that instead of using a cap and discharge part which screws onto the container body, a secure press-on or snap-on fitting with an appropriate sealing structure could alternatively be used.
The discharge part 4 is in the form of a one-piece plastics moulding with a discharge passage 6 into which leads a tube 7 extending from the mixture within the body of the container 2 whereby the mixture is drawn into the passage 6 through the tube 7 for discharge via an outlet end 8 of nozzle-like form when air under pressure is fed through the passage 6. The air is fed into the discharge passage via a nozzle 10 which is a second plastics component of one-piece form which is fitted into the inlet end of the discharge passage 6. The nozzle 10 extends outwardly to terminate in an inlet fitting 10a which is mounted over the nozzle 12 of an air gun 14. In the form shown in Figure 1, the nozzle 12 of the air gun 14 includes an O-ring 16 which seals within the inlet fitting 10a so that the nozzle 10 is sealingly and securely attached to the nozzle 12, but is removable therefrom. In the particular form shown in Figure 1, the nozzle 10 itself is a friction fit within the discharge passage 6 of the discharge part 4.
In use, to apply the microdots to a vehicle or other article, the lid is removed from the microdot container 2 and if the adhesive is not pre-supplied within the container it is added at that stage. The discharge part 4 with draw tube 7 is then applied to the upper end of the container body. The separate nozzle 10 may be pre-fitted into the discharge passage 6 in which case all that is then necessary is to mount the discharge part 4 with nozzle 10 over the outlet nozzle 12 of the air gun 14. Alternatively, the nozzle 10 can be first fitted onto the outlet nozzle 12 and then fitted into the discharge passage 6. By operating the trigger 18 of the gun which opens and closes an air control valve, air is fed via the nozzle 10 into the discharge passage 6 to thereby cause the mixture to be drawn from within the container via the draw tube 7 for discharge through the outlet end 8 of the discharge passage 6 and hence for application to the vehicle.
When the microdot/adhesive mixture has been discharged from the container 2, the nozzle 10 together with the discharge part 4 and container 2 is removed from the outlet nozzle 12 of the gun 14 and disposed. It will be readily understood that since the nozzle 12 of the gun is isolated by means of the nozzle 10 from contacting the microdot/adhesive mixture during discharge, the gun nozzle 12 will remain free from contamination and will therefore not require any cleaning for successive uses.
Figure 2 shows a modified version in which the nozzle 10 is snap-fitted into the discharge passage 6 and has at its outer end an inlet fitting 10a for releasable snap-fitting over a complementary formation on the nozzle part of the air gun.
The embodiments have been described by way of example and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A method of applying microdots as identifier labels to an article, said method comprising: providing a container (2) having a body containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots therein and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part (4) coupled to the body and having a passage (6) with an inlet portion and a discharge outlet (8), and a nozzle (10) separately formed from the discharge part (4) and adapted to be¬ fitted into the passage (6) in the discharge part (4); releasably fitting the nozzle (10) onto an outlet component (14) of a system for supplying air under pressure; feeding air under pressure via the nozzle (10) and into the passage (6) so that air flowing through the passage (6) draws the mixture from the container body into the passage (6) for discharge through the discharge part (4) for application to the article; and removing the nozzle (10) from the outlet component (14) of the air supply system after use and disposing of the container (2), the discharge part (4), and the nozzle (10) whereby the outlet component (14) of the air supply system remains free from any contamination with the microdot/adhesive mixture and can thereby be used for a subsequent application without the need to clean it.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge part (4) and the nozzle (10) are each fabricated as separate one-piece plastics mouldings.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the nozzle (10) is a friction fit in the passage (6).
4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the nozzle (10) is a snap-fit in the passage (6).
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outlet component (14) is an air gun having a discharge nozzle (12) over which the inlet end of the first mentioned nozzle (10) is releasably fitted.
6. A container assembly for use in the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, the container assembly comprising a body (2) containing a multiplicity of predetermined microdots and an adhesive into which the microdots are mixed, a discharge part (4) coupled to the body (2) and having a passage (6) with an inlet portion and an discharge outlet (8), a draw tube (7) leading from the mixture to the passage (6), and a nozzle (10) separately formed from the discharge part (4) and fitted into the passage (6) in the discharge part (4) such that air fed under pressure via the nozzle (10) into the passage (6) draws the mixture into the passage (6) via the tube (7) for discharge through the discharge part (4) for application to the article.
7. A container assembly according to claim 6, wherein the nozzle (10) is a friction fit in the passage (6).
8. A container assembly according to claim 6, wherein the nozzle (10) is a snap-fit in the passage (6).
9. A container assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the discharge part (4) and the nozzle (10) are each fabricated as separate one-piece plastics mouldings.
PCT/AU2005/000363 2004-06-21 2005-03-15 The application of microdots as identifier labels WO2005123265A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2004903361A AU2004903361A0 (en) 2004-06-21 The application of microdots as identifier labels
AU2004903361 2004-06-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005123265A1 true WO2005123265A1 (en) 2005-12-29

Family

ID=35509493

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2005/000363 WO2005123265A1 (en) 2004-06-21 2005-03-15 The application of microdots as identifier labels

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BR (1) BRPI0404226A (en)
WO (1) WO2005123265A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2010100976B4 (en) * 2010-05-14 2012-03-29 Ian Peter Allen A device for delivering data tags

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4781329A (en) * 1985-05-17 1988-11-01 London Fog, Inc. Combined power duster and ULV aerosol generator
US4804144A (en) * 1981-09-21 1989-02-14 Tekex Company Apparatus for dispensing viscous materials
US4971251A (en) * 1988-11-28 1990-11-20 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Spray gun with disposable liquid handling portion
US5180109A (en) * 1991-06-05 1993-01-19 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Single use spray dispensing assembly
WO2002040355A2 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-05-23 Mclaws Brent D Identifier label application system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4804144A (en) * 1981-09-21 1989-02-14 Tekex Company Apparatus for dispensing viscous materials
US4781329A (en) * 1985-05-17 1988-11-01 London Fog, Inc. Combined power duster and ULV aerosol generator
US4971251A (en) * 1988-11-28 1990-11-20 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Spray gun with disposable liquid handling portion
US5180109A (en) * 1991-06-05 1993-01-19 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Single use spray dispensing assembly
WO2002040355A2 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-05-23 Mclaws Brent D Identifier label application system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2010100976B4 (en) * 2010-05-14 2012-03-29 Ian Peter Allen A device for delivering data tags

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BRPI0404226A (en) 2006-02-14

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