SERT, Mesut (Kestel Organize Sanayi Bolgesi, Ahmet Vefik Pasa MahallesiKayasan Sokak No: 3 Kestel, Bursa, TR)
SIGIRTMAC, Tayfun (Kestel Organize Sanayi Bolgesi, Ahmet Vefik Pasa MahallesiKayasan Sokak No: 3 Kestel, Bursa, TR)
SERT, Mesut (Kestel Organize Sanayi Bolgesi, Ahmet Vefik Pasa MahallesiKayasan Sokak No: 3 Kestel, Bursa, TR)
| CLAIMS 1. A method to form a barcode pattern (5) on the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber based air spring (1 ), characterized in that, in a first application, a physical change is obtained by the burning process made on the air spring (1) by means of the laser rays supplied from a laser source and the formed barcode pattern (5) comprises narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) in the form of bar and codes (8), or in a second application, the barcode pattern (5) is formed on the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) by burning process with laser rays, as a result of the burning process, narrow and wide gaps (6, 7), having different thickness and length at a certain depth of the rubber plate (4), and codes (8) are formed on the rubber plate (4), the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) is fixed onto the air spring (1 ) by using or not using a chemical adhesive on the joining surface (9) and after the fixing operation, the air spring (1) and rubber plate (4) are vulcanized together in a vulcanization press, or in a third application, drilling process is realized with laser rays on the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4), as a result of the drilling process, narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) and codes (8) are formed along the height of the rubber plate (4), vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) is fixed onto the air spring (1 ) by using or not using an adhesive on the joining surface (9) and after the fixing operation, the air spring (1) and the rubber plate (4) are vulcanized together in a vulcanization press. 2. Barcode pattern (5) forming method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, the physical change made on the air spring (1) by the burning process in the first application, is preferably a color change. 3. Barcode pattern (5) forming method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, the thickness, the depth and the intermediate distance of the narrow and wide gaps (6, 7), can be increased or decreased according to the power of the laser rays supplied from the laser source. 4. Barcode pattern (5) forming method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, symbols consist of numbers and/or letters, are used as codes (8). 5. Barcode pattern (5) forming method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, the barcode pattern (5) applied onto the air spring (1 ), can be optionally formed by the burning process with laser rays as a data matrix which is a two-dimensioned barcode type. |
Technical Field
Present invention relates to barcode application made on the air springs used in transport vehicles such as articulated lorry, autobus, tractor, semi-trailer.
Prior Art
Air suspension systems which are mounted between the chassis and the axle of the vehicles such as articulated lorry, autobus, tractor, semi-trailer by means of the connection parts, are used to absorb the vibrations caused by the way conditions, over load etc. during the riding. Air suspension systems generally comprise a plastic or metal piston fixed to the vehicle axle by means of a connection flange, an elastomeric air spring part vulcanized air tight manner from its lower open end to the upper part of the piston and from its upper open end to the metal plate which is fixed to the vehicle chassis. The inner volume of the elastomeric air spring part which is vulcanized air tightly to the piston and the plate, is filled with air provided by a compressor and passing through a hole on the plate and in conclusion the suspension system can absorb the vibrations.
In the present technique there are codes, on the rubber based air springs, defining the brand, the product code, the production date and the data of the operator realizing the production. Information such as product brand and product code, is formed by the brand parts placed between the molds of the vulcanization press during the vulcanization process. The production year and week are formed on the air spring during the vulcanization process by small tablets placed inside the molds. The production day and the operator data are formed on the air spring permanently in a manner that before the vulcanization process, high heat-resistant nylons are adhered onto the air springs, after that the nylons are vulcanized together with the air spring and the code pattern on the nylon is provided on the air spring.
In the present technique, there is information such as brand, product code, production date and the operator on the air springs. However this information is not sufficient to trace the production process and performance and to receive reports. Therefore, a new application is needed to collect the data about the production process directly and to report of this data.
Any patent application, similar to the barcode application on the air spring, was not encountered in the patent search. US 2006/0043196 A1 publication numbered patent application relates to an air spring mechanism having a definition label. Definition label is compressed between the rubber air spring and the plate. Definition label can have information such as product number, producer name, production date etc. Definition label is preferably made of polymeric fibers having high abrasion-resistance.
Object of the Invention
The object of the invention is, collecting of the data directly from the production process, sending of this data to the integrated software to be recorded, thanks to the barcode application made on the air springs.
Another object of the invention is, tracing of the production process from beginning to end, determining of the time between the processes, thanks to this the production performance is determined. If a delay or a defect is occurred during the production process, the defect source will be completely determined thanks to the barcode application. Further that the whole production, stock, planning and dispatch performance will be perfectly measured according to the person and time.
Another object of the invention is, to provide the retrospective traceability and to inform the employees immediately. T TR2010/000178
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Another object of the invention is, to inform the top management immediately by report.
Another object of the invention is, to optimize the planned-realized rate for the production process.
Another object of the invention is, if the reason of the product return (reclamation) is production process, the source of the reclamation will be clearly determined by a retrospective evaluation.
The Explanation of the Figures
Figure 1 , the perspective view of the air spring on which barcode application is realized.
Figure 2, the top view of the rubber plate having barcode pattern.
Figure 3, the cross-sectional view (A-A) shown in the Figure 2.
Figure 4, the cross-sectional view (A-A) of an alternative embodiment.
Figure 5, the perspective view of the air spring on which data matrix application is made.
Reference Numbers
1. Air spring
2. Piston
3. Connection plate
4. Rubber plate
5. Barcode pattern
6. Narrow gap
7. Wide gap
8. Code
9. Joining surface
10. Data matrix Detailed Description of the Invention
Present invention relates to barcode application made on the air springs used in transport vehicles such as articulated lorry, autobus, tractor, semi-trailer.
In Figure 1 , the perspective view of the air spring (1) on which barcode application is realized. Air spring (1) made of rubber composition, is mounted onto the vehicle axle by a metal or plastic piston (2) and is mounted to the vehicle chassis by a metal based connection plate (3) in air-tightly manner. Air spring (1) absorbs the vibrations coming to the vehicle thanks to the pressured air in its inner volume.
In a preferred first application, barcode pattern (5) is formed on the rubber based air spring (1 ) thanks to the laser rays supplied from a laser source. Barcode pattern (5) consists of narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) in the form of bar and codes (8) (See Figure 2). Symbols consists of numbers and letters, can be used as code (8). Narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) are arrayed according to the barcode pattern (5) and there are certain distances between the gaps. The thicknesses, the depth and the intermediate distances of these gaps (6, 7), can be increased or decreased according to the power of the laser rays supplied from the laser source.
Forming of the barcode pattern (5) on the air spring (1) directly through the laser rays, is preferably provided by a burning process. A physical change is obtained by the burning process made on the air spring (1) to form the proper barcode pattern (5) by means of the laser rays. This physical change is generally a color change. The narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) and codes (8) of the barcode can be seen from the outside and they can be read by a barcode reader easily. Air springs generally have black color. Since the barcode pattern (5), which has been formed by burning process with laser rays, has dark color, in order to realize the barcode application, air spring (1 ) has to be produced to have a color other than black. Alternatively, the area of the air spring (1), on which the barcode pattern (5) is only formed, can be produced to have a light color. As it seen in Figure 3 in a preferred second application of the invention, the barcode pattern (5) is formed on the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) by burning process with laser rays. As a result of the burning process, narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) having different thickness and length at a certain depth and codes (8) are formed on the rubber plate (4). Preferably numbers are used as codes (8). Alternatively, figures such as letters, symbols can be used instead of the numbers.
After that, the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) having barcode pattern (5), is fixed onto the air spring (1) by using or not using a chemical adhesive on the joining surface (9). After the fixing operation, the air spring (1) and rubber plate (4) are vulcanized in a vulcanization press and the air spring (1) having barcode pattern (5) is obtained.
As it seen in Figure 4 in a preferred third application of the invention, the barcode pattern (5) is formed on the vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) by the drilling process with laser rays. As a result of the drilling process, narrow and wide gaps (6, 7) and codes (8) are formed along the height of the rubber plate (4). Preferably, numbers are used as codes (8). Alternatively, figures such as letters, symbols can be used instead of the numbers.
After that, as is the case in the second application, vulcanized or not vulcanized rubber plate (4) is fixed onto the air spring (1) by using or not using an adhesive on the joining surface (9). And air spring (1 ) and the rubber plate (4) are vulcanized together and the air spring (1) having barcode pattern (5) is obtained.
As it seen in Figure 5, the data matrix (10), which is a two-dimensioned barcode type, can be applied onto the air spring (1 ). Data matrix (10) can be formed by the burning process with laser rays. Data matrix code is a two-dimensioned code, which can store more information than the analogical codes such as barcode or bulk codes. A few thousands of characters can be stored in one code. The other advantages of the data matrix, are high read speed and perfect data preservation. Data matrix (10) code can be embodied differently and is variable for the shape and size.
An important characteristic of the data matrix (10) code, even though the code is dirty or damaged, it provides high reading safety. The reason of this is that the same data can be stored in several different places in the data area. If the code is damaged, smart system can form the same data once again by using the different segments. Even though the 28 percent of the data is damaged, it can solve the code.