Abstract: Disclosed is a method of using laser sensors to measure the top surface of the granular flux powder height at the top of the continuous caster. Additionally, the laser sensor measures the height of the underlying sintered or liquid flux level absent the powder. This disclosure includes a method of utilizing a laser sensor and a gas puff to determine both the granular powder depth and the level of the underlying solid or liquid layer. The granular powder depth measurement then is utilized in a mold powder deposition system to permit feedback control so as to maintain the granular powder thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of using laser sensors to measure the top surface of the granular flux powder height at the top of the continuous caster. Additionally, the laser sensor measures the height of the underlying sintered or liquid flux level absent the powder. This disclosure includes a method of utilizing a laser sensor and a gas puff to determine both the granular powder depth and the level of the underlying solid or liquid layer. The granular powder depth measurement then is utilized in a mold powder deposition system to permit feedback control so as to maintain the granular powder thickness.

Abstract: A product identifying tag has a front surface and a back surface. Multiple readable product identification indicia are printed on one or more of the tag front surface or the tag back surface. A transparent overlay covers each of the multiple readable product tag product identification indicia. Each overlay is separately removable from each of the multiple readable product tag product identification indicia. Alternatively, there may be only one set of product identifying indicia and a first adhesively coated transparent overlay covers the product identification indicia while a second adhesively coated transparent film overlays the first adhesively coated transparent overlay.

Abstract: A nail module for nail attachment of metal tags to hot steel includes a nail and a fracturable carrier. The nail has a pointed shank and a head. The carrier houses the nail and has a delivery end and a female socket end. The carrier delivery end is adapted to receive said nail shank. The female socket end is adapted to receive said nail head. The female socket end also is adapted to receive a mandrel for carrying the module to a driving location in an orientation for driving the nail into a workpiece. The carrier is fractured and releases the nail when the mandrel drives the nail into a workpiece.

Abstract: A method for identifying dip-galvanized parts commences with marking a tag (e.g., metal) with identification indicia for a galvanizable part. The markings and the tag are resistant to molten zinc. A temporary film is applied over the identification indicia. The temporary film is resistant to pre-galvanizing treatment, but is removed (burned away) during dip galvanizing without obscuring the readability of the identification indicia. Finally, the metal tag is associated with the galvanizable part and the part galvanized in a molten zinc bath.

Abstract: A method for marking cold (e.g., about room temperature to 800° F.) substrate (e.g., glass, ceramic, metal) commences by creating a tape of a carrier backing bearing a laser ablatable, non-tacky coating with optional barrier and release coatings between the carrier backing and the coating. The coating is laser ablated to form one or more of alphanumeric characters or graphics on the carrier backing. The ablated coating on the carrier backing is heated to form a tacky film of the coating on the carrier backing. The tacky film is roller transferred from the carrier backing onto a pliable transfer pad. Finally, the tacky film is roller transferred from the pliable transfer pad onto the cold substrate for its marking.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for marking objects for their identification which marks survive elevated temperatures of, say, up to 600° to 800° F. or higher, for extended periods of time. The inventive system for marking workpieces for their identification includes a laser that emits a beam select band of radiation and a coating system for application to a workpiece to be marked. The coating system includes two coats of paint, a topcoat and a basecoat which paints have been coated sequentially on the workpiece. The basecoat is an at least partially-cured, laser-blackenable paint which has been marked with fragile product identification indicia by the laser beam, after which a clear topcoat has been applied thereover. The laser generates fragile product identification indicia on the workpiece by its beam being directed onto the basecoat for its blackening to generate the fragile product identification indicia by the selective charring of said basecoat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a credit card-sized carrier for a medicament. The carrier is composed of a lower housing having a cavity which houses a medicament wafer. The cavity of the lower housing is defined by a flat base and connected sidewalls, which terminate in a flange. A cover is removably attached to the lower housing to enclose the cavity. The carrier may be combined with an instruction card and alert to form a portable medicament kit. The invention also is directed to a method for enabling a person to carry a medicament during everyday including the step of providing a credit card-sized carrier that houses a wafer.

Abstract: Method for identifying an object having a surface of a given color associates a colored zone with the surface of the object. The zone is machine readably contrasting in color compared to the surface color. The colored zone is ablatively imaging to produce one or more of machine readable images, human readable images, or graphics. The contrast in color between the colored zone and the surface is machine readable. Advantageously, at least two colored zones are associated with the object to be identified. One or more of these colored zones can be ablatively marked. One or more of these colored zones also can be used to sort and/or identify the object by color.

Abstract: Method for marking hot glass article having a surface uses a flexible carrier ribbon bearing a laser ablatable, high temperature, diffusely reflective coating, preferably white in color. A pattern is imaged in said coating on carrier ribbon by laser ablation. The patterned carrier ribbon is pressed against the surface only for a time adequate for transferring the patterned coating to the surface. The carrier ribbon then is released from pressing against the surface. The transferred image thickness may be limited by solid particles within the coating.

Abstract: An anodized micro-pore aluminum tag bearing indicia thereon wherein the micro-pore anodized aluminum has its micro-pores filled with the cured reside of a composition, which contains silicone resin having pendant groups selected from one or more of methyl groups or phenyl groups. The composition in the micro-pores was cured to a degree effective for marking by blackening thereof with a, e.g., CO2, laser beam, in the form of indicia thereon. The surface of the tag preferably is substantially free of said composition. The method for treating the surface of the anodized micro-pore aluminum tag for forming indicia thereon commences by applying the composition to the surface. Excess of the composition from the surface is removed to leave composition resident in said micro-pores. The composition in the micro-pores then is at least partially cured. A laser then can create the indicia by blackening the composition in the micro-pores.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for making a metal tag bearing visible indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a workpiece. Such inventive method commences by providing a metal sheet having a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of ends. The top face bears a painted zone upon which is imprinted with visible indicia. At least one of the ends of the bottom face has exposed bare metal. Such bare metal end is folded so as to reveal the bottom face bare metal adjacent to the imprinted painted zone. The thickness of the folded ends is effective for the metal tag to be welded onto a metal workpiece at such folded tag end. Another aspect of the present invention is a metal tag bearing indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a metal workpiece. The tag includes a metal sheet having a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of ends. The top face bears a painted zone upon that is imprinted with visible indicia.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for marking objects for their identification. The inventive system includes a laser that emits a select band of radiation and a coating system for application to an object or workpiece to be marked. The coating system is composed of two contrasting coats of paint, a topcoat and a basecoat, which have been coated sequentially on the workpiece. The topcoat, while still wet, can be ablated by the beam of said laser while the basecoat, while wet, dry or tacky, is refractory to the beam of said laser. The laser, thus, can generate alphanumeric and graphic characters (product identification indicia) on the workpiece by its beam being directed onto the coating system for ablating the topcoat to reveal the basecoat to generate the characters by dint of the visible contrast between the two coats of paint.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for making a metal tag bearing visible indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a substrate. Such inventive method commences by providing a metal sheet having (1) a painted zone upon which is imprinted visible indicia, and (2) a bare metal zone, to form said tag. A preform is attached to said bare metal zone, preferably by welding. The preform has a depression adapted to receive weld wire for welding said tag to said metal substrate. Preferably, the depression is a hole penetrating through the preform to the bare metal zone. The preform also is thicker than the metal tag, and of thickness effective for it being attached to metal by welding. The metal tag is attached to the substrate by inserting a weld wire through the preform hole to make contact with the tag bare metal zone and welding the metal tag to said substrate. Also disclosed is a metal tag bearing indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a metal substrate.

Abstract: The present invention broadly is addressed to the marking, labeling, or tagging of hot metal or hot coils at elevated temperature with human readable and/or machine readable (e.g., bar code) characters. To this end, the present invention broadly is directed to a label which can be secured to hot metal stock (e.g.., coil stock) which is at a temperature of up to about 1200.degree. F. The label is formed from a sheet of metal having a face and a back. The sheet face is coated with a layer of paint that is resistant to temperature of the hot metal stock and receptive to being thermally transfer printed. The metal sheet label is of a thickness so that the paint layer can be thermally transfer printed using conventional markers designed for paper or films. Alternatively, this paint layer can be marked upon using conventional dot matrix (wire) printers with carbon ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention broadly is addressed to the marking, labeling, or tagging of hot metal or hot coils at elevated temperature with human readable and/or machine readable (e.g., bar code) characters. To this end, the present invention broadly is directed to a label which can be secured to hot metal stock (e.g., coil stock) which is at a temperature of up to about 1200.degree. F. The label is formed from a sheet of metal having a face and a back. The sheet face is coated with a layer of paint that is resistant to temperature of the hot metal stock and receptive to being thermally transfer printed. The metal sheet label is of a thickness so that the paint layer can be thermally transfer printed using conventional markers designed for paper or films. Alternatively, this paint layer can be marked upon using conventional dot matrix (wire) printers with carbon ribbon.