SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MARKING ARTICLES COATED WITH A LASER-SENSITIVE MATERIAL

摘要

A method for uniquely identifying tubes may include programming a motion of a laser relative to a tube pad printed with a mixture of ink and a laser sensitive material and exposing the laser-sensitive material to the laser to colorimetrically transform the material and reveal a unique identifier. A method of coating tubes includes plasma or flame treating the tube and mixing a laser-sensitive material with ink to form a mixture to pad print onto the tube. A system for identifying tubes coated with laser-sensitive material includes a laser mounted in translational relationship to a stage, a camera positioned to capture an image of a tube on a stage, a processor that receives the image and translates the laser relative to the stage in order to position the laser for marking the tube, and a laser controller to move the laser in order to mark the tube.