Linking on-line analysis and tracer technology

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9383729-B2
Application number	US-201113825282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2011
Priority date	Sep 21, 2010
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of obtaining value from providing fabrication equipment comprising the following steps. Fabrication equipment is provided to an article producer, which equipment includes an on-line analyzer for detecting the presence of a tracer element. Raw material which contains the proprietary tracer element is then provided to the article producer. The article producer is then allowed to begin to convert the raw material to a finished article using the fabrication equipment. The raw material is analyzed for the presence of the tracer element while the fabrication equipment is operated. Appropriate action, such as charging a royalty or shutting down the fabrication equipment, is then taken in the event the tracer element is not detected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of obtaining value from providing fabrication equipment comprising the steps of
a. providing fabrication equipment to an article producer, which equipment includes an on-line analyzer for detecting the presence of a tracer element;
b. providing raw material containing the tracer element to the article producer, wherein the raw material is resin, fiber, film, molded articles, or sheet;
c. allowing the article producer to convert the raw material to a finished article using the fabrication equipment;
d. analyzing the raw material for the presence of the tracer element using the on-line analyzer;
e. if the tracer element is not present, recording the volumes of resin, fiber, film, molded articles, or sheet used.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracer element comprises a material of inorganic origin.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the material of inorganic origin comprises a metal complex and/or metal salt.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising shutting down the fabrication equipment in the event the tracer element is not detected.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of charging a royalty based on the recorded volumes.

6. The method of claim 1 including a further step of charging the article producer a royalty based on the volumes of resin, fiber, film, molded articles or sheet used which did not contain the tracer element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the raw material comprises a polyolefin resin.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the on-line analyzer detects the amount of the tracer element in addition to the presence, and wherein action taken in step e. is based on whether or not the tracer element is present in the proper amount.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein more than one tracer element is added to the raw material and where the analyzer detects the presence and/or amount of each tracer element added.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracer element comprises a material of organic origin.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein more than one tracer element is added and wherein the amount of each tracer element is varied to provide a unique identifier.

12. A method for ensuring that raw material used with a particular piece of fabrication equipment is of adequate quality comprising the steps of
a. providing fabrication equipment to an article producer, which equipment includes an on-line analyzer for detecting the presence of a tracer element;
b. identifying raw material producers whose raw materials meet desired standards;
c. providing the identity and optionally ranges of amounts of one or more tracer elements to the identified raw material producer;
d. allowing the article producer to convert the raw material to a finished article using the fabrication equipment;
e. analyzing the raw material for the presence and optionally the amount of the one or more tracer elements provided to the identified raw material producer using the on-line analyzer; and
f. communicating a signal to safely shut down the fabrication equipment in the event the presence and optionally the amount of the one or more tracer elements is not detected in the raw material.

Assignees

• Allgeuer Thomas T
• Comas Enric
• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Allgeuer Thomas T
• Comas Enric

Classifications

• G01N2021/6417

  Spectrofluorimetric devices · CPC title

• G01N21/85

  Investigating moving fluids or granular solids · CPC title

• Y10T29/49771

  Quantitative measuring or gauging · CPC title

• G01N21/31 Primary

  Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry {(G01N21/72 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G05B1/01 Primary

  electric · CPC title