Method of forming mark on anodized surface of aluminum object

Abstract

A method to mark an aluminum object ( 1 ) includes the steps of: providing an aluminum substrate ( 10 ); anodizing and coloring the aluminum substrate; providing a mask ( 2 ) with a pattern ( 25 ) in the same shape as a mark ( 15 ) to be formed on the aluminum object; irradiating a portion of the anodized surface ( 12 ) of the aluminum substrate with an ultraviolet beam through the pattern until the desired mark is formed on the anodized surface. The color of the mark is lighter than the anodized surface of the aluminum object, or gradually changes to the color of the anodized surface of the aluminum object.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for marking an aluminum object comprising the steps of: providing an aluminum substrate; anodizing and coloring said aluminum substrate; providing a mask with a pattern in the same shape as a mark to be formed on the aluminum object; irradiating a portion of the anodized surface of said aluminum substrate with an ultraviolet beam through said pattern until the desired mark is formed on the anodized surface.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the colorizing process is electrolytic coloring, dye coloring or integral coloring.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mask is covered with a coating on all areas except for the area defining the pattern and the coating comprises an ultraviolet absorbing compound for inhibiting transmission of ultraviolet light therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet beam can only be transmitted through the pattern.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the color of the mark is lighter than the anodized surface of the aluminum object.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pattern of the mask has different ultraviolet transmittance in different areas.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the mark has different shades of color in different areas.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the ultraviolet transmittance of the pattern gradually changes.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the color of the mark gradually changes to the color of the anodized surface.  
     
     
         10 . A method for marking an aluminum object comprising the steps of: providing an aluminum substrate; anodizing and coloring said aluminum substrate; providing a mask with a pattern, the mask being covered with a coating comprising an ultraviolet absorbing compound for inhibiting ultraviolet light from being transmitted therethrough on all areas except for the area defining the pattern; irradiating a portion of the anodized surface of said aluminum substrate with an ultraviolet beam through said pattern until the desired mark is formed on the anodized surface.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the colorizing process is electrolytic coloring, dye coloring or integral coloring.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the pattern has the same shape as the desired mark.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the ultraviolet beam can only be transmitted through the pattern.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the ultraviolet transmittance of the pattern gradually changes.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the color of the mark gradually changes to the color of the anodized surface.  
     
     
         16 . A method of marking an aluminum object comprising steps of: 
 providing an aluminum substrate;    anodizing and coloring said aluminum substrate to have color absorbed in a final formed anodized layer; and    decolorizing said anodized layer in a pattern while without jeopardizing/thinning said anodized layer.    
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the step of decolorizing is performed via irradiation.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said pattern is defined by a mask.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the decolorizing performs different degrees depending upon time and strength of said irradiation.