Method of Making a Shingle and Shingle Made Thereby

Abstract

A method of making a shingle and the shingle made in accordance with such method are provided, in which a shingle-forming layer of shingle material has a plurality of marks applied thereto prior to or after application of decorative granules to its tab region, and wherein the locations of the marks are sensed by a sensor, that then activates and controls the operation and placement of various shingle-completion steps as a function of the placement of the marks.

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       21 . A manufactured shingle in which the shingle has a butt region and a tab region with the tab region having decorative granules applied thereto, the shingle comprising:
 (a) a shingle-forming layer comprised of shingle reinforcement material impregnated with a bitumen material, the layer having a butt region and a tab region;   (b) an optional layer of headlap granules on an upper surface of at least the butt region of the shingle-forming layer;   (c) a plurality of marks carried by the shingle-forming layer, with the marks being provided at pre-determined longitudinally spaced-apart distances from each other and comprising sensing means for aiding in controlling the timing and placement of features of the shingle;   (d) said marks comprising any of:
 (i) a marking tape with a plurality of marks thereon; 
 (ii) a plurality of groups of holes; 
 (iii) barcode(s); 
 (iv) placement indicated for placement of decorative granules; 
 (v) placement indicators for placement of different colored granules; and 
 (vi) placement indicators for placement of different sized granules. 
   
   
   
       22 . A manufactured building product in which the building product has a butt region and a tab region with the tab region having decorative granules applied thereto, the shingle comprising:
 (a) a building product-forming layer comprised of building product reinforcement material impregnated with a bitumen material, the layer having a butt region and a tab region;   (b) an optional layer of headlap granules on an upper surface of at least the butt region of the building product-forming layer;   (c) a plurality of marks carried by the building product-forming layer, with the marks being provided at pre-determined longitudinally spaced-apart distances from each other and comprising sensing means for aiding in controlling the timing and placement of features of the building product;   (d) said marks comprising any of:
 (i) a marking tape with a plurality of marks thereon; 
 (ii) a plurality of groups of holes; 
 (iii) barcode(s); 
 (iv) placement indicated for placement of decorative granules; 
 (v) placement indicators for placement of different colored granules; and 
 (vi) placement indicators for placement of different sized granules. 
   
   
   
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       25 . A shingle according to  claim 21 , wherein the marks comprise high visual contrast areas relative to the shingle-forming layer to which they are applied. 
   
   
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       27 . A shingle according to  claim 21 , wherein the marks comprise coded holes applied to the shingle-forming layer. 
   
   
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