EP1638066A1 - Method for identification of stored or shipped objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves applying to an object (2) an original marking comprising a permanent detectable random pattern (3). The marking is detected and the result stored prior to storage or dispatch of the object. A print (5) is produced using industrial printing techniques, and the original marking is applied during the printing process as a layer containing a random distribution of particles that are used to identify the object.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the identification of items to be stored or shipped, preferably goods containing packaging, which have a print, according to claim 1.

From DE 39 06 122 C2 a method and a device for detecting an unauthorized opening of a container provided with markings is known, in which the markings are formed as a random, detectable outwardly flow structure, which serve to close the container inextricably. Before shipping the container, the characteristics of the marker structure forming the marking are recorded with a suitable detector. Subsequently, a random selection of suitable parts of the marking structure is stored with the respective locations assigned to the container, and in addition the container is marked with an identification number. On the basis of the identification number and the marking structure corresponding to the stored location values, a comparison method is used to check the degree to which the stored comparison patterns coincide with those detected after shipping. The degree of matching is indicated and a message of container opening or non-opening of the container is displayed, depending on a selectable degree of mark matching.

However, this method is only suitable for the identification of containers, since the container randomizing the random flow pattern can be generated only if this container is made by two different colored materials.

DE 198 55 209 A1 discloses a device and a method for protecting objects or information against unauthorized persons Access is known, which is based on the idea to detect individual, the closing state characterizing features of the housing that holds the objects or information, and to signal changes in these features. Thus, this method and apparatus is an electronic seal of enclosures to protect stored items or stored information from unauthorized or unrecognized access.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for identifying items to be stored or shipped, preferably goods containing packages, which quickly, forgery-proof, easy and inexpensive generating a customizing and later testable mark in the course of generating a on the object To be applied imprint allows.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

One of the particular advantages of the method according to the invention is the fact that the production of the original marking is possible in the course of the already produced on the print on the object. The only additional effort that must be made for this is the addition of particles to one of the media to be processed during the printing process, which then form the random pattern during the execution of the printing process, which consists of a particle distribution individualizing the respective object in the respective printing medium.

Accordingly, this way of producing an original marking can be applied without further effort in high-speed productions using state-of-the-art printing technologies.

Furthermore, the storage of the generated original marking and its encoding can also be done fully automatically and as a high-speed process, since a completely digital processing is possible, without it being necessary to use special facilities.

Rather, available detection devices, in particular digital cameras, digital storage media, digital comparison devices, can be used, which can be easily adapted to the highest requirements of the processing technology in terms of speed, accuracy and quality.

Since standard devices can thus be used for the entire creation of the original marking, its detection, evaluation and further processing, in particular the display or the output of warnings, the method according to the invention is extremely inexpensive and easy to implement.

Furthermore, it is possible to use fully automatic search and evaluation algorithms in the selection of the objects to be compared, which are also available and make it possible to check even large quantities of objects in short processing times.

Furthermore, it is possible with the inventive method to log the respective verification process and thus store when an original mark could be determined successfully, so that it is ensured by the logging process that no further review of an object with this already determined, in other words assigned original mark remains unrecognized.

The industrial printing processes which can be used in the process according to the invention include, in particular, normal offset printing, preferably with the use of UV varnish application, as well as hybrid printing processes and flexographic printing processes.
The advantage in offset printing, preferably using UV varnish application, lies in the comparatively low costs for the original marking in prepress and processing. This can easily be integrated into the printed image by means of special printing or coating.
The particular advantage of hybrid printing processes is the fact that it is possible to create special surface effects for the original marking and a three-dimensional impression of this marking. Furthermore, the generation of haptic effects is possible.
Since UV varnish is used in the UV printing and in the hybrid printing process, this is of particular advantage for the process according to the invention since the particle introduction in these varnishes used in UV and hybrid printing is particularly good and simple and a very high number of random arrangements allows the particle on the smallest area.

Flexographic printing processes are of particular advantage for the process according to the invention since the particle size can be increased because it is possible with this printing process to produce higher ink layer thicknesses. Due to the size of the particles can thus be achieved high contrast and reliable detection even at low resolutions of the detection devices.

The dependent claims have advantageous developments of the invention to the content.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine schematische stark vereinfachte Blockdarstellung zur Erläuterung der Grundprinzipien des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, und

Fig. 2

ein Flussdiagramm zusammen mit einer bildhaften Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic simplified block diagram for explaining the basic principles of the method according to the invention, and

Fig. 2

a flow chart together with a pictorial representation of another embodiment of the method according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, an object 2 is shown schematically simplified to illustrate a first possible embodiment of the method according to the invention. The term "object" may in principle be understood to mean any type of article which must or must be identified and which may bear a mark for this purpose. In particular, this term means any type of packaging, especially in those cases where packaging contains substances which themselves can not be identified by a printed mark, such as liquids, powders or granules.

The article 2 is provided with an imprint 5 symbolized by a rectangle. This imprint 5 has an original mark 1 at a suitable location, which is symbolized in FIG. 1 by a square which is arranged inside the imprint 5. The original marker 1 is provided with a random pattern 3, which is symbolized in Fig. 1 by way of example by the letters "XOX". The term "random pattern" here means that with each application of the imprint 5 by a suitable industrial printing technology, which were explained in more detail above, the original mark 1 in the course of the creation of the imprint 5 is generated. For this purpose, a layer is applied to the object 2, which in the course of carrying out the printing process due to the introduction of particles into the material of the layer symbolizing in Fig. 3 by the letters "XOX" individualized Random detection 3 yields. Since it is ensured due to this random particle distribution that each print a different random pattern 3 is formed, it is possible without further action in carrying out one and the same printing always from object to object to generate another random identifier 3, which then the individualizing respective particle distribution for Identification of the article 2 contains.

If the imprint 5 has been applied to the object 2 together with the original marking, the possibility arises to detect the original marking, since it can be detected from the outside. For this purpose, a detection device 4 is schematically simplified in Figure 1, which may be formed, for example, as a camera, in particular as a digital camera. With this detection device 4, the random pattern 3 is detected and stored in a memory device 6 before the object 2 is stored, for example stored, or shipped, sold or otherwise handled. As part of the storage, it is possible to digitize and encode the detected random pattern 3, which will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment according to FIG. 2.

Furthermore, it is possible to make the data stored in the storage device 6 accessible to users, whereby it is conceivable to make these data accessible via the Internet or via internal company intranets, or via other preferably EDP-supported information systems. It goes without saying that, if necessary, this access can be made dependent on access authorizations, which makes it possible for only a limited group of persons to use the stored data for the purpose of verification.

In order to explain the checking step, a further object 2 'is shown in FIG. 1, with an imprint 5', a presumable original marking 1 'and accordingly a probable original random pattern 3 'is provided. In this context, it is referred to as "presumably" since, for example, the recipient of a package may not be able to ascertain, on the basis of its closest similarity to the consignment he is expecting, whether the item 2 'which he has received is actually the original item 2 he is expecting. In other words, the check may reveal that the object 2 'actually corresponds to the original, ie represents the object 2 with its original mark 1, or that this is not the case.

To clarify this, the object 2 'is provided with a presumable original marking 1', but its random pattern 3 'is symbolized by the letters "XOY". In order to carry out the check, this marking 3 'is also detected by a suitable detection device 10, for example a digital camera, and fed to a comparison device 7 which has access to the memory device 6 to record the original random pattern 3 (letters XOX) stored there to compare the currently detected random pattern 3 '(letter XOY). If this comparison, as shown symbolically in FIG. 1, shows that there is no match between the random pattern 3 of the original marker 1 and the random pattern 3 'of the presumed original marker 1', the comparison step accordingly yields that the article 2 'does not actually exist corresponds to the original item 2. This is symbolized in block 8 by defining a degree of coincidence Ü which is compared with a degree of agreement threshold S. If this comparison reveals that the degree of agreement Ü is below the defined threshold value S, this is indicated accordingly, for which purpose the block 8 can be embodied, for example, as a screen of a PC. Optionally, it is possible in this case to issue via a warning device 9 the warning that the checked object 2 'actually does not correspond to the original object 2. Such a warning can both optically as well as acoustically or in a combined warning display.

2 shows a block diagram in connection with a graphic representation of a second possible embodiment of the method according to the invention with reference to the process steps S ₁ to S ₁₁ listed there. In this representation of the sequence of process steps S ₁ to S ₁₁ in conjunction with the drawings, reference is hereby explicitly made.

In the printing method used there, after application of the printing design D in step S _1, the printed sheet is introduced into a UV coating unit (not shown in greater detail in the figure) (method step S ₂ ). The lacquer processed in this coating unit contains the previously explained particles, for example in the form of metal particles or color pigments. In the illustrated embodiment, a recess A is provided in the printed sheet, into which the original marking 1 "is introduced, whereby in the course of introducing the original marking 1", a random pattern 3 "is produced, which is illustrated in FIG.

The steps S ₄ to S ₇ can be referenced to FIG. 2 without further comment.

In method step S ₈ , the stored particle pattern is evaluated by means of statistical methods, for which purpose the coordinate system K previously mounted in the region of the recess A is preferably used together with an orientation feature (O). Further, in this step S ₈ , a reproducible code can be assigned to each pattern.

For the last method steps S ₉ to S ₁₁ , reference may again be made to FIG. 2 without further explanation.

In particular, the checking step is carried out according to the explanations given above for the embodiment according to FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 - 1 '''

Original pattern

2, 2 '

object

3 - 3 "

random pattern

4

Detecting device, in particular camera, preferably digital camera

5, 5 '

print image

6

memory device

7

comparator

8th

display

9

warning device

10

Detecting device, in particular camera, preferably digital camera,

D

print motif

K

coordinate system

A

recess

S ₁ - S ₁₁

Process steps according to FIG. 2

XOX, XOY

random pattern

Ü

Degree of agreement (Fig.1)

S

Match threshold (Fig. 1)

Claims (13)

Method for identifying articles to be stored or shipped (2; 2 '), preferably packages containing goods, which have a print (5), comprising the following method steps: a) attaching at least one insoluble, detectable and a random pattern (3) having original mark (1) on the object; b) detecting the applied original mark (1) and storing the detection result before storing or sending the object (2); and c) checking an object (2 ') presumably having the original mark (1) by detecting the mark (1') attached thereto and comparing this detection result with the stored detection result of the original mark (1) and indicating the degree of coincidence (Ü ), in which d) the imprint (5) is produced in industrial printing technology and the original marking (1) is applied in the production of the imprint (5) as a random pattern (3) forming a random, resulting in the printing process Subject (2) contains individualizing particle distribution (XOX). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a warning is issued if the degree of coincidence (Ü) falls below an adjustable degree of agreement threshold (S). A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the particles have a contrast to the support surface on the article ensuring coloration. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the original marking (1 '' ) is provided with a coordinate system (K) and an orientation feature (O). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stored detection result of the original marking (1) on the Internet or other computer networks is made available. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stored detection result by algorithms and statistical methods is assigned to a reproducible code. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the original marking (1) is printed directly on the object (2). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the original marking (1) is printed on a carrier material, which is then connected to the article (2). Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the layer is applied as a lacquer layer. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the layer is applied as a color layer. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that step b) is carried out fully automatically as high-speed storage during the manufacturing process, preferably during the production of multiple objects, in particular using digital detection devices. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that particles of the same size are used as particles. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that step c) is logged and stored when an original mark (1) has been determined in a verification process.

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