EA004750B1 - Protective label, method for manufacturing thereof and method for recording latent image - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Protective label for marking original products, which is designed as a layer of polymeric material with the visible holographic image to be attached to the article to be marked, and which distinctive feature consists in the latent image formed additionally in the volume of the polymeric layer and visualized in polarized light. 2. Protective label according to claim 1, characterized in that for identifying thereof the latent image comprises variable information to be recorded by an IR laser. 3. Protective label according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that is further provided, if necessary, with an adhesive layer for cold or hot methods of application to the article to be marked. 4. Protective label according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that said label is designed as a piece of label of paper, textile fabric, polymeric film, or a fragment of a document, security, banknote, bank settlement card, magnetic card; a fragment of an excise, identification or control mark or fragment of various-purpose tickets, packing material or seal for cash registers. 5. Protective label according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that is further provided with a polarizer to be used as a visualization device. 6. A method for manufacturing a protective label according to claim 1, characterized in forming a visible holographic image on the polymeric film with the light-reflecting layer with forming subsequently a latent image in the volume of the same layer. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized by using the film with already formed holographic image. 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized by using the film with already formed latent image. 9. The method according to any of claims 6-8, characterized by forming the label either directly on the article to be protected or on self-adhesive substrate, or the appropriate adhesive is applied onto the light-reflecting side of the film for hot or cold method of attaching the label to the article to be marked. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized by manufacturing the labels of the required shape by means of a punching machine. 11. The method of forming the latent image in the protective label according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent polymer film surface is exposed selectively by the IR laser radiation. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized by contact alignment of the film surface with the line test pattern and preliminary widened IR laser beam. 13. The method according to claim 11, characterized by projecting the focused IR laser onto the polymeric film and controlling the beam by means of controllable deflector.

Description

The invention relates to printing, in particular to the manufacture of security labels that can be used to protect against counterfeiting various documents, securities, identification and excise stamps, labels made of paper or textile material, packaging material, etc.

Currently, in order to prevent counterfeiting of manufactured products, they are provided with various kinds of characteristic features that are difficult to reproduce. These can be watermarks, embedded metal strips, holograms, embedded liquid crystal optical elements that are capable of changing the polarization of the incident light. One of the types of protection can be latent images - labels that cannot be directly seen under normal conditions, but they become visible in polarized light.

From US patent No. 6124970 known identification product, comprising a layer of polymeric material with a latent image, visible only in polarized light. The disadvantage of such protective products is the ability to separate the product from the base with subsequent reuse, as well as the low adaptability of the process of applying the product to the base.

Known protective holographic label used to protect documents and representing a carrier film with a removable coating, a metal foil, which is the basis for the element with a variable optical shape, and a layer of adhesive that is sensitive to heat and (or) or pressure, for connection with the protected document (\ UO 93/24322, cl. B 42Ό 15/10). A disadvantage of the described label is the ability to reproduce a holographic image by directly copying the relief of the hologram or optical copying of the image with the subsequent formation of the hologram.

Protective holographic marks are known, in one of which the holographic relief is made with the width of the relief strips varying from the top to the base (RF patent No. 2113358, class B 42Ό 15/00), and in the other, the vertical axes of the cross-sectional profiles of the protrusions are located at an angle to the surface of the sublayer (RF patent No. 2127197, class B 42Ό 15/00). These tags have increased protection against direct copying, however, they are complex and low-tech to manufacture.

Moreover, all types of protection using holograms have common disadvantages. This is the ability to copy in a contact or optical way, a relatively large number of hologram manufacturers, the prevalence and availability of hologram production tools.

The prototype of the claimed security label is a security label described in the patent of the Russian Federation No. 2127197.

An object of the present invention is to provide a security tag with an increased degree of copy protection and providing protection of product authenticity or marking from counterfeiting, as well as a simple and technologically advanced method for manufacturing said tag and a method for generating a latent image in it.

The problem is solved by creating a new protective label, combining the advantages of these protective labels and free from the above disadvantages, as well as developing a convenient method for its manufacture.

According to the claimed invention, the protective label marking the genuine product is a layer of polymer material attached to the marked product with a visible holographic image deposited on one of its sides and an additional latent (hidden) image formed in the volume of the polymer layer, which is visualized in polarized light.

To attach the protective tag to the marked product, glue is applied to the tag or marked product. In this case, the choice of type of adhesive is determined by the purpose of the protective mark and corresponds to the technology of applying the protective mark.

A preferred implementation of the claimed security label provides for the possibility of personification of the security label by recording variable information in a latent image, for example, using a laser.

If operational authentication is required, the security tag can be additionally equipped with a polarizer as a visualization device.

In accordance with the claimed invention, the security label is a part of a label made of paper, textile or polymeric material, or a part of a document, or a part of a security, or a part of banknotes, or a part of a bank payment card, or part of a magnetic card, or part of an excise, identification control mark, or part of various purpose tickets, or part of the packaging. Also, the security label can be used as an identification mark on audio and video cassettes, SE-EUE disks and as a seal in cash registers.

The problem is also solved using the method of manufacturing the claimed protective label, which includes the following stages:

a visible holographic image is formed on the reflective polymer film or a layer with a finished holographic image is used;

then a latent image is formed in the volume of the same layer;

the mark is formed either directly on the product to be protected, or on a self-adhesive basis, or for the hot or cold method of attaching the mark to the marked product on the reflective side of the film, apply the corresponding glue;

if necessary, signs of the desired shape are made using a punching machine.

The sequence of operations in the manufacture of a protective label can be changed in the case of using a polymer layer with an already generated latent image. In this case, a relief-forming varnish is applied to the indicated layer, and then metallized from the side of the varnish. A visible holographic image is obtained by embossing on a metallized varnish followed by applying glue for a cold or hot method of attaching a protective mark to the product.

When forming a protective label on a self-adhesive basis, a layer with a ready-made holographic image is applied to the latter by hot stamping, on top of which a laminate with a latent image is applied by cold or hot lamination. Using a punching machine, signs of the desired shape are formed, which can be used for application.

To mark a document, a protective mark can be formed by applying a hologram to the document by hot stamping, over which a latent image laminate is applied by hot or cold lamination.

Another embodiment of the proposed method is the following. A polymer layer with a latent image is applied to the document to be protected by cold or hot lamination, and a reflective layer is formed at the place of application of the polymer layer. The visible holographic image is hot stamped onto the document, with the layer containing the visible holographic image partially overlapping the latent image layer. Layer sizes may vary.

Another object of the invention is a method of recording a latent image in a layer of polymer material by means of an infrared laser with sufficient energy density and exposure time. Direct recording of a latent image can be carried out either by a laser beam, which is previously broadened and sent to a plastic film coated with a chrome-plated photomask corresponding to the recorded image, while the latent image is generated simultaneously by all elements, or using laser IR radiation, which is compressed by a lens to a point the size of several tens of micrometers and is projected onto a specially processed film and then using emogo deflector is made form a latent image successively on all the elements depicted drawing shows a single-layer protective label.

The security label (see drawing) consists of a layer of polymer material 1 on which a holographic image is formed 2. A latent image 3 is formed in an existing layer with a holographic image. For attachment to the marked product 4, the protective mark may be further provided with a layer of glue or a layer of self-adhesive film 5.

Below the receipt of the proposed security label is explained in more detail by examples of specific implementation, which do not limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1. The formation of latent images through the radiation of an infrared laser.

A film of low pressure polyethylene 60–80 μm thick, transparent in the visible region of the spectrum, is exposed to radiation from a solid-state yttrium-aluminum laser at a wavelength of 1.06 μm. The specified laser operated in a Q-switched mode with a pulse duration of 10 ns, the pulse energy of 230 mJ in a frequency mode of 10 Hz. To form an image, use the dashed world, contact combined with the film. Exposure is carried out by an expanded beam of 6 = 20 mm for 10 s at a frequency of 10 Hz. After exposure, the film is placed between two crossed polaroids and the image of the worlds is observed. Allowed elements with a size of 100 μm.

Example 2. The formation of latent images through the radiation of an infrared laser.

The transparent plastic film of Example 1 is exposed by scanning a laser beam of 6 = 20 μm. A laser with the characteristics of Example 1 is used. The beam is controlled by an acousto-optical deflector. After exposure, the image is visualized as in Example 1. An image of the elements is observed in accordance with the elements of the scanning beam.

Example 3. The manufacture of a single-layer protective label.

A latent image is formed in a polyethylene film with a thickness of about 60-80 μm by the method described in example 1 or 2. After that, a holographic image is applied on either side of the specified film by hot stamping: stamp temperature 8090 ° C, pressure 2-4 kg / cm ² . According to the holographic image, a reflective layer is applied by staining with Bir11-co1og silver paint, the thickness of the paint layer is 10-20 μm. After the paint has dried, an adhesive layer is applied on one side of the film, depending on the purpose of the label. As glue use acrylic adhesive No. 927 of the company ZM on adhesive transfer tape. If necessary, with the help of a punching machine, marks of the desired shape are formed.

Niya.

Example 4

A latent and holographic image is formed according to Example 3. Then, from the holographic image side, a layer of zinc sulfide 0.02-0.03 μm thick is applied to the film in a vacuum according to the standard method. The hologram becomes translucent. The adhesive layer is applied as in Example 3. If necessary, marks of the desired shape are formed using a punching machine. For a clear observation of the latent image on the marked product at the place of attachment of the protective label according to example 3, a reflective layer will be formed.

Example 5

A polyethylene film with a thickness of 40-80 μm is coated on one side with a layer of adhesive No. 927 from 3M by means of an adhesive tape, and the protective coating on the adhesive layer of the tape is not removed. Thus obtained self-adhesive film is used to form a latent image according to examples 1-2. The result is a self-adhesive coating with a latent image, which laminates a holographic image deposited on a self-adhesive base or directly applied to a marked product. Lamination is performed on a standard laminator.

The claimed security tag has a high degree of protection of marked products from counterfeiting and at the same time, identification of their authenticity does not require special equipment and can be easily carried out directly in case of doubt about the authenticity of the marked product or document. Due to the use of high technology, the manufacture of the proposed security label is not widespread, which prevents the possibility of falsification.

Claims (13)

CLAIM 1. Protective label for marking genuine products, representing a layer of polymer material attached to the product being marked with a visible holographic image applied to one of its sides, characterized in that a latent image is additionally formed in the volume of the polymer layer, which is visualized in polarized light. 2. Protective label according to any one of claim 1, characterized in that for its personification the latent image contains variable information recorded, in particular, with the help of a laser. 3. Protective label according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, if necessary, is additionally provided with a layer of glue for cold or hot methods of applying to the marked product. 4. Protective label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is a part of a label made of paper, textile material or plastic film, or a part of a document, or a part of a security, or a part of banknotes, or a part of a bank payment card, or part of a magnetic card, or part of an excise, identification or control mark, or a part of various purpose tickets, or part of a package, or part of a seal for cash registers. 5. Protective label according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is additionally equipped with a polarizer as a visualization device. 6. A method of manufacturing a protective label according to claim 1, comprising forming a visible holographic image on a polymer film with a reflective layer, followed by forming a latent image in the bulk of the same layer. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that use a film with an already formed holographic image. 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that use a film with an already formed latent image. 9. The method according to PP.6-8, characterized in that the label is formed either directly on the protected product, or on a self-adhesive basis, or for a hot or cold method of attaching the label to the marked product on the reflective side of the film, apply the appropriate glue. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, if necessary, the labels of the desired shape are made using a cutting machine. 11. A method of forming a latent image in a security label according to claim 1, which consists in the fact that the surface of a transparent polymer film is selectively exposed to radiation from an IR laser. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the surface of the film is combined with the dashed line of the film and a pre-expanded IR laser beam is used for exposure. 13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the focused radiation of the IR laser is projected onto the polymer film and the beam is controlled using a controlled deflector.