EP0810567B1 - Device and method for securing an article against theft - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for securing an electronic article against theft according to the preamble of claim 1 and 7, the characteristics of which are known from EP-A 0 619 243rd

There are a wide variety of security elements for the electronic securing articles against theft became known. A particularly advantageous embodiment of a fuse element in the form of a "thin film" -Etiketts is described in EP 0295028 B1. "Thin film" labels consist of a thin, preferably in the micron range underlying layer of soft magnetic material. The soft magnetic layer is preferably applied to a carrier substrate by means of a physical deposition process under vacuum conditions.

In addition to the "thin film" labels, the so-called. "Strip" -Sicherungselemente be used in particular for article surveillance in the food industry, which consist of a strip-like soft magnetic material or of a soft magnetic wire.

Furthermore, in the article surveillance resonant circuits are used as securing elements. Such security elements are described in detail for example in EP 285 559 B1. From EP 0093281 B1 securing elements are known, which are displaced upon application of an alternating magnetic field into mechanical vibrations and produce a detectable signal.

EP 0494114 A2 'intelligent' transponders are furthermore known. Known that open in addition to securing the goods to which they are attached, and the ability to identify the goods in question clearly. In this specification and the construction of a corresponding detection system is described.

For the detection of security elements in an interrogation zone have been known a variety of different methods. Thus, EP 123 586 B it is proposed, in addition to two interrogation fields with the frequencies f1 and f2 in the kHz range, a field transmit at a frequency lying in the range Hz in the interrogation zone to. The two interrogation fields with the frequencies f1 and f2 excite a in the interrogation zone securing element to emit a characteristic signal with the intermodulation frequencies n • f1 ± m • f2 (n, m = 0, 1, 2, ...) to. The low-frequency interrogation field causes the fuse element to the beat of this field is driven from saturation in one direction to saturation in the other direction. Therefore, the characteristic signal occurs periodically with the frequency of the low-frequency field.

As an alternative solution is also known, only an in-kHz range interrogation field for excitation of the fuse element to be used, wherein the characteristic signal of the security element, in turn, in time with a low frequency field, which back the soft magnetic material between the two saturations and hertreibt occurs ,

For the detection of security elements with resonant circuits a narrow-band alternating field is radiated into the interrogation zone that excites the securing element to emit a characteristic signal in the region of its resonant frequency.

The invention has the object of proposing a device and a process machine or considerably more difficult the removal of a fuse element of a secured item.

The object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1 concerning the apparatus.

According to advantageous further developments of the inventive device is the security element is a strip or a thin film of a soft magnetic material or a resonant circuit having the capacitance C, the resistance R and the inductance L or a magneto mechanical securing element, the magnetic through a alternating field is excited to mechanical vibrations.

It has proven to be extremely convenient to use as a protective film, a contractile changes in temperature film (shrink film). Such films are well known and serve, inter alia, to protect an article against damage. they are widely used even where it is necessary to protect products against unauthorized opening. In this way, it is ensured especially with packages contain high-quality products that no exchange or mixing can take place of the original product.

According to the protective films still fulfill the additional function of the safety element with the secured items to connect and any tampering with the security element in a simple way, but to prevent extremely effective. The inventive device of the fuse element and a subsequent backup is achieved by means of the protective film that the secure and protected item will not be opened before purchase by a suitable placement. This is the high hygiene requirements in the sale of food, but particularly attributable to the sale of cosmetic products (cream jars, lipsticks, etc.) into account. Furthermore, the fact that the securing element is secured by means of the protective film to the article, considerably complicates the unauthorized removal of the article.

Either the film is heated from the article after the application or it is wound around the article already in a heated state. When cooled, it shrinks and shape of the article to be protected adapts to optimal.

Especially advantageous is to see if the protective film is present as a laminate, wherein the security elements embedded in the laminate and preferably arranged in mutually parallel areas. By dividing the laminate, the size of the protective film can easily tune the size of the secured article.

The object is achieved as regards the method by the characterizing features of claim 7. According to a first possibility, the securing element with the article, for example, is connected, applied or glued; the protective film is below at least in the region of the fuse element wrapped around the article or applied to the article.

In the inventive method it is proposed to connect the securing element with the protective film; then the protective film is wrapped around the article or applied to the article, so that also here the securing element between the article and sealing tape. It is particularly advantageous if the protective film is made with the integrated fuse elements as a laminate, wherein the securing elements are arranged parallel to each other; the laminate depending on the item to be secured to the desired size is cut below.

Due to the design of the fuse element as an integral part of the protective sheet mounting the fuse element and the protective film on the article is made much easier because no separate parts need to be handled more.

The invention is further illustrated by the following figures. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2a: a plan view of a strip-shaped securing element,

FIG. 2b shows a plan view of a "thin film" -Sicherungselement,

Fig. 2c is an exploded view of a fuse element with a resonant circuit,

FIG. 3a shows a plan view of a protective film,

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of a tubular protective film and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an advantageous development of the inventive device.

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing an embodiment of the inventive device. The securing element 3 - in the illustrated case is it is a strip 3.1 from a soft magnetic material - is firmly fixed between the article 1 and protector. 2

In Fig. 2a the strip-shaped safety element 3.1 is shown separately. The figures Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c show a "thin film" label and a label 3.2 3.3 with a resonant circuit. . As 2c is apparent from the exploded view of the Figure, there is a locking element 3.3 with resonant circuit of a spiral conductor element 4 (-> inductance L and resistance R) and a capacitor 4 (-> capacitance C), wherein the two capacitor plates 4 by a dielectric layer 6 are spaced apart.

Fig. 3a shows a plan view of a sheet piece of a protective film 2, which is wound around an article 1, so that the securing element 3 between 1 and Product protector 2 is fixed. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the protective film 2 as a tube 3b is seen in Fig..

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an advantageous development of the inventive device. The protective film 2 with security elements 3.1 has the form of a laminate 7. The fuse elements 3.1 are arranged in parallel to each other ranges. Depending on the size of the article to be secured, the laminate is divided in different size ranges B. 7

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

items

2

protector

3.1

strip-shaped safety element

3.2

"Thin Film" -Sicherungselement

3.3

Fuse element with resonant circuit

4

spiral conductor element

5

capacitor plate

6

dielectric layer

7

laminate

B

Area

C

capacity

L

inductance

R

resistance

Claims (8)

1. A device for the electronic surveillance of articles, consisting of a security element (3) connected to an article (1) to be protected and being excited by an alternating magnetic field generated within an inquiry zone to emit a characteristic signal by which an alarm is triggered, with a protective film (2) being provided which covers the security element (3) completely and the article (1) at least in the area of the security element (3),
   characterized in that
   the security element (3) is an integral part of the protective film (2) and that the protective film (2) is either tubiform and is drawn over the article (1), or the protective film (2) is a sheet formation which is wrapped around the article (1).
2. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the security element (3) is a strip-like element (3.1) made of a magnetically soft material.
3. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the security element (3) is a thin-film (3.2) made of a magnetically soft material.
4. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the security element (3) is an oscillating resonance circuit (3.3) having a capacitance C, a resistance R and an inductivity L.
5. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4,
   characterized in that
   the protective film (2) is a film which contracts with a change in temperature (shrink film).
6. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the protective film (2) is in the form of a laminate (7), the security elements (3) being embedded in the surface of the laminate (7) and preferably arranged in areas lying parallel to each other.
7. A method for the electronic protection of articles, in which a security element is used which is connected to an article to be protected and which is excited by an alternating magnetic field generated within an inquiry zone to emit a characteristic signal by which an alarm is triggered, wherein
   a protective film (2) is connected at least in the area of a security element (3) to the article (1) to be protected, in such a way that the protective film can only be detached from the article (1) by destruction,
   characterized in that
   the security element (3) is manufactured as an integral part of the protective film (2), and
   that subsequently the protective foil (2) is wrapped around or drawn over the article (1) such that the security element (3) is fixed between the article (1) and the protective film (2).
8. The method according to claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the protective film (2) is manufactured as a laminate (7), with the security elements (3) being arranged parallel to each other on the surface of the laminate, and that the laminate (7) is cut to the necessary size depending on the article (1) to be protected.

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