EP1021353B1 - Method for marking objects by transfer from a sleeve tube of heat-shrinkable plastic material which is shrunk on the object, and sleeve tube for implementing said method - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR97/01732 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 29, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 29, 1999 PCT Filed Oct. 1, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/15469 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 16, 1998The invention relates to a method of marking an article by transfer from a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material which is shrunken on the article. According to the method, a transferable element (30) whose free face is coated in a layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive, together with an integrated circuit (40) on said layer, is placed on the inside surface (25) of the film constituting the sleeve (20), after which the sleeve (20) fitted in this way is engaged on the article (10) and is heated so as to shrink said sleeve and press said transferable element together with its integrated circuit onto the facing wall of the article (10), and the adhesive of the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive is reactivated so that the transferable element (30) adheres to the article (10) and presses the associated integrated circuit (40) against the wall of said article. The invention also provides a sleeve (20) specially designed to implement the above method, having an inside face which includes a transferable element (30) with its free face coated in a layer of reactivatable adhesive and with an integrated circuit on said layer.

Description

The invention relates to the marking of objects, and more particularly the marking by transfer from a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve which is retracted on the object concerned. It could be objects of very diverse types, and in particular of objects used for packaging of consumer products such as food, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or other products such as CD discs.

We already know marking techniques of objects by transferring a pattern printed on the face inside of a sleeve made of heat-shrinkable plastic, the transfer of said motif taking place with the shrinkage of the sleeve on the object concerned. It suits however, note that the pattern transferred is text or a drawing printed with a special ink suitable for carry out the transfer (for example a sublimable ink), and that, once the printed pattern has been transferred to the object, the sleeve become useless is removed from the object.

The invention proceeds from another approach in seeking to devise a technique for marking objects by transfer from a plastic sleeve shrink which is shrunk on the object but in which the retracted sleeve does not constitute a support provisional unnecessary, but can perform other functions, for example a function of inviolability and / or certification of origin.

WO-A-96/02 434 describes the use a heat-shrinkable strip associated with the cover of a pharmaceutical product container. The band includes internally a transferable portion (for example with the "opened") which remains on the edge of the cover at first removal of the tape. A reactivable adhesive hot is used to transfer the label.

Documents WO-A-93 / 19,445 and US-A-5,292,018 describe techniques very close to that of the document previous, with a message part (or barcode) transferred to the sleeve retraction.

One can also cite the document EP-A-0 345 405 which describes a card carrying a coin or medal access to which is blocked by an adhesive hologram film pasted on the object: any attempt to open has effect of delaminating the hologram, which provides security wanted.

In addition, we have known for a long time security envelopes in heat-shrinkable plastic, in particular associated with the neck of the bottles, and intended to constitute a guarantee of inviolability for the consumer, by ensuring that the product concerned has not been subjected to fraudulent substitution or has not subject to malicious alteration. The envelope of safety retracted on the neck of the bottle serves as well a break-in indicator in the event of an attempted withdrawal or of force tearing of said envelope. However, with this security envelope technique, the removal of the envelope, for example by pulling on a strip associated grubbing-up, does not leave any part or trace of the envelope on the object. As a result, the function of certification of origin is in practice still limited.

The invention aims precisely to solve this technical problem, in particular by designing a marking providing a certification of origin capable of providing a total guarantee for the consumer, and allowing possibly also the detection of a manipulation fraudulent or abnormal sleeve retracted on the object, in particular in view of the inviolability of a closing of the object as is the case with containers.

The object of the invention is therefore to design a technique of marking objects by transfer from a sleeve made of heat-shrinkable plastic which is retracted on the object, which allows in particular to ensure a break-in and / or certification function of origin associated with a packaging function of the object, in particular with a view to the inviolability of a closing of said object, as well as a traceability function some products.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention using a method according to claim 1 for marking objects by transfer to from a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve which is retracted on the object, characterized in that has on the inner surface of the film constituting the sleeve a transferable element whose free face is coated with a layer of reactivable adhesive with layer an integrated circuit, after which the sleeve is heated thus equipped and put on the object to retract said sleeve and press said transferable element with its integrated circuit on the wall facing the object, and we reactivates the adhesive from the reactivable adhesive layer so that the transferable element adheres to the object and applies the associated integrated circuit against the wall of said object.

So we manage with such a process to transfer in a simple and reliable way a functional element which supports and protects an integrated circuit which ensures product traceability function. This functional element can be an original certification element, in particular a holographic element or a specific label, and more without this transfer being detectable for an observer examining the object covered with its sleeve and distinguishing by transparency the presence of the certification element. Any attempt at fraudulent or abnormal manipulation on the sleeve made by trying to tear off said sleeve will automatically cause at least partial alteration of the transferred item, which is evidence of the malicious manipulation. If it is a sleeve of the type security envelope, which is then intended to be opened, for example by pulling on a tear strip, so to access a closing device or the like, in this case, when removing the security envelope, the transferred certification element remains in place on the object, and fully performs the certification function of origin of the product concerned. In addition, any attempt intervention on the integrated circuit inevitably leads destruction of the transferred item, that it either holographic or not.

It is thus provided, before threading the sleeve on the object, to equip the adhesive free face of the element transferable from an integrated circuit (chip) which is therefore applied against the object wall when the adhesive of the reactivable adhesive layer is reactivated. Such a circuit built-in can allow different types of coding recognition or specific records, and the masking of said integrated circuit by the transferred element also ensures complete discretion in the eyes of consumers.

Advantageously, the reactivation of the adhesive of the reactivable adhesive layer is carried out simultaneously when shrinking the sleeve on the object.

In particular, the layer adhesive is thermoreactivable, and its reactivation is carried out by the heating the sleeve for retraction thereof on the object. It is then possible to manipulate the sleeve equipped with its transferable element like the sleeves traditional whose implementation is organized in automatic machines for fitting sleeves and their shrinking in a heating tunnel. It is so no need to implement a separate step to reactivate the adhesive of the reactivable layer.

The invention also relates to a sleeve, as defined in claim 5, in heat-shrinkable plastic intended for placing work of a marking process having at least one of the above characteristics. In accordance with the invention, the sleeve has, on its internal face, an element transferable with the free side coated with a layer reactivable adhesive, with a circuit on this layer integrated.

Preferably, the integrated circuit is arranged to in such a way that its outline is geometrically integrated with inside the outline of the transferable element. We thus obtains total discretion and protection optimal for the integrated circuit.

In a particular embodiment, the layer of reactivatable adhesive concerns the entire free face of the transferable element, so that said element is transferred entirely to the wall of the object as a result of reactivation of the adhesive.

Alternatively, it may be possible that the layer of reactivatable adhesive concerns only part of the free side of the transferable element, so that said element is then partially transferred to the wall of the object as a result of the reactivation of the adhesive.

It is also advantageous to provide that the adhesive layer is heat-activated, and in particular hot reactivable, at a temperature equal to or close to the shrinkage temperature of the thermoplastic sleeve heat shrink.

In accordance with a particular mode of execution, the transferable element equipping the heat-shrinkable sleeve consists of a flat metallic shape carried by a transparent plastic support layer adhering to the inner face of the sleeve, the metallic form being linked to this support layer by a layer of transfer link allowing total dissociation or partial of said metallized shape with a view to its transfer on the object wall and its collage on this wall due to reactivation of the adhesive layer reactivable.

Advantageously in this case, the flat shape metallized will consist of a metallization layer holographic. In particular, this metallization layer holographic may present a dominant setting silver or gold, to facilitate its recognition visual.

As such, it should be noted that it is known to make security envelopes whose sleeve is equipped on its internal face, with a holographic element and a tear strip passing behind this element holographic in order to tear said element during opening the envelope by pulling on said bandaged. But, in these prior techniques, the element holographic is inextricably linked to the envelope, and it is separated into two sections which each remain on the envelope, on either side of the tear groove, without leaving the slightest trace on the object. On the contrary, the marking technique according to the invention involves a transfer at least partial and an adhesiveness of the layer of holographic metallization on the wall of the object.

• la figure 1 illustre en perspective un manchon en matière plastique thermorétractable équipé conformément à l'invention, sur sa face interne, d'un élément transférable, représenté ici sous la forme d'une pastille, derrière lequel est disposé un circuit intégré (schématisé par un carré) ;
• la figure 2 illustre différents types d'objets équipés d'un manchon identique ou analogue à celui de la figure 1, et qui est rétracté sur une portion prédéterminée de l'objet ;
• la figure 3 illustre le retrait du manchon, ici consécutif à une traction sur une bande d'arrachage associée, laissant apparaítre sur chaque objet de la figure 2 l'élément qui est transféré sur l'objet en recouvrant le circuit intégré, notamment en vue de constituer un élément de certification d'origine associé au produit concerné ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe de détail illustrant la paroi d'un objet revêtue d'un manchon rétracté équipé de son élément transférable qui est alors transféré sur la paroi de l'objet par suite d'une réactivation de l'adhésif associé ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en plan de la surface intérieure développée du manchon précité, avec son élément transférable, dont on distingue le circuit intégré qui l'équipe ;
• la figure 6 est une coupe selon VI-VI de la figure 5, à une échelle agrandie, permettant de mieux distinguer la structure multicouche de l'élément transférable associé à la paroi interne du manchon en matière plastique thermorétractable.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings concerning a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures where:

• FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a sleeve made of heat-shrinkable plastic material equipped in accordance with the invention, on its internal face, with a transferable element, represented here in the form of a patch, behind which is an integrated circuit (shown diagrammatically by a square) ;
• FIG. 2 illustrates different types of objects fitted with a sleeve identical or similar to that of FIG. 1, and which is retracted over a predetermined portion of the object;
• Figure 3 illustrates the withdrawal of the sleeve, here following a pull on an associated tear strip, letting appear on each object of Figure 2 the element which is transferred to the object by covering the integrated circuit, in particular in view to constitute an element of certification of origin associated with the product concerned;
• Figure 4 is a detail section illustrating the wall of an object coated with a retracted sleeve equipped with its transferable element which is then transferred to the wall of the object as a result of reactivation of the associated adhesive;
• Figure 5 is a plan view of the developed inner surface of the aforementioned sleeve, with its transferable element, which can be distinguished from the integrated circuit which equips it;
• Figure 6 is a section on VI-VI of Figure 5, on an enlarged scale, to better distinguish the multilayer structure of the transferable element associated with the inner wall of the sleeve of heat shrinkable plastic.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sleeve 20 made of material heat shrink plastic, as it may appear when cut from a continuous sheath, the constitutive film of said sleeve denoted 21 being closed on itself at the level of a generator by a seal not shown here which is well known in the art of heat shrink sleeves used in the field of packaging. According to a traditional technique, the sleeve 20 can be equipped, on its internal face, with a tear strip 22 having a gripping end rated 23 which the user can pull to open the sleeve retracted on the object.

In accordance with an essential characteristic of the invention, the sleeve 20 comprises, on its internal face, a transferable element denoted 30 whose free face is coated with a layer of reactivatable adhesive, with on this layer an integrated circuit 40. The element is shown here 30 in the form of a substantially circular patch and the integrated circuit in the form of a small square but it It goes without saying that the invention is in no way limited to a particular form of transferable element or circuit integrated.

Figure 2 illustrates several types of objects to as an example, which are here device objects closure in the area from which the sleeve is retracted so to ensure inviolability.

In a), an object 10 is presented which presents itself in the form of a bottle whose body 11 is surmounted a closure cap 12. In b), the object 10 is a bottle whose body 11 is surmounted by a screw cap or clipped 12. In c), object 10 is a flat box whose body 11 is surmounted by a cover 12, in particular hinged (such an object will be for example a CD disc envelope). In d), the object 10 is a container whose body 11 is surmounted by a cap possibly screwed 12. In all the cases, the object 10 is equipped with a sleeve 20 retracted on its wall by closely surrounding the part of the object corresponding to the area of the closing device. For the objects illustrated in a) and b), a sleeve whose upper edge covers with a crown denoted 24 the upper face of the capsule or stopper 12.

It goes without saying that the examples given in the figure 2 are purely illustrative, and that the invention is not in no way limited to a particular type of object nor, in the case of containers, to a particular type of closing device. In particular, the sleeve retracted may be designed to remain on the wall of the object, without necessarily being tearable.

In the representation of Figure 2, each sleeve 20 is retracted on the wall of the object concerned, and the associated element 30 is transferred and adhered to the wall facing the object, protecting the circuit integrated associated 40.

In FIG. 2, the element 30 is transferred either on the side wall of the body 11 (objects illustrated in a) and d)), either on the side wall of the cap or cover 12 (objects illustrated in b) and c)).

When the sleeve is retracted on the object, as illustrated in the examples of figure 2, it is not not possible to notice that the element 30 which is visible by transparency is actually transferred to the wall of the object. On the other hand, after normal opening of the sleeve, here using the tear strip 22, the element 30 which is transferred at least partly remains on the object, thus ensuring the desired certification function original, like a real seal, as is illustrated in figure 3.

In this figure 3, the sleeve 20 is shown open, and its removal is shown diagrammatically by the arrow 100. The objects 10 illustrated in a), b), c) and d), which correspond to those previously illustrated in FIG. 2, bear on their wall the element transferred as a result of reactivation of the associated adhesive.

In this case, a transferable element has been illustrated multilayer structure, that is to say that a part denoted 31 is effectively transferred to object 10 by following the implementation of the method of the invention, while a part denoted 32 remains linked to the sleeve which is removed. Such a structure will be described in more detail further on with reference to Figure 6.

It is thus possible to implement a marking method according to the invention, according to which has on the inner surface of the film 21 constituting the sleeve 20 a transferable element 30 with the free face is coated with a layer of reactivatable adhesive with on this layer an integrated circuit 40, after which we heat the sleeve 20 thus equipped and threaded onto the object 10 to retract said sleeve and press said transferable element with its integrated circuit on the wall opposite object 10, and we reactivate the adhesive of the adhesive layer reactivable so that the transferable element 30 adheres to object 10 and apply the associated integrated circuit 40 against the wall of said object.

Reactivation of the adhesive from the adhesive layer reactivable is preferably carried out simultaneously by heat shrinking the sleeve 20 on the object 10. In in particular, the adhesive can be heat-activated, and its reactivation be carried out by heating the sleeve 20 in view of the retraction of the latter on the object 10. We will then choose an adhesive material that is reactivable to a temperature equal to or close to the temperature of sleeve retraction. We then make the most of the effect mechanical associated with the retraction of the sleeve, which exerts an application force directed towards the wall of the object, and the thermal effect associated with the reactivation of the adhesive, the combination of these effects optimal transfer.

Figure 4 illustrates in more detail the arrangement of the sleeve 20 according to the invention, in the retracted state on the wall of an object. The structure of the transferable element 30 is briefly shown (wrapping the circuit associated integrated 40), with a support layer 32 in transparent plastic adhering to the inside denoted 25 of the film 21 constituting the sleeve 20, and with a metallized flat shape denoted 31, which is here constituted by a holographic metallization layer, carried by this support layer 32. Unlike techniques known, the holographic metallization layer 31 is transferable and it adheres by at least one zone 33 to the wall denoted 13 of object 10.

When the film 21 constituting the sleeve is at flat, its internal face 25 is presented in accordance with the illustration given in figure 5.

We recognize in this figure the presence of the transferable element 30 with the layer on its free face 33 which is a layer of reactivatable adhesive, in particular thermoreactivable, and the tear strip 22 with its gripping end 23. We also distinguish two end bands marked 26.1, 26.2 which are superimposed when the sleeve is formed, the overlap area corresponding to a seal forming said sleeve.

There is also an integrated circuit 40, arranged on the adhesive free face 33 of the transferable element 30, and whose outline fits geometrically inside here of the outline of said transferable element. The circuit integrated 40 must naturally be set up on the transferable element 30 before the sleeve is threaded on the object.

Figure 6 makes it easier to distinguish the structure multilayer of the transferable element 30, with its integrated circuit 40, which is associated with the internal wall 25 of the film 21 constituting the plastic sleeve 20 heat shrink.

The transferable element 30 has a shape metallized 31, which is for example constituted by a holographic metallization layer, and which is worn by a support layer 32 of transparent plastic, this last layer adhering to the internal face 25 thanks to a thin adhesive layer 35, for example a varnish transparent fusible. The support layer 32 may for example be made of polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

Unlike holographic elements known, the holographic metallization layer 31 of a part has on its free face a layer 33 of adhesive reactivable, and on the other hand is related to the layer of support 32 by a transfer bonding layer 34 allowing a total or partial dissociation of the layer 31 of holographic metallization for sound transfer to the wall 13 of the object and its collage on this wall as a result of a reactivation of the layer of adhesive 33. The layer 33 of reactivatable adhesive provides then on the free face of the metallization layer 31 holographic, following a reactivation of said layer 33, especially hot if using an adhesive heat-activated, an adhesiveness to the wall of the object which is greater than the holding force given by the layer 34 transfer link, the latter can be constituted in the form of a transfer varnish, by example based on repellents (such varnishes are called "release" by the Anglo-Saxons). So if we use suitable heat-activated adhesive, heat accompanying the heat shrinkage of the sleeve 21 has the effect reactivate the adhesive layer 33 which then adhesives intimately layer 31 of holographic metallization to the object wall. As indicated above, the adhesive hot-reactivable will be chosen with a temperature of reactivation equal to or close to the shrink temperature sleeve: this ensures simultaneity of sleeve retraction / transfer-adhesion operations of the transferable item.

The transfer of the element 30 can be total, in which case the hot-reactivatable adhesive layer 33 concerns the entire free face of metallization layer 31 holographic. This transfer may alternatively not concern only a part of element 30, to which case the adhesive layer 33 concerns only part of the free face of layer 31. The part transferred from element 30 can then be organized according to a pattern predetermined (not shown here). In this case, if the sleeve 20 is removed, the transferred part of the pattern found on the object, while the non-transferred part is removed with the torn wall of the sleeve.

The transferable element 30, or more precisely its layer 31 of holographic metallization, may have a predominantly silver or gold decor, which allows facilitate visual recognition of the transferred part of this element.

When the sleeve 20 is retracted on the object, the integrated circuit 40 is moreover firmly applied against the wall of the object 10 when the sleeve is retracted and the adhesive of layer 33 is reactivated. This integrated circuit 40 is then perfectly held against the wall of the object being protected by the wall of the sleeve, while remaining invisible from the outside if like this is the case here the outline of this integrated circuit is provided to integrate geometrically inside the outline of transferable element 30. This will allow us to organize the coding of a promotional message or detection by a suitable system (the wall of the sleeve being completely inert for writing or reading recorded information in the integrated circuit). It should be noted that destruction of the element transferred to the object would also cause that of the integrated circuit 40, which gives an additional degree of security. Conversely, any attempted intervention on the integrated circuit automatically has the effect of destroy the transferred element, whether it is holographic or not.

We thus managed to combine for the first times the identification function for the consumer (possibly secure) and the traceability function products for professionals (thanks to the circuit which is supported and protected by the transferred element).

In addition, although we have illustrated security envelopes equipped with a transferable element 30 single, it goes without saying that we can provide a sleeve equipped with several transferable elements 30.

The invention is not limited to the modes of realization which have just been described, but includes at on the contrary any variant taking over, with means equivalent, the essential characteristics stated upper.

Claims (13)

1. A method of marking an article by transfer from a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material which is shrunken on the article, the method being characterized in that a transferable element (30) whose free face is coated in a layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive, together with an integrated circuit (40) on said layer, is placed on the inside surface (25) of the film constituting the sleeve (20), after which the sleeve (20) fitted in this way is engaged on the article (10) and is heated so as to shrink said sleeve and press said transferable element together with its integrated circuit onto the facing wall of the article (10), and the adhesive of the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive is reactivated so that the transferable element (30) adheres to the article (10) and presses the associated integrated circuit (40) against the wall of said article.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated circuit (40) is previously disposed on the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive in such a manner that the outline of said circuit lies geometrically within the outline of the transferable element (30).
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the adhesive of the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive is reactivated simultaneously with the sleeve (20) being heat-shrunk onto the article (10).
4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive of the layer (33) is heat-reactivatable, with reactivation thereof being performed by heating the sleeve (20) in order to shrink onto the article (10).
5. A sleeve (20) of heat-shrinkable plastics material for implementing the marking method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, the sleeve being characterized in that it includes, on its inside face (25), a transferable element (30) whose free face is coated in a layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive together with an integrated circuit (40) on said layer.
6. A sleeve (20) according to claim 5, characterized in that the integrated circuit (40) is organized in such a manner that its outline lies geometrically within the outline of the transferable element (30).
7. A sleeve (20) according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive covers the entire free face of the transferable element (30) so that said element is transferred in full onto the wall of the article (10) on reactivation of the adhesive.
8. A sleeve (20) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive applies to a portion only of the free face of the transferable element (30) so that said element is transferred in part onto the wall of the article (10) following reactivation of the adhesive.
9. A sleeve (20) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the layer (33) of adhesive is reactivatable by heat.
10. A sleeve (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that the heat-reactivatable adhesive constituting the layer (33) is reactivatable at a temperature that is equal to or close to the shrinkage temperature of said sleeve.
11. A sleeve (20) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the transferable element (30) is constituted by a metallized flat shape (31) carried by a support layer (32) of transparent plastics material adhering to the inside face of the sleeve, the metallized shape (31) being bonded to said support layer (33) by a transfer bonding layer (34) enabling said metallized shape to be totally or partially dissociated therefrom for transfer onto the wall of the article (10) and for adhesion thereof on said wall on reactivation of the layer (33) of reactivatable adhesive.
12. A sleeve (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that the metallized flat shape (31) is constituted by a layer of holographic metallization.
13. A sleeve (20) according to claim 12, characterized in that the layer of holographic metallization (31) is of an appearance that is mainly silver-colored or gold-colored.

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