EP2162573A2

EP2162573A2 - Composite fiber, textile product comprising such a composite fiber, method for inscribing optical code elements, arrangement for carrying out said method, and reading device

Info

Publication number: EP2162573A2
Application number: EP08759297A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Lydike; Rainer Scholz; Oliver Sinz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-29
Filing date: 2008-06-20
Publication date: 2010-03-17
Also published as: WO2009003593A2; DE102007030017A1; WO2009003593A3

Abstract

In order to make textile products (32) counterfeit-proof, a composite fiber is disclosed which comprises a core (2) extending at least along part of the fiber length and a shell (3) surrounding the core (2). The shell is made of a plastic which can be locally modified, especially melted, with the help of light radiation or laser radiation. Furthermore, the shell is provided with optical code elements (4) at least along part of the length thereof, said optical code elements (4) being formed by locally modifying or melting the shell by means of the light radiation or laser radiation.

Description

Composite fiber, textile product with such a composite fiber, method for writing optical code elements, arrangement for carrying out the method and reading device

The invention is generally concerned with the forgery-proof marking and reading of license plate elements of textile products, in particular ready-made goods.

More particularly, the invention relates to a composite fiber for use in such a marking, further to a textile product having incorporated therein a composite fiber for identification, a method for writing marks in the form of optical code elements in such a composite fiber, and an arrangement for performing a Such method and finally a reading device for reading optical code elements of such a textile product or incorporated therein a composite fiber.

In the clothing industry, more and more manufacturers, especially brand suppliers, are facing increasing competition, suffering damage from the increasing number of copies of branded clothing being put on the market; the cheap products sold under well-known brands are often for customers as well as for retailers hardly ^'at least not readily distinguishable direct comparison, from the original commodity.

For authenticating goods, in particular also textile products, it has already been proposed in DE 10 2004 060 315 A1 to apply a marking in the form of a pattern on the surface of the respective product in order to obtain a local change of physically measurable properties of the surface , In a later identification step, transmission, reflection or scattering of an analysis radiation as a result of the surface thus changed is detected and in the labeling, the irradiation takes place, which can possibly also cause a photochemical reaction on the surface of the respective product, in particular through a mask passing through the pattern contains that pictured on the surface of the goods becomes. This technology is laborious on the one hand and disadvantageous because of the change of the surface for garments, which can get an undesirable different appearance in areas, and further a counterfeiting of so characterized goods is still possible.

Also expensive is the technology proposed in DE 195 18 231 A, wherein a textile fabric, in particular for labels and tapes, is described, in which at least one warp thread and / or weft thread is to be contained, which is intended to directly contain the coding. Specifically, the threads are to be coded by adding microscopically small color particles to the spinning melt during the spinning process within the package.

In DE 101 59 047 A1, on the other hand, the coding of a thread by deformation, in particular plastic deformation, of the thread surface is described, wherein, for example, markings are applied to the thread at predetermined intervals. For this purpose, it is also proposed to provide such markers only temporarily, namely in the form of depressions in a thread-wrapping, whereby the casing can be dissolved and removed with the aid of water or solvent, in order thus to remove the core, i. the actual thread without exposing marks. The marking is primarily intended for easy identification, processing and testing. In particular, it is suggested that each label contains information about the manufacturer, the thread, the batch, etc. An authenticity check, in particular a coding for preventing a counterfeiting of the goods or for the rapid detection of counterfeit goods, is not addressed here.

On the other hand, DE 10 2005 057 474 A1 is directed to the writing of security features with the aid of laser radiation, but areal structures, in particular value and security documents with a multi-layer structure, are concerned.

DE 102 24 128 A1 then describes a process for coating surfaces, wherein a flowable coating material is applied with the aid of a nozzle under computer control becomes. The subject of DE 43 41 880 Al is about the control of data carriers in which data is stored as an identification code, such data carriers to be attached to the respective article to be secured.

DE 695 17 962 T3 again refers to the application of patterns - which should be readable or perceptible to the human eye - on carriers, in particular flat media are addressed, but not composite fibers. Finally, AT-PS 413 360 again shows only the production of forgery-proof identification features on flat structures with a special layer structure, wherein in detail metallic clusters are to be applied by sputtering or evaporation on the layer structure.

There is therefore a need for a technology to allow a safe distinction between original textiles and counterfeit cheap products in a simple manner, u.zw. without noticeably affecting the appearance of the original goods.

The object of the invention is therefore to enable forgery-proof marking of garments, in general of textile products, which is relatively easy to install and provides a high level of security with regard to the prevention of counterfeiting and the detection of original goods, moreover, the marking with the naked eye not should be recognizable.

The invention is based on the fact that the textile products concerned from raw materials, namely fibers, which are marked accordingly, can be produced. Furthermore, the invention is based on the recognition that a forgery-proof marking means that the copying of the marking also has to be made impossible. In technology, there are cryptographic processes in completely different areas, namely the execution of transactions with computers, etc. It is accordingly an object of the invention to make these data technology cryptography technologies usable for the marking of textile products. The invention therefore according to a first aspect provides a composite fiber with a soul extending over at least part of the fiber length and with a shell surrounding the core, which consists of a plastic, which can be locally changed, in particular fusible, with the aid of light or laser radiation.

The soul can consist of a, in comparison to the plastic of the shell, relatively heat-resistant material; Also, the material of the soul can be light-reflecting. Preferably, the core is made of a metal or a metal alloy. On the other hand, it is favorable if a core fiber with a strip coating circulating in helices around it is provided as the core. Preferably, the core or strip coating is made of an aluminum or silver alloy.

The sheath can be surrounded by a protective cover made of plastic permeable to the laser radiation, the protective sheath in particular consisting of a flexible polyamide. Preferably, the sheath is made of a polyamide or amorphous polycarbonate. It is advantageous if the envelope has optical code elements formed by local modification or melting with the light or laser radiation at least over part of its length. In this case, the optical code elements may contain authentication signature elements. Furthermore, they may contain product-related information, and furthermore the optical code elements may be mounted in the envelope following at least one helix. Preferably, however, the optical code elements are correspondingly mounted in several helices.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that textile materials used for the manufacture of garments are based on individual fibers or yarns which are joined together by various weaves - weaving, knitting, knitting. Depending on the type of weave, different patterns appear on the surface of the textile product, which are due to different proportions of the visibility of, for example, warp or weft threads. As a rule, about 50 to 80 threads per centimeter are used. inventions According to the invention, specially-prepared and prepared fibers are now used for the identification of the substances, in general of the textile products, which are incorporated into the textile products, that is to say they are used during weaving or knitting, for example.

It should be noted that the term "composite fiber" as used herein is intended to refer generally to fibers, including threads or yarns, such as those used in weaving, knitting, knitting, braiding etc. for the production of the respective textile products.

According to the invention, these fibers (composite fibers) play the role of a simple "data carrier." They have a composite structure that is suitable for "labeling" or "coding." It is a description of the composite fibers from all sides It is not necessary to determine or control the position of the composite fiber in the textile product either during production, weaving, knitting, etc., or during subsequent use. It is not possible during production to orient the composite fibers with regard to their position in the textile product in that the composite fiber is finally in the finished garment in a particular orientation, so it is important to enable "all-round coding" on the composite fiber to ensure later readability under all circumstances. To achieve this, the composite fiber has a core, preferably of a reflective material, in particular a metal or a metal alloy; this soul does not necessarily have to be continuous, it can only be partially installed in the composite fiber. This soul is wrapped with a thermoplastic material, which forms the actual data carrier insofar as it can be locally anchored, in particular melted by a focused high-energy beam of light, so in particular laser beam. As a result of this anchoring, for example recoloring or, in particular, melting, in small dot areas, the arrangement of bits in a data carrier, for example in an optical disc-shaped data carrier, is obtained in particular by code elements that can be read by reflection, since the changed visually distinguish molten sites from adjacent, unfused sites.

In order to protect the shell surrounding the core of the fiber against any mechanical damage as well as against chemical attack, for example when washing with the use of detergent, it is expedient to attach another covering, a protective cover, made of organic plastic on the outside of the cover. This protective cover must be transparent to the reading beam, which will later be used to read out the code elements or "bits", and preferably also to the writing beam. (Theoretically, it would be conceivable to first construct a not yet finished fiber, which consists of the soul and writeable cover, describing the code elements by melting the envelope, after which the protective envelope is applied, in which case the protective envelope need only be transparent to the reading beam.)

For describing the composite fiber by locally changing or melting the plastic of the sheath, it is convenient not to be limited to the sharp focus of the light or laser beam used for writing to a position within the sheath, and accordingly exists preferably the soul to prevent its change by the heat energy supplied, from a relative to the plastic of the shell relatively heat-resistant material; This material of the soul is then not changed during writing of the code elements (namely, by local melting of the Hullen plastic) by the heat development. Furthermore, it is expedient here, on the one hand, for optimal energy utilization when writing in the code elements as well as for efficient reading out of the inscribed code elements when checking the fibers or textile products provided therewith, if the core, as mentioned, consists of a light-reflecting material. Preferably, as the material, a metal or a metal alloy is used for the soul, which is accordingly thin as metal fiber, thus as the core of the composite fiber, can be produced, which is light-reflecting, and the or also also a corresponding flexibility with regard to the use of the composite fiber in the manufacture of textile products. As material have here For example, aluminum or silver alloys proved favorable. Another advantageous embodiment can have as soul a strip coating which revolves around a core fiber in helix lines with the abovementioned alloys. This can prove to be cheaper, especially in the production.

On the other hand, thermoplastic materials such as polyamides, e.g. PA46, or amorphous polycarbonates are used.

The outside of the shell surrounding protective cover, which is actually only required for polycarbonate cases, and which consists of permeable to the light or laser beams material may for example consist of highly flexible polyamide, such as PA66.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the composite fiber may be treated with other fibers before further processing (weaving, knitting, knitting, etc.), e.g. Natural fibers, to be spun. As a result, even much thinner fibers are mechanically stable. Thus, their mechanical influence on the fabric or general textile product is once again significantly lower.

The invention relates to such composite fibers in the raw state, before the writing of the label, as well as in the state after the description, when the shell has at least a portion of its length by local changing or melting by means of optical or laser radiation formed optical code elements. In particular, these optical code elements contain authentication signature elements, but may additionally contain optical product-related, freely readable information, such as manufacturer information, date of manufacture, materials used, serial numbers of production, batch numbers, etc. For the identification provided for protection against counterfeiting Identification areas are provided, which do not necessarily have to be described from the outset, and which act as identifiers. These identifiers contain signatures of the manufacturer or manufacturers that are ^¬ example as similar to electronic signatures with a so-called private key of an asymmetric cryptography method created, and with a conces- hearing public key can be read out and checked at any time.

If ready-made goods are produced from the materials characterized in this way, in particular high-quality, expensive brand-name goods, existing unused identifiers, in certain places, may still be present. empty areas may be used later to record the signature of the designer or branded product manufacturer, which may be done with a combined write-read device similar to the laser device used to read the optical code elements in the present composite fibers or textile products ,

With regard to the readability of the code elements on all sides, they are preferably inscribed in the envelope corresponding to one or more coils or helixes. In this case, the code elements are repeatedly attached according to these helices, so that ultimately a readout of certain code elements is made possible by that certain code elements in the repetitive areas once at the top and once at the bottom of a textile product to come, etc. come.

According to a second aspect of the invention, this relates to a textile product, in particular a fabric or a garment made from this material, this product having at least one incorporated composite fiber according to the invention. This composite fiber is at least partially described with code elements as explained above.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of writing optical code elements into a composite fiber according to the invention by locally fusing the sheath of this composite fiber over at least a portion of the length by means of irradiation, the composite fiber being axially relative to a radiation source is moved forward and simultaneously rotated about its axis. This enables the helical labeling with code elements as stated above in an efficient manner. As mentioned above, in order to enhance read-out security, the code elements are preferably arranged according to a plurality of helixes, and for this purpose, for ease of manufacture, it may be provided that the composite fiber is simultaneously irradiated with two or more radiation sources from different directions for writing. There is then obtained a multi-start helical line arrangement, similar to a multi-threaded screw.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides an arrangement for carrying out such a method for describing composite fibers with code elements, which arrangement comprises a feed unit for advancing the composite fiber axially along a feed path and at least one radiation source arranged adjacent to the feed path for emitting a collimated light or laser beam on a composite fiber. As mentioned, a plurality of radiation sources are preferably provided in order to inscribe the code elements corresponding to a plurality of helixes, and these radiation sources are preferably arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement and, moreover, offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction, i. angular offset, e.g. in the case of three radiation sources offset by 120 ° from each other, provided.

Finally, the invention provides a reading device for reading optical code elements from a composite fiber incorporated into a textile product, this reading device having a transparent cover for the textile applied to a rigid support, and an optical reading unit arranged in two directions (x- , y-direction) displaceable and at least one to the plane of the textile product, if this is on the support, parallel axis, eg the y-axis is pivotally mounted.

With such a reading device, the code elements and thus the signatures as well as the other information can be read reliably. In the case of verifying the authenticity of the signatures, as mentioned above, similar to electronic signatures, it is possible to proceed in such a way that the manufacturers publish their original signatures, which correspond to the published public keys by means of such Reading devices as stated above can be checked. However, since the correct signature can only be produced with the private key, which is known to the respective manufacturer alone, any plagiarism can be detected immediately in such a test.

Incidentally, these checks, e.g. when selling a garment, also other details, e.g. of the trader, tailor, but also of the owner, on a garment containing the composite fiber, so that the garment can be made "unique." Also, markings or information may be included in the identification Purifications, etc. are provided.

The invention will be further explained with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which, however, they should not be restricted. Show it :

Figures 1 and 2 in a longitudinal section or cross section of a composite fiber according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows schematically an arrangement for carrying out the method for writing optical code elements in such a composite fiber; and

Fig. 4 shows schematically a reading device for reading optical code elements of a textile product, in which at intervals a plurality of composite fibers are incorporated according to the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a composite fiber 1 is shown, which has an example, discontinuously extending in the axial direction soul 2, for example with parts 2a, 2b, 2c. Of course, it is also possible to provide a continuous soul 2. This core or core 2 of the composite fiber 1 is preferably made of a reflective metal alloy, and it is of a shell 3 made of an organic meltable by laser light or high-energy light Surrounded plastic. In this shell 3, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3, code elements 4 by local modification, namely in particular melting, formed, ie the synthetic fiber 1 is "written" or "coded" by means of a laser radiation, said as Fig. 1 shows the code elements 4 in the form of short thin lines, comparable bits, for example, according to the course of two helixes 5, 5 'are mounted around the circumference of the shell 3 around.

On the outside, the casing 3 is surrounded by a transparent protective cover 6, and this protective cover 6 protects the casing 3 underneath, forming the recording layer for the code elements 4, against mechanical stresses such as rubbing, scratching, but also against detergents and the like. chemical attacks.

In Fig. 2 is indicated schematically how the code elements 4 are obtained by local melting, wherein the melting from the inside, from the soul 2 forth, takes place.

For writing these code elements 4 by melting the plastic material of the shell 3, which surrounds the core 2 of the composite fiber 1, in small local areas, an arrangement 11 as shown in Fig. 3 can be used. In this case, the composite fiber 1 is pulled after its production by a die 12, wherein for this stripping of the composite fiber 1 and thus advancing the composite fiber 1 according to a feed path 13, for example, a roller 14 may be provided on which the composite fiber 1 is wound. This roller 14 is rotatably mounted in a cage 15, which in turn is in turn rotatably mounted about an axis corresponding to the axis of the feed path 13, so that the composite fiber is advanced not only in the feed direction according to the feed path 13, but also about its own axis is twisted. During these combined movements, for example, with the aid of three radiation sources 16a, 16b and 16c, each directed a bundled laser beam on the composite fiber 1, at the same time corresponding to three helical lines (5, 5 'in Fig. 1) a label with code elements 4 by local melting or generally changing the material of the shell 2 made. These radiation sources 16a, 16b and 16c can consist of laser beam writing heads which focus a laser beam generated by a laser device 17 onto the composite fiber 1. The laser 17 can be a conventional CW laser (continuous wave laser) or else a pulse laser which, for example, generates extremely short pulses with high energy and a pulse length in the picosecond range.

The laser beam is supplied to an opto-electronic breaker 19 for the purpose of coding so as to be able to write the bits or code elements in accordance with the given coding, wherein a drive is effected from a computer 20 via a driver unit 21.

Although it would be possible for each write head, i. Each radiation source 16a, 16b and 16c, to provide its own laser source, preferably a single laser source is used for all the writing heads in order to minimize the effort, and the laser beam 18 can accordingly by means of beam splitters, e.g. 22, which reflect a part of the laser radiation and pass part, are shared, the partial beams of the radiation sources 16a, 16b, 16c e.g. can be supplied via deflection mirror 23.

In Fig. 4, a reading device 31 is schematically illustrated, wherein a textile product 32 containing composite fibers 1 as described, is placed on a rigid base 33 and weighted by a transparent to the reading wheel disc as a cover 34 and pressed flat.

As the optical reading unit 35, a reading head 35 is provided which directs a reading beam to the textile product 32 and receives the reflected beam for reading, and which, as shown very schematically by double arrows x and y in Fig. 4, is slidable in two directions in a vertical plane containing the y-axis is pivotable, as shown by the double arrow α. This read head 35 can also be designed as a write head at the same time, in order to subsequently encode additional code elements 4 (see FIG. 1) into the composite fibers 1. ben, as explained above.

The readout beam or write beam is emitted by a laser device 36, and the readout beam is fed to an evaluation unit 37 via a beam splitter 38. Both units 36, 37 are controlled by a control electronics 39, which also drives driver circuits 40 for the unspecified drives for moving the read / write head 35 in the x-direction, y-direction and for pivoting according to the angle α, cf. also the corresponding driver outputs 41, 42 and 43 in FIG. 4.

During operation of the reading device 31, the respective textile product 32 is thus fixed on the solid support 33 with the aid of the transparent pane 34, and the surface of the textile product 32 is examined for readable sections of the composite fibers 1. When such readable portions are detected, they are identified with the reading beam being positioned for reading in the two directions x, y and by the pivoting corresponding to the angle α.

Claims

Claims:

1. composite fiber (1) with a at least over a part of the fiber length extending soul (2) and with a soul (2) surrounding sheath (3), which from a with the aid of light or laser radiation locally variable, in particular fusible Plastic exists.

2. Composite fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that the soul (2) consists of a relatively heat-resistant material compared to the plastic of the shell (3).

3. Composite fiber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the core (2) consists of a light-reflecting material.

4. Composite fiber according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the core (2) consists of a metal or a metal alloy.

5. Composite fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that as a core (2) is provided a core fiber with a circulating in helical lines strip coating.

6. Composite fiber according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the core (2) or strip coating consists of an aluminum or silver alloy.

7. Composite fiber according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sheath (3) by a protective sheath (6) is surrounded by the laser radiation durchlassigem plastic.

8. Composite fiber according to claim 7, characterized in that the protective cover (6) consists of a flexible polyamide.

9. Composite fiber according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sheath (3) consists of a polyamide or amorphous polycarbonate.

10. Composite fiber according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized indicates that the sheath (3) at least over part of its length by local changing or melting with the Lichtbzw. Having laser radiation formed optical code elements (4).

11. Composite fiber according to claim 10, characterized in that the optical code elements (4) contain authentication signature elements.

12. Composite fiber according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the optical code elements (4) contain product-related information.

13. Composite fiber according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the optical code elements (4) at least one helical line (5, 5 ') are mounted following in the shell.

14. Composite fiber according to claim 13, characterized in that the optical code elements (4) corresponding to a plurality of helices (5, 5 ') are mounted.

15. Textile product (32), in particular fabric or garment, with at least one incorporated composite fiber (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A method for writing optical code elements (4) of a composite fiber (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14 by locally changing, in particular melting, the shell (3) at least over part of its length, wherein the composite fiber (1) axially relative to a radiation source (16a, 16b, 16c) is advanced and simultaneously rotated about its axis.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the composite fiber (1) is simultaneously described by means of two or more radiation sources (16a, 16b, 16c) from different directions.

18. Arrangement (11) for carrying out the method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized by a movement unit (14, 15) for axially advancing the composite fiber (1) along a front thrust path (13) and for rotating the same, as well as by at least one adjacent the feed path (13) arranged radiation source (16a, 16b, 16c) for emitting a collimated light or laser beam.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that a plurality of radiation sources (16a, 16b, 16c) are provided in the direction of movement behind one another and angularly offset from one another.

20. Reading device for reading out optical code elements (4) from a textile fiber (1) incorporated in a textile product (32) as claimed in claim 15, characterized by a transparent cover (34) for the textile product arranged on a rigid base (33). 32) as well as by an optical reading unit (35) which is displaceable in two directions (x, y) and about at least one to the plane of the textile product (32) parallel axis (y) is arranged pivotably.