EP3197793B1 - Packaging with tamper resistance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a package which is closed with a closure.

Product piracy, i.e. the business of copycat goods that are manufactured with the aim of being confusingly similar to original goods, is an omnipresent problem in business dealings and is associated with significant losses for the original manufacturer. In a frequent case of product piracy, identical packaging and the name of the manufacturer are used. The ingredients, the processed materials and / or the processing of the product contained in the packaging, on the other hand, are generally inferior, non-existent or replaced by alternatives that are harmful to health. Counterfeit products are known from all areas of business, something in the area of software, watches, clothing, medicines, auto parts or food.

Fine wines are traded at enormously high prices. There are high risks for the buyer of a fine wine that he might buy a counterfeit bottle or that an original bottle has been stored under conditions that have harmed the wine. Such fine wines are often viewed as an investment. Ultimately, the buyer has little other way of checking the quality of the bottle than opening it. This completes the purchase. A check before the purchase can not be done.

Various methods are known from the prior art which provide tamper-evident protection for the bottle or the label, but which still allow forgery, for example by refilling the original bottle with a counterfeit wine, or the sale of thermally superimposed wine.

Devices to prevent counterfeiting of wine bottles are for example CN 202518596 , CN 202464386 , CN 202557987 , CN 202400409 , CN 102582945 , CN 202346084 and CN 2806357 known.

FR 2 658 166 A1 discloses tamper evidence for bottle closures.

DE 29 91 946 U1 discloses sealing plugs for bottles or containers.

DE 10 2008 060 675 A1 discloses a method for the unambiguous identification and authentication of products for protection against plagiarism.

U.S. 3,967,579 A discloses a tell-tale device for perishable products having a layer of temperature sensitive material.

EP 1 003 146 A2 discloses a method of identifying products using microparticles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide counterfeit protection for packaging, in particular bottles, such as wine bottles, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a package is to be provided that prevents the possibility of counterfeiting through improper use of Original packaging, such as refilling an original bottle from an expensive wine, is prevented.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are described in the subclaims.

This object is achieved in particular by a packaging that is closed with a closure, with a seal made of thermosetting polymer being attached to and / or on the closure, which seal is preferably in contact with the packaging, the seal not being non-destructive from the closure and / or the packaging is removable and the seal comprises means for recognizing the authenticity of the seal and thus the packaging, characterized in that the means for recognizing the authenticity of Stokes pigments or anti-Stokes pigments, which require a detection device for recognition, and / or contains diatoms visible to the naked eye.

Any packaging that is preferably used for packaging high-quality products for the purpose of transport or decoration can be provided as packaging according to the invention. In addition to the particularly preferred glass bottles for storing and transporting high-quality wines, other glass, ceramic, clay or plastic bottles for storing high-quality wines, non-alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products or spirits such as cognac, sparkling wine, Whiskey etc. may be provided.

Cardboard boxes, boxes, bags and the like for packaging high-quality branded products such as watches, clothing, jewelry, perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, material parts, electronic devices, data carriers, etc. can also be provided as packaging according to the invention.

It is preferred here that the packaging is food packaging, preferably a bottle, particularly preferably a glass bottle, particularly preferably a wine bottle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the packaging, preferably a bottle, preferably a glass bottle, is filled with contents, for example wine.

It is preferably provided that the packaging is a bottle and the closure is a cork.

Furthermore, it is provided that the thermosetting polymer is an acrylic polymer, preferably a modified acrylic polymer. Suitable thermoset polymers are, for example, commercially available under the brand name PERMABOND® UV681 or UV683 from Permabond Engineering Additives Ltd. known.

In one embodiment it is provided that the seal has at least one through hole. This through-hole is preferably already formed during the manufacture of the seal by providing a placeholder made of polytetrafluoroethylene or the like around which the liquid polymer is applied. After the polymer has solidified, the placeholder can be removed and the through hole can thereby be formed.

In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the seal explicitly does not have a through hole. This embodiment is then preferably suitable for achieving the object according to the invention when falsification of the packaging contents by means of the through hole, for example by injection by means of a needle, is to be expected. Such an embodiment can be advantageous, for example, when the packaging contains an injection solution.

In one embodiment it can be provided that the seal further comprises means for recording the input of thermal energy and / or means for recognizing that a defined temperature has been exceeded.

It can be provided here that the means for showing the input of thermal energy contains a porous material that contains a component that can be released by thermal diffusion and which triggers a color effect when released, and / or contains a material that decomposes due to thermal energy and a contained in the material and releases a color effect triggering component.

It is particularly preferably provided that the material is microporous and / or inorganic or organic.

It is also preferred that the component itself or through reaction with a connection partner triggers a color effect.

Finally, it is preferably provided that the means for detecting that a defined temperature has been exceeded contains an irreversible thermochromic compound and / or a microencapsulated colorant.

According to the invention, it was surprisingly found that the proposed packaging has a security system which allows both the detection of forgeries and the detection of a thermal overlay of the packaging contents, preferably wine.

It is essential that the seal is made of a thermosetting polymer material. This is applied to and / or on the closure, preferably a cork, and preferably also in contact with the material of the packaging, such as the glass of a Bottle. The seal is connected to the closure material and / or the packaging and cannot be removed without being destroyed. Furthermore, it was surprisingly found that various security and recording features can be added to the sealing material, which allow further protection against forgery and a check of the thermal overlay of the packaging contents. These security and recording features are a means for recognizing the originality of the seal and the packaging, a means for recording the input of thermal energy and / or a means for recognizing that a defined temperature of the packaging has been exceeded.

seal

The seal is made of a thermosetting polymer which, in liquid form, can be placed in a recess between the closure (cork) and the packaging (the bottle edge of the glass bottle) and is firmly bonded to the closure and in particular to the glass. As an alternative or in addition, the seal can also contain a plate made of a thermosetting polymer material, which can be inserted into the above-mentioned recess between the closure and the edge of the bottle and which can then connect to the closure and the glass via the liquid thermosetting polymer to be added.

The seal can preferably contain a through hole in order to enable gas exchange of the packaging contents via the closure (cork). If an inserted plate made of thermosetting material is used, it could be provided with decorative elements such as embossing or engraving.

The seal can preferably be raised, flush or recessed. Its own color can preferably be colored or monochrome, preferably white or colorless, particularly preferably colorless.

Duroplasts, also called duromers, are plastics that can no longer be deformed after they have hardened. They are hard, glass-like polymer materials that are firmly networked in three dimensions via chemical main valence bonds. It is particularly preferred that the thermoset release only a very small amount of thermal energy when it is cured or that it does not require any heat for curing, since this could possibly impair the function of the security and recording features contained therein. Likewise, the thermosetting material should preferably be resistant to the conditions customary in storage of the packaging and should not show any optical or mechanical changes over the storage period.

A thermosetting polymer is particularly preferably used as the sealing material, the mechanical properties of which are set in such a way that when removed or in the event of point mechanical stress, such as when using a corkscrew, it bursts into many small individual parts, so that the closure cannot be removed without breaking the seal.

According to the invention, the thermosetting materials used can preferably be those that cure under UV radiation, such as modified acrylic polymers, which are known from the repair of car glass and in particular have an excellent bond to the glass as well as the required long-term resistance.

It is preferably provided that the seal is applied directly to the closure, ie without any other packaging material, for example a cap, a tube or the like, being arranged between the closure and the seal. The closure here is to be understood as the direct connection between the inside of the packaging and the outside of the packaging. For example, in the case of a wine bottle, the cork is the closure, but not a plastic or metal foil protecting the cork.

In addition, it is preferably provided that the seal is a three-dimensional body, i.e. a volume body. It is also provided that the seal is a monolithic body.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it can be provided that the seal comprises Stokes and / or Anti-Stokes pigments in a thermoset seal formed as a volume.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the sealing material expands during curing. In this way, a particularly strong and according to the invention advantageous connection of the seal to the closure and / or the packaging material is achieved.

Means of detecting originality

The seal of the packaging according to the invention has a means for recognizing the originality. In the context of the present invention, a means for recognizing the originality is to be understood as a means which allows checking whether the closure of the packaging is still an original closure. Such a means for recognizing the originality can, for example, comprise diatoms that are visually visible with the armed eye. It can also be provided that this agent contains Stokes or Anti-Stokes pigments, which require a detection device for detection. All means can be used alone or in combination.

Means for recording the input of thermal energy

The recording of the energy input into the contents of the packaging, for example a wine bottle, can also be provided. This energy input provides information about how much thermal energy has been absorbed and possibly damaged the contents of the packaging. In a first embodiment, such an agent can comprise a porous, preferably microporous or mesoporous, material in which a component is incorporated which can be released by thermal energy. This component can trigger a color effect directly or through reaction with another substance present in the sealing material.

In a second embodiment, this agent can comprise a material, inorganic or organic, which is decomposed by introduced thermal energy and which releases a component contained in this material. These embodiments can be used alone or in combination, the first embodiment being preferred.

The components used in these agents are subject to high requirements with regard to their long-term stability, so that preference is given to using inorganic compounds or performing inorganic reactions.

An example of a means of recording the input of thermal energy is the formation of "Prussian Blue", a reaction of iron (III) salts with potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II):

4 FC ³⁺ + 3 [Fe ^{+ II} (CN) ₆ ] ^4- → Fe ^{+ III} [Fe ^{+ III} Fe ^{+ II} (CN) ₆ ] ₃

The iron compound can be present in a microporous polyester material, and the potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II) can be embedded in the sealing material. The iron slowly migrates out of the microporous polyester material through thermal processes and reacts with the potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II) to form a blue compound. The discoloration that occurs is proportional to the amount of diffused iron, which in turn is proportional to the thermal energy input. Correlation with real storage can be ensured by appropriate calibration of the system in climatic chambers.

The thermal energy input can be detected by visual comparison with a reference scale or by measuring the discoloration with a suitable and appropriately calibrated photometer. Such a photometer could also, with a corresponding detector, be used to examine the detection of the originality using appropriate means there.

All possible thermal markers have in common that they do not react to the input of thermal energy with a sudden change in color. Rather, a change in the color of the agents or their intensity as a function of temperature and / or time can be observed through a slow, temperature-driven diffusion. In this way, a quantifying estimate of the thermal energy that has already been introduced can be achieved. In addition to the color of the agents, any other measurable physical parameter that changes with a diffusion-controlled reaction can be used for this purpose.

Means for recognizing that a defined temperature has been exceeded

When it comes to the storage of wine bottles, experts know that even briefly exceeding a limit temperature, e.g. around 40 ° C, damages the wine. The detection of exceeding this temperature can be indicated by a clear color change of the sealing material.

It can be provided that this color change is achieved either through the use of irreversible thermochromic compounds or microencapsulated colorants.

Microencapsulated colorants are preferred here, since the transition temperature can be set more precisely.

Microencapsulated colorants are dyes or pigments that are provided with a shell made of a polymer or wax. The color of the colorant is covered by the envelope. At the desired temperature, the coating agent melts or decomposes so that the colorant becomes visible. Alternatively, a reactive colorant can also be used in which part of the colorant is incorporated in the base material of the seal and the other part is in microencapsulated form. When the limit temperature is exceeded, the envelope melts / decomposes and the two reactants form a colored compound.

Typical wrapping materials are paraffins and low molecular weight polymers, such as, for example, low molecular weight polyethylene (Fischer-Tropsch wax). Processes for the microencapsulation of substances are known to the person skilled in the art and are used industrially.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the seal contains in combination both means for recognizing the originality and means for recording the input of thermal energy as well as means for recognizing that a defined temperature has been exceeded.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to a figure which shows the arrangement of a seal 1 on a packaging according to the invention in the form of a glass bottle 2.

Example:

The following recipe is used to produce the seal: Pernabond UV683 99.450% Anti-Stokes crystal based on erbium doped gadolinium oxisulfide 0.010% Microencapsulated red pigment (melting point: 40 ° C.) produced according to A 0.240% Fe mod. Molecular sieve type A manufactured according to B 0.300% Potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II) 0.05%

The Permabond is placed in a container and the remaining substances are dispersed with a dissolver while cooling. The temperature should not exceed 30 ° C.

To seal a corked wine bottle, exactly 1.5 ml of the solution prepared above is applied to the cork using a dosing pump. Due to the surface tension of the solution, a lens-shaped drop forms. This is cured using UV light. The seal applied to the glass bottle is shown in the figure.

Exceeding the maximum storage temperature can easily be recognized with the naked eye by the color of the slightly honey-colored seal changing to red.

The originality marker can be recognized by its visible fluorescence when excited with a laser at 980nm. Alternatively, the decay behavior of the fluorescence scene can be investigated with a corresponding detector such as the BRANDPROOF® F detector from Polysecure GmbH, which results in greater security.

The input of thermal energy is determined by visually comparing the color of the seal with a calibrated color scale. This was created by storing the sealing material under controlled conditions.

A Preparation of the microencapsulated pigment

Red iron oxide (Bayferrox 120) is placed in a hot mixer (e.g. Thyssen Henschel) and, while the mixer is running, molten paraffin with a melting point of 40 ° C is sprayed in. The pigment to wax ratio is 70:30. The pigment particles are coated with a layer of wax. Mixing is carried out until the particles have reached a size of approx. 20-30 µm. Then these are transferred to a cooling mixer and cooled to room temperature. Finally, a 20% solution of bleached shellac (1% based on the pigment) dissolved in methanol is sprayed in and the methanol is drawn off in vacuo.

B Production of the Fe modified molecular sieve

Molecular sieve A is covered with Fe ions by ion exchange in acidic FeCl _{3 solution.} The molecular sieve is then washed with distilled water until iron can no longer be detected on the surface. The product is dried in vacuo.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawings can be essential both individually and in any combination for the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims (10)

1. Packaging that is closed by a cap, wherein fitted to and/or on the cap is a seal made of thermosetting polymer that is preferably in contact with the packaging, wherein the seal cannot be removed from the cap and/or the packaging without being destroyed and the seal comprises means for identifying the originality of the seal and thus of the packaging, characterised in that the means for identifying the originality include Stokes pigments or anti-Stokes pigments which require a detector device for identification, and/or include diatoms that are visible to the aided eye.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging is food packaging, preferably a bottle, for preference a glass bottle, for particular preference a wine bottle.
3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the packaging is a bottle and the cap is a cork.
4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thermosetting polymer is an acrylic polymer, preferably a modified acrylic polymer.
5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seal has at least one through-hole.
6. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal furthermore comprises means for registering the input of thermal energy and/or means for detecting that a defined temperature has been exceeded.
7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterised in that the means for registering the input of thermal energy contain a porous material that includes a component that can be released by thermal diffusion and, on release, triggers a colour effect, and/or includes a material that decomposes through thermal energy and releases a component that is contained in the material and triggers a colour effect.
8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterised in that the material is microporous and/or inorganic or organic.
9. Packaging according to one of the claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the component triggers a colour effect itself or through a reaction with a compound partner.
10. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means for detecting that a defined temperature has been exceeded includes an irreversibly thermochromic compound and/or a microencapsulated dye.

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