FR3070528A1 - SECURE DATA LABEL, SECURE DOCUMENT, AND PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Secure data tag (1) having a print area (2) for confidential data (7) and an erasable scramble pad (3), and: - a data sheet (8) on the front (11) of which is located the printing area (2); an adhesive layer (9) disposed against the back (12) of the data sheet (8); a first adhesive support sheet (10), the front side (13) of which is disposed against the adhesive layer (9), opposite the printing zone (2), and whose back side (14) receives said jamming veil (3); the first adhesive backing sheet (10) having an area smaller than the area of the adhesive layer (9) so that the adhesive layer (9) extends beyond the outline of the first sheet adhesive support (10), according to a peripheral adhesive zone (4).

Description

the first adhesive backing sheet (10) having an area smaller than the area of the adhesive layer (9) so that the adhesive layer (9) extends beyond the outline of the first sheet adhesive support (10), according to a peripheral adhesive zone (4).

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The invention relates to the field of the physical transmission of confidential data.

It relates more particularly to documents making it possible to transit, for example by mail, confidential data, without this data being readable during transit, and finally being visible to the recipient. Communication of confidential codes or passwords is therefore possible by post or other delivery method.

The document EP0946374 describes a tamper-evident information medium comprising a transparent upper layer and a lower layer presenting scrambling means. Confidential data can be printed on the transparent upper layer after the jamming means have been installed. This medium allows confidential data to be printed without it being visible to the printer himself, which guarantees confidentiality of data up to the final recipient.

The document FR2840251 describes a secure document for confidential information comprising a transparent element on the front of which the confidential information is printed, and the back of which comprises a scrambling impression formed by scratch-off ink.

The invention aims to improve the secure supports of the prior art.

To this end, the invention relates to a secure data label comprising a printing area for confidential data as well as an erasable jamming veil, so that the printing area for confidential data is illegible due to the jamming veil and becomes readable when the jamming veil is cleared. The secure data label also includes:

- a data sheet on the front of which is located the printing area;

- a layer of adhesive placed against the back of the data sheet;

- A first adhesive support sheet, the front of which is placed against the adhesive layer, facing the printing area, and the back of which receives said jamming veil;

the first adhesive backing sheet having an area smaller than the area of the adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer extends beyond the outline of the first adhesive backing sheet, in an area peripheral adhesive.

The invention also relates to a secure document comprising a support provided with a window and a secure data label, as described above, glued to the support so that the peripheral adhesive zone is around the window.

The invention also relates to a method for producing secure data labels as described above, comprising:

- A first step of producing an intermediate film consisting of a data sheet, a layer of adhesive, and a first sheet of adhesive support, superimposed;

a second step of producing a film of secure data labels from the intermediate film, comprising a step of printing the jamming veil, at least one cutting operation, and one operation of laying a second sheet adhesive backing against the peripheral adhesive area.

A label according to the invention does not involve any selective depositing of adhesives around an area, as is common in labels or secure documents of the prior art. Such steps for the selective deposition of glues are difficult to carry out in terms of manufacturing process, require the use of special machines, and are an obstacle to the implementation of more reliable and repeatable manufacturing processes, required in particular by standards. quality. The handling of adhesives and their crosslinking or polymerization requires a perfectly controlled environment (temperature, humidity, compliance with operating times, absence of dust, etc.), which is difficult to obtain within a larger manufacturing process comprising, for example, cutting and printing steps.

The invention allows labels to be produced in a simpler and safer manner by separating the elements and the operations requiring manipulation of glues from the rest of the elements and operations.

Thanks to the adhesive layer which extends beyond the contour of the first adhesive support sheet, the creation of a peripheral adhesive zone around the perimeter of the label is made possible simply by cutting and removing '' a layer, without selective deposit of glue.

The adhesive backing sheet has the particularity of being able to be glued and peeled off on a layer of adhesive without damaging the latter. Portions of this adhesive support sheet can therefore be easily cut and removed, that is to say separated from the adhesive layer.

The label may include the following additional characteristics, alone or in combination:

- The first adhesive support sheet has on its front a coating facilitating its takeoff;

- on the one hand, the data sheet and the adhesive layer have the same surface area, and on the other hand the first adhesive support sheet and the jamming veil have the same surface area;

- the secure data label contains confidential data printed on the front of the data sheet, in the printing area for confidential data;

- the secure data label includes a second adhesive support sheet disposed against the peripheral adhesive zone.

In the secured document, the window of the support can be smaller than the first sheet of adhesive support, so that the latter cannot be peeled off from the layer of adhesive without destroying the support, thus improving the tamper-evident.

The process can include the following additional features, alone or in combination:

- the second step comprises two cutting operations, each carried out on one of the faces of the film;

- The method may include an additional step of removing the second adhesive support sheet and sticking a label on a support;

- The method includes an additional step of printing confidential data in the printing area for confidential data of a secure data label.

The additional features set out above have the following advantages:

the coating facilitating the take-off arranged on the front of the first adhesive support sheet is intended to come into contact with the adhesive layer so that, during the manufacture of the label, the portion of the first sheet adhesive backing which is against the peripheral adhesive area can be cut and peeled off without damaging the adhesive layer;

- the equality of the areas of the data sheet and of the adhesive layer, on the one hand, and of the first adhesive support sheet and of the jamming veil, on the other hand, makes it possible to obtain a label with only two cutting operations: one for the data sheet and the adhesive layer, and the other for the first adhesive support sheet and the jamming veil;

- confidential data can be printed on the front of the data sheet, in the printing area for confidential data, without the printer having access to this data;

- the second adhesive support sheet makes it possible to protect the peripheral adhesive zone and the jamming veil during the transport or the handling of the label.

- the two cutting operations are each carried out on one of the faces of the film so that they can be carried out within the framework of a continuous manufacturing process;

- The additional step of removing the second adhesive support sheet and sticking a label on a support allows the production of a secure document while guaranteeing the integrity of the label.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 schematically shows a secure document according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is an exploded view of a secure data label according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a side view, in section, of the label of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a view of the label of Figure 3 pasted on a support and the jamming veil has been scraped;

- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a first step of the method for producing secure data labels according to the invention;

- Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a second step of the method for producing secure data labels according to the invention;

- Figure 7 is a top view of the printing station of the method shown in Fig 6;

- Figure 8 is a detail view of the first cutting station of the process shown in Figure 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the weeding operation carried out at the first cutting station of the process shown in FIG. 6.

Figure 1 schematically shows a secure document comprising a support 5, shown in dotted lines, on which is affixed a secure data label 1 front view, as it is presented to the end user. The label 1, delimited by an outline 29, comprises a printing zone 2 in its center as well as a jamming veil 3, the printing zone 2 and the jamming veil being superimposed in the view of FIG. 1 .

The label 1 comprises a peripheral adhesive zone 4 situated around the jamming veil 3 and allowing the sticking of the label 1 on the support 5, at the level of a window 6 of the support 5 (the window 6 is visible in the figure 4), so that the jamming veil 3 is accessible through window 6.

The support 5 is, in a preferred embodiment, a sheet of paper of a standard letter format which includes information such as the identification of the end user, his address for dispatch by post, instructions as to for the use of label 1, or any other information. The support 5 with the label 1 affixed forms a secure document that the end user receives by mail with, for example, a confidential code 7 printed in the printing area 2 and illegible due to the jamming veil 3. The label 1 is stuck on the front or back of the support 5 so that the jamming veil is accessible through the window 6. The jamming veil 3 can be formed by any known means which by default makes information illegible, while being erasable to make the information readable when needed. The jamming veil can for example be made up of a scratch-off ink, which therefore is erased by scratching. It can also consist for example of an ink which is erased by change of color or which is erased by becoming transparent or translucent, in reaction to temperature or to an electromagnetic wave such as, for example, radio frequency, NFC (Near Field Communication) signal, or wireless computer network signal.

FIG. 2 represents the label 1 in perspective, in an exploded view showing its various constituent layers. Compared to Figure 1, Figure 2 shows the label 1 back view. FIG. 3 shows the stack of the constituent layers of the label 1 which is seen in profile, in section. These figures are schematic and are only intended to show the various elements constituting the label 1, the proportions, in particular in the thickness of the layers, not being in accordance with reality.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the label 1 successively comprises: a data sheet 8; an adhesive layer 9; and a first adhesive support sheet 10.

The front 11 of the data sheet 8 has the printing zone 2 in its center (delimited by dotted lines in FIG. 2). The confidential code 7 is printed in this printing zone 2, on the front 11 and is visible, in FIG. 2, by transparency of the data sheet 8. The printing of the confidential code 7 is carried out normally or in mirror effect , depending on whether it is read on the front 11 or on the back 12 of the data sheet 8.

The data sheet 8 is transparent or translucent so that the reading of the confidential code 7 can be scrambled by the scrambling veil 3, by transparency, when the latter is intact. In the present example, the data sheet 8 is a transparent polypropylene sheet 50 microns thick, optionally comprising, in a known manner, a surface treatment on its front 11 making it slightly translucent and allowing good adhesion of the confidential code ink 7 for, for example, laser and / or inkjet printing.

The adhesive layer 9 is, in the present example, of the same dimension as the data sheet 8 and consists of any adhesive such as a pressure sensitive type acrylic rubber adhesive, commonly used in the art. field of self-adhesive labels, and allows the assembly of the data sheet 8 and the first adhesive support sheet 10. The adhesive layer 9 is also transparent or translucent.

The first adhesive support sheet 10 is, in the present example, of dimension substantially equal to the printing area 2 and is glued to the center of the adhesive layer 9 so that the printing area 2 and the first adhesive backing sheet 10 are opposite. The peripheral adhesive zone 4 is thus formed all around the first adhesive support sheet 10 and is formed by the portion of the adhesive layer 9 which extends around the first adhesive support sheet 10.

The adhesive backing sheets are elements commonly used in the field of adhesive labels. These are sheets which are generally used as a disposable portion of a sticker, to cover the adhesive of the sticker and which allow its manipulation before sticking to a support. These adhesive support sheets have the particularity of being able to be glued and peeled off with a layer of adhesive, leaving this layer of adhesive intact. The carrier sheets are sometimes also called "backing" or "carrier tape" and are better known by the term "backing".

The first adhesive support sheet 10 is, in the present example, a sheet of polyethylene terephthalate 23 microns thick and is transparent or translucent. In a known manner in the production of the adhesive support sheets, the first adhesive support sheet 10 has on its front 13, that is to say on its face in contact with the adhesive layer 9, a coating facilitating take-off, for example based on silicone.

The jamming veil 3 is, in the present example, produced by printing in ink of a two-color black and gray pattern producing the rendering visible in FIG. 1, or any other known pattern enabling the confidential code 7 to be made illegible. the jamming veil 3 is intact.

The label 1 optionally includes a second adhesive support sheet 15 glued using the peripheral adhesive zone 4 and which makes it possible to protect the rear of the label 1 before it is glued to the support.

5. The second adhesive support sheet 15 advantageously comprises on its front 16, at least on the zone coming into contact with the peripheral adhesive zone 4, a coating facilitating the take-off, for example based on silicone, allowing easy take-off of the second adhesive support sheet 15 without damaging the adhesive layer 9 at the peripheral adhesive zone 4. The label 1 thus provided with the second adhesive support sheet 15 can be handled and transported without damaging the adhesive 9, until it is placed on the support 5 which is therefore done by removing the second adhesive support sheet 15 beforehand and by sticking the label 1 to the support 5 using the peripheral adhesive zone 4. The second adhesive support sheet 15 not participating in the scrambling or reading functions of confidential data 7, it can be of any color and be indifferently transparent or opaque.

FIG. 4 shows the label 1 thus glued to the support 5. In addition, FIG. 4 shows the jamming veil 3 after scraping by the end user so that the data sheet 8, the layer of adhesive 9, and the first adhesive support sheet 10, all three superimposed, also make it possible to view the confidential code 7 by looking through the back side 14 of the first adhesive support sheet 10, through the window

6, than letting enough light pass through the window 6 to view the confidential code 7 by looking through the front 11 of the data sheet 8.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred characteristic of window 6 which is here smaller than the first sheet of adhesive support 10. The support 5 therefore partially covers the jamming veil around its contour, so that the user cannot not peel off the first adhesive support sheet 10 from the adhesive layer 9 without destroying the support 5.

The secure data label 1 which has just been described can be produced in the manner indicated below, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 which schematically represent two consecutive stages of the production of a roll 18 of labels 1. The roll 18 of labels 1 consists of a rolled up film, this film grouping together a plurality of labels 1. FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically represent the cylinders and rollers, seen in profile, of a production line making it possible to produce continuous labels 1.

Figure 5 relates to a first step to produce an intermediate roll 19 which consists of the data sheet 8, the adhesive layer 9, and the first adhesive support sheet 10 superimposed.

This first step implements:

a roll 20 of data sheet, which is therefore in the present example a roll of polypropylene film;

a station 21 for depositing adhesive;

a laminating station 23 adapted to unwind and glue a roll 22 of the first adhesive support sheet 10, which is therefore in the present example a roll of polyethylene terephthalate film, the front 13 of which comprises a coating based on silicone.

The data sheet roller 20 is unwound so that the data sheet 8 passes to the adhesive depositing station 21 where its back 12 is coated with the adhesive layer 9. The adhesive depositing station 21 comprises for this purpose a device 38 for depositing adhesive or any known means making it possible to coat the entire surface of the data sheet 8 with a layer of adhesive 9.

The data sheet 8, thus coated with the adhesive layer 9, then passes to the laminating station 23 where the roll 22 of the first adhesive support sheet 10 is unwound and that the first adhesive support sheet 10 is deposited against the adhesive layer 9.

The film thus formed by the data sheet 8, the adhesive layer 9, and the first adhesive support sheet 10 is finally wound up and the intermediate roll 19 is thus formed. In the intermediate roller 19, the first adhesive support sheet 10 covers the entire surface of the adhesive layer 9.

The intermediate roller 19 can then be handled and transported without risk. It can for example be produced, according to this first step, in a first production unit, specialized in large-scale deposition of adhesive. Such a production unit is set up to guarantee compliance with the severe conditions necessary for laying and drying or crosslinking the adhesives.

FIG. 6 relates to a second step aimed at producing a roll 18 of labels 1 from the intermediate roll 19.

This second step implements:

- the intermediate roller 19;

- A jamming printing station 27;

- a first cutting station 24;

- A laminating station 25 adapted to unwind and glue a roll 28 of second adhesive support sheet 15;

- a second cutting station 26.

The intermediate roller 19 is unwound so that the film passes to the jamming printing station 27 where the jamming veil 3 is printed on the back 14 of the first adhesive support sheet 10 by means of a printing device 30 .

Figure 7 is a top view of the jamming printing station 27. The printing of the jamming veil 3 can be carried out in repeating discontinuous patterns, visible in FIG. 7. Each pattern will form the jamming veil 3 of a future label 1 and can therefore be of the final size of the veil of interference 3 desired, or slightly higher. The final contour of the jamming sails 3 will be delimited during a subsequent cutting, described below, at the first cutting station 24.

Alternatively, the entire surface of the first adhesive support sheet 10 can be printed with a scrambling pattern at the scrambling printing station 27, for subsequent cutting at the first cutting station 24.

FIG. 7 makes visible the width of the rolls, called width, which makes it possible to produce, in the example shown, only one label per width. The width can however be provided to produce any number of labels on a cylinder width, depending on the production rate desired and the constraints of supply of raw materials.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the jamming printing station 27 is schematically represented with a single printing device 30, which may for example be digital, offset, flexo or serigraphy, monochrome or in full color, the station 27 then comprising as many successive printing devices as there are shades or treatments to be applied for the formation of the jamming veil 3.

After passing through the scrambling printing station 27, the film then passes to the first cutting station 24 where the film passes between a counterpressure cylinder 32 and a cutting cylinder 31. The cutting cylinder 31 has indentations 37 for cutting of the “take-out” type, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the jamming veil 3 to be obtained, so as to produce, when the cylinders 31, 32 rotate, the cutting of the jamming veils 3 by said imprints 37.

FIG. 8 is a schematic enlargement of the cooperation area between the counterpressure cylinder 32 and the cutting cylinder 31. This figure shows the different thicknesses of the film composed of the data sheet 8, of the adhesive layer 9, of the first adhesive support sheet 10 and a jamming veil 3. The cylinders 31, 32 are seen in radial section so that an imprint 37 is visible in the form of two cutting edges seen in profile. The spacing of the cylinders 31, 32 is adjusted so that the cavity 37, when the cylinders rotate, penetrates to the layer of adhesive 9, cutting the jamming web 3 and the first sheet of adhesive support 10 for give them their final outline.

The jamming impression layer 3 represented in FIG. 8 conforms to the discontinuous printing of successive jamming veils 3 as shown in FIG. 7. In the latter case as in the case where the entire surface of the first sheet adhesive backing 10 is printed with a scrambling pattern, the successive scrambling webs 3 are produced with their final shape at the time of this cutting.

Referring again to FIG. 6, after cutting by the cutting cylinder 31, the superfluous portions of the first adhesive support sheet 10 which carry jamming impression portions are then ribbed at the level of a cylinder separator 33 and wound into a first weigher cylinder 34. After the operation consisting in cutting the contours of the jamming webs 3, each with its support in adhesive support sheet 10, the weeding operation consists in separating the layer adhesive 9 of the adhesive support sheet portions 10 located around the contour which has just been cut.

FIG. 9 schematically represents the weeding operation which ensures that the film leaving the first cutting station 24 is made up of the data sheet 8 and the adhesive layer 9, regularly carrying a series of jamming veils 3 and its respective support in adhesive support sheet 10.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the film then passes through a laminating station 25 in which the second adhesive support sheet 15, unwound from the roll 28, is applied continuously against the adhesive layer 9 and thus protects jamming sails 3.

The film thus formed then passes through a second cutting station 26 intended this time for cutting the data sheet 8, along the outline 29 of each label 1 (the outline 29 is visible in FIG. 1). The second cutting station 26 implements a counterpressure cylinder 32 'and a cutting cylinder 31' provided with cutting impressions conforming to the outline 29 which act, relative to the first cutting station 24, on the other side of the movie.

The second cutting station 26 operates in a similar manner to the first cutting station 24, except that the cylinders 31 ', 32' are adjusted so that the impression cuts the data sheet 8 and penetrates to the layer adhesive 9.

After cutting, the portions of data sheets 8 which are outside the contour 29 are weeled and wound into a second weeder cylinder 35.

The film thus formed is then finally wound into a roll 18 of labels 1. This resulting film therefore consists of a screen formed by the second adhesive support sheet 15 which carries a series of labels 1. The roll 18 of labels 1 can be handled and transported, in particular to be delivered, for example, to service providers authorized to print the confidential code 7 on the data sheet 8 of each label and to place the labels on the corresponding support 5.

Other variants of the label and its manufacturing process can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the manufacturing process can be implemented by means different from those described, such as sheet-by-sheet processing means, rather than using roller processing means, the labels then being produced in sheets rather only in rolls, or even individually. The cuts made at the cutting stations can, in this spirit, be made flat or according to any other profile. Furthermore, the adhesive removal, the scrambling impression, and the cutting can be carried out by any other known means.

Furthermore, the jamming veil may be made of a material which is erased other than by scraping, or which is erased by changing properties in reaction to temperature, to a gas, to radiation from a wireless computer network, possibly involving the use of a communication terminal.

Claims (10)

1. Secure data label (1) comprising a printing area (2) for confidential data (7) as well as an erasable jamming veil (3), so that the printing area (2) for confidential data (7) is illegible due to the jamming veil (3) and becomes legible when the jamming veil (3) is erased, characterized in that it comprises: - a data sheet (8) on the front (11) of which is located the printing area (2); - a layer of adhesive (9) disposed against the back (12) of the data sheet (8); - a first adhesive support sheet (10), the front (13) of which is placed against the adhesive layer (9), facing the printing area (2), and the back of which (14) receives said jamming veil (3); the first adhesive backing sheet (10) having an area smaller than the area of the adhesive layer (9) so that the adhesive layer (9) extends beyond the outline of the first sheet adhesive support (10), according to a peripheral adhesive zone (4). 2. secure data label (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first adhesive support sheet (10) has on its front (13) a coating facilitating its take-off. 3. secure data label (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the data sheet (8) and the adhesive layer (9) are both of the same area, and in that the first adhesive support sheet (10) and the jamming web (3) are both of the same area. 4. Secure data label (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes confidential data (7) printed on the front (11) of the data sheet (8), in the printing area (4) for confidential data. 5. Secure data label (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a second adhesive support sheet (15) disposed against the peripheral adhesive zone (4). 6. Secure document comprising a support (5) provided with a window (6), characterized in that it comprises a secure data label (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, glued to the support (5 ) so that the peripheral adhesive area (4) is around the window (6). 7. Method for producing secure data labels (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises: - a first step of producing an intermediate film (19) consisting of a data sheet (8), a layer of adhesive (9), and a first sheet of adhesive support (10) , superimposed; a second step of producing a film of secure data labels (1) from the intermediate film (19), comprising a step of printing the jamming veil (3), at least one cutting operation, and an operation of laying a second adhesive support sheet (15) against the peripheral adhesive zone (4). 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that, the second step comprises two cutting operations, each carried out on one of the faces of the film. 9. A method of producing a secure document according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the steps of the method according to one of claims 7 and 8, and in that it comprises an additional step of removal of 'a second sheet of adhesive support (15) and bonding of a label (1) on a support (5). 10. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, comprising an additional step of printing confidential data (7) in the printing area (2) for confidential data of a secure data label (1).