JP5321136B2 - How to read printed information - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for reading information on a printed material for determining the authenticity of a printed material having a function of preventing forgery or forgery.

  Traditionally, securities such as stock certificates, bonds, checks, gift certificates, lottery tickets, commuter passes, etc. are marked with machine-readable code marks, which are machine-readable information sections such as barcodes and OCR characters. There are many things. Usually, such a code mark is formed using black ink or the like that contains carbon black, leuco dye, or the like and absorbs light in the near-infrared wavelength region.

  More specifically, a white ink layer made of white ink with a barcode-like code mark made of black ink as mechanically readable information using the infrared reflection characteristics of white ink and the infrared absorption characteristics of black ink. By forming the code mark and irradiating infrared rays onto the portion of the code mark and measuring the reflected light therefrom, the information recorded in an invisible state can be read. In such invisible information, generally, the information portion is covered with a concealing layer that blocks visible light and transmits infrared rays so that the information made of black ink or the like is not read illegally. The information contents cannot be discriminated by visual observation under visible light irradiation.

  The black ink that absorbs near-infrared light has light absorption with respect to light having a wavelength in the visible light wavelength region, so even if the above-described concealing layer is formed, the concealing power is insufficient. In that case, the information located in the lower part is not only read by the infrared reader, but its presence is easy to read visually, and it is not sufficient as a means for reliably preventing counterfeiting or alteration using copying or the like. there were.

  One way to ensure that the presence of information that is hidden in an invisible state is not ascertained more reliably is that it absorbs less light in the visible light wavelength region and is not in the visible light wavelength region. It has also been considered that information is formed of a material that absorbs light of a wavelength in the wavelength region. For example, in Patent Document 1, an image pattern is divided, and one is composed of ink having absorption in the infrared region and no absorption in the visible region, and the other is composed of ink having absorption in the infrared region and the visible region. In addition, there has been disclosed a copy forgery prevention technique in which a dummy pattern is provided in the vicinity and / or overlap of the image pattern. For example, there is a means for forming a code mark with an infrared absorbing ink in which heat ray absorbing glass or infrared absorbing glass as an infrared absorbing material is pulverized and pigmented to contain the pigment. This infrared absorptive ink has been considered as an effective means for counterfeiting, falsification, falsification and the like because it hardly absorbs light in the visible light wavelength region and is difficult to confirm visually.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, a first printed image composed of a first infrared absorbing ink on an infrared reflective substrate and an infrared ray in an infrared wavelength region of the first infrared absorbing ink. A machine-readable information print comprising a second printed image composed of a second infrared absorbing printing ink having an infrared absorbing property different from the absorbing property is disclosed. The information part of the anti-counterfeit printed matter provided with the information part using such infrared absorbing ink, for example, has little absorption of light having a wavelength in the visible light wavelength region (400 to 700 nm) and has a wide range of infrared rays. It has a spectral characteristic that greatly absorbs light in the wavelength region (800 nm or more), so it is certainly difficult to read visually, and can only be detected using a machine such as an infrared camera. There was an advantage.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-68979 JP 2005-246719 A

  However, if the information part is simply provided on the base material, its presence is easily deciphered, and a third party who notices the presence of the information part can read the information content using an infrared camera or the like. Even if the information is hidden in an invisible state, the information content is illegally read by an infrared camera or the like, and forgery or tampering is performed based on the read information. Furthermore, since each conventional information section can hold only binary information, there is a problem that it is necessary to provide a large number of information sections in order to increase the amount of information.

  The present invention solves the problems of the related art, and a plurality of information units provided on a base material are visually concealed so that their presence and information contents are not visually recognized. It is difficult to read information accurately with a general-purpose reader using infrared rays, and the data in the information part is not binarized and can take multiple types of forgery prevention printed matter. The issue is to provide information reading methods.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an infrared wavelength region that includes infrared absorbing materials having different spectral characteristics in a plurality of infrared wavelength regions on an infrared reflective base material, and each has a reflection intensity. the printed material is formed by providing a plurality of different pattern information unit, by using an infrared infrared wavelength range of the set, read-reflection intensity of the patterned information unit, a plurality of codes from the difference in reflectance read An information reading method for printed matter, characterized in that the information is generated .

Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is an infrared absorbing material in which the patterned information portions having different reflection intensities in the set infrared wavelength region have different spectral characteristics in a plurality of infrared wavelength regions. , at least two types, and a print information reading method according to claim 1, characterized in that each comprise at different ratios.

In the printed matter information reading method of the present invention, a printed matter in which a plurality of pattern-shaped information portions having different reflection intensities in a set infrared wavelength region are provided on an infrared reflective base material, and a plurality of infrared wavelength regions are provided. By using the infrared rays, the mechanical reading of the reflection intensity of the pattern information portion becomes possible. That is, in the infrared irradiation of the set infrared wavelength region, the reflection intensity of each pattern information portion is different. In addition, when the infrared light is irradiated in another specific infrared wavelength region different from the set infrared wavelength region, the reflection intensities of the pattern information portions are substantially the same. This makes it difficult for a third party to guess the wavelength at which information should be read, and cannot be counterfeited.

  The printed matter according to the present invention is formed with a plurality of pattern information portions, and each pattern information portion has at least two types of infrared absorbing materials having different spectral characteristics in a plurality of infrared wavelength regions, And it can form by including in a different ratio, respectively. Moreover, each pattern-like information part can also be formed by containing one kind of infrared absorbing material at a different ratio for each pattern-like information part, unlike the above. In the printed matter according to the present invention, the information part is concealed or toned in the same color as the surroundings, so that it is impossible or difficult to visually recognize the information part. Reading is possible.

  In conventional infrared readers that are generally used, if the absorption characteristics in the infrared region of the information section are different, they are treated as different information, and if there is a peak value of the absorption rate at the same infrared wavelength, the absorption rate Are recognized as the same information without recognizing the difference in the peak value as the difference in information. On the other hand, in the information reading method of the printed matter of the present invention, a plurality of infrared wavelengths for machine reading are set, and the infrared reflectance when the information part is irradiated with infrared rays having the set wavelengths is detected and read. By classifying the reflectivity according to a predetermined threshold, complicated coding can be performed. For this reason, it is very difficult for a third party to accurately know the information obtained from the information section, and there is an effect of effectively preventing forgery, falsification, and other frauds.

Explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example of a printed matter which concerns on this invention in a plane. Explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example in a cross section of the printed matter which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the printed matter which concerns on this invention in a plane. Explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example in a cross section of the printed matter which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd example of a printed matter which concerns on this invention in a plane. Explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd example in a cross section of the printed matter which concerns on this invention. The spectral characteristic figure of the infrared rays absorption ink in case the infrared rays absorber which is using each of the printed matter which concerns on this invention differs. The spectral characteristic figure of the infrared rays absorption ink in case the infrared rays absorption material currently used of the printed matter which concerns on this invention is the same and the content density | concentration differs. Explanatory drawing which shows on a plane performing machine reading between A-> B. Infrared reflectance data of the information part that was machine-read between A → B and a threshold for code generation. Diagram showing codes I to IV generated between A and B Plan view showing machine reading between C and D Infrared reflectivity data of information section machine read between C and D and threshold classification for code generation Diagram showing codes I to IV generated between C and D

  A printed material information reading method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of a printed matter 10 according to the present invention in a plan view. When the information part 2 is provided by the infrared absorptive ink on the infrared reflective base material 1, and the information part 2 has the characteristic from which the infrared absorber used for each infrared absorptive ink each differs The individual information portions 20 to 24 or the individual information portions 25 to 29 having the same infrared absorbing material used for each of the infrared absorbing inks and changing the concentration of the same. Here, when the infrared ray having the wavelength set along the line XX ′ is irradiated, the information unit 2 absorbs a part of the irradiated infrared ray, and the infrared reflective substrate 1 reflects the infrared ray. The infrared reflectance at the set wavelength of each individual information section of the information section 2 can be read.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a cross-sectional portion taken along line XX ′ of the printed material 10 shown in FIG. 1, and a process ink (on the surface opposite to the information portion 2 on the infrared reflective base 1 is shown. The number of colors is not limited), indicating that the pattern printing layer 3 is provided.

  Next, FIG. 3 is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the printed matter 11 based on this invention in a plane. An information part 2 is provided on the infrared reflective substrate 1 with infrared absorbing ink, and the information part 2 is composed of individual information parts 20-24 or 25-29. Since the background portion 4 is provided using background ink that has the same hue as the infrared absorbing ink constituting the information portion 2 and does not absorb light in the infrared wavelength region, the information portion 2 is provided with information. The configuration is such that it is difficult to visually recognize the portion 2.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a cross-sectional portion taken along line YY ′ of the printed matter 11 in FIG. 3, and the process is performed on the opposite surface of the information reflecting portion 2 and the background portion 4 on the infrared reflective substrate 1. It shows that the pattern printing layer 3 is provided by ink (the number of colors is not limited).

  Next, FIG. 5 is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd example of the printed matter 12 based on this invention with a plane. An information part 2 is provided by infrared absorbing ink on the infrared reflective substrate 1, and the hue of the infrared absorbing ink constituting the information part 2 is the same in the peripheral part of the information part 2, and the infrared wavelength. The background portion 4 is provided by using background ink that does not absorb the light of the region, and the information portion 2 is visually confirmed by covering the entire information portion 2 and the background portion 4 with the concealed picture printing layer 5. It is a structure that cannot be done.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of a cross-sectional portion taken along line ZZ ′ of the printed matter 12 in FIG. 5. Process ink (on the opposite side of the information portion 2 and the background portion 4 on the infrared reflective substrate 1) The number of colors is not limited), indicating that the pattern printing layer 3 is provided. In addition, each of the infrared absorbing inks constituting the information part of the printed matter has low visibility for the purpose of preventing forgery. It is preferable that the light absorption rate in the visible light wavelength region is 20% or less.

  Here, in the method for reading a printed matter of the present invention, a method for detecting infrared reflectance when an infrared ray having a set wavelength is applied to an information section and generating a plurality of codes from the difference in the read reflectance This will be described in detail.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing infrared absorption characteristics when the infrared absorbing materials used for the infrared absorbing inks of the individual information sections 20 to 24 have different characteristics.

  The individual information unit 20 is made of an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as shown by 20 in FIG. 7, and the individual information unit 21 is made of an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic shown by 21 in FIG. 7 is an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as indicated by 22 in FIG. 7, the individual information part 23 is an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as indicated by 23 in FIG. 7, and the individual information part 24 is as shown in FIG. Each of them is formed of an infrared absorbing ink having absorption characteristics as shown by 24.

  When the individual information parts 20 to 25 have the above characteristics, when the mechanical reading is performed with the infrared ray of 950 nm from the point A to the point B as shown in FIG. 9, the infrared reflectance is as shown in FIG. . The reading results are classified into four types of I, II, III, and IV according to the infrared reflectance value, and can be encoded as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows an infrared ray when the infrared ray absorbing material used in each of the infrared ray absorbing inks of the individual information portions 25 to 29 is the same, and the infrared reflectance is adjusted to an arbitrary value by changing the content concentration. It is the figure which showed the absorption characteristic.

  The individual information section 25 is made of infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as shown by 25 in FIG. 8, and the individual information section 26 is made of infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as shown in 26 of FIG. 8 is an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as shown by 27 in FIG. 8, and the individual information unit 28 is an infrared absorbing ink having an absorption characteristic as shown in 28 of FIG. Each of them is formed of an infrared absorbing ink having absorption characteristics as indicated by 29.

  When the individual information sections 25 to 29 have the above characteristics, when the mechanical reading is performed with the infrared ray of 950 nm from the point C to the point D as shown in FIG. 12, the infrared reflectance is as shown in FIG. . The reading results are classified into four types of I, II, III, and IV according to the infrared reflectance value, and can be encoded as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the printed matter reading method of the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, if two or more infrared absorption rates in the set infrared wavelength range for performing machine reading are different on the infrared reflective base material, each infrared absorption in other different infrared wavelength ranges The absorption characteristics and the wavelengths indicating the absorption peak of the ink may be different or the same, or different and the same may be mixed.

  Specific examples of the present invention will be described below.

<Example 1>
Individual information sections 20 to 24 using first to sixth infrared absorbing inks (ultraviolet curable offset printing inks) having the following compositions using different infrared absorbing materials by offset printing on white coated paper. Each was formed with a film thickness of 2 μm. Hereinafter, a part is a mass part.

[Individual information section 20: composition of first infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbent (characteristics of FIG. 7-20) 15 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 85 parts [Individual information part 21: composition of second infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbent (characteristics of FIGS. 7-21) 5 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 95 parts [Individual information part 22: composition of third infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbent (characteristics of FIGS. 7-22) 10 parts FD S medium TP (manufactured by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) 90 parts [Individual information part 23: composition of the fourth infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbing agent (characteristics of FIGS. 7-23) 8 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 92 parts [Individual information part 24: composition of fifth infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorber (Characteristics of Fig.7-24) 8 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) 92 parts Next, using background ink (ultraviolet curable offset printing ink) with the following composition, individual information The background portion 4 was printed with a film thickness of 2 μm by so-called tweezers so that there was no step or missing in the printing of the portions 20 to 24.

[Background ink composition]
FD OL Yellow TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 1.25 parts FD OL Red TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 2.75 parts FD OL Ai TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 3.00 parts FD OL Medium (Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 95 parts as described above After providing the background part 4 by tapping the five kinds of individual information parts 20 to 25 and its peripheral part, the pattern is printed using the following three kinds of process inks. Printing was performed, and the concealed pattern printing layer 5 was provided on the uppermost layer to obtain a machine-readable printed material 12 for preventing counterfeiting.

[Process ink]
FD OL Yellow TC (Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
FD OL Red TC (Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
FD OL Indigo TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.).

  The machine-readable anti-counterfeit printed matter produced by the method as described above can be seen only by the concealed pattern print layer made of process ink, and each information part concealed by the concealed pattern print layer is a so-called background part. Since printing was performed by tweezers, the boundary between the information part and the peripheral part could not be visually recognized. However, an infrared camera or sensor that can detect infrared rays set at 950 nm detects the infrared absorptivity at five locations of the individual information sections 20 to 25 printed with the infrared absorbing ink without detecting the concealed pattern print layer. I was able to generate codes I-IV.

  That is, since the three types of process inks do not absorb infrared rays, only the information part consisting of the infrared absorbing ink existing in the lower layer can be detected. Further, when detecting, when the set infrared wavelength is irradiated, Since it is read by a reader capable of detecting the infrared absorption rate, a code can be generated from codes classified in advance by the infrared absorption rate of each of the five types of information units.

On the other hand, under the irradiation of a general infrared irradiation device, are the five portions of the individual information sections 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 recognized as separate codes because there are absorption peaks at different wavelengths? Even when the wavelength is changed and the infrared rays are irradiated, only the wrong information can be detected because the absorption is completely different depending on the wavelength in the wavelength region other than 950 nm. Therefore, it was possible to conceal the true information, and it was found that forgery and alteration by machine reading are difficult.

<Example 2>
Next, as Example 2, sixth to tenth infrared absorptive inks (ultraviolet curable type) having the following compositions in which the content was changed while using the same infrared absorbing material by offset printing on white coated paper. Using the offset printing ink, the individual information portions 25 to 29 were each formed with a film thickness of 2 μm.

[Individual information section 25: composition of sixth infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbent (characteristics of FIGS. 8-25) 1 part FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 99 parts [Individual information part 26: composition of seventh infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorber (Characteristics of FIG. 8-26) 3 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) 97 parts [Individual information part 27: composition of eighth infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorber (Characteristics of Fig. 8-27) 6 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 94 parts [Individual information part 28: composition of ninth infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorbent (Characteristics of Fig. 8-28) 9 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 91 parts [Individual information part 29: Composition of 10th infrared absorbing ink]
Infrared absorber (Characteristics of Fig. 8-29) 12 parts FD S medium TP (made by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) 88 parts Next, using background ink (ultraviolet effect offset printing ink) with the following composition, individual information The background portion 4 was printed with a film thickness of 2 μm by so-called tweezers so that there was no step or omission with respect to the printing of the portions 25 to 29.

[Background ink composition]
FD OL Yellow TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 1.25 parts FD OL Red TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 2.75 parts FD OL Ai TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) 3.00 parts FD OL Medium (Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 95 parts as described above After providing the background part 4 by tapping the five individual information parts 25 to 29 and the peripheral part thereof, the pattern is printed using the following three kinds of process inks. Printing was performed, and the concealed pattern printing layer 5 was provided as the uppermost layer to obtain a machine-readable anti-counterfeit printed matter 12.

[Process ink]
FD OL Yellow TC (Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
FD OL Red TC (Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
FD OL Indigo TC (manufactured by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.).

  The machine-readable forgery-preventing printed matter 12 produced by the method as described above can only see the concealed pattern printing layer 5 made of process ink, and cannot see the information part 2 made of infrared absorbing ink. It was. However, in the infrared camera or sensor set to detect infrared rays with a wavelength of 950 nm, the infrared absorption at five points of the individual information parts 25 to 29 printed with the infrared absorbing printing ink without detecting the concealed picture print layer 5. The amount could be detected, and codes I to IV could be generated based on the infrared absorption peak values of the individual information sections 25 to 29 that were read.

  In Example 2, since the infrared absorbing material used for the infrared absorbing ink is the same, it is only necessary to adjust the content concentration of the infrared absorbing material as a method for obtaining the desired infrared reflectance. In forming, it was easy to obtain a desired infrared reflectance. In addition, the infrared absorption characteristics of the individual information sections 25 to 29 have the same characteristics except that the absorption rate at 950 nm is different. Under infrared irradiation by a general infrared irradiation apparatus, detection and classification of infrared absorption peak rates are performed. It was not recognized that the code was recognized as the same code. Even when the reading wavelength is changed, since there is no difference in the infrared absorption characteristics of the individual information parts 25 to 29 except for 950 nm, all of the five information parts are recognized as the same code. Therefore, it has been found that the information reading method of the printed matter of the present invention can conceal the true information and it is difficult to forge or alter by machine reading.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Support body 2 ... Information part (whole) 3 ... Pattern printing layer
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Background part (background printing layer) 5 ... Concealed pattern printing layer 10 ... Printed material of the first example according to the present invention 11 ... Printed material of the second example according to the present invention 12. -Printed matter 20 of the third example according to the present invention-Individual information unit 21 for generating code I-Individual information unit 22 for generating code III-Individual information unit 23 for generating code I- -Individual information unit 24 for generating code II-Individual information unit 25 for generating code IV-Individual information unit 26 for generating code IV-Individual information unit 27 for generating code IV-Code Individual information unit 28 for generating III ... Individual information unit 29 for generating code II ... Individual information unit for generating code I

Claims (2)

On the infrared reflective base material, a plurality of pattern information portions having different reflection intensities are provided in the set infrared wavelength region including infrared absorbing materials having different spectral characteristics in a plurality of infrared wavelength regions. prints, using infrared infrared wavelength range of the setting, the pattern shape information unit read-reflection strength, information reading printed matter and generating a plurality of codes from the difference in reflectance read Method. The patterned information portions having different reflection intensities in the set infrared wavelength region include at least two kinds of infrared absorbing materials having different spectral characteristics in a plurality of infrared wavelength regions, and in different ratios. The method for reading information on a printed matter according to claim 1 .