RU2525107C2 - Method for making nanotechnological barcode for metal articles - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to marking of goods. In compliance with proposed method, primary and individual barcodes are applied with non-reproducing pattern made there between. Said pattern is created by preliminary mixing of the elements of contrast colours with their subsequent sintering. Said elements are made of nanoparticles sized to 5-100 nm in conical ledge with its narrow part facing the barcode surface. Now, at least two reference points are applied thereto to create a virtual info reticle.

EFFECT: better protection against counterfeit.

3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of information technology, in particular to barcodes, and can be used for individual product labeling, in the development of automated control systems that can distinguish counterfeit goods from legal ones.

As an analogue, we can consider the global international system of commodity numbering, formed in 1997 on the basis of the European (EUROPEAN Article Numbering Association GS1) and the North American (Uniform Code Council - UCC) association of commodity numbering and called the EAN bar code. The functioning of this code is implemented through the National Organizations GS 1. In Russia, this is done, for example, through UNISCAN / GS1. National organizations give each company unique identification numbers. The EAN-hatching system is optional and is implemented on a voluntary basis. The main digital and bar codes contain information about the organization - the registrar of the code, the registration number of the enterprise, the serial number of the products inside the enterprise and the last 13 digit is a control number, which is calculated according to a certain algorithm based on knowledge of the previous 12 digits. EAN - barcode is also able to distinguish a single package from a group, but no more.

The disadvantages of such a bar code include the fact that it is not able to show the individuality of the product, and therefore is not able to distinguish a legal product from a counterfeit one. In other words, the EAN barcode is able to distinguish a single package from a group, but it is not able to distinguish one single package from another single. The lack of individual information-protected information on the barcode leads to the possibility of duplication of EAN-barcodes by shadow structures. Using a classic EAN barcode, it is impossible to build an automated control system that can distinguish legal products from counterfeit ones. The use of a paper barcode is not in good agreement with the technological cycle of metal products, especially metal products obtained by powder metallurgy.

The classic barcode contains the main barcode and digital codes. As a prototype, a method for manufacturing a bar code [2] was selected by applying the main bar code and an individual bar code with the formation of an irreproducible picture in the space between them.

However, the applied method of irreproducible pictures, based on the use of inkjet printers and the application of electric discharge perforations, is quite complicated and not safe. The paper bar code obtained by this technology is of little use when bar-coding metal products. A number of technological operations performed on metal products can completely destroy the paper barcode. The reliability of storing information on a paper barcode is negligible.

A feature of the proposed bar code is that parallel to the main bar and digital codes are individual information-protected bar and digital codes, and the space between the main and individual bar and digital codes is provided with an irreproducible picture. The peculiarity of creating an irreproducible picture is that a nanosurface composed of contrasting elements of solid alloys ranging in size from 5 to 100 Nm is used to form an irreproducible picture.

Other features include the fact that particles are placed in the database between the bars of the bar code selected according to the law of random numbers, and the bars of the bar code are used as basic reference bands when forming a virtual information grid.

When forming a bar code, polydisperse (with sizes from 5 to 100 Nm) mixtures of nanoparticles are used.

Figure 1 shows the proposed individual information-protected bar code. It contains the main digital 1 and barcode 2 codes. In addition, it contains individual digital 3 and barcodes 4 codes. Digital and barcodes are formed on the metal using engraving, laser or acupuncture machines.

The formation of irreproducible picture 5 is carried out on a metal substrate obtained by forming a nanosurface composed of contrast elements of solid alloys ranging in size from 5 to 100 Nm. The use of nanopowder 6 from solid alloys as an irreproducible picture 5 makes it possible to reliably store information and expose an identifiable product to both high temperature conditions and chemically aggressive environments. Modern methods for producing nanopowder 6 are able to create nanoparticles from 5 to 100 Nm. Obtaining nanoparticles less than 5 Nm in size is difficult. The limit of 100 Nm is considered to be the limit at which quantum properties cease to manifest. Particles larger than 100 Nm have the same properties as the macro surface.

Figure 2 shows an example of the formation of a nanosurface in a conical ledge 7, facing its narrow part to the surface of the barcode, followed by drawing at least two reference points 8 on it, followed by the creation of a virtual information grid 9. Reference points 8 can be performed on metal using , for example, an acupuncture installation. Against the background of the nanosurface, the simultaneous fixation of digital codes and the unique location of nanoparticles 6 relative to each other both in the space of the irreproducible picture and between the bands of the main 2 and individual 4 bar codes makes it possible to reliably confirm the truth of digital code 1. Depending on the selected composition of solid alloys, which consist of nanoparticles 6, the sintering temperature (from 900 to 1680 K) and the compression pressure exerted on the nanopowder, which is filled inside the conical step 7, change. AANII reproducible images (matrix) formed by an indissoluble unity matrix and digital and bar codes.

Figure 3 shows an individual information-protected code, in which an irreproducible picture is formed mainly between the bands of the main 2 or additional 4 bars of the barcode.

In Fig. 3, several bars of the barcode are separately identified with the formation of the space between the bands in the form of an information grid 9. In this case, the pre-selected barcode strip plays the role of a reference line. Dividing the entire length of the reference line into N equal sections, we set the parameters of the virtual information grid 9. For each individual barcode, the division into sections can be individual and the method of breaking is stored in the database. In fact, this can serve as the first level of barcode identification verification. If this information is not known to a potential adversary, for example, a hacker, an enterprise manufacturing counterfeit products that do not have direct access to a central database, then a mismatch in the parameters of forming information grid 9 can serve as a sign by which the presented product with such a bar code can be recognized. counterfeit.

The irreproducible picture 5, in which all or part of the surface is additionally processed by the spark process, in which from one hundred to 1000 atoms in each discharge are transferred from the high-voltage electrode 10 to the irreproducible picture 5. The electric-discharge process is characterized by stochasticity and unpredictability of the discharge path, which provides additional randomness on metal nanosurfaces.

The proposed method for manufacturing a nanotechnological barcode works as follows.

After the formation of the irreproducible picture 5, by sintering or an electric spark discharge, all or a predetermined part of the nanotechnological surface of the barcode with the introduced nanoparticles 7 are entered into the database. The relative position of the particles 6, distinguished by the shape, size and relative position of the particles, creates conditions for the manifestation of the product's originality (individuality).

The task of confirming the identity of the barcode is solved due to the fact that the irreproducible picture 5 is formed due to the unique location of the set of nanoparticles 6. If the product is excisable and an individual excise stamp is placed on it, then there is a database of individual digital barcodes and individual numbers on excise brands, combined with each other, significantly complicates the possibility of promoting counterfeit products on the legal market.

An example implementation of the method. A nanopowder with a particle size of 8 to 13 Nm was filled in hopper No. 1. In the second hopper - nanoparticles with sizes from 20 to 36 Nm. In the third hopper - from 39 to 50 Nm, in the fourth - from 50 to 70 Nm, in the fifth - the remains of mixtures from previous mixtures with a set of particles in the range from 10 to 100 Nm. An unpredictable mixture of different fractions of nanopowder 7 is set through a random number generator. After thorough mixing, the polydisperse mixture of nanopowder 7 is fed into a conical step 7, where it is sintered at elevated temperature and pressure. Obtained by this technology, the nanotechnological surface of sintered nanoparticles 7 can conditionally be called an irreproducible picture (matrix) 5. Its main advantage is the presence of a reproducible digital code and an irreproducible matrix (picture) 5 based on a combination of the arrangement of nanoparticles of different sizes.

If the product is prepared initially using the powder metallurgy method, then it is enough to put the main 2 and individual 4 barcodes on the product. If an industrial product is obtained by sintering nanopowder 6, then there is no need to form a conical ledge 7. Any part of the product, together with the main 2 and individual barcodes, can provide the highest information security of digital codes. Moreover, the highest information reliability will be complemented by a high level of information security and the ability to work in the most severe temperature and physico-chemical conditions.

We describe the mechanism by which the tax service checks the flow of goods. The first sign by which a tax audit is carried out is a comparison of individual digital codes. There is a check on the basis of goods sold, if there is no repetition with the same digital code, the tax police will check selectively unsold goods. If two packages with the same individual digital code 3 are found, the stage of expert verification begins by referring to the database of irreproducible pictures 5 that are tightly connected with the individual digital code 3. Any deviation from picture 5 in the database allows you to identify the product as counterfeit.

Information sources

1. Uniscan - association of automatic identification htpp: //www.gs1ru.org/art1/art94.html.

2. A positive decision on the application of the Russian Federation for the invention No. 2007119973 with priority from 30-05-2007.

Claims (1)

 A method of manufacturing a bar code by applying the main bar code and an individual bar code with the formation of an irreproducible picture in the space between them, characterized in that the irreproducible picture is created by preliminary mixing elements of contrasting colors with each other, followed by sintering of elements made of nanoparticles with a size of 5 to 100 Nm in a conical step facing its narrow part to the surface of the barcode, followed by drawing at least two reference points on it, followed by creation of a virtual information network.

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