RU2789367C2 - Tool and method for stamping an embossed pattern with an inconspicuous code on the packaging material and a method for reading the code - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging materials.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to embossing tools for packaging material, for example, packaging foil and paper, to applying a code to packaging material by embossing, as well as to methods and devices for reading such codes. An embossing tool for stamping a combined embossed pattern on the packaging material, and this combined embossed pattern includes a decorative embossed pattern and a set of embossed codes containing a male-female embossing device with a punch and a matrix for interacting with each other, having embossing structures made with the possibility of creating a combined embossed pattern on the packaging material in the gap for embossing, and these embossed structures include the first structures representing the specified set of embossed codes, and the second structures representing the specified decorative embossed pattern, and by means of embossed structures, it is possible to create the specified decorative embossed pattern and a plurality of embossed codes, which are arranged so that a plurality of embossed codes overlap or are interspersed with a decorative embossed pattern within a surface area, as a result of which a plurality of embossed codes is less detectable and noticeable than decorative embossed pattern, at the same time, these first structures of embossing structures are made with the possibility of forming the specified set of embossed codes in the form of a matrix on the packaging material.

EFFECT: creating a method and device for stamping codes and embossed patterns on packaging material, for example, among others, on packaging foil, while these codes are made with the possibility of encoding identification information, authenticating identification information applied to packaging foil by means of such codes with reduced visibility to the human eye.

15 cl, 40 dwg

Description

The technical field to which the invention belongs

(1) The present invention relates to embossing tools for packaging material such as packaging foil and paper, to embossing a code on packaging material, and to methods and apparatus for reading such codes.

The level of technology

(2) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for authenticating indicia printed on packaging foil, in which the indicia may be in the form of a bar code or a matrix code, while the visibility of the indicium to the human eye is reduced, to an embossing device for performing said method and to the packaging foil created by the specified method.

(3) There are a large number of ways to authenticate a variety of identification marks on a wide variety of goods and their packaging. The present invention relates to a method for authenticating goods, such as foodstuffs, electronic equipment, and in particular products for smoking, such as cigarettes or cigars, placed in a package. EP 1 867 470 B1 of the Applicant of the present invention, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a method and apparatus for authenticating indicia embossed on packaging foils, in which, on the one hand, in addition to embossing indicia, such foil , in particular - the so-called "inner shell", used in the tobacco industry, is satinized and at the same time an array of identification marks is applied by embossing in the form of a pattern with the possibility of reading it with a device suitable for this purpose and comparing it with a template by means of an image processing method.

(4) The above-described method has been successfully used to authenticate packaging foils, which are typically 30 µm to 70 µm thick, and which are used, for example, as so-called "inner skins", i. as a packaging foil in which a number of cigarettes are wrapped, and wrapped cigarettes are placed in a cigarette pack made of cardboard. With this method, identification marks, usually dot-shaped elements, are transferred in one or another pattern to embossing rolls and foil embossed by means of these rolls, and said marks are decoded using the same pattern. In this case, optical reading methods and suitable encoding algorithms are used.

(5) In the period between the filing of the first application for EP 1 867 470 B1, discussed in the introductory part, and the present application, important changes were implemented or, where appropriate, prescribed, regarding both the placement of identification marks, i.e. coding and packaging materials. With regard to identification marks for authentication of items, the recent practice is to use barcodes in a simple one-dimensional form, for example, for groceries in supermarkets, and their derivatives, the so-called "QR codes", i.e. "quick response" codes, in particular those that can also be read and evaluated using a smartphone. Hereinafter, the term "barcode" is used to refer to such codes of any type, such as simple barcodes, QR codes and matrix codes, or other similar codes.

(6) For example, a so-called QR code generator can be downloaded from the Internet - see FIG. 4, along with an application representing a way to apply such codes. The number of such barcodes, in particular the so-called QR codes and two-dimensional matrix codes, used, in particular, for advertising and informational purposes, is constantly growing. So far, barcodes have been known to be presented and printed as black and white images.

(7) The word "QR" means that the contents of the code can be decoded very quickly after being scanned by a barcode reader, or by a smartphone or other mobile phone device, or by a network camera. Appropriate smartphone applications can be downloaded to decode the indicated codes. Since this code, such as a QR code, is two-dimensional, it can store a very large amount of data and thus perform a variety of functions, such as displaying commercials, watching videos, sending short text messages (CMC), or making payments. This code was published by a Japanese company in 1999 and is governed by the ISO 18004 Standard.

(8) There have also been constant changes in the packaging material for smoking products, such as cigarettes and cigars. For some time now, packaging foils for the tobacco and food industries have been embossed using embossing roll machines, whereby in the case of products for smoking, these are the inner skins mentioned above, which can also serve as packaging material for chocolate, butter or similar foodstuffs. goods or electronic components. Simultaneously with the innovations in embossing roll technology or in the production of embossing rolls, there has also been a change in packaging materials, in which the original all-metal aluminum foil has been replaced by a paper-based foil whose surfaces are coated for environmental reasons. increasingly thin metal layers, up to the deposition of a very thin layer of metal. Later, the plating of the inner shells was reduced, while in the future it will be reduced even more or completely stopped.

(9) In addition, recent efforts have been made to significantly reduce or completely eliminate the advertising of smoking products, which will make it impossible to emboss designs with advertising effect on the inner casings to the extent that it has been done so far. Therefore, more and more active is the search for ways to create new decorative effects without the use of catchy embossing, golden edges and other similar decorations.

(10) In addition, new ways are being sought to identify products that have hitherto been provided only by internationally recognized trademarks. In addition, so-called tactile effects are now beginning to be used, created by special structures on the surface of the foil or special engravings.

(11) At present, cigarettes are mostly wrapped in an inner shell and placed in a collapsible box. In most cases, protection against drying out and external influences is facilitated by covering with a plastic film, such as polypropylene film. The inner shell itself cannot guarantee the desired functions, for example, protection of smoking products from drying out and the effects of foreign odors, on the one hand, and a certain rigidity to protect cigarettes from mechanical damage, on the other hand, while the folding box itself also unable to do so. Currently, a suitable collapsible carton meets these requirements. For the rest of this document, a suitable collapsible carton is referred to as a "blank".

(12) In particular, the present application also deals with such preforms, which may generally have a weight of approximately 100-400 g/m ² and, for example, a thickness of approximately 300 µm. These blanks are often white or, for example, painted grey, and can be plain, lacquered, printed and/or pressed with aluminum foil or plastic film. When it comes to a single casing, it is absolutely essential that the casing is not damaged during embossing and subsequent folding, otherwise it will not be possible to guarantee the anti-odor and drying function.

(13) It should be unequivocally understood that the embossing of the blanks of the present invention is disclosed below only by way of example, and the invention is also applicable to other types of packaging foils, for example, inner casings, which can also be used as foil for the food industry, have a weight of range of 15-400 g/m ² , thickness from 15 to 400 microns, and be made of metallized paper, aluminum paper, printed paper, paper or aluminum, as well as other hybrid and layered types of foil and foil with a metal or plastic coating.

(14) In particular, in the field of tobacco products there are massive attempts to falsify them, not least in order to avoid paying high customs duties and taxes. In this regard, not only the directly affected tobacco industry, but also customs and tax authorities are interested in establishing the authenticity of packs of cigarettes entering the market.

(15) In principle, the use of the aforementioned two-dimensional barcodes could satisfy most needs, however, as also mentioned above, at the moment there are only printed methods for applying such codes. At the same time, printing on packaging foils, in particular on blanks or inner casings for covering cigarettes during the production process in a cigarette packaging plant is in many respects impossible or possible, but requires considerable effort to apply these codes during the production process with the required quality and, in turn, at the required speed.

(16) In view of the prior art described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for embossing codes and embossed patterns on packaging material, such as, but not limited to, packaging foil, wherein said codes are capable of encoding identification information, authenticating the identification information printed on the packaging foil by means of such codes with reduced visibility to the human eye, wherein, on the one hand, the packaging foil to be embossed can be a foil weighing 15-400 g/m ² , in particular also the so-called a workpiece weighing 100-400 g/m ² , in order to make embossed codes that are difficult to detect and difficult to read by a person or the human eye. In addition, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for reading said embossed codes from a packaging material is provided. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the embossing of these codes together with decorative embossing is carried out by means of embossing teeth, made in the form of an incomplete polyhedron, with inversely congruent structures for the punch and matrix sides of the embossing device.

Disclosure of invention

(17) In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an embossing tool for embossing a combined embossed pattern on a packaging material is provided. The combined embossed pattern includes decorative embossed structures and at least one embossed code. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the embossing tool includes a punch-matrix embossing device with a punch and a matrix for interacting with each other, while the embossing structures of the punch-matrix embossing device are formed to create a combined embossing pattern on the packaging material in the embossing gap.

(18) Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the embossing structures of the punch-matrix embossing device include first embossing structures designed to create the specified at least one embossing code, which are inversely congruent punch and matrix embossing structures of a polyhedral shape, while the gap for the embossing has a substantially constant width, wherein the substantially constant width corresponds to the thickness of the packaging material before embossing with a thickness margin that takes into account at least one of the following: the surface structure of the packaging material, the internal structural structure of the packaging material, and the machining tolerance of the embossing structures.

(19) In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the decorative embossed structures and said at least one embossed code created by the embossed structures are arranged so that said at least one embossed code is less detectable and noticeable than said decorative embossed structures.

(20) According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for embossing a combined embossing pattern on a packaging material with an embossing device. The combined embossed pattern includes decorative embossed structures and at least one embossed code. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the embossing device is a punch-matrix embossing device with a punch and a matrix for interaction with each other, configured to create a combined embossing pattern on the packaging material in the embossing gap. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the embossing structures of the punch-matrix embossing device include first embossing structures designed to create said at least one embossing code, which are inversely congruent punch and matrix embossing structures of a polyhedral shape, while the embossing gap has a substantially constant width, wherein the substantially constant width corresponds to the thickness of the packaging material before embossing with a thickness margin taking into account at least one of the following: the surface structure of the packaging material, the internal structural structure of the packaging material, and the machining tolerance of the embossing structures.

(21) In addition, the method preferably contains a stage at which a combined embossed pattern embrace on the packaging material, which includes decorative embossed structures and at least one embossed code located so that at least one embossed code is less detected and noticeable is noticeable and noticeable than these decorative embossed structures.

(22) According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for reading an embossed code embossed on a packaging foil, wherein the embossed code is coded information. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: illuminating the embossed code area with a first light source, wherein the first light source has a first illumination direction positioned to create a first shadow pattern on the packaging foil, and capturing a first image from the first shadow pattern, illuminating the area embossed code by a second light source, wherein the second light source has a second illumination direction different from the first illumination direction, located with the possibility of creating a second shadow pattern on the packaging foil, and capturing the second image from the second shadow pattern, calculating the representation of the embossed code from the first and second images, and reading encoded information from the embossed code representation.

(1) The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the way in which they are carried out will become more apparent, and the invention itself more understandable, from the following disclosure by way of example of the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

(23) The invention is explained in more detail below by means of the drawings of the exemplary embodiments.

(24) FIG. 1 shows an embossing device 1 with a roller system of the prior art for satin and embossing identification marks;

(25) FIG. 2 schematically depicts a possible arrangement of insignia from the prior art;

(26) FIG. 3 shows, at high magnification, a fragment of the layout of FIG. 2;

(27) FIG. 4 depicts a barcode in the form of a QR code from the Internet;

(28) FIG. 5 shows a punch-die embossing roll system according to one aspect of the invention;

(29) FIG. 6 shows a set of embossing rolls M5, P5 with a punch roll and a die roll, on the surface of which a barcode is shown at high magnification, which serves as an identification mark;

(30) FIG. 7 shows the surface of the blank 12V embossed with the embossing roll set of FIG. 6;

(31) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the workpiece 12V in FIG. 7;

(32) FIG. 9 shows the rear side of the 12V blank in FIG. 7;

(33) FIG. 10 shows an inner cigarette package 13A with logos embossed thereon;

(34) FIG. 11 shows an additional inner casing 13B for horizontally packing cigarettes, also with logos embossed on it;

(35) FIG. 12 shows an embossing device with three embossing rollers P6, M6A, M6B;

(36) FIG. 13 schematically shows an embossing device containing embossing dies P10, M10 for engraving without the use of rolls;

(37) FIG. 14A-14C schematically depict the creation on a packaging material or foil of a combined embossing pattern, including code patterns and a decorative embossed pattern;

(38) FIG. 15A-15C schematically depicts the creation on the packaging material or foil of a combined embossed pattern, which includes code patterns and a decorative embossed pattern, and two different code patterns were used;

(39) FIG. 16A-16C schematically depict the creation on a packaging material or foil of a combined embossing pattern, including code patterns and a decorative embossing pattern, where two different code patterns are used, with one code pattern located within a second, different code pattern;

(40) FIG. 17 schematically depicts the creation of a combined embossing pattern on packaging material or foil, which uses a checkerboard pattern to represent a one-dimensional barcode by varying the embossing pitch, combining decorative and coding aspects in one pattern;

(41) FIG. 18 schematically depicts the creation of a combination embossing pattern on a packaging material or foil, in which the background type code is embedded in the decorative embossing patterns;

(42) FIG. 19A and 19B show a code element serving as a background type code that can be represented as source code, inverted code, flipped code, and flipped flipped code to change the appearance of the code;

(43) FIG. 20 schematically depicts the creation of a combined embossing pattern on a packaging material or foil in which the diffraction code is embossed within the decorative embossed patterns;

(44) FIG. 21 shows a combined embossing pattern containing a logo embossed on packaging foil, with the recessed areas of the logo containing an embossed array of diffractive code patterns;

(45) FIG. 22A-22E show method steps and apparatus for reading and decoding a subtle code pattern;

(46) FIG. 23A, 23B, and 23C show a cross-sectional side view and top view of a punch-matrix embossing structure with a substantially constant gap between the punch protrusions 1102 and the corresponding die cavities 1103;

(47) FIG. 24A is a plan view and FIG. 24B and 24C are perspective views illustrating surface details of an embossed structure with polyhedral structures; And

(48) FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 400 for reading and decoding a code pattern that is subtle and formed by a diffraction pattern.

(49) In this document, whenever possible, identical reference numbers are used to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. In addition, images are simplified for purposes of illustration and may not be drawn to scale.

Implementation of the invention

(50) For some time now, embossing roll machines have been used to emboss packaging foils for the tobacco industry or the food industry, whether so-called "liners" in which a number of cigarettes are wrapped, or packaging material for chocolate, oils or similar foodstuffs, or for electronic components. In almost all cases, we are talking about a thin foil with a thickness of approximately 70 microns.

(51) The so-called "inner skins" first consisted of pure aluminum foil, such as household foil, which was embossed by guiding it between two rolls, at least one of which contained relief - the so-called "logos". Up until about 1980, such a pair of rolls in most cases consisted of a steel roll with the indicated relief formed on it and a support roll of a resilient material such as rubber, paper or plexiglass. By pressing the pattern on the punch roll into the support roll = die roll, a mirror-inverted print was created. Since at least 1980 fine toothed embossing rolls have come into use for embossing and satinizing packaging foils, preferably in a tenon/tenon combination, see document EP I 867 470 B1 mentioned in the introductory part.

(52) Increasingly prohibitive legislation governing products for smoking, as well as efforts to create additional features, such as tactile, acoustic or other optical features, on the one hand, and an increasing variety of types of packaging materials, such as aluminum foil, metallized paper, rimmed paper, hybrid foil, plastic films, cardboard or cardstock, on the other hand, have caused traditional embossing rolls in a tenon-tenon combination, in which both the drive roll and the support rolls contain a large the number of teeth, although they are used to the full extent and with success for embossing on inner shells, but approach the limit of their capabilities for the above purposes.

(53) Examples of such embossing devices are disclosed in EP I 867 470 B1, mentioned in the introductory part. FIG. 1 shows a simple form of an embossing device 1 known from it, with two embossing rollers 2 and 3 with teeth 4 in a tenon-thorn configuration, the embossing roller 2 being driven by a drive 5 and provided with a logo, for example in the form of the letter "L", while the embossing rollers 2, 3 form a gap 6 for crimping or embossing. At this point, the corresponding teeth are removed from the shaft to form the indicated logo. Said patent document also discloses that the support shaft(s) can also be smooth with projections or be provided with longitudinal ribs or rings. It is indicated that the foil should be embossed through the embossing gap 6.

(54) One aspect of the present invention is to provide, by means of essentially known devices with modified individual teeth, rings or longitudinal ribs on embossing rolls, or by placing suitable structures on a substantially smooth roll, a composition of indicia, for example, small embossed or engraved indentations in solid or sheet material, which is an array of dots, characters or something similar, with the possibility of recognition and, as a result, reading in the process of authentication. To do this, individually modified teeth, rings, longitudinal ribs or suitable structures are created on a substantially smooth shaft, which are modified in accordance with a specific pattern, for example, a checkerboard pattern or other repeatable pattern, and in an array of dots that creates a satin effect compared to the usual state. , allocate one or more specific geometric zones to authenticate the array of identification marks.

(55) In FIG. 2, a grid is schematically applied to the foil as it is created during satin, i.e. formed by regularly spaced dents S created by the satin-finishing methods and devices described. It is supplemented by identification marks M, dents of a different configuration, created by indentation of microstructures. FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 in section enlarged. The design of the identification marks was transferred to the embossing rollers according to the template.

(56) In an exemplary embodiment of this method, the surface of the indicia packaging foil is filmed by means of a camera, the term "camera" including cameras of any type, including, for example, cameras on charge-coupled devices (CCDs), cameras on complementary structures "metal - oxide - semiconductor" (CMOS) and the like. However, the method also allows the use of other methods of capturing images. To match a pattern to a particular pattern, such as a checkerboard pattern with a camera-captured image, image processing is performed based on so-called pattern matching.

(57) As a transmission medium, foil may be deficient in manufacturing and use. In order, despite these shortcomings, to ensure reliable extraction of hidden identification marks, they create their redundancy, i.e. perform additional coding adapted to the transmission channel. This redundant coding subsequently allows the indicia to be reliably extracted during the reading process, thereby increasing the reliability of the authentication. In this case, the identification marks are extracted by the decoding method and compared with the original information on the template.

(58) The statistical correlation established in this way between the marks of the template and the embossed identification mark serves as a measure of the similarity between the template and the embossed design and, as such, forms the basis for deciding on authenticity. In practice, it has been found that the empirical determination of the minimum level of the processing signal relative to noise allows authentication with reliability sufficient for many purposes.

(59) As mentioned in the introductory part, recently the use of barcodes for identification and authentication has been growing, and for more technically complex texts and other areas, the possibility of using the so-called QR codes and two-dimensional matrix codes, which, in contrast to simple one-dimensional barcodes for supermarkets, etc., have a two-dimensional structure and, thanks to it, a much larger capacity for storing information. FIG. 4 is an example of the result of the QR code generator, which can be downloaded from the Internet. The high capacity allows barcodes such as QR codes and matrix codes, referred to here as 7QRC, to accept authentication characters that are difficult to detect and decode. This also implies that such barcodes should be as small as possible in order to be difficult to detect.

(60) So far, only black and white printing codes on a substrate have been known, and since this printing method is not suitable for high-speed packaging machines for smoking products, one aspect of the present invention is in embossing such barcodes on packaging foil, which can be a blank. Given the structure of such a code, it can no longer be embossed with toothed embossing rolls, since the aim is to use as fine a structure as possible and as large volumes as possible.

(61) In addition to embossing rolls with teeth, rolls operating in a punch-matrix system are also known. Known shaft systems, including a punch shaft with punch structures and a matrix shaft with matrix structures inversely congruent to them, although they allow to increase the range of decorative elements, but, due to the need to manufacture and sort them in pairs, their production is very expensive and time-consuming, and therefore at the moment they are little used for industrial embossing for the tobacco industry.

(62) In addition, fine embossing can only be achieved at the expense of very high production costs for such rolls. Moreover, in this case, by using a punch roll and an inversely congruent die roll, the foil between them is compressed during embossing, resulting in transverse tension forces that are unacceptable for tobacco paper types. There is also a difficult to control boundary condition that can be followed by the formation of holes, and for high-speed embossing with a duration in the millisecond range, very high pressure is required during the production process. And finally, there is a trend towards the use of thicker paper - up to 300 microns and more.

(63) in the patent application of the RST/EP2013/056144 of the same applicant, in the entirety included in this document through a reference, solving the general task of creating a method for manufacturing a set of thin embossing for a variety of surfaces of these various types of materials in The process of operation of the packaging installation is proposed to manufacture the structure of the matrix surface in the Poinsonno-MASTENT SYSTENT system, regardless of the previously made or already existing structure of the punch. In the previously not published application No. 13181978.1 to the European patent, the above method is expanded to ensure the additional ability to embroider the smallest structures with even greater accuracy.

(64) FIG. 5 illustrates the above application by explaining schematically and in a simplified manner the principle of the structure of the embossing device 1 with the punch roll P1 and the die roll M1 as a cooperating pair 2, in which the drive 5 drives the punch roll. The punch shaft P1 has two projections P1E1 and P1E2 different from each other, and the matrix shaft M1 has depressions M1R1 and M1R2 corresponding to the projections of the punch shaft. These two shafts are connected to each other by means of a fine-grained gear 8 and 9.

(65) Because the die roll structures are manufactured separately from the punch roll structures, the die cavities are not exactly inversely congruent with the corresponding punch ridges. As indicated below, deviations may include deviations in height or depth, as well as in angles. The protrusion P1E1 and the corresponding cavity M1R1 are hemispherical, and the protrusion P1E2 and the corresponding cavity M1R2 are structured.

(66) FIG. 6 depicts the embossing device 10 according to one of the aspects of the invention containing the punch of the P5 and the matrix shaft of the M5. The indicated two shafts contain the corresponding one other structures P5E5 and M5R5 in the form of a barcode of 7VSR and 7VSM. The individual structural elements are designated STP or STM respectively. In this case, the barcode of a two -dimensional matrix type is depicted with a large increase. To complicate the detection of such a code, in this example its size is reduced to 4 × 4 mm.

(67) FIG. 7 shows a blank 12V packaging foil for cigarette packaging, before being folded, split and folded, with the code 7BCPMV placed thereon, made by said two embossing rolls P5 and M5. In this case, the barcode is also illustrated at high magnification.

(68) FIG. 8 shows the same 12V foil in section, with a thickness of approximately 300 µm. In this figure, the front side is located on the left, and the back side in FIG. 12 - respectively on the right. The 7BCPMV codes are on the left side of the 12V foil and the 7BCPMM code is on the right side.

(69) FIG. 9 shows the same 12V foil in section, with the codes 7BCPMM on one side of the 12V foil.

(70) FIG. 10 shows an inner casing 13A for use in a cigarette packaging machine, in addition to the 7BCPM barcode and logos, fold lines F are also embossed by embossing rollers. In addition, in FIG. 10, it can be seen that the packaging foil 13A may contain additional logos, it being understood that "logo" means any signs, images, texts, etc., which, for example, are already printed on the inner shell 13A or embossed according to the specified previously unpublished European Patent Application No. 13181978.1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In this case, the logos according to FIG. 6. Barcodes can only contain information related to authentication, or a logo, or both.

(71) FIG. 11 shows another inner shell 13B for another cigarette packaging machine, also with 7BCPM logos and fold lines F on it.

(72) In FIG. 12 schematically shows that not only embossing devices with two embossing rollers, but also embossing devices with a set of three embossing rollers 8, 9 can be successfully used for a number of purposes. In this case, two die shafts 9, M6A, M6B, may belong to one punch shaft 8, P6, or two punch shafts may belong to one die shaft. Theoretically, a set of embossing rolls can also contain more than three embossing rolls.

(73) In FIG. 12 structures are illustrated in a simplified manner for clarity, with the punch shaft P6 containing two rectangles P8E1 and P8E2 located one above the other, and the die shafts M6A and M6B containing their respective cavities M6AR1 and M6AR2, M6BR1 and M6BR2, with the depth of the cavities M6AR1 and M6AR2 being less than the depth of the depressions M6BR1 and M6BR2. FIG. 12 shows that these three shafts work together in a three-shaft system, and the protrusions P6E1, P6EE2 are located on the punch shaft so that the corresponding pair of protrusions work together with their respective depressions on the first matrix shaft, and the second pair of protrusions work together with their associated depressions of the second matrix shaft, and the depressions M6AR1, M6AR2 are less deep than the depressions M6BR1, M6BR2.

(74) It is also possible that the corresponding Poinson part of the bicopian system would first work together with one matrix shaft, and then, in the second gross system, it would work together with another matrix shaft, and the P6 P6 P6a matrix shaft would first work together with M6A matrix shaft , and then the same Poinson Val P6 would work together with another M6V matrix shaft. This allows you to embroider convex or in -depth figures, without exposing excessive stress. In this case, in particular, we can prevent foil rupture in areas of deeper hollows of the matrix part. You can also use sequently located embossing devices with two or more tensile shafts for more sparing embossing.

(75) Thus, for example, the second code may be provided over a logo barcode readable by a smartphone or the like and decoded, wherein the second code may only be decoded by an encoding code with a suitable algorithm. This makes it difficult to read with a smartphone and thus guarantees a very high degree of security.

(76) Obviously, reducing the pixel size can significantly increase the amount of data that can be placed on a single surface, but limits the ability of embossing rollers to create such codes using mechanical devices, such as milling machines. It is possible to emboss and read QR codes like 8x8mm and codes like 2D matrix codes 4x4mm. If a further reduction of these dimensions, and hence the dimensions of the respective structural elements, is desired, a laser engraving system, such as that referred to in said document EP 2 513 687 A1, is needed to create them on the embossing rolls. With regard to the method according to one aspect of the invention, it is important that the barcode to be used is transferred to the embossing rollers so as to allow correct reading of the embossed packaging foil.

(77) Standard barcode readers are set to black and white codes to enable reading by smartphones, network cameras, etc. In the case of packaging foils, such as gray or white card paper, the reading or respectively scanning of the embossed structural features is inherently more difficult, since in this case the surface condition or, respectively, the different reflection of light by the depressions or projections is of great importance. Reflection characteristics also depend on the fibers of the paper and the type and amount of soiling.

(78) Testing with a smartphone has shown that it is possible to create, emboss, read and decode an embossed 8×8 mm QR code-like type or a 4×4 mm 2D matrix-like type. However, in the case of complex codes, unfavorable reflection conditions and smaller sizes, it may be necessary to use a scanner based on white light interferometry or other spatial measurement technology. In particular, this applies to reading a barcode through a packaging film made of transparent plastic.

(79) The use of a laser engraving system, as discussed in more detail below, also makes it possible to create areas of structural elements with microstructures, such as interference grids, which create color effects on the embossed media due to interference. Such a laser engraving system also makes it possible to create any other micro- or nano-sized structures, or other complex structures on structural elements, and thereby create additional possibilities for coding.

(80) FIG. 13 is another schematic representation of an example of an apparatus for forming combined embossing patterns 30 on a packaging material or foil 12 according to one aspect of the present invention, in which the packaging material 12 is stamped to perform an engraving. The embossing device 20 comprises a movable embossing die 22 with a punch mold P10 containing a punch embossing structure 16, a stationary counter die 24 with a matrix mold M10 containing a corresponding matrix embossing structure 14, a packaging material 12 to be embossed, such as packaging foil , and a combined embossed pattern 30 on the material 12 formed by the embosser 20.

(81) In the context of the present description, the expression "combined embossed pattern 30" means an embossed pattern embossed on the packaging material 12, including both decorative embossed patterns, for example, decorative embossed pattern 60, and one or more codes that have taken the form embossed structure on the material 12, for example, code patterns 50. In the preferred embodiment, the combined embossing pattern 30 is formed by a single embossing, in which the combined embossing pattern 30 is formed directly by the embossing device 10, 20, which forms decorative and code elements simultaneously, and not two different embossing devices. As explained in more detail below, one or more code patterns 50 may be positioned relative to the decorative embossed pattern 60 so that they are less visible to the human eye when the embossed packaging material 12 is inspected by a person. Different code patterns 50 may also overlap portions of each other's surface area, or, within a surface area of one or more code patterns 50, decorative embossing patterns 60 may be formed to make code patterns 50 less detectable and noticeable than decorative embossing patterns 60 to form a combined embossed pattern 30.

(82) In one embodiment disclosed in FIG. 14A, 14V and 14C, combined embossed figure 30 on packaging material 12 can be created by selecting a drawing consisting of two -dimensional drawings in the form of a similar two -dimensional code of the code of the size of n × n, as a code figure 50 and placing a group of such two -dimensional matrix codes in the form of an array With the formation of a structure repeating in two dimensions and a decorative embossed figure 60. Thus, a combined embossed figure 30 consists of both code figures, and the decorative embossed drawings 60, while the indicated version shows an array of similar two -dimensional matrix of codes and lines located in The array with alternating points around the code drawings 50 with the formation of a decorative embossed pattern, while in this version the depth or embossing height is the same for the code figure 50 and the decorative embossed figure 60, and due to the fact that coded drawings 50 are located among decorative embossed drawings 60, the human eye cannot immediately perceive and whether to detect code figures 50 that seem only part of decorative embossing.

(83) FIG. 14A shows an example of a two-dimensional matrix-like code composed of eighteen (18) by eighteen (18) square cells in which the encoded information is encoded. For example, in the disclosed embodiment, the encoded information is the letters representing the website "www.boegli.ch", and this encoded information is encoded in a two-dimensional matrix-like code. Next, in FIG. 17B discloses an embossing structure that can be included in the structural elements STM, STP of the embossing device 10 in FIG. 9 with punch roll 5P and die roll 5M or embossing mold structures M10, B10 of embossing tool 20 in FIG. 13, representing such a two -dimensional matrix code in FIG. 14a, with an approximate step of cells 0.3 mm. In the disclosed embodiment, the embossing structure comprises embossing embossing teeth in the form of a cone, sphere, or cylinder, symbolized by rounded protrusions or dots for the dots of the two-dimensional matrix-like code of FIG. 14V. FIG. 14C shows that, based on this two-dimensional die-like code, it is possible to manufacture an appropriate embossing structure for the embossing devices 10, 20, such as, but not limited to, an embossing roll, as well as an embossing die, an imprinting mold, an injection mold.

(84) The embossing device 10, 20 includes a structured surface as a punch-matrix embossing structure for creating a combined embossing pattern 30 on the packaging material 12, comprising an array of 2D-matrix-like codes with the same cell pitch as the 2D-matrix-like code . It can be used to create a structured or embossed surface on the packaging material 12 that gives the impression of an artistic or decorative embossing and looks like it, while containing encoded information embedded in it. The combination of code patterns 50 and decorative embossed patterns 60, embossed with the same pitch and located adjacent to each other, reduces the likelihood of detection and reading of the code pattern 50 by a person. FIG. 14C shows a plan view of the packaging material 12 structured to form a combined embossing pattern 30 thereon, with three codes arranged across the width or transverse direction. By repeating the encoded information by means of a plurality of two-dimensional matrix-like codes, redundancy of the encoded information on the package is also ensured. In the disclosed embodiment, between two adjacent two-dimensional matrix-like codes on the packaging material 12, one or more lines of alternating protrusions or spikes and gaps can be located as dividing lines or filler lines, extending both transversely and longitudinally along the packaging material, with the lines in each direction parallel to each other. These lines play the role of a decorative embossed pattern 60 and do not contain any information.

In the disclosed embodiment, the decorative embossing pattern 60 is formed from lines of only one dot in width, however, it may be formed from lines of several dots in width. In the example of FIG. 14C, the combination pattern 30 is formed from an array of square elements with square matrix codes. In this case, other layouts are also possible, for example, an array of rectangular elements, triangular elements, as well as the use of codes made in a shape other than a square.

(85) According to one aspect of the present invention, the signs of the method revealed above provide the possibility of creating 12 embossed drawing 30 on the packaging material, in which code figures 50 are built into a decorative embossed pattern 60 so that the embossing as a whole seem decorative and the code drawings 50 are not would be easily noticeable to the human eye and only to a minimum degree to violate the aesthetic appearance of the embossed product, which can be created from the embossed packaging material 12. This can be achieved by choosing a special scheme of the mutual arrangement of code drawings 50 and decorative embossed drawings 60, as well as the choice The capacity of the embossing of the code figure 50, similar or equal to the density of the embossed figure 60. The embossing density is the ratio of the embossed surface and the non -powered surface within the pattern, expressed, for example, by the ratio of the number of embossed spikes and the number of protected spikes. In addition, the step of tissue codes, in the disclosed version - like a two -dimensional matrix of codes, is equal to the step of added decorative embossed drawings to improve the visual impression of the lack of inequality between the code figure 50 and the decorative embossed pattern 60.

(86) In another embodiment, disclosed in FIG. 15A, 15B, and 15C, the combined embossing pattern 30 may be formed from several different 2D matrix-like codes as code patterns 50 in combination with a decorative embossing pattern 60, wherein in the disclosed example, the combined embossing pattern 30 includes two different 2D matrix-like codes. codes 50.1 and 50.2, arrayed in a combined embossed pattern 30. Decorative embossed patterns 60.1 and 60.2 are placed between them to create a continuous pattern. FIG. 15A shows two different 2D matrix-like codes encoding two different encoded information, wherein the left 2D matrix-like code includes the first encoded information representing the www.boegli.ch website, the first encoded information being encoded into the first 2D-like matrix code containing eighteen (18) by eighteen (18) square cells or spikes, and the right two-dimensional matrix-like code contains the second encoded information representing the text IL2123E-D, the second encoded information being encoded in the second two-dimensional matrix-like code, containing fourteen (14) by fourteen square cages or spikes. The step for both two-dimensional matrix-like codes is the same. Next, FIG. 15B shows first and second embossing structures for first and second 2D matrix-like codes 50.1, 50.2 that may be included in the design of embossing devices 10, 20 representing the first and second 2D matrix-like codes in FIG. 15A, with an approximate cell pitch of 0.3 mm. In addition, the first embossing structure for code 50.1 on the left contains rounded embossing spikes or teeth, for example, without any limitation, elements made in the shape of a cone, cylinder or sphere, and the second embossing structure for code 50.2 contains square embossing spikes or teeth, for example , without any restrictions, elements made in the form of a pyramid, rhomboid. Both have the same pitch in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

(87) Next, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, an embossing structure is formed for the embossing device 10, 20, with each element of the array forming the combined embossing pattern 30 having either a first 2D matrix-like code 50.1 or a second 2D matrix-like code 50.2 located therein. In the disclosed embodiment, the first and second 2D-like codes 50.1, 50.2 are arranged alternately in both the transverse and longitudinal directions for each square element of the array, with the square elements being larger than both the first and second 2D-like codes, due to which they can accommodate matrix codes containing nineteen (19) by nineteen (19) cells with an approximate cell pitch of 0.3 mm. The first and second two-dimensional matrix-like codes 50.1, 50.2 are arranged to be placed in each of the lower left corners of the square array elements. Thus, the rest of the square elements are filled with the corresponding decorative embossed pattern 60.1, 60.2. In the disclosed embodiment, two different L-shaped portions 60.1, 60.2 covering the top side and right side of the element, not covered by the corresponding two-dimensional matrix-like code 50.1, 50.2, as shown in FIG. 15C are filled with a decorative embossing structure.

(88) For the first two-dimensional matrix-like code, the width of the L-shaped element is only one (1) cell, and for the second two-dimensional matrix code, the width is five (5) cells. In the disclosed version, a chess-like structure with alternating spikes and gaps is used to fill the L-shaped part. Other types of decorative embossing structures can also be used for decorative embossing. In addition, in the disclosed embodiment, the first and second codes 50.1, 50.2 are located in the corner of each square element of the matrix forming the combined embossed pattern. In this case, the first and second codes 50.1, 50.2 can also be located elsewhere within each square of the matrix, and not in the lower left corner, as in FIG. 15C, whereby the decorative embossing patterns 60.1, 60.2 can be made in the form of a square surrounding the respective first and second codes 50.1, 50.2. In another aspect, the square elements accommodating the larger first 2D matrix-like code 50.1 comprise rounded embossing studs, and the square elements accommodating the larger second 2D matrix-like code 50.2 comprise square shaped embossing studs to change the overall appearance of the combined embossed figure 30.

(89) According to another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 16A, 16B and 16C show that the combined embossing pattern 30 can be made from two or more different 2D matrix-like codes 50.3, 50.4 embossed in different shapes for each spike or cage. The method and device for embossing make it possible for the surface area containing the first two-dimensional code to overlap or be completely included in the surface area containing the second two-dimensional code. For example, in FIG. 16A shows that the first two-dimensional matrix code may contain the first encoded information with code 50.3, using rounded studs or teeth for embossing, as shown schematically on the right in FIG. 16A. The first code 50.3 is formed by a matrix of cells numbering eighteen (18) by eighteen (18). Next, in FIG. 16B shows that a second 2D matrix-like code can be used to encode second information with a 50.4 code using a code type and size different from the first 50.3 code, such as a 2D mark. This code is formed by a matrix of cells numbering thirty-eight (38) by thirty-eight (38). For this code, square embossing spikes or teeth are used, as shown on the right in FIG. 16V. The embossing of both the first and second codes 50.3, 50.4 will be carried out with the same pitch both in the transverse and longitudinal directions, however, each stud will be embossed with a tooth of a different shape, for example, rounded, not square.

(90) In FIG. 16C shows that the combined embossing pattern 30 is formed by an array of square elements. With this arrangement of the array, the first code 50.3, embossed with square spikes/teeth, is located with repetitions on every 19th spike both in the transverse and longitudinal directions on the packaging material 12. The second code 50.4 is located on top of the embossed first code 50.3 with repetitions on each 38th spike both in the transverse and in the longitudinal direction. An embossing tooth or spike in the form of a filled square is used to emboss each cell, and an empty square is shown for each cell without embossing or a blank cell. This method and embossing device with the same pitch for the first code 50.3 and the second code 50.4, but using spikes or teeth of different styles, for embossing the codes allows two different codes to be placed one on top of the other. If the embossed cell of the first code 50.3 is located in the same place as the embossed cell of the second code 50.4, the cells can be made in the form of filled square cells, as shown by way of example in FIG. 16C. If there is only an embossed cell of the second code, this cell can be embossed with a blank square. In addition, if only the embossed cell of the first code is present, the cell can be embossed with a filled circle.

(91) In FIG. 16C also shows that at regular intervals between the first code 50.3, with the surface area of the first code 50.3 less than that of the second code 50.4, there are decorative embossed patterns 60 in the form of a one-cell-wide line with alternating embossed and white space studs. These lines are arranged in an array, with the lines repeated on every 19th tenon both transversely and longitudinally on the material 12. In one embodiment, any additional decorative embossed pattern 60 may be absent, and the combined pattern 30 may consist only of codes 50.3 and 50.4.

(92) One of the options, according to the principle disclosed above in the examples of FIG. 16A-16C, instead of overlapping surface areas of different embossed codes 50.3 and 50.4, there may be overlapping of surface areas of one or more embossed pattern codes with embossed surface areas of the decorative embossed pattern 60, for example, through the use of studs of different shapes or negative/positive projections of the embossing devices 10, 20, for example, rounded vs. rectangular, or other types of different stud geometries. The overlap may be complete, for example, such that the surface area of the embossed code 50.3, 50.4 is positioned and lies entirely within the surface area of the decorative embossed pattern 60, or partial, in which the surface area of the embossed code 50.3, 50.4 overlaps the surface area of the decorative embossed pattern 60 The pitch of the embossed code 50.3 and 50.4 and the decorative embossed pattern 60 may be the same in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. This arrangement allows the embossed code 50.3, 50.4 to be substantially hidden from the human within or near the decorative embossed pattern 60 on the material 12.

(93) FIG. 17 shows another embodiment in which a one-dimensional barcode principle is applied to create a code pattern to embed encoded information. For example, on the left in FIG. 17 depicts a one-dimensional embossing barcode that is formed by solid lines and white, non-solid, or space lines of particular width representing a number or other type of information. For the purpose of embossing to form the combined embossing pattern 30, the solid lines correspond to the first embossing pitch p1, in the disclosed example, 0.305 mm, and the blank lines correspond to the second embossing pitch p2, in the disclosed example, 0.295 mm. The pitch difference between p1 and p2 is chosen to be relatively small, for example, preferably less than 7.5%, more preferably less than 5%, to make the codes embedded in the combined embossing pattern 30 on the material 12 invisible or difficult to see to the human eye. On the right in FIG. 17 shows an example of a representation portion of the one-dimensional barcode shown on the left for forming an embossed pattern 30 by means of a punch and die mold 16, 14 or other type of embosser. For example, a gap line that is twelve (12) units wide in the shaded area in FIG. 17 corresponds to twelve (12) rows of embossing dowels with a p2 pitch of 0.295 mm. These two areas adjacent to the blank area represent solid lines with a different pitch p1 of 0.305 mm.

(94) According to another aspect of the present invention, the packaging material 112 can be embossed by the embossing device 10, 20 to create a combined embossing pattern 130 by combining decorative embossing patterns 160 with background code 150 as a code pattern, wherein, as disclosed in FIG. . 18, background code 150 contains a group of codes repeated for redundancy purposes. In the disclosed embodiment, a strip of packaging material 112 is provided, with decorative embossing 160 arranged in a row along packaging material 112. For example, decorative embossing 160 may be a company logo or designation, a product logo or designation, or simply a decorative design. The two spaces 161, 162 are located longitudinally on the material 112 and do not contain any embossing other than the linear embossing that is the background code 150.

(95) In the disclosed embodiment, the thickness of said two gaps 161, 162 in the decorative embossed patterns 160 may be less than 3 mm, with a series of codes formed by cells from three (3) to ten (10) adjacent to the gaps, shown in close-up in section in FIG. 18 and individually in FIG. 19A to form a background code. The embossing can be done by means of spikes or teeth arranged in a matrix with square cells. A pitch smaller than 0.5 mm can be chosen to make the codes less visible to the human eye and more like a decorative stripe. In addition, the embossing depth of the background code 150 on the material 112 may be less than the embossing depth of the decorative embossing pattern 160 to make the codes even less visible and detectable than the decorative embossing patterns. The background code 150 may be a group consisting of the same code, but modified by creating a representation of at least one of the following: source code, mirror image code, inverted code, and inverted mirror image code, so that the two directly neighboring code background code 150 did not have the same appearance.

(96) To create the appearance of a random arrangement of the background code, the base code in FIG. 19A may be contiguous but randomly alternating four or more different representations thereof, including the original base code representation, the base code inverted representation, the base code inverted representation, and the base code inverted mirrored version, as disclosed in FIG. 19 V.

(97) In FIG. 20 shows an embossing pattern similar to that of FIG. 18, except that instead of embossing two thin bands of background code 150 on packaging material 112, a diffraction pattern 151 is embossed, wherein the diffraction pattern may at least partially be a combination of an embossed code, such as the background code itself, a series of one-dimensional barcodes, a number of two-dimensional matrix codes. The diffraction pattern 151 can also be arranged in two thin stripes, whereby the code pattern can be repeated, and is shown in close-up sectional view in FIG. 20. For example, to create a diffraction pattern, the diffraction step for different types of light, such as ultraviolet (UV) light, near infrared (NIR) light, or visible light, can be selected from a range of 300 nm to 5 µm, while the depth embossing can be selected from the range from 100 nm to 1 µm.

(98) FIG. 21 shows an example of an embossed material or film 312 with a decorative embossed logo image, in this case symbolically represented by the word "logo", as a decorative embossed pattern 360 and a coded pattern 350 as a repeating diffraction pattern. Due to this, the codes presented in code drawing 350 will not be visible to the human eye and will appear as just a thinner embossed decorative structure within the logo, for example creating a satin finish.

(99) According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for reading an embossed code by using a plurality of side or oblique illumination sources. The method and device for reading the embossed code are disclosed in the examples of FIG. 22A-22E showing various side cross-sectional and top views of the embossed material 212. FIG. 22A shows a cross-sectional side view and top view of an embossed material 212, such as a tobacco or food cartons, having an embossed structure 230 representing coded information embossed thereon. The embossed structure 230 includes a plurality of protrusions 232. In the disclosed example, the protrusions 232 are positioned and aligned in the longitudinal or y direction of the material 212, and are also positioned and arrayed in the transverse or x direction of the material 212 to form a mesh.

(100) Further, on top of the embossed structure 230 material 212, the device 200 reads the code is placed. It is shown that the device 200 read the code contains the opening of 267 for reading and lighting, which includes many, as an unlimited example - four (4), sources 262, 264, 266, 268 lighting, while the source 262 is made with the possibility of creating light The L1 beam in the direction of or in the longitudinal direction of the material 212, the source 264 is made with the possibility of creating the light beam L2 in the opposite direction of the U, the source 266 is made with the possibility of creating the light beam L3 in the direction X or transverse direction, and the source 268 is made from the light of the light. the possibility of creating a light beam L4 in the opposite direction of X or transverse direction. The controller that can be included in the device 200 of the code reading is made with the possibility of selective turning on or off L1 - L4 light rays in the corresponding sources 262, 264, 266, 268 lighting. The frame 271, 273 is also proposed, which provides the possibility of placing a device 200 read code with a fit on top of the embossed material 212.

(101) For each illumination light beam L1 - L4 from the illumination sources 262, 264, 266, 268, a shadow pattern PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 will be created on the upper surface of the material 212 as the protrusions 232 will obscure each oblique light beam. The creation of shadow patterns PT1 to PT4 is possible even with very small projections formed by embossing. The length of the individual shadow, measured in the light direction of the light beam L1 - L4, additionally contains information about the height of the corresponding embossed cell. It is possible to capture the shadow patterns PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 as images, and, with the help of an image processing algorithm, reconstruct the original embossed code, read and extract the encoded code information, for example, by using the data handler of a code reader or an external device connected with a code reader 200, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, desktop computer.

(102) For example, based on the captured images of the projected shadow patterns PT1, PT2, PT3, and PT4, an edge detection algorithm can be applied to each shadow pattern in turn to extract the contours of the embossed structure at the opposite end in the illumination direction of the light beam L1, L2, L3, and L4. By combining the selected contours, a closed contour can be computed locally for each embossed structure. And finally, in the simplest case of binary coding, it is possible to generate a calculated representation of the selected image of the code pattern by filling in the specified closed contour and, thereby, creating a black and white image of a two-dimensional code. The black and white representation of the embossed code data can then be analyzed with a pattern recognition algorithm to read the code and extract the encoded information.

(103) It is also possible to apply multi-level coding methods by taking into account the variable length of the projection of the shadow of embossed identification marks of different heights. In this case, the applied coding must be carried out in compliance with the boundary conditions so that the projections of shadows of variable length have the property that allows you to determine the height of the embossed identification marks separately, using different directions of illumination by the projected light, for example, using simple geometric calculations. Instead of black and white images, it is possible to create multi-level gray scale images representing the calculated height of the embossed features. You can then extract the originally encoded information using software decoding algorithms.

(104) The code reader 200 also includes a lens 252, preferably a macro lens, and an imaging device 254, and, together with the lens 252, captures a field of view including the embossed structure 230 to view all projections 232 of the structure 230. In one embodiment, the code reader 200 does not itself include an imaging device 254, and is configured to be attached to the imaging part of a smartphone or tablet, and to be connected to the smartphone or tablet to generate electricity, for example, via Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. The illumination of the code reader 200 as well as the image capturing process of the imager contained in the smartphone or tablet can be controlled by an application program running on the smartphone, tablet, or other type of processing device. This application can also implement image and data processing functions with the ability to reconstruct the source code from the shadow patterns PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 and extract the encoded information.

(105) FIG. 23A and 23B show a side cross-sectional view of a punch-matrix embossing structure and a top view of the positive and negative ridges with a substantially constant gap between the punch positive ridges 1102 and the corresponding matrix negative ridges 1103, the structure being configured to emboss a combined embossing pattern onto packaging material 12 according to another aspect of the present invention. Said protrusions may be the embossing structures of the embossing device 10, 20, for example the embossing rolls P5, M5 in FIG. 6 or embossing molds P10, M10 in FIG. 13. FIG. 23A is a sectional view of a crimp between two rolls 1100, 1101, such as a first roll 1100 and a second, back-up roll 1101, with the two rolls positioned such that the positive projections 1102 of the first roll 1100 are in the embossing position opposite the negative ones. projections 1103 of the second shaft 1101, while the negative projections 1103 of the first shaft 1100 are in position for embossing opposite the positive projection 1103 of the second shaft 1101. In FIG. 23A, gap 1104 between first and second rolls 1100, 1101 is filled with embossed packaging material 12, 112, 212, 312, giving an indication of the final thickness of the embossed foil material. FIG. 23B shows that the special surfaces of the positive ridges 1102 are squares with a side length of X1, and the special surfaces of the negative ridges 1103 are squares with a side length of 1104, subject to the equation X1 < V1. The value of X1 is deliberately set to be smaller than the value of V1 to account for the specific thickness of the packaging material 12, 112, 212, 312 and to ensure a continuous and gap-free junction of the protrusions of the first shaft 1100 with the protrusions of the second shaft 1101.

(106) In FIG. 23A, the dashed line 1105 also shows the average surface level of the first shaft 1100. The height of the positive ridge 1102, measured from the dashed line 1105, is equal to the depth of the negative ridge 1103, measured from the dashed line 1105. the thickness of the uncompressed packaging material 12, 112, 212, 312 to be embossed and corresponds to the average gap width WA separating the respective surfaces of the negative projections 1103, designated X2.

(107) FIG. 23V depicts the type of a shakomatomalous scheme of positive and negative protrusions 1102 and 1103 on the surface of the first shaft 1100. For more convenience of reading the figure, only one (1) positive 1102 and negative 1103 protrusion with an appropriate special surface, i.e. square surfaces with side values X1 and V1 respectively. As a result of embossing with embossing structures in FIG. 23A and 23V, embossed packaging material 12, 112, 212, 312 contains pyramidal structures with a truncated peak. Therefore, when projecting light on the surface of packaging material 12, 112, 212, 312, containing such embossed structures, the intensity of the reflected light will usually be less than in the case of a surface with structures embossed in the form of a full pyramid, due to which such embossed drawings, for example, combined embossed pattern 30, less visible to the human eye.

(108) In FIG. 23C, showing a cross-sectional view in the embossing or crimping gap or at the closest position between the two rolls 1100, 1101, the gap between the top surface of the projections 1102.1, 1103.1 of the first roll 1100 and between the bottom surface of the projections 1102.2, 1103.2 of the second roll 1101 is variable. In the Y direction, there is a constant crimp gap or gap W1 at the portions B, F facing the truncated top X1 of the positive protrusions 1102 and a constant crimp gap or gap W2 between the areas where the sloped side walls D, H of the protrusions 1102, 1103 face to each other. This means that in areas where the protrusions are flat, parallel to the x-direction, or parallel to the axis of rotation of the shafts, the gap width W1 is constant. The gap width W2 is wider than the gap width W1. In addition, in the sections A, C, E, G between the flat part of the protrusion and the inclined part of the corresponding protrusion, along the gap X4 in the x direction, the width of the gap varies from W1 to W2 or from W2 to W1. The average thickness or width WG of the crimp gap ranges from W1 to W2 and substantially corresponds to the thickness of the raw and unembossed packaging material 312 of thickness WA, as shown schematically on the left side of FIG. 23C. The average width is indicated between two dotted lines indicating the average height of the protrusions of each shaft 1100, 1101.

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.(109) In addition, in FIG. 23C shows that the width W3 of the gap between the side walls of the positive protrusion and the corresponding negative protrusion, measured perpendicular to said side walls, is substantially the same as the width W1 of the gap. Since the packaging material 312 will be embossed as it passes through the gap, the gap through which the embossed material passes has a substantially constant width of W1 between the truncated flat portions and W3 between the side walls, being substantially equal to the thickness WA of the packaging material 312. In other words, when the packaging material 312 is embossed, the center line or portion of the packaging material 312 will correspond to the center line ML, represented by the dotted line in FIG. 23C, and the clearance from the center line ML to the side walls of the positive and negative projections 1102, 1103 will be substantially equal to

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(110) This structural arrangement of the positive and negative protrusions 1102, 1103 on the embosser provides a substantially constant embossing gap width or thickness W1, W3, and that the cross-sectional surface of the positive protrusion 1102 of the first shaft is inversely congruent with the cross-sectional surface of the corresponding negative protrusion 1103 of the second shaft. This allows for a less noticeable embossing on the packaging material 312, and also allows the stress on the material 312 to be reduced during embossing to avoid distortion in the packaging material 312. For example, it can reduce tensile forces or tensile stress on the bundle paper or wrapping material. for tobacco products, as well as to prevent tearing of the material or the formation of holes in it. In addition, the constant embossing gap width or thickness W1, W3 takes into account not only the thickness WA of the packaging material 312, but also the thickness margin for the surface roughness of the packaging material 312, the internal structural structure of the packaging material 312, the environmental conditions during the embossing process, which can lead to to variation in the size of the packaging material due to humidity and temperature, and if the packaging material 312 was inked or otherwise coated prior to embossing, the constant embossing gap width or thickness W1 also takes into account the increase in thickness due to coloring or coating layers. It may also take into account machining tolerances due to the manufacturing method of the punch-matrix embossing structure.

(111) FIG. 24A is a plan view and FIG. 24B and 24C are perspective views of details of the surface of an embossing structure with polyhedral structures containing four faces, for example, P5, M5, P10, M10 of an embossing device 10, 20, in which the positive and negative embossing protrusions 2102, 2103 are arranged to form the corners of a truncated octahedron. . Embossing teeth, studs or structures are made in the form of an incomplete polyhedron, wherein the partial or incomplete polyhedron forms a protrusion, tooth or stud for embossing, while the inversely congruent element of the partial or incomplete polyhedron forms a corresponding negative protrusion or groove. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 23C could be a cross-sectional view along line CL1 of the polyhedral structure in FIG. 24A. This embossing structure is truncated surface areas or flat areas in the form of a square for the negative projections 2103, larger compared to the truncated surface areas or flat areas, also in the form of a smaller square, for the positive projections 2102. An embossing gap between the shaft 2100 or embossing mold and the corresponding embossing roll or mold is formed according to the overall thickness of the non-embossed packaging material 12, and also taking into account the surface roughness and structure of the packaging material 12 even before embossing. The width of the embossing gap can also be calculated and formed during the production process, taking into account the thickness of the packaging material 12 with a layer of ink applied before the embossing process and increasing the initial parameters of the thickness of the packaging material 12.

(112) In one embodiment, the packaging material 12 of the combined embossing pattern 30, including the decorative embossed pattern 60 and the code pattern 50, can be embossed with another type of embossing structure, as disclosed in the examples of FIGS. 24A-24C using arbitrary deviations from the inversely congruent pattern of the punch-matrix embossing pattern. For example, an embossing roll set including a punch punch roll 5P and a die punch roll 5M cooperating with each other can be used, where the surface of the punch punch roll contains texture elements, and the surface of the die punch roll contains texture elements. In addition, the texture elements of the matrix stamping shaft and the texture elements of the punch shaft, corresponding to the texture elements of the die stamping shaft, contain intentional deviations, ensuring that the texture element of the matrix stamping shaft and the corresponding texture element of the punch stamping shaft are not inversely congruent, while in the number of intentional deviations includes: (i) an angular deviation between the die punch shaft texture feature side and the corresponding punch punch shaft texture feature side of up to and including 20°, and (ii) a linear deviation between the die punch roll texture feature and the corresponding punch punch shaft texture feature of more than 15 µm in axial and radial directions. In addition, the texture elements of the punch shaft, intended for the texture elements of the matrix stamping shaft, may contain edges made to increase local pressure. The texture elements may also have a structure configured to create a combined embossing pattern 30 on the packaging material 12. These embossing structures and texture elements are disclosed in US Patent No. 9,636,885, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

(113) In one embodiment, the packaging material 12 of the combined embossing pattern 30, including the decorative embossed pattern 60 and the code pattern 50, can be embossed with another type of embossing structure, as disclosed in the examples of FIGS. 24A-24C containing light-diffusing elements on at least one of the following surfaces: a side surface, a bottom surface, and an upper surface of a structural element. This makes it possible to emboss at least the code pattern 50 of the combined embossing pattern 30 in the form of such light-diffusing elements, while the decorative embossing pattern 60 can be made in the form of a structural element. For example, at least one structural element of the respective structural elements of a pair of cooperating rolls, including a matrix embossing roll M5 and punch embossing rolls P5, contains at least one of the following surfaces: bottom surface, top surface and side surface, with light-diffusing elements or light-diffusing elements in the immediate vicinity of such a surface, while the height (H) of the light-diffusing elements can be from 10 μm to 150 μm, and the width of the base is at least 10 μm, while the light-diffusing elements are part of the structure for forming the code pattern 50. In addition, the depth or height of the structural elements forming the structure for the decorative embossed pattern 60 is from 25 µm to 400 µm. These embossing structures and texture elements are disclosed in International Patent Publication No. WO 2017/108516, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

(114) FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus 400 for reading and decoding a diffraction code pattern 450 from a combination embossing pattern 430 including a decorative embossing pattern 460 of an article 420, such as, but not limited to, a tobacco product. The reader 400 consists of an outer casing 494 with a socket 492 for receiving a portion of an article 420 provided with a combined embossing pattern 430 with a diffractive code pattern 450 and a decorative embossing pattern 460. The socket 492 may be designed to insert the article 420 into the socket with a fit along the diameter of the socket 492 so that at least part of the diffraction code pattern 450 can be located opposite the light opening 496 located in the side wall 490 of the socket 492. The product 420 can also be inserted into the socket 492 until the end of the product 420 abuts against the bottom wall 498 of the socket 492. Device illumination, made in the form of a source 478 of coherent or partially coherent light, for example, a diode laser, including optical devices 474, is located with the possibility of emitting a coherent light beam L5, for example, laser radiation, in the direction of insertion of the product 420. Mirror 464, located on casing 494, redirecting has a light beam L5 capable of passing the light beam through the visual aperture 496 to illuminate the combined embossed pattern 460 of the article 420. The diffractive code pattern 450 as such may be provided as a background code or may be provided in multiple locations on the article 420 to generate redundant information with the ability to its unobstructed illumination by the light beam L5, for example, so that at least one individual code of the diffraction pattern 450 is illuminated by the light beam L5.

(115) On the side walls of the light opening 496, two or more optical sensors 466 are located at an oblique angle so that they face the location of the combined embossed pattern 460, to capture the diffracted light DB5 resulting from the diffraction of the light beam by the diffractive code pattern 450 of the combined embossed pattern 430. The optical sensors 466 and the lighting device 478 are operatively coupled to a controller 454 configured to turn on and off the lighting, with subsequent collection and processing of data from the optical sensors 466, which makes it possible to read and decode the code embedded in the diffraction pattern 450 of the combined embossed pattern 430. For example, after the product 420 is inserted into the slot 492, you can turn on the lighting. This allows you to verify the authenticity of the diffraction pattern 450 of the combined embossed pattern 430 on the cylindrical surface of the product 420.

(116) In FIG. 25 shows an article 420 with a combined embossing pattern 430 located around the circumference of an article 420, such as a cylindrical shaped tobacco article. However, without departing from the scope of the present embodiment, the product 420 can also be made in any shape, for example, a parallelepiped, square, stripe, round or other shape, while the combined embossed pattern 430 can be applied only on one side or on several sides of the packaging of the product, or on the product itself, without application around its entire circumference. In addition, although the socket 492 shown has a horseshoe-shaped cross section, the socket 492 can be made in other shapes and locations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the viewing opening 496 can also be located on the surface of the device 400 without creating a special socket 492 to receive the product 420.

(117) In addition, the controller 454 of the reader 460 may be operatively connected to a computer, such as a personal computer, laptop computer, Macintosh computer, etc., for example, through a cable 472 and plug 476, for example, without any or restrictions, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, wirelessly, for example, without any restrictions, via a Bluetooth wireless communication interface. Thus, article 420 can be used as a reader or peripheral device of an article authentication system.

(118) Although the invention has been disclosed by way of examples of some preferred embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations and variations of these options, as well as equivalent options, are possible without departing from the essence and scope of the invention. In this regard, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and its interpretation should be as broad as possible, as far as justified by the content of the attached claims.

Claims (29)

1. An embossing tool for embossing a combined embossed pattern on a packaging material, the combined embossing pattern including a decorative embossed pattern and a plurality of embossed codes comprising: a punch-matrix embossing device with a punch and a matrix for interacting with each other, having embossing structures configured to create a combined embossing pattern on the packaging material in the embossing gap, wherein said embossing structures include first structures representing said plurality of embossed codes and second structures representing said decorative embossed pattern, moreover, by means of embossing structures, it is possible to create said decorative embossed pattern and a plurality of embossed codes, which are arranged so that the plurality of embossed codes overlaps or intersperses with the decorative embossed pattern within the surface area, as a result of which the plurality of embossed codes is less detectable and noticeable than the decorative embossed drawing, wherein said first structures of the embossing structures are configured to form said plurality of embossed codes in the form of a matrix on the packaging material. 2. An embossing tool according to Claim. 1, characterized in that the first and second structures of the embossing structures are made in such a way that the decorative embossed pattern fills the surface area not occupied by any of the embossed codes from the specified set on the packaging material. 3. Embossing tool according to claim. 1, characterized in that the decorative areas formed by the decorative embossed pattern form a grid of lines around the embossed codes placed in the form of a matrix. 4. An embossing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of embossed codes includes the repetition of a single code along the longitudinal direction of the packaging material, while the decorative embossing pattern is located along the longitudinal direction of the packaging material adjacent to the line of repetition of the single code. 5. An embossing tool according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second structures are formed in such a way that the embossing projections of the decorative embossed pattern and the embossing projections of the plurality of embossed codes have the same pitch. 6. An embossing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of embossed codes includes a first embossed code and a second embossed code, wherein the first code occupies a first surface area and the second code occupies a second surface area on the packaging material, the first structures being formed so so that the first and second areas of the surface is overlapped. 7. An embossing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of embossed codes includes a first embossed code and a second embossed code, wherein the information represented by the first code is different from the information represented by the second code. 8. Embossing tool according to claim. 1, characterized in that the set of embossed codes includes at least one code from the group containing a two-dimensional matrix code and a QR code. 9. An embossing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the protrusions of the embossing structures have truncated tops. 10. A method for embossing a combined embossed pattern on a packaging embossing device, wherein the combined embossed pattern includes a decorative embossed pattern and a plurality of embossed codes, moreover, the embossing device is a punch-matrix embossing device with a punch and a matrix for interacting with each other, having embossing structures configured to create a combined embossed pattern on the packaging material in the embossing gap, wherein the embossing structures include first structures representing said plurality of embossed codes and second structures representing said decorative embossed pattern, In this case, the method includes the stage at which: a combined embossed pattern is embossed on the packaging material, which includes a decorative embossed pattern and a plurality of embossed codes located so that the specified plurality of embossed codes overlaps or is interspersed with a decorative embossed pattern within the surface area, as a result of which the plurality of embossed codes is less detectable and noticeable, than a decorative embossed pattern, wherein said first structures of the embossing structures are configured to form said plurality of embossed codes in the form of a matrix on the packaging material. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that during the embossing step, the decorative areas formed by the decorative embossed pattern form a grid of lines around the embossed codes arranged in a matrix. 12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that during the embossing step, a plurality of embossed codes includes repeating a single code along the longitudinal direction of the packaging material, while the decorative embossed pattern is located along the longitudinal direction of the packaging material adjacent to the single code repetition line. 13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the plurality of embossed codes includes a first embossed code and a second embossed code, wherein the first code occupies a first surface area and the second code occupies a second surface area on the packaging material, wherein the first structures are formed such that the first and second surface portions overlap each other. 14. A method for reading an embossed code embossed on a packaging foil, wherein the embossed code is encoded information, the method including the steps of: illuminating the embossed code area with a first light source, the first light source having a first illumination direction disposed to create a first shadow pattern on the packaging foil, and capturing a first image from the first shadow pattern; illuminating the embossed code area with a second light source, the second light source having a second illumination direction different from the first illumination direction, positioned to create a second shadow pattern on the packaging foil, and capturing a second image from the second shadow pattern; calculate the representation of the embossed code according to the first and second images; And they read encoded information from the presentation of the embossed code. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of calculating the embossed code representation includes calculating contours for the first shadow pattern and the second shadow pattern.

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