WO2015072892A1

WO2015072892A1 - Security label

Info

Publication number: WO2015072892A1
Application number: PCT/RU2014/000853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Алексей Германович ВАСИЛЬЕВ; Виталий Николаевич БУРСУК; Андрей Николаевич ПОНОМАРЕВ; Виталий Глебович КОЗЫРИЦКИЙ
Original assignee: Закрытое акционерное общество "Первый печатный двор"
Priority date: 2013-11-12
Filing date: 2014-11-11
Publication date: 2015-05-21
Also published as: RU2544144C1

Abstract

Proposed is a security label containing a layer having a hidden polarized image, and a reflective layer, wherein the layer having a hidden polarized image is provided with isotropic and anisotropic areas, the layer having a hidden polarized image is a dichroic light polarizer based on organic salts of dichroic anionic dyes, and the layer having a hidden polarized image is capable of phase polarization. The achieved technical result consists in increasing the level of protection against forgery by means of imitation and copying, while providing an accessible and reliable method for controlling the authenticity of labeled products.

Description

Security tag

The present invention relates to means used for authentication of products, in particular, security labels containing latent images, and can be used for the manufacture of security labels applied to documents, securities, labels, excise stamps, etc.

The patent of the Russian Federation for utility model Ν ° 87658 is known from the prior art, which describes a security label made in the form of a multilayer film comprising a first polymer layer containing a latent polarization image realized due to varying degrees of anisotropy of individual sections of this polymer layer and visualized using a polaroid, a second polymer layer with a reflective coating containing a latent image read by a laser, which is formed in the form of a flat optical of an element providing a predetermined directivity of scattering of laser radiation, and an optically transparent adhesive layer deposited on the side of the reflective coating of the second polymer layer connecting these polymer layers.

The disadvantage of this means of authentication is the lack of protection of marked products.

The objective of the present invention is the provision of authentication with an increased level of protection against counterfeiting by simulating and copying and providing an affordable and reliable way to verify the authenticity of products marked with these means.

The task underlying the present invention is solved by using a security label containing a layer with a hidden polarizing image and a reflective layer, while in the layer with a hidden polarizing image isotropic and anisotropic regions are made, and the layer with a hidden polarizing image is a dichroic light polarizer, based on organic salts of dichroic anionic dyes, and layer with a hidden polarization image and has the ability to phase polarization.

When viewing such a protective label through a linear polarizing filter, the elements of the latent polarizing image will change their color and brightness: from white elements to black elements to dye color elements to black elements again to white elements, etc.

Moreover, when such a protective mark is examined through a circular polarization filter, the isotropic regions (background) are darkened, and the anisotropic regions (elements of the latent polarization image) have a brightness higher than the background brightness (isotropic regions). This effect does not change when the circular polarizing filter is rotated.

For the production of protective labels, according to the invention, requires special technological equipment and highly qualified personnel. Imitation of the above effects in any other ways is almost impossible.

The highest contrast of the latent polarization image is achieved by a protective mark, in which the layer with the hidden polarization image is a quarter-wave plate.

It is advisable to use polyvinyl alcohol as the material of the layer with a hidden polarizing image, and azo dye as the dye.

As a dye, “Congo red”, “Trypan blue”, “Chrysophenin” and others capable of chemical or physical interaction with molecules of the material layer with a latent polarizing image and attached to them can be used.

For the case of polyvinyl alcohol and the dyes indicated above, the maximum contrast of the latent polarization image is achieved with a layer thickness of 4 to 6 microns. The best result is achieved with a thickness of 5 microns. The concentration of the dye is preferably from 2 to 3 weight percent. The best result is achieved with a dye concentration of 2.5 weight percent. Also, the problem underlying the present invention is solved using a protective label containing a layer with a hidden polarizing image connected to the reflective layer by means of an adhesive layer, while the reflective layer is made in the form of a layer of thermoplastic varnish with a metal coating, and in a layer with a hidden polarizing the image contains isotropic and anisotropic regions, and the layer with a hidden polarization image is a dichroic polarizer of light, based on organic salts, dichroic x anionic dye, and a polarizing layer with a latent image has a potential for phase polarization.

The technical result achieved by this security label is identical to the result of the security label described above. The presence of the adhesive layer and the type of implementation of the reflective layer make it possible to mass-produce this tag with guaranteed assurance of the achieved technical result.

For the case of polyvinyl alcohol and the dyes indicated above, the maximum contrast of the latent polarization image is achieved with a layer thickness of 4 to 6 microns. The best result is achieved with a thickness of 5 microns. The concentration of the dye is preferably from 2 to 3 weight percent. The best result is achieved with a dye concentration of 2.5 weight percent.

A layer with a hidden polarization image can be connected by means of an adhesive layer with a metal coating of the reflective layer. Thus, a protective label will be obtained, which can be placed on the substrate, which will ensure further transfer of the label to the marked product. Also, the problem underlying the present invention is solved using a protective mark having a certain color when illuminated with unpolarized light, and containing a latent image that appears when the mark is examined through a polarizing filter, which contains the background of the latent image and latent image elements, while when viewed through a linear polarizing filter and rotated, the latent image elements change their color and brightness, and the following latent image options appear: The nti of the latent image is lighter than the background, the element of the latent image is darker than the background and the elements of the latent image have a background color and brightness lower than the brightness of the background, in addition, when viewing a security mark through a circular polarizing filter, the background of the latent image is darker than the elements of the latent image and the type of latent image does not depend on angle of rotation of a circular polarizing filter.

Such a set of effects of a hidden image is very difficult to imitate, while the presence of these effects is easily determined by the consumer or an expert, which provides a high level of protection against forgery by simulating and copying and an affordable and reliable way to control the authenticity of products marked with these tools.

The following is a description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an amplitude-phase characteristic of the linear polarization effect of a security label according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an amplitude phase characteristic of a security label according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of a security mark;

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of a security mark.

According to the present invention, an authentication means (security label) uses a layer with a hidden color polarized image. A layer with a hidden color polarizing image is a dichroic light polarizer based on organic salts of dichroic anionic dyes. In this case, dyes having at least one maximum of the absorption spectral curve are used.

From an optically isotropic layer, an optically anisotropic layer is obtained by any method known and suitable for the used polarizer, in particular by mechanical or thermomechanical action.

To form a latent color polarization image, optically anisotropic regions are formed in the optically isotropic layer. Thus, a layer with a hidden color polarization image is a layer with optically isotropic and optically anisotropic regions. The relative position of the optically isotropic and optically anisotropic regions determines the latent polarization image, which appears only when the layer is examined using a polarizing filter or in polarizing light.

When examining a security mark provided with a layer with a hidden color polarized image according to the present invention in unpolarized light, any elements of the hidden image will not be visible. An even background will be observed. The type of background is determined by the color and concentration of the applied dye.

When examining a security label provided with a layer with a hidden color polarizing image according to the present invention, in polarized light or through a linear polarizing filter, elements of the latent image will be detected. In this case, when the linear polarizing filter is rotated (changing the angle between the plane of polarization of light and the plane of polarization of optically anisotropic regions), the elements of the latent polarization image will change their color and brightness: from dye color elements to white elements.

If the planes of polarization of light (polarization plane of the linear polarizing filter) and the optically anisotropic regions coincide, the maximum brightness of the latent image elements will be observed. However, the elements of the latent image will not be painted. In this position, the elements latent images (optically anisotropic regions) will be brighter than the background (optically isotropic regions).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer with a hidden color polarizing image is made of polyvinyl alcohol, into the mass of which an azo dye is introduced.

As a colorant, the Congo Red colorant may be used. In this case, a layer with a hidden polarizing image in the red region of the spectrum will be obtained.

When the polarization filter rotates (changes in the angle between the plane of polarization of light and the plane of polarization of optically anisotropic regions), the elements of the latent polarization image will change their color and brightness: from white elements to pink elements and then to red elements of a hidden polarization image.

Trypan Blue can also be used as a dye. In this case, a layer with a hidden polarizing image in the blue region of the spectrum will be obtained.

When the polarization filter is rotated (changing the angle between the plane of polarization of light and the plane of polarization of optically anisotropic regions), the elements of the latent polarization image will change their color and brightness: from white elements to blue elements and then to blue elements of a hidden polarization image.

Also, the dye "chrysophenin" can be used. In this case, a layer with a hidden polarizing image in the yellow region of the spectrum will be obtained.

When the polarization filter rotates (changes in the angle between the plane of polarization of light and the plane of polarization of optically anisotropic regions), the elements of the latent polarization image will change their color and brightness: from white elements to light yellow elements and then to yellow elements of the hidden polarized image. In FIG. 1 shows the amplitude-phase characteristic of the linear polarization effect of a security label according to the present invention for the case with a red dye (“Congo Red”). For other dyes, this phase-amplitude characteristic is similar to that shown in FIG. one.

Position 1 denotes the characteristic of the isotropic regions of the layer with a hidden color polarization image. Position 2 '- anisotropic regions.

According to the present invention, a material capable of phase anisotropy is used as the material of the layer with a hidden color polarization image.

A layer with a hidden color polarizing image is connected to a reflective layer.

The thickness of the layer with the hidden color polarization image is selected so that the layer with the hidden color polarization image is a quarter-wave plate.

The amplitude-phase characteristic of this protective mark is shown in FIG. 2.

Position 1 denotes the characteristic of the isotropic regions of the layer with a hidden color polarization image. Position 2 "- anisotropic regions.

Since a material capable of phase anisotropy is used as the layer material with a hidden color polarization image, optically anisotropic regions, in addition to the linear polarization effect, have a phase polarization effect.

At angles between the plane of polarization of the linear polarizing filter and the plane of polarization of the optically anisotropic regions of the layer with a hidden color polarization image of 0 ° and 180 °, the anisotropic regions are white and brighter than the background.

At angles of 90 ° and 270 °, the anisotropic regions have a dye color and are darker than the background. At angles of 45 °, 135 °, 225 °, and 315 °, the anisotropic regions actually have zero brightness.

The behavior of the protective mark at angles of 0 °, 90 °, 180 ° and 270 ° corresponds to the linear polarization effect described above.

The effect of phase polarization is manifested in the fact that when a beam of linearly polarized light passes through an anisotropic layer, a phase shift of the components of this beam occurs. By components are meant the projection of the beam onto the axis of polarization of the filter and the projection of the beam onto the axis perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the filter.

At angles equal to or close to 0 °, 90 °, 180 °, and 270 °, one of the components is absent or small, the other component is equal to or close to the transmitted beam of linearly polarized light. Thus, at these angles, the effect of phase polarization does not appear or is slightly manifested.

At angles equal to or close to 45 °, 135 °, 225 ° and 315 °, the components of the beam are equal or close to each other. Thus, the effect of phase displacement of the components and, accordingly, the effect of phase polarization is most pronounced.

Since the layer with the hidden color polarization image is in the form of a quarter-wave plate, then at the output of the layer the phase shift of the components is 1/4. Thus, the effect of circular polarization is achieved.

When reflected from a reflecting layer of light polarized in a circle, the direction of circular polarization changes (from right to left or from left to right). When light passes back through a layer with a hidden color polarized image, the light is converted from circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light. However, due to a change in the direction of circular polarization during reflection, the plane of polarization of this linearly polarized light is perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the incoming linearly polarized light beam and is not transmitted by the linear polarizing filter. Thus, when the polarizing filter rotates (changing the angle between the plane of polarization of the polarizing filter and the plane of polarization of the optically anisotropic regions), the elements of the hidden color polarization image will change their color and brightness: from white elements (at angles close to 0 °) - to black elements ( at angles close to 45 °) - to dye color elements (at angles close to 90 °) - to black elements (at angles close to 135 °) - to white elements (at angles close to 180 °) - to black elements (at angles close to 225 °) - to dye color elements (at angles close to 270 °) - to black elements (at angles close to 315 °) - to white elements (at angles close to 360 ° (0 °).

The resulting security label has a high degree of protection.

So the appearance of white elements of a hidden image cannot be imitated.

A simple tinting of a layer with a hidden polarizing image or applying an additional translucent layer with a selected dye will provide an imitation of isotropic regions (background), color and brightness, which do not change when the polarization filter is rotated. However, it will not provide a simulation of anisotropic regions. For example, for red dye, the anisotropic regions of the simulated label will change color from pink to red and then to pink. That is, the color of the anisotropic regions will not change, but only their brightness.

In addition, the applicant of the present invention does not know how to simulate the effect of the appearance of black elements of the latent image at angles of 45 °, 135 °, 225 ° and 315 °.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the described security label, its manufacture requires special equipment and highly qualified personnel at all stages of production and is virtually impossible outside the factory environment.

It is obvious that the thickness of the layer with a hidden polarizing image may differ from the thickness of the quarter-wave plate, while the effect of darkening the elements of the hidden image will also be manifested. However, at a thickness corresponding to a quarter-wave plate, this effect is manifested in the largest volume and the maximum contrast of the latent image as a whole is achieved. It is also obvious that a quarter-wave plate is formed in anisotropic regions, isotropic regions do not have the effect of phase polarization.

An additional degree of protection is provided by the proposed protective label when viewed through a circular polarizing filter.

When examining a protective label through a circular polarizing filter, the isotropic regions are darkened, the anisotropic regions have a brightness higher than the background brightness (isotropic regions). This effect does not change when the circular polarizing filter is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the security label according to the first embodiment of the invention consists of a layer 3 with a hidden color polarizing image and a reflective layer 4 with protective elements interconnected by an adhesive layer.

The surface of layer 3 with a hidden color polarized image is coated with a protective varnish 8.

The reflective layer 4 with protective elements is connected to the carrier 6 by an adhesive connection 7.

The reflective layer 4 with protective elements is a layer with protective elements that occur when light is reflected. Holograms, layers with a laser-readable image, and also combined elements such as a hologram with a laser-readable image can be assigned to the reflective layer 4 with security elements.

Preferably, the security label uses a reflective layer 4 with security elements, which is a hologram with a laser-readable image.

A reflective layer 4 with protective elements is formed on the thermoplastic varnish layer 9. A security tag according to a first embodiment of the invention is manufactured as follows.

A protective varnish is applied to the temporary substrate 8. The thickness of the protective varnish layer is preferably 5 μm.

An optically isotropic polymer layer is applied to the protective varnish 8 with a dye introduced into its mass.

Further, optically anisotropic regions are formed on the surface of the isotropic layer. The formation of optically anisotropic regions can be performed using a plotter or by passing through a thermal transfer printer.

Thus, a layer 3 is formed with a hidden color polarizing image on a temporary substrate.

Next, an adhesive layer 5 is applied to layer 3 with a hidden color polarizing image.

In parallel, a reflective layer 4 with protective elements is manufactured.

A preferred reflective layer 4 with security elements, which is a hologram with a laser-readable image, is produced by hot stamping a metal-coated foil.

The original stamp for stamping is produced by the method of electroforming, using a relief image, which is obtained, for example, by electron beam lithography.

The metal-coated foil is a layer 9 of thermoplastic varnish coated with a metal coating (spraying). On the side of layer 9 of thermoplastic varnish, the foil is connected to a temporary carrier (not shown in FIG. 3).

After the formation of the protective elements, the metal coating is a reflective layer 4 with protective elements.

Thus, a metal-coated foil is used to form a standing reflective 4 with protective elements and a thermoplastic lacquer layer 9 of the protective mark. The reflective layer 4 with protective elements is connected to the carrier 6 by means of an adhesive joint 7. Self-adhesive paper on a siliconized substrate can be used as the carrier. After connecting to the carrier 6, the temporary carrier is removed from the thermoplastic varnish layer 9.

A layer 3 with a hidden color polarized image is connected to the reflective layer 4 with protective elements by means of an adhesive layer 5. The connection is made from the side of the reflective layer 4. After connecting the layer 3 with a hidden color polarization image with a reflective layer 4, a temporary substrate is removed from the protective varnish 8.

After that, the product is ready for further cutting and use.

As shown in FIG. 4, the security label according to the second embodiment of the invention consists of a layer 3 with a hidden color polarizing image and a reflective layer 4 with protective elements interconnected by an adhesive layer 5.

A reflective layer 4 with protective elements is formed on the thermoplastic varnish layer 9 deposited on the carrier 10. As the carrier 10, for example, a film of polyethylene terephthalate can be used.

Layer 9 of thermoplastic varnish is connected to the carrier 10.

The reflective layer 4 with protective elements according to the second embodiment of the invention is the same layer 4 with protective elements described in relation to the first embodiment of the invention and is manufactured in a similar manner.

The security label according to the second embodiment of the invention is manufactured as follows.

An optically isotropic polymer layer is applied to the protective varnish 8 with a dye introduced into its mass. Further, optically anisotropic regions are formed on the surface of the isotropic layer. The formation of optically anisotropic regions can be performed using a plotter or by passing through a thermal transfer printer.

In parallel, a reflective layer 4 with protective elements is manufactured.

The reflective layer 4 with protective elements is left on the carrier 10.

Layer 3 with a hidden color polarizing image is connected to the reflective layer 4 with protective elements by means of an adhesive layer 5.

After that, the temporary substrate is removed from the product from the side of the protective varnish 8 and the product is ready for further cutting and use.

The security label according to the second embodiment of the invention has better operational properties, in particular, is more waterproof. At the same time, the security label, according to the first embodiment of the invention, is more secure, as it is destroyed by any attempt to re-stick it from one protected product (document) to another.

In FIG. 3 and 4, hatching conventionally denote anisotropic regions made in layer 1 with a hidden color polarization image.

In accordance with the best embodiments of the invention, polyvinyl alcohol is used as the material of the layer 3 with a hidden color polarizing image.

The thickness of layer 3 with a hidden color polarization image corresponds to a quarter-wave plate and ranges from 4 to 6 microns. The concentration of the dye ("Congo red", "trypan blue", "chrysophenin") from 2 to 3 mass percent. The best technical result is achieved with a layer thickness of 3 with a hidden color polarization image of 5 μm and with a dye concentration of 2.5 weight percent.

The presence of protective elements made on the reflective layer 4 provides additional degrees of protection.

For example, a consumer can evaluate the presence of a hologram on a security tag without using any special devices.

If a laser-readable image is made on the reflective layer 4, this image can be detected by using special means. In this case, it can be determined not only where and by whom this protective label was produced, but also a specific stamp with which this image was made and, accordingly, the approximate production time and a batch of protective labels.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A security label containing a layer with a hidden polarization image and a reflective layer, while in the layer with a hidden polarization image isotropic and anisotropic regions are made, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarization image is a dichroic light polarizer based on organic salts of dichroic anionic dyes, and a layer with a hidden polarizing image has the ability to phase polarization.

2. The security label according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarizing image is a quarter-wave plate.

3. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 1 or 2, characterized in that polyvinyl alcohol is used as the material of the layer with a hidden polarizing image.

4. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 1 or 2, characterized in that the azo dye is used as a dye.

5. The security label according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the azo dye is used as a dye.

6. The security label according to paragraph 4, characterized in that "Congo red" is used as a dye.

7. The security label according to paragraph 5, characterized in that "Congo red" is used as the dye.

8. The security label according to paragraph 4, characterized in that "trypan blue" is used as a dye.

9. The security label according to paragraph 5, characterized in that "trypan blue" is used as a dye.

10. A security label according to claim 4, characterized in that “chrysophenin" is used as a dye.

11. A security label according to claim 5, characterized in that “chrysophenin" is used as a dye.

12. The security label according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the thickness of the layer with a hidden polarizing image is from 4 to 6 microns.

13. The security label according to paragraph 12, characterized in that the thickness of the layer with a hidden polarizing image is 5 microns.

14. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 12 or 13, characterized in that the dye is either Congo Red, Trypan Blue, or Chrysophenin, with a concentration of 2 to 3 weight percent.

15. The security label according to paragraph 14, wherein the dye concentration is 2.5 weight percent.

16. A security label comprising a layer with a hidden polarizing image connected to the reflective layer by means of an adhesive layer, the reflecting layer being made in the form of a layer of thermoplastic varnish with a metal coating, and isotropic and anisotropic regions are made in the layer with the hidden polarizing image, characterized in that the hidden polarization image layer is a dichroic light polarizer based on organic salts of dichroic anionic dyes, and the hidden polarization layer m has the ability to image the polarization phase.

17. A security label according to paragraph 16, characterized in that polyvinyl alcohol is used as the material of the layer with a hidden polarizing image.

18. The security label according to paragraph 17, characterized in that the thickness of the layer with a hidden polarizing image is from 4 to 6 microns.

19. The security label according to paragraph 18, characterized in that the thickness of the layer with a hidden polarizing image is 5 μm.

20. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 17, 18 or 19, characterized in that either "Congo red" or "Trypan blue" or "Chrysophenin" with a concentration of from 2 to 3 weight percent is used as a dye.

21. The security label according to paragraph 20, wherein the dye concentration is 2.5 weight percent.

22. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarizing image is connected by means of an adhesive layer to a layer of thermoplastic varnish of the reflective layer.

23. A security label according to claim 20, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarizing image is connected by means of an adhesive layer to a layer of thermoplastic varnish of the reflective layer.

24. A security label according to any one of paragraphs 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarizing image is connected by means of an adhesive layer with a metal coating of the reflective layer.

25. The security label according to paragraph 20, characterized in that the layer with a hidden polarizing image is connected by means of an adhesive layer with a metal coating of the reflective layer.

26. A security label having a certain color when illuminated with unpolarized light, and containing a latent image that appears when viewing the label through a polarizing filter, which contains the background of the latent image and latent image elements, characterized in that when viewed through a linear polarizing filter and turning it, the elements of the latent image change their color and brightness, while the following options for the latent image appear: the elements of the latent image are lighter than the background, the element is hidden of the image is darker than the background and the elements of the latent image have a background color and brightness lower than the background brightness. at the same time, when inspecting the protective mark through a circular polarizing filter, the latent image background is darker than the latent image elements and the type of latent image does not depend on the rotation angle of the circular polarizing filter.