WO2019206549A1

WO2019206549A1 - Security label for protecting codes

Info

Publication number: WO2019206549A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/057673
Authority: WO
Inventors: Riccardo Fadiga
Original assignee: Arca Etichette Spa
Priority date: 2018-04-27
Filing date: 2019-03-27
Publication date: 2019-10-31
Also published as: IT201800004918A1

Abstract

A security label (10) for protecting a code (P) printed on a surface (F) of a physical medium, comprising a first layer (20) and a second layer (30) which adheres to the first layer (20) and can be removed from it. The particularity of the invention resides in that the first layer (20) is adapted to adhere to the surface (F) on which the code (P) is printed by means of an adhesive lower face (22) provided with first latent control writing, the first layer (20) comprising a window (21) adapted to be superimposed on the code (P), and in that the second layer (30) adheres to the first layer (20) with a proximal face (33) provided with second latent control writing (40) which, in case of removal of the second layer (30), is visible both on the second layer (30) and on the first layer (20), the second layer (30) being nontransparent at least in a central portion (34) superimposed on the window (21).

Description

SECURITY LABEL FOR PROTECTING CODES

The present invention relates to a security label.

More precisely, the present invention relates to a security label for protecting a code printed on the surface of a physical medium, particularly but not exclusively for protecting a code printed on paper.

In the banking sector, but not only, the need often arises to send to a customer a security code, such as for example the PIN (Personal Identification Number) required for the activation and/or use of cards (credit cards, prepaid cards, magnetic cards for withdrawals at automatic teller machines, etc.) or of electronic payment methods, or of computer-based services (such as e-banking services).

These codes are normally sent by printing the code and mailing it by post or courier.

Of course, the problem arises of ensuring that the code can be viewed only by the recipient customer and that in all the steps of printing and transport it cannot be viewed accidentally by third parties or fraudulently by ill-intentioned individuals.

The same problem occurs also in sectors other than the banking sector, in any other situation in which it is necessary to transmit securely a printed code, for example for the activation or renewal of services of any kind.

Today the security of the sending of the code is ensured by means of various methods.

A first known method for the protected transmission of codes consists in printing on a sheet a black rectangle (or a rectangle provided with a particular dark print known in the jargon as "masking pattern") and making adhere thereto a transparent label on which the code with black, point- like and spaced characters is then printed. In this manner, the lack of color contrast between the code and the underlying rectangle makes the code unreadable as long as the label remains adherent to the sheet. In order to read the code it is therefore necessary to remove the label and position it on a light background. Sometimes tamper-evident devices, which leave indelible marks if the label is removed, are associated with the label.

This known method has the disadvantage of being very expensive, since it is necessary to manufacture or purchase adapted sheets provided with the dark box and with the transparent label already applied.

Furthermore, reading the code is very difficult for the customer.

Another disadvantage of this known method resides in that the code remains visible on the removed label and not on the sheet.

A second known method for the protected transmission of codes consists in printing the code with a dot matrix printer on a multilayer copy paper form. In practice, a sealed form is prepared which comprises inside adjacent surfaces made of copy paper; the code is then imprinted on one of the internal surfaces by means of the action applied by the dot matrix printer on an external wall of the form, which is appropriately blackened or protected by a masking pattern print.

This second known method also is rather expensive and scarcely practical, since it is necessary to produce or purchase sheets provided with an adapted multilayer copy paper form.

Furthermore, an adapted dot matrix printer is required to print the code.

Another disadvantage of this second known method resides in that it is not possible to check the correct printout of the code and in practice once the multilayer form is opened the code is sometimes not perfectly visible to the customer.

A third known method for the protected transmission of codes consists in printing the code on a normal sheet, with an ordinary laser or inkjet printer, and covering with a protection of the type known as "scratch- off, (i.e., of the type that can be removed by abrasion). These protections are normally constituted by a label provided with a first transparent protective layer covered by a second nontransparent layer which can be removed by scratching it with a hard object (for example a coin). Sometimes tamper-evident devices are associated with the label and leave indelible marks if the label is removed.

This third method of the known type is particularly expensive, since the provision of the scratch-off technology is a per se rather complicated and expensive and requires appropriate machines and lines for the application of the label to the sheet.

Furthermore, scratch-off technology, which is widely used in the field of games and lotteries, is generally scarcely welcome in the banking sector.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the background art described above, devising a security label for protecting a code that ensures high security and at the same time flexibility in use.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a security label that ensures optimum legibility of the code.

Another object of the invention is to provide a security label that allows to transmit a code securely on ordinary paper sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a security label that allows to protect a code printed on various types of physical media.

Another object of the invention is to provide a security label that is easy to provide and economically competitive if compared with the background art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the protected transmission of a code on a physical medium that is alternative and more practical than the background art.

This aim, the objects mentioned and others which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a security label for protecting a code printed on a surface of a physical medium, comprising a first layer and a second layer which adheres to said first layer and can be removed from it, characterized in that said first layer is adapted to adhere to the surface on which the code is printed by means of an adhesive lower face provided with first latent control writing, said first layer comprising a window adapted to be superimposed on said code,

and in that said second layer adheres to said first layer with a proximal face provided, in a peripheral portion that is not superimposed on said window, with second latent control writing which, in case of removal of said second layer, is visible both on said second layer and on said first layer, said second layer being nontransparent at least in a central portion superimposed on said window.

This aim and these and other objects are also achieved by a method according to claim 9.

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a security label, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a security label according to the invention, applied to a surface;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the label of Figure 1 during a step of removal of the second layer;

Figure 3 is a disassembled view of an enlarged- scale detail of the label of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a possible form of storage of labels according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of possible latent control writing.

With reference to the figures, the security label for protecting a code P printed on a surface F of a physical medium, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, comprises a first layer 20 and a second layer 30 which adheres to the first layer 20 and can be removed from the latter.

It is useful to specify right now that the term "code" is understood, in a fully general manner, to reference a code of any type, whether alphanumeric or a bar code or graphic code and more generally any sign, letter, numeral or symbol or any combination thereof.

The expression "physical medium" refers to any object that has a surface F on which the code is printed (or equivalently etched, drawn or reproduced), such as for example a sheet, a card (for example a phone card or a gift card or a SIM card), a package, etc.

In the shown nonlimiting example, the physical medium is constituted by a sheet that is adapted to be mailed and the code P is a numeric code that is printed on a surface F of said sheet.

According to the invention, the first layer 20 is adapted to adhere to the surface F on which the code P is visible.

Conveniently, the first layer 20 can be made of heat- shrink material so that it can be deformed irreversibly if subjected to high temperatures, for example comprised between 50 and 100°C.

In greater detail, the first layer 20 adheres to the surface F with a lower face 22, i.e., the lower face 22 of the first layer 20 is arranged in contact with the surface F of the sheet, at the code P, attaching itself thereto.

The lower face 22 of the first layer 20 is adhesive, so as to provide adhesion to the surface F, and is provided with first latent control writing (an example of possible latent control writing S 1 with which the lower face can be provided is shown in Figure 5).

The latent control writing is constituted by any mark, letter, numeral or symbol or any combination thereof, which is not visible when the first layer 20 is attached to the surface F and which remains attached or imprinted, in a substantially indelible manner, on the surface F when the first layer 20 is removed from the surface of F even just partially.

In practice, the latent control writing constitutes a tamper-evident device that leaves substantially indelible marks on the surface F and preferably also on the first layer 20 in case of removal of the first layer 20 from the surface F. In the preferred embodiment, the first latent control writing is provided with the system known in the field by the commercial name "Void".

Preferably, an adhesive 29 in which the first latent control writing is integrated is present on the lower face 22 of the first layer 20.

According to the invention, the first layer 20 furthermore comprises a window 21 that is adapted to be superimposed on the code P, making it visible if the second layer 30 is absent.

Optionally, said window can be covered by a transparent screen, such as for example a transparent polymeric film.

According to the invention, the second layer 30 adheres to the first layer 20 with a proximal face 33 which is provided, on a peripheral portion 33 that is not superimposed on the window 21, with second latent control writing 40, which if the second layer 30 is removed is visible both on said second layer 30 and on the first layer 20, as shown in Figure 2.

The proximal face 32 of the second layer 30 (i.e., the face that is adjacent to the first layer 20) is therefore in contact with the upper face of the first layer 20, fixed securely thereto.

According to the invention, the second layer 30 is nontransparent at least in a central portion 34 which is superimposed on the window 21.

In other words, the second layer 30, at least in a central portion 34, is opaque so that it is not crossed by visible light.

In the illustrated example, the central portion 34 of the first layer 34 is a rectangular area arranged at the center of said first layer 30, at the underlying window 21 , which also is rectangular.

In this manner, the central portion 34 of the second layer 30 covers the window 21, making it impossible to view the code P.

As mentioned, on the proximal face 32 of the peripheral portion 33 of the second layer 30 (i.e., the area that is in contact with the part of the first layer 20 that is not occupied by the window 21) there is second latent control writing 40 which is provided so that when the second layer 30 is removed said writing is visible, in a substantially indelible manner, both on the first layer 20 and on the second layer 30.

The expression "in a substantially indelible manner" means that it is not possible to remove it without leaving visible marks.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the second latent control writing 40 comprises a plurality of legible letters which form meaningful words that indicate that opening has occurred (in the illustrated example, the writing "ATTENTION OUVERT" and "BE CAREFUL OPENED") are provided).

In other embodiments, the second latent control writing 40 comprises other letters or other types of signs or symbols.

Advantageously, the second latent control writing 40 is made of a material 39 that provides the fixing between the first layer 20 and the second layer 30 in a manner that cannot be replicated.

The expression "the material 39 provides fixing in a manner that cannot be replicated" is understood to mean that said material 39 is no longer capable of fixing the first layer 20 to the second layer 30, not even partially, once the first layer 30 has been removed.

This occurs by virtue of the characteristics of said material 39, which is constituted by an adapted mixture of coatings and adhesive: said mixture, once fixing has been interrupted (by lifting the second layer 30), no longer has any residue of active adhesive.

In practice, the material 39 has the dual function of fixing the second layer 30 to the first layer 20 and of providing the second latent control writing 40.

It should be noted that the label 10 according to the invention is provided with two latent control writings: a first latent control writing which ensures against the separation of the first layer 20 from the surface and a second latent control writing 40 which ensures against the separation of the second layer 30 from the first layer 20.

Preferably, the second layer 30 comprises a protruding flap 50 which is adapted to be gripped and pulled in order to detach the second layer 30 from the first layer 20, as shown in Figure 2 (in the example shown, the protruding flap 50 is constituted by a tab which bears the writing "Peel- off).

Optionally, the central portion 34 of the second layer 30 that is superimposed on the window 21 is rendered opaque by a material that can be removed by abrasion, so that the removal of said removable material makes the code P visible through the second layer 30.

In practice, according to this optional characteristic, the central portion 34 comprises a panel of the type known in the field as "scratch-off', i.e., a panel which, following abrasion with a hard body (such as for example a coin), is removed or becomes transparent (having a transparent substrate covered by an opaque material that can be removed by abrasion).

According to another optional and advantageous characteristic, the label 10 comprises at least one magnetic security ink that can be detected with an electronic detection device and preferably a tamper-evident ink of a known type which can be detected with an adapted instrument.

According to another optional and advantageous characteristic, at least one between the first layer 20 and the second layer 30 is at least partly coated with a coating that can be detected with ultraviolet lamps or the like.

Each one of these two last described characteristics allows to discover any fraudulent replacement of the label 10.

In some embodiments (not shown), the label 10 comprises one or more security holograms which make counterfeiting more difficult.

Optionally, the label 10 comprises a unique security code that can be reproduced on the physical medium on which the code P is printed.

In other words, a security code can be printed on the label 10 which allows to trace the label 10 unambiguously to the physical medium to which it is applied, in order to render it traceable and/or as a further anti counterfeiting assurance.

Advantageously, it is possible to store a plurality of labels 10 on a tape 70 adapted to be stored in the form of a roll R.

An example of use of a label 10 according to the invention in a method for the protected transmission of a code P on a physical medium constituted by a sheet, useful to clarify further the operation of the invention, is briefly described hereinafter.

The code P is initially printed on a surface F of an ordinary sheet of paper, for example by means of an ordinary inkjet or laser printer.

Directly after printing, the code P is covered with the label 10, making said label 10 (and more precisely the lower face 22 of the first layer 20) adhere to the surface F of the sheet with the window 21 at the code P.

Application of the label 10 can occur by means of a dedicated machine.

Advantageously, it is possible to use, for the step of printing the code and applying the label 10, one of the known automated lines that are commercially available, which automatically print the code P, move the sheet and apply the label 10, concealing from the view of the operators the code P throughout the procedure.

Once the label 10 has been applied, the sheet can be delivered to the recipient, for example by mailing it.

During transport, the label 10 ensures that the code is not seen by anyone, by virtue of the characteristics described previously.

The recipient, once he has received the sheet, can lift the second layer 30 (as shown in Figure 2) and see the code P through the window 21 that is present on the first layer 20.

Any attempts to remove one of the layers 20, 30 are detected immediately by the recipient by virtue of the first and second latent writing 40. Obviously, as already clarified, the label 10 can be used equivalently on any other physical medium provided with a code (cards, SIM cards, various objects).

In practice it has been found that the security label according to the present invention achieves the intended aim and objects, since it ensures high security and at the same time excellent flexibility in use.

Another advantage of the security label according to the invention resides in that it ensures optimum legibility of the code.

A further advantage of the security label according to the invention resides in that it allows the transmission of a code securely on ordinary paper sheets.

Another advantage of the security label according to the invention resides in that it allows to protect a code that is printed on physical media of different types.

A further advantage of the security label according to the invention resides in that it is easy to provide and economically competitive if compared with the background art.

Another advantage of the label according to the invention resides in that it allows to provide a method for the protected transmission of a code on a physical medium that is alternative and more practical than the background art.

The security label thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102018000004918 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A security label (10) for protecting a code (P) printed on a surface (F) of a physical medium, comprising a first layer (20) and a second layer (30) which adheres to said first layer (20) and can be removed from it,

characterized in that said first layer (20) is adapted to adhere to the surface (F) on which the code (P) is printed by means of an adhesive lower face (22) provided with first latent control writing, said first layer (20) comprising a window (21) adapted to be superimposed on said code (P), and in that said second layer (30) adheres to said first layer (20) with a proximal face (33) provided, in a peripheral portion (33) that is not superimposed on said window (21), with second latent control writing (40) which, in case of removal of said second layer (30), is visible both on said second layer (30) and on said first layer (20), said second layer (30) being nontransparent at least in a central portion (34) superimposed on said window (21).

2. The label (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second latent control writing (40) is made of a material (39) which provides fixing between the first layer (20) and the second layer (30) in a manner that cannot be replicated.

3. The label (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second layer (30) comprises a protruding flap (50) which is adapted to be gripped and pulled in order to detach said second layer (30) from said first layer (20).

4. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central portion (34) of the second layer (30) that is superimposed on said window (21) is rendered opaque by a material that can be removed by abrasion, so that the removal of said removable material renders said code (P) visible through said second layer (30).

5. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one magnetic security ink which can be detected with an electronic detection device.

6. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said first layer (20) and said second layer (30) is at least partly coated with a coating that can be detected with ultraviolet lamps.

7. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one security hologram.

8. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a unique security code which can be reproduced on the physical medium on which the code (P) is printed.

9. The label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base layer (20) is provided by means of a heat- shrink material.

10. A method for the protected transmission of a code (P) on a physical medium, comprising the steps of:

a. printing the code (P) on a surface (F) of the physical medium;

b. covering the code (P) with a label (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, making said label (10) adhere to said surface (F) with said window (21) at the code (P);

c. delivering said physical medium to a recipient.