WO2022106257A1

WO2022106257A1 - Anti-counterfeiting system of the perfected type

Info

Publication number: WO2022106257A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/081070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardo BARNI; Valter Scolaro
Original assignee: Nanotech System S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-11-18
Filing date: 2021-11-09
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Also published as: IT202000027612A1

Abstract

The present Invention refers to a procedure for certifying the authenticity of goods, especially in the field of textile articles. Depending on the form of implementing the invention and the procedure, it is possible to raise the level of control of the authenticity of a textile article also without the use of a label on which to place specific distinctive graphic elements. The procedure makes use of perfected pad-printing techniques and a specific chemical formulation of an ink, as well as a portable device which can be connected to a smartphone.

Description

Anti-counterfeiting system of the perfected type

The invention takes shape within the techniques and procedures used to trace and certify the authenticity of the products made by industry and small trades processing raw materials; in this case here are revealed procedures and specialised machinery in the complete range of textile and leather products, including products of the footwear industry.

The description of the various forms of implementation of the present invention is here revealed for illustrative purposes and is not meant to be completely exhaustive or limited to the form of implementation described herein. In addition, all the possible changes of an obvious nature of the invention and of its field of application carried out by experts in the sector, do not limit the terms of protection of the patent itself.

Counterfeiting is today one of the most widespread illicit activities in the world; this activity causes enormous damage to production chains. In some cases the damage is so evident as to cause difficulties to entire brands at the national and international level, generating confusion also for final customers, who are exposed to the objective risk of purchasing non-original products which may be dangerous to use.

Counterfeiting increases illicit traffic and professionally de-qualifies the subjects involved in these operations, promoting the performance of professional activities outside the contractual rules and the guarantee of the inalienable rights of workers. In addition, the materials with which such products are made are frequently of low quality and without safety controls. The damage extends to the image of a company’s brand and assumes a dimension that goes well beyond that related to the failure to sell products at the retail level.

One of the sectors most affected by counterfeiting is that of textile products such as clothing and footwear, and all their derivatives. Italy, in particular, is one of the countries most exposed to this illicit activity, because the fashion industry is a strategic asset of fundamental significance for its economy, thanks also to the presence around the country of hundreds of fashion brands known all over the world.

In any textile article, for example a shirt or a scarf, authenticity is generally guaranteed by the label sewn on the said article. This shows the producer’s trademark/logo and the information on the material(s) of which it is made, often completed by further indications on washing and the geographical indication of the production facility.

Consumers, including those legally classified as “informed users”, trusts these indications but do not have any other guarantees on the originality of the goods purchased, other than those provided by the personnel of the authorised sales point.

It is obvious that on these premises counterfeiting can work with great freedom, producing copies apparently altogether similar to those of the great brands and making it very difficult for end users to understand, even after a careful examination of the product, that they are looking at a non-original article. A typical example of the damage caused to users and of the danger of this scenario is the possible toxicity of a number of pigments of the threads making up the product, toxicity absorbed by the human body through contact with the skin.

At the State of the Art a number of solutions of a technological nature have been introduced and these are capable of guaranteeing the authenticity of an article of clothing; the international application EP3076332A2 for example, reveals a procedure which, through the use of a smartphone camera and an Internet connection, makes it possible to verify the presence of a particular and unique graphic element on the label of an article of clothing ( ). The specific detection of a luminescence of the graphic element and the interpretation of a code associated with it, after it has been verified in a specific database which can be consulted online, guarantees users that they are looking at an original product. The Japanese Application JP2000148898A also involves the use of an anti-counterfeiting element not visible to the naked eye, while the Application WO2019246251A2 involves the use of pigments, also of a photoluminescent type, in a process of joining two separate elements. The Italian Application 102013902134757 similarly involves a traceability process thanks to a computer network in which the connected devices recognise a unique identification element linked to a product.

The advantages of the procedure involved in patent EP3076332A2 are evident, but just as evident are certain limits of this procedure, limits regarding the level of practicality and security offered.

An undesirable characteristic of the application EP3076332A2 is the need to have a regular and compact physical support on which the graphic elements containing the guarantees of the authenticity of the article can be reproduced well. This support, therefore, must guarantee an excellent yield in the resolution for the printing of the graphic anti-counterfeiting element.

It is clear, therefore, that the presence of a label on the garment is essential to guarantee the authenticity of the same; if an adverse event separates the label from the garment, the latter would no longer have any possibility of being certified and recognised as original.

A further annotation on the application EP3076332A2 arises from the fact that the network connection must always be present to be able to certify via a smartphone the authenticity of an article; if there is no connection there is not even a minimum guarantee of this requisite. In addition, the use of photoluminescent pigments in the form of alphanumeric or graphic codes is already known in the technical field, but there are areas of application in which the performance of these pigments can still be fruitfully strengthened in order to widen their scope of use, also through the use of machinery of a perfected type.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the limits shown by the anti-counterfeiting technique divulged by the application EP3076332A2 for the purpose of defining a specific proceeding, machinery and chemical composition of a graphic element to determine the originality of a product, in particular in the variety of the articles of the textile and footwear industry.

The invention involves a specific chemical composition for the production of a unique graphic element to be placed directly on the fabric of any garment, with a luminescence in the visible band, when energised using a stand-alone device or connected to a smartphone, by Ultraviolet radiation. The unique graphic element produced by the idea of the invention is placed on the garment through pad printing of a perfected type by the use of a specific cliché.

The main advantages of the procedure and the devices according to the idea of the invention are listed below:

It is no longer necessary to prepare an adequate support on which to print the graphic element for anti-counterfeiting, for example a label.

The ink resulting from the idea of the invention has a smaller amount of photoluminescent pigments dissolved in it with respect to the State of the Art. This characteristic enables effective printing on atypical supports.

The luminescence in the visible band of the unique graphic element for anti-counterfeiting is limited to a specific energizing band in the field of Ultraviolet waves.

The unique graphic element for anti-counterfeiting presents different levels of certification of the originality of an article, some of which are released by an online verification through connected HW devices and SW systems.

The anti-counterfeiting procedure of the present invention can be used effectively also in fields of application other than textiles and leather goods.

The printing system perfected according to the idea of the invention is easily implementable in the pad-printing machinery of the State of the Art, when opportunely modified.

The table of the Drawings is integrated into the documentation of this application in order to exemplify the characteristics of the present innovation, also showing variants in the application described therein; in this case:

Fig.1

shows the conceptual model of the Prior Art EP3076332A2.

Fig.2

shows the amount of pigments in the ink resulting from the idea of the invention before the Ultrasound treatment.

Fig.3

shows the amount of pigments in the ink resulting from the idea of the invention after the Ultrasound treatment.

Fig.4

shows the device that emits Ultraviolet rays according to the idea of the invention.

Fig.5

shows a further form of production of the the device that emits Ultraviolet rays according to the idea of the invention.

Fig.6

shows a portion of the printing cliché according to the idea of the invention.

Fig.7

shows the cliché and the pad-moving system of a pad-printing machine resulting from the idea of the invention.

Fig.8

shows the anti-counterfeiting process resulting from the idea of the invention.

Fig.9

shows a further detail of the pad-printing machine resulting from the idea of the invention.

Fig.10

10 shows a thread with the anti-counterfeiting element placed on it according to the idea of the invention.

Fig.11

11 shows a garment with the anti-counterfeiting element placed on it according to the idea of the invention.

The physical parameters of the present Description conform with the International System of Units of Measurement (S.I.)

Depending on the form of implementing the invention a particular formulation of inks is developed; these have within them inorganic luminescent compounds, already known at the State of the Art, which react to an emission of a partial interval of electromagnetic radiation found in the Ultraviolet range. The reaction to this exposure is the emission of light in the range of the visible frequencies, that is a phenomenon of photoluminescence.

Exposure to natural light, on the contrary, does not energise the pigments contained in the ink which remains transparent, or almost invisible.

Table no.1 summarises some of the salient characteristics of the pigments used by the invention, which belong to the category of aromatic heterocycles.

These photoluminescent pigments are also not toxic or harmful during normal situations of use.

Photoluminescent pigments with crystalline structure are produced starting from elements known as Rare Earths (inactive Aluminates and Carbonates of Europium/Strontium). These pigments are absorbed into the ink resulting from the idea of the invention via a solvent, for example Toluene, and an acrylic-based or polyurethane-based binder.

The standard formulation, therefore, is made up as follows: Strontium Aluminate + Photoluminescent Pigment + Potassium Metasilicate. The Potassium Metasilicate provides the necessary stability to the water.

An example of the formulation of a photoluminescent ink according to the idea of the invention is: SrAl2O4 [Strontium Aluminate]: Eu2+ [Europium] + K2SiO3 [Potassium Metasilicate].

The ion of Europium Eu2+ when it is subjected to electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength of 365nm (Ultraviolet Long Waves) emits a luminescence in the visible with a wavelength at 680nm, that is a red light.

Depending on the use of various types of photoluminescent pigments diluted in the ink, therefore, it is possible to generate a different range of colours emitted in the visible; these different colours can therefore generate a wide range of unique markers for anti-counterfeiting. Each spectrography (therefore each visible colour) thus becomes unique for each type of Client/Application.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention specific and innovative processing of these pigments dissolved in the ink is introduced; this enables an improved yield of their characteristics, all to the advantage of applicability in various types of supports. [026] This processing consists of a process of fragmentation at the micrometric level of the pigments through the emission of ultrasounds. The use of ultrasonic transducers in the range of frequencies of around 100Khz, in special containers prepared to contain the ink, makes it possible to subject the same to the phenomenon of Cavitation.

Cavitation is a physical phenomenon that consists of the formation of micro-bubbles of gas, owing to the low hydrostatic pressure, inside a a fluid; when this ceases the micro-bubbles implode causing high mechanical stress in the fluid.

The result of cavitation phenomena is the mechanical breakage of the solid elements contained in the fluid and an increase in the temperature. In ( ) it is possible to see the result of this ultrasonic application to the ink resulting from the present invention, if compared with the same before this procedure ( ). It is evident that the dimensions of the particles of pigment have been extremely reduced to a size < = 1um, improving in this way also the performance of the ink at the level of resistance, uniformity and implementation and providing, in addition, a high degree of transparency, a characteristic much desired in the field of anti-counterfeiting.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention this improvement in performance through Ultrasound treatment is absolutely necessary, if compared to the State of the Art, for an appropriate use of the ink in the fields of application where the patent EP3076332A2 would not be adequate for the purpose; for this reason a result of the idea of the invention is also a new procedure and machinery that enables specific pad-printing of the unique graphic element chosen for the anti-counterfeiting.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention a device capable of generating the chosen Ultraviolet frequencies (Ultraviolet Short Waves and Ultraviolet Long Waves) is therefore developed. These must be such as to perform the verification of the originality of the product on which the unique graphic element has been placed for the anti-counterfeiting verification. For practicality this electronic device is designed to be connected also to a smartphone (or similar appliance) through one of the many communication ports present in these devices, also of the wireless type.

In a form of implementing the invention, the device for emitting Ultraviolet rays is made up of one or more sources that emit Ultraviolet light (40) with their specific Drivers (42) and a Power Management system (41) in which the Physical Layer includes also a layout compatible with the wireless power supply standard, for example “Qi” (44). The device is completed by a power switch (43) a rechargeable battery (45) and a microprocessor control logic and/or ASICS, and/or FPGA with the related communication and memory interfaces (46). Use of electromagnetic fields reciprocally coupled by means of antennas, in order to recharge and/or share the energy resource of a battery, is now a widespread standard in smartphones and not only smartphones; this prerogative enables the device resulting from the idea of the invention to obtain power through this solution and to reduce the dimensions of a rechargeable battery positioned in it.

In a second form of implementing the invention, in addition, this rechargeable battery can be opportunely replaced with a SuperCap component.

In another form of implementing the invention, it is possible to use a cabled connection from a USB port or its equivalent (51) to be able to supply the electric power to the device that emits Ultraviolet rays. In this case a specific software application (APP) makes the communication port of the smartphone generate bursts of data packets on the TX line fixed to the logical value “1” which, when they are received by the device that emits Ultraviolet rays on the respective RX line, are converted through an electrical circuit acting as a calibrated low-pass filter (50) to electricity to recharge the battery or the SuperCap.

In this form of implementing the invention the USB or equivalent port remains compatible with any connection to a battery charger, because the circuit acting as a calibrated low-pass filter enables in any case the management of the Direct Current (DC) section.

In another form of implementing the invention, conveniently, the two layouts of the device that emits Ultraviolet rays (with inductive-coupling antenna and with calibrated low-pass filter) can coexist. Obviously the device that emits Ultraviolet rays, by means of an internal logic already known at the State of the Art, can dialogue with the smartphone for managing all the OSI layers of any software applications (APPs) developed for managing the anti-counterfeiting procedure according to the idea of the invention, software applications resident in the smartphone (or other similar device) which use the camera to display the photoluminescence of the unique graphic element.

According to the idea of the invention the originality of a product on which the unique graphic element is placed (a garment, for example) is given by the presence or absence of several characteristic elements, corresponding to different levels of security: 1) a detail visible to the naked eye only if energised with an Ultraviolet light in the Ultraviolet Short Wave and Ultraviolet Long Wave range, printed in any area of the garment on material of which it is made 2) One or more codes legible in the detail visible only with Ultraviolet light 3) One or more unique verification codes associated, also through network functions managed via software, with the interpretable one(s) of point 2.

It is therefore possible to obtain an adequate level of security on the determination of the originality of a textile product adding the ink made according to the idea of the invention directly onto the threads of which the garment is made.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention a procedure is defined together with machinery of a perfected type suitable for the printing procedure of the unique graphic element chosen for the anti-counterfeiting. As mentioned in the paragraph “Background Art”, this procedure must enable the chosen element to be placed also on a support that is not a label, so directly on the fabric of the garment. For this purpose a pad-printing technique is selected; in this certain technical aspects on the printing device are opportunely perfected.

Pad printing is based on the use of a heated silicon print pad which takes up, by means of contact with an inked cliché, a unique graphic element of the chosen form. Subsequently, the pad is made to adhere to the surface on which the printing of the unique graphic element is required, ensuring that the ink is released onto the same.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention the print cliché is modified introducing into it not a single graphic element, but rather a compendium of alphanumeric characters and further graphic symbols of a geometric type, such as to represent the totality of an alphabet necessary to make up all the information needed for the generation of the unique graphic element for the anti-counterfeiting.

This alphabet is therefore made up of the totality of the numbers and letters, and of a further set of graphic elements of a geometric type. Obviously in the cliché an area is also created which reproduces the distinctive element and/or the trademark of the company responsible for the anti-counterfeiting procedure. In a partial view from above of the printing cliché according to the idea of the invention is visible.

In the generation of the unique graphic element for the anti-counterfeiting, by way of example, in order to obtain less use of space it is possible to use hexadecimal-based (HEX) numbering. This choice makes it possible to reduce the number of characters necessary: the number “2020” can be represented with the HEX equivalent “7E4”.

Depending on the form of implementing the invention, the print pad (71) and its mechanical piloting system (72) has adequate mobility in space - x, y, z - so that it can be moved freely over the entire area of the cliché (70), a cliché wet by a hermetic cup with the ink resulting from the idea of the invention, and in the respective area of work.

This makes it possible to compose (on the pad) by successive passes over the cliché, the entire set of characters and geometric symbols necessary for a specific unique graphic element for the anti-counterfeiting.

According to the idea of the invention, the particular characteristic of homogeneity of the ink and the flexibility of the print pad, enable perfect definition of the anti-counterfeiting code also on the surface of fabrics that are not perfectly compact, such as shoes, trousers or pullovers, avoiding in this way the obligatory use of labels on which to fix the element of originality - see paragraph “Background Art”.

From an overall point of view, the pad-printing machine is fitted with a control logic, managed locally and in the Network, which communicates for the generation, reception and transmission of the anti-counterfeiting codes associated with the unique graphic element and further codes associated with them, so that they are managed with adequate security, for example also using a “Block Chain” type method. In addition, the pad-printing machine resulting from the idea of the invention includes the device that emits Ultraviolet rays, in order to verify the correctness of the codes printed on the products.

( ) shows the typical elements making up a procedure for anti-counterfeiting marking according to the idea of the invention. A corporate LAN and/or Wireless LAN network (80a) is made up of “n” pad-printing machines (81) according to the idea of the invention, connected to a local processing Host (82). A Gateway (83) connects the local network to a WAN (84) from which it is possible to access a system for the management and control of the authorisations for the creation of the unique graphic element, the anti-counterfeiting codes and the remote management of the pad-printing machine (85). The products to be certified (80) are processed by the pad-printing machine which applies the unique graphic element (89); only the use of an adequate Ultraviolet ray emitter (88) according to the idea of the invention enables optical verification of the originality of the product.

As the Ultraviolet ray emitter is connected to a smartphone (87), it is possible to control further levels of security and product certification thanks to an online interrogation (86) to the Hosts enabled for this procedure, that is those of the IT system. In this phase all the verification operations requested by a user and the results of the same will be recorded, memorising them through a further unique code in a dedicated Server. In the use of “Block Chain” protection systems the codes of the closed blocks, generated by the anti-counterfeiting checks, will instead be redistributed according to this security procedure.

The procedure according to the idea of the invention guarantees complete compatibility with the use of interactive graphic elements of small dimensions, already known at the State of the Art, such as “BARCODES” and/or “QRCODES” or similar, if the support chosen for the printing (for example a label) enables high compatibility for the resolution required.

In another form of implementing the invention the pad-printing machine works on the threads, printing the ink, resulting from the idea of the invention, on the surface of the same also in a specific graphic mode deriving from the composition of the printing cliché. Conveniently this printing procedure can take place cyclically on the whole length of the thread, with a variable frequency of repetition. The parts of the garment made up of the threads processed according to the idea of the invention, to the naked eye, will not be distinguishable from the parts in which the thread has not been treated. Only through the use of the device that emits Ultraviolet rays it is possible to reveal their presence and therefore, certify a first level of originality.

For this purpose, the pad-printing machine resulting from the idea of the invention is made ready for “n” winders/unwinders for reels of yarn (90)(91). The working area of the pad (94) is prepared at its ends with opportune guides for entry and exit of threads of a tubular shape (92)(93). The guides enable the alignment of the threads in the working area of the pad. With a single printing process, that is with a single descent of the pad on the working area, it is possible to process “n” threads belonging each to a different reel.

In ( ) is a magnified detail of the thread processed according to the idea of the invention. The body of the thread (100) is marked by the ink transferred by the pad in one or more pre-set zones (101)(102).

By way of example an application of the use of the threads is illustrated; these are processed with the ink resulting from the idea of the invention, in the creation of a garment. The sleeve of a shirt (110) presents a visible aesthetic decoration represented by a stitch at the height of the elbow (113). In the same zone, however, there is a further element, of a characteristic shape, inserted by the manufacturer using a thread identical to that of the fabric of the garment but treated with the anti-counterfeiting procedure of the present invention. This element (112) will be visible only if illuminated with the device that emits Ultraviolet rays (111).

In addition to this anti-counterfeiting element, it is possible to add a unique graphic element according to the methods already revealed in the previous paragraphs.

The procedures involved in the present invention are of choice in textile products and leather goods when a high level of guarantee of the originality is required. The possibility of marking an article of clothing and/or footwear without the use of a label also makes it possible to hide from the naked eye the position of this element of originality.

According to what is revealed by the invention it is in any case possible to use this procedure on a wide range of products, also of the non-textile type.

Citation List follows:

EP3076332A2

IT 102013902134757

WO2019246251A2

JP2000148898A

Claims

Anti-counterfeiting procedure of a product based on the generation of a unique graphic element made by an ink, not visible in natural light, wherein: i) the ink contains photoluminescent pigments in the visible band when subjected to an electromagnetic radiation in the Ultraviolet range, ii) the ink is applied using a pad printing machine and detectable through one smartphone and / or other Hardware processing data device, also connected to a LAN and/or WAN Network, iii) the ink chemical formulation is composed of Aromatic Hydrocarbons + Acrylic Binders or Polyurethan Base + SrAl2O4 [Strontium Aluminate] + photoluminescent pigments + K2SiO3 [Potassium Metasilicate] in which the photoluminescent pigment is derived using inactive Europium / Strontium Aluminates and Carbonates, belonging to the family of Rare-Earth Metal, iv) the photoluminescent ink is subjected to a homogenization and fragmentation of photoluminescent pigments process contained therein to a size < = 1um (Fig3) by using of ultrasonic waves emitted by ultrasonic translators, v) the ink is characterized by a unique photoluminescence, depending on the type of the photoluminescent pigment, inside the visible light field - 760nm/390nm - only when subjected to an electromagnetic radiation placed in the Ultraviolet range.
Procedure of the Claim 1 wherein: i) a unique graphic element is generated, combined with one or more unique codes, in a Networked Computer System for management and control of authorization to create unique graphic elements, ii) a pad printing machine (81) connected to a LAN and/or WAN Network (82) prints the unique graphic element, received through the LAN and/or WAN Network from the Networked Computer System, using the ink containing photoluminescent pigments, iii) an Ultraviolet ray emitter (88) is placed near the print of the unique graphic element, iv) the unique graphic element emits a fluorescens in the visible band at one particular frequency, v) from the unique graphic element can be traced back one or more unique codes combined with it through a smartphone device or other mobile device (87) connecting in the Network Computer System.
Procedure of the Claim 2 in which the unique code/codes combined with the unique graphic element is managed by using “Block Chain” protection technologies.
Procedure of the Claim 2 in which the Ultraviolet ray emitter is composed by: i) one or more radiation electromagnetic sources [Fig4(40)] placed in the Ultraviolet range, ii) a driver [Fig4(42)] for the radiation electromagnetic sources placed in the Ultraviolet range, iii) a logical unit of data processing based on microprocessor and / or ASICS, and / or FPGA and one or more memory units [Fig4(46)], iv) one or more wired interfaces of bidirectional communications serial USB or similar [Fig4(43)], v) a Power Management system converting power batteries and recharging them [Fig4(41)], vi) one or more rechargeable batteries and/or SuperCap connected to Power Management [Fig4(45)], vii) a low-pass filter circuit whose output is connected to Power Management and input is connected to the RX line of the wired USB bidirectional communication port [Fig5(50)], viii) one or more antennas for inductive coupling of electromagnetic fields, also compatible with the "Qi Wireless Power Standard” or other equivalent standards [Fig4(44)].
Ultraviolet ray emitting Device of the Claim 1 equipped with a circuit charging the battery and / or SuperCap through a physical layer for the inductive mutual coupling of antennas.
Pad printing machine of the Claim 1 wherein: i) the printing plate is composed by an alphanumeric characters whole set and a geometric graphic symbol set (Fig6), ii) the printing pad is equipped with a movement system in space under three axes x, y, z such as to reach the entire area of the printing plate surface and the working area (72), iii) the working area of the print pad is laterally accompanied by one more guide of entry and exit for yarns, made by with tubular shape (92)(93), iv) outside of the working area of the printing pad one or more winders or unwinders for spools of yarns (90)(91), v) the pad printing machine is equipped with a Control Logic Unit of operational and programming functions, and a logic control for the management of communications in LAN and WAN, both wired and wireless, even for remote management, vi) the pad printing machine is equipped with one or more Ultraviolet ray emitter of the Claims 1.
Procedure of the Claim 2 in which the unique graphic element is combined with a “BARCODE” and/or “QRCODE” graphic element.
Procedure of the Claim 2 in which the unique graphic element is a “BARCODE” and/or “QRCODE” graphic element.
Application software for the procedure of the Claim 2 installable on a smartphone or other mobile device capable of connecting to a LAN and/or WAN Network, wherein: i) the software verifies the authenticity of an item for anti-counterfeiting printed on a product and made visible by the Ultraviolet ray emitter device, by using a camera and a connection to a computer system in Network, ii) the software generates data packet burst with logic level "1" in the TX transmission channel of the wired communication port when connected to the Ultraviolet ray emitter device.
Procedure of the Claim 1 wherein the photoluminescent pigments are aromatic heterocycles.