In an increasingly global world, in the production, marketing, and circulation of consumer goods of every type of marketable product, there is increasingly felt the need to defend the product or the trademark from colourable imitations, counterfeiting, and extraterritorial triangulations.
From here there arises the need for product defence, by marking each individual product with a non-reproducible and easily identifiable “fingerprint” that will enable the end customer or entrusted bodies to verify, with absolute certainty, the originality of each individual product.
Known from WO2010001203, filed in the name of the present applicant, is a unique label for counterfeiting use that can be obtained with a random distribution of particles on a substrate, for subsequent telematic reading, filing, and comparison.
This known solution leaves, however, open some requirements for greater flexibility of the process of distribution of the particles on a printing line, and for optimization of the entire cycle in order not to disperse the particles used.
A first purpose of the invention is to propose an accessory than can be applied to any printing line and is able to satisfy the requirement of a marking system for defence of products or trademarks from imitation and/or counterfeiting.
A second purpose is to propose an accessory for printing lines that is flexible in use and suitable for automatic operation on printing lines of various types that function at rates of feed that may even vary.
A third purpose is to propose a method to be implemented by means of any printing line for producing on a sheet a unique drawing by sprinkling particles with anti-counterfeiting marking function.
The purposes of the invention are achieved with an accessory and a method according to at least one of the annexed claims.
A first advantage lies in that with the accessory and method according to the invention there is obtained a marking of any individual product with a “fingerprint”, i.e., a non-reproducible and easily identifiable mark, which enables the end customer or entrusted bodies to verify, with absolute certainty, the originality of each individual product.
With reference to the attached drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention, an accessory is described, which can applied on all reel-fed printing machines and has the purpose of providing a unique and personalized drawing continuously directly on the package, on the label, or any other printed material.
There now follows a detailed description of the individual parts of the invention and of their functions to provide a non-binding example in order to illustrate the invention, the process, and the various passes of the accessory, for creating a unique mark obtained with marking particles, for example micro-drops of colour, directly on the printing line and on the reel being processed of a flexographic machine.
With reference in particular to
After it has been opened in book fashion, it is positioned an the tensioned paper of the reel 3 being processed, and has the purpose of providing a series of squares 4 preferably with a side of a few centimetres, each with a unique drawing.
These different drawings are obtained by dispersion, suction, and squeezing of encapsulated microdrops, preferably microdrops of various colours.
In the embodiment described, the invention comprises a central cylinder 19 for storing microdrops of various colours.
The cylinder can have a variable diameter according to the need of storage of the product and to the duration of continuous feed for printing. The length of the cylinder is proportional to the width of the paper on the printing line. The cylinder is closed on one side, whereas on the other a closing plug enables initial supply thereof, by pouring therein the microdrops of various colours to be spread over a square 4 previously printed with a transparent paint having a high degree of adhesiveness.
On the bottom of the central cylinder, running throughout the length, is a slot 5 of a few millimetres for outlet of the product stored therein. The slot, throughout its length, is enveloped by a series of rings of variable width 6 each of which having a slit 7 of a few centimetres, which has the purpose of adjusting the outlet and directing the microdrops of various colours in such a way that they drop directly on the underlying pyramid such as a dihedral deviator with central overflow groove and consequently, via the chute, onto the square printed with adhesive transparent paint. By rotating the rings 7 in a clockwise direction X (
The microdrops are sprinkled over the adhesive paint of the square 4 and outside said square, and then, as they advance, pass underneath a plate 2, which removes by suction the excess microdrops that have spread outside the square, whereas those that have dropped within the square remain anchored as a result of the adhesive paint. The microdrops sucked in, via a manifold 9, 10, are conveyed directly to the central sprinkling cylinder.
A vertical air barrier closes the suction plate as a guarantee that no microdrop will remain spread outside the square with adhesive paint.
As the paper advances, the square with the microdrops on top, which have adhered to the adhesive paint, passes through a roll, for example a roll coated with Rilsan 11, which via a counter-roll 12 squeezes the microdrops causing the various colours to come out thus creating a unique multicolour drawing.
The accessory is fed and functions by mere entry of compressed air illustrated in detail in
From a control unit there depart three sections of compressed air:
the first section A supplies the vertical air barrier of the suction plate 2;
the second section B is connected via pipes to five mouths 14 of the suction plate, which, after sucking in the excess microdrops of colour that have dropped outside the square 4 with adhesive paint, conveys them to the central cylinder via the manifold 9;
in the third section C there departs a pipe 15 connected to the suction mouth 16 of the pyramid 17, positioned on the side facing the direction of feed of the paper.
The mouth 16 sucks in the microdrops of colour that have spread outside the square 18 and conveys them into the central cylinder via the manifold 9 and the pipe 15.
Finally, from the third section D there departs a pipe that supplies a hammer set on the central cylinder, which has the function of levelling by shaking them the microdrops of colour stored inside.
A cyclone pre-filter 20 for outlet of the suction air completes the compressed-air cycle.
In the graphic printing, at start-up of the machine, the paper starts at a minimum rate of feed and then reaches a standard rate that is around 60-80 m per minute. It is thus important to regulate the dosage, amount, and distribution of the microdrops of colour as a function of the rate of feed of the paper. In
This adjustment enables always a constant number of microdrops of colour to be obtained within the squares 4 with adhesive paint.
As it advances further, the square with the microdrops 22 passes through a series of rolls 11, 12, which squeeze the microdrops of colour creating an original and non-reproducible unique drawing 23 (
In summary, the accessory illustrated in
This cylinder is enveloped by a series of perforated outer rings that regulate the flow and dispersion of the material. An intermittently operated hammer levels the product within the reservoir. Positioned underneath the cylinder is a pyramid (e.g. a dihedral deviator) with a central groove, which, by being displaced, has the purpose of conveying, dosing and directing, via the chutes, the material to be spread on the square. Next, a suction plate complete with an air barrier is placed for removing the excess product spread outside the square. The plate is connected via pipes to a manifold with an air-outlet mouth, which recovers the material sucked in and deposits it in the central cylinder. The accessory is completed by a series of rolls with collecting doctor's blade for squeezing the microdrops.
The accessory described above, owing to its simplicity and possibility of industrial application, constitutes an innovative and complementary element in the sector of graphic printing, adding further value and meeting anticounterfeiting or marketing requirements on each individual print or packaging. In practice, some details of the invention and of the method described may vary according to the need of application and of overall dimensions of each individual printing machine and their operativeness, without departing from the sphere of protection and hence from the scope of the invention.
With reference to
In the embodiment described the accessory comprises means for sprinkling on an adhesive portion 4 of the sheet of paper an adjustable amount of particles 49 designed to define a unique pattern identifying the portion 4 and any object to which it is applied.
Preferably, the particles 49 are constituted by microdrops of colour encapsulated in a brittle protective shell.
Still more preferably, the adhesive portion 4 is obtained by means of a layer of water paint or the like, and the encapsulated microdrops constitute water-soluble microgranules designed to dissolve, i.e., release the colour contained therein, once in contact with the water-based paint.
In the preferred embodiment described, delivery of the particles occurs by means of a reservoir 33, which is set above the sheet 32, with a top lid 52 and terminates at the bottom with one or more nozzles 36 for sprinkling the particles on the vertex 34 of a deviator 35.
Advantageously, the nozzles 36 are distributed in width (i.e., in the direction coming out of the plane of the drawing) according to the size of the sheet 32 and the position of the portions 4 and are controlled by a regulating system 40 for varying the outlet port for outlet of the particles 49.
Preferably, the reservoir 33 is provided with a hammer 39 that is able to strike the reservoir and prevent lumping of the particles contained therein.
According to the invention, the deviator 35 is shaped like an elongated pyramid, extending for at least part of the width of the sheet 32 and consequently has a double chute, a first chute 37 facing upstream and a second chute 38 facing downstream with respect to the direction of feed of the sheet 32.
Advantageously, the deviator 35 can be positioned in an adjustable way with respect to the nozzle 36 in order to be able to regulate the amount of particles delivered from the reservoir, which are to be deviated on the first chute 37 or on the second chute 38, respectively.
With this solution it is possible to adjust or synchronize the amount of particles that are to slide down the first chute 37 and drop on the portion 4, according to the rate of feed of the sheet 32.
For example, the accessory can envisage one or more nozzles 36 provided with an adjustment screw 40 for opening/closing the passage of the particles and can moreover comprise a mechanism 41 for millimetric shifting of the pyramid 36 for adjustment of the position of said deviator.
In a preferred embodiment, there may moreover be provided automatic means for adjusting the position of the deviator 36 according to the rate of feed of the sheet 32 and the amount of particles 49 that are to drop on the adhesive portion 4.
Moreover, provided downstream of the delivery of the microdrops 49 are means for intake of the excess particles that have spread outside said portion 4 and the particles deviated on the second chute 38.
Preferably, the suction and recirculation means comprise a suction device 47 set downstream of the second chute 38 of the deviator 36 with respect to the direction of feed of the sheet of paper and provided with means 42 for adjustment in height, constituted, for example, by screw elements 42 capable of raising or lowering, with respect to a fixed base 51, a plate 50 fixed with respect to the suction device 47.
It is understood that the term “suction device” is meant to indicate one or more suction mouths distributed above the sheet 32 for collecting the particles deposited thereon.
The suction and recirculation means further comprise an assembly 45 provided with an air-outlet filter 48 and designed to collect the residual particles sucked in by the suction device 47 and conveyed into the assembly 45 through a manifold 43, which is in turn connected via pipes 44 to the suction device 47 and is connected, at outlet, to the reservoir 33 via a pipe 46 for reintegration therein of the recovered particles.
Finally, provided downstream of the suction device 47 are means for stabilizing the particles sprinkled on the adhesive portion 4.
The solutions that can be adopted for stabilizing the particles are, for example, of the type already described previously, and in particular can comprise rolls functionally similar to the rolls 11, 12 suitable for squeezing the encapsulated microdrops, and drying lamps for drying the liquid component of the drops.
With reference to
The printing method described can in part meet two requirements that are markedly felt and of current importance in the sector of counterfeiting and marketing. The first and most important is to provide a unique and non-reproducible mark on each individual product as a guarantee of originality, and for countering colourable imitation. The other is the need for graphic novelty for marketing purposes in order to meet the requirements for new printing solutions for packaging so as to provide a distinctive presentation with respect to competitors in exhibiting products and at the same time provide a marked visual appeal. The method amply meets the aforesaid two requirements, enabling creation, during graphic printing, of a coloured pattern obtained with a very simple technique of application.
For example, in the case of a unique recognition pattern, a square 4 is printed with water-based transparent paint (
Microgranules 49 of pigment of various water-soluble colours are sprinkled over the square (
Advantageously, each pattern is unique and non-repeatable since it is created by the randomness of sprinkling of the microgranules of coloured pigments on the paint.
There now follows a detailed presentation of the various steps of the method. These steps are implemented progressively during feeding of the paper and directly on the standard printing line of the graphic printing machine. Described hereinafter by way of example that in no way limits the effects of the invention is the creation of a unique coloured pattern with a side of a few centimetres on self-adhesive paper, which can then be applied on any product and serves as “fingerprint” to defend originality and for a future anti-counterfeiting check. First a square with a side of 2 cm is printed with a transparent water-based paint having a specific formulation, which undergoes a fast drying under standard heat lamps installed on the printing machine (
As the paper is fed, the square with the paint passes underneath a sprinkling cylinder 54, which sprinkles the microgranules of water-soluble pigment of various colours, which are distributed inside the square itself and around it (
The square with the corresponding coloured pattern then passes underneath a heat lamp 55, which fixes and dries it (
In summary, the method illustrated in
The method described represents an absolute novelty in the field of graphic printing since it affords the possibility of departing from production in series and of personalizing each individual print. The simplicity of application, directly on a standard printing line, renders the method highly advantageous from the economic standpoint and adaptable at an industrial level to the various printing machines of both the flexographic and the roto-offset sectors.
To complete and enhance the unique pattern described, there now follows, merely by way of information that in no way limits the method itself, a summary of possible steps for personalizing the unique pattern that meets requirements of protection against counterfeiting and enables check of originality of the product. After painting, using a laser printer an encrypted algorithmic alphanumeric number 60 and a two-/three-dimensional code 61 are combined with the unique pattern for identification and filing thereof in a central storage system (
When the unique pattern is applied to the product, it constitutes a “fingerprint” proper thereof, guaranteeing originality and with the possibility for the consumer or an inspector, with an ordinary mobile-phone apparatus, to send the alphanumeric code or the photograph of the unique pattern to the central filing system, which, in real time, compares it with the data previously filed and sends the result of the comparison. The novelty of this unique print is the absolute certainty of recognizing the original print from a copy. The unique pattern is generated by mixing pure pigments, which overlapping create nuances of colour with various hues that are impossible to replicate, while in the reproduction of graphic or digital prints the hues are generated with the four base colours by dithering or by the pixels. Thus, the original pattern can be readily distinguished from the counterfeited one by the presence of the dithering or the pixels.
In practice, some details of the invention and of the method described herein may vary according to the requirements of size and visibility of each unique pattern, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection and hence the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
BI2011A000003 | May 2011 | IT | national |
BI2011A000004 | Jun 2011 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT2012/000119 | 4/24/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/29/2013 |