Method and system for authenticating tobacco products

• US 20020185141A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Heide, Jirko
• Application Number:
  US10/164,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185141A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/281
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/38 Machines combined with printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/601 Marking, printing or decorating cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/22 Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/26 for marking or coding completed packages

Abstract

A method and device is provided for processing an enveloping material for a tobacco product. An enveloping material is supplied to an operative range of at least one radiation source. A marking is created in at least one section of the enveloping material by subjecting the enveloping material to radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source. The marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.

Claims

1. A method for processing an enveloping material for a tobacco product, comprising:

supplying the enveloping material to an operative range of at least one radiation source; and

creating a marking in at least one section of the enveloping material by subjecting the enveloping material to radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source, wherein the marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step includes removing the material in the at least one section.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the creating step creates a perforation in the enveloping material.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step includes chemically changing the at least one section.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step includes melting the at least one section.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step transports the enveloping material over a predetermined distance during the time between two separate instances of creating at least one marking.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step focuses the radiation.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creating step creates the geometric form to reach dimensions of up to 50 μ

m.

9. A device for processing enveloping material in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising:

at least one radiation device for directing radiation onto the enveloping material, the at least one radiation device including means for creating a marking, in at least one section of the enveloping material, which marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) convex or concave regions.

10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a conveying device for transporting the enveloping material.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the radiation device comprises at least one of a CO2 laser, a YAG laser and an excimer laser.

12. A device according to claim 9, further including means for controlling at least one of the intensity, output density and energy density of the radiation.

13. A device according to claim 9, wherein the creating means comprises an element that predetermines the form of the marking.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the element comprises at least one of a diaphragm and a focusing element.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the element comprises a diffractive optical element.

16. A device according to claim 9, wherein the device is one of a cigarette rope-production machine, a filter-attachment machine, a cigarette-packaging machine and a foil-wrapping machine.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said outline has several comers with a discontinuous slope.

19. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the geometric form has dimensions of up to 50 μ

m.

20. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the geometric form has edges with a structure or sharpness in the range of 150 nm to 350 nm.

21. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the marking differs from the enveloping material by removal of the material.

22. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the marking is a perforation in the enveloping material.

23. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein a color of the marking differs from a color of the enveloping material surrounding the marking.

24. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the enveloping material comprises several markings.

25. A method for producing a cigarette, utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to claim 17.

26. A method for generating a packaging material for tobacco products utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to claim 17.

27. A method for checking authenticity of tobacco products utilizing an arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product according to claim 17.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the comparing step includes use of a magnifying device to create a visual image for the visual inspection.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of visually inspecting includes using an image-recording device and storing an image of the marking for subsequent inspection.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of visually inspecting includes stardardizing the stored image of the marking to a standard size during a subsequent image processing.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the comparison step compares at least one of the visual image, the stored image and the standardized image to a predetermined additional image.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising a step of storing the additional image in a computer system that is removed from a location of the visual inspection.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the comparison step comprises selecting the additional image with the aid of additional data.

35. A method according to claim 28, wherein the comparison step includes outputting a signal as a result of the comparison, the signal indicating whether a product is authentic or a counterfeit product.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the image-recording device comprises an enlarging element.

38. A system according to claim 36, wherein the storage device comprises means for digitizing the recorded image.

39. A system according to claim 36, wherein the storage device comprises a data bank.

40. A system according to claim 36, wherein the comparator is a computer or a computer component.

17. An arrangement for authenticating a tobacco product, comprising:

an enveloping material for the tobacco product; and

a marking in least one section of the enveloping material, wherein the marking has a geometric form with an outline having at least one of (a) a discontinuous slope in some sections and (b) concave or convex regions.

28. A method for verifying the authenticity of a product in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising the steps of:

visually inspecting a marking affixed to an enveloping material for the product; and

comparing the marking to a marking predetermined for the product.

36. A system for verifying the authenticity of products in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising:

an image-recording device;

a storage device in which images are stored in the form of predetermined storage data;

a data link for coupling the image-recording device to the storage device;

a comparator for comparing an image recorded by the image-recording device to the data in the storage device; and

an output device coupled to the comparator for displaying the comparison.