SECURITY LABEL LAMINATE AND METHOD OF LABELING

• US 20100025476A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Authentix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Widzinski, Thomas J. JR., Hodder, David A., Olm, Myra T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0213 Concealed data
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0294 where the change is not permanent, e.g. labels only readable under a special light, temperature indicating labels and the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0341 having label sealing means

Abstract

A labeling method for marking a product with invisible information. The label includes a removable laminate formed from a light transmissive layer, and a light transmissive adhesive that detachably affixes the label to a product. The label includes an invisible marker that contains information, detectable by light of selected wavelength. The amount of marker selected is sufficient to allow information in the marker to be detected only when the laminate is affixed over a surface with a selected optical background. The label laminate is removed from the surface of the product and affixed to a surface having the selected optical background and is exposed to light that renders the information in the marker detectable. The method allows covert information in the label laminate to be reliably detected and read with the use of minimal quantities of marker material.

Claims

1. A label containing invisible information, comprising:

a label laminate including a light transmissive layer of sheet material, and a light transmissive layer of adhesive that detachably affixes said sheet material layer to a surface; and

an amount of invisible marker that contains invisible information that is detectable by light having a selected wavelength, wherein the amount of marker selected is sufficient to allow information in the marker to be detected only when the laminate is affixed over a background surface that provides a selected, non-interfering optical background.

2. The label of claim 1, wherein the invisible information contained by the marker is the presence or absence of the marker.

3. The label of claim 1, wherein the invisible information contained by the marker is in a pattern formed by the marker.

4. The label of claim 1, wherein said marker is incorporated in or on said layer of adhesive.

5. The label of claim 1, wherein said marker is incorporated in or on said layer of sheet material.

6. The label of claim 1, wherein said marker is incorporated between said layer of adhesive and said layer of sheet material.

7. The label of claim 1, further comprising a label substrate having a surface that the layer of adhesive detachably affixes said sheet material layer to, wherein an optical background provided by the surface of the label substrate conceals the visibility of the marker and interferes with the readability of the data contained within the marker.

8. The label of claim 1, wherein the selected optical background is a white background.

9. The label of claim 1, wherein the layer of sheet material includes more than one marker.

10. The label of claim 1, wherein said marker is formed from one of a fluorescent, phosphorescent and infrared absorbing material such that said information becomes detectable when exposed to light of the selected wavelength.

11. A method for labeling products and product packages with invisible information, comprising the steps of:

providing a label laminate that includes a layer of light transmissive sheet material with a light transmissive layer of adhesive that detachably affixes said sheet material layer to a surface;

providing an amount of invisible marker to one of said sheet material and said adhesive that contains invisible information that is detectable by light having a selected wavelength, wherein the amount of marker selected is sufficient to allow information in the marker to be detected only when the laminate is affixed over a surface that provides a selected, non-interfering optical background;

detachably affixing said laminate over a first surface of one of a label substrate or product or product package;

removing said laminate from said first surface of one of a label substrate or product or product package and placing said marker over a second surface having said selected optical background; and

exposing said marker with light having said selected wavelength to detect said invisible information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second surface having said selected optical background is a surface having uniform, diffusely reflective properties.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second surface having said selected optical background surface is a white surface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said first surface that said label laminate is affixed to is a label substrate that conceals said invisible information, and interferes with the detection of said information in said marker.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the information contained in said marker is the presence or absence of said marker.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the invisible information contained by the marker is in a pattern formed by the marker.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said invisible information becomes readable when exposed to a selected wavelength of one of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light, and wherein said reading device exposes said marker to said selected wavelength.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said marker is formed from one of a fluorescent, phosphorescent and infrared absorbing material.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said layer of sheet material includes at least two markers that include invisible data, and wherein the invisible data becomes detectable when said markers are exposed to different wavelengths of one of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said marker is applied to one or both of said light transmissive sheet material and light transmissive layer of adhesive by printing via one or more of thermal transfer, flexography, gravure, offset and inkjet.