Security information and graphic image fusion

• US 8,062,737 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Communications, Inc (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Standard Register Company (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Freund, Robert Frank, Abrams, Fredric Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Bruce H
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICUS, TAMRA
• Application Number:
  US12/056,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 428/195.1
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/00 Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by using light-sensitive materials G03; electrography, magnetography G03G ; repeatedly usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing B43L1/00
• 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 3/04 to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof

Abstract

A security information and graphic image fusion system to be used with verification equipment to provide a tamper proof labeled article having security information thereon. The label comprises a printable sheet having at least one invisible IR or UV image, or both, printed thereon, at least one visible image printed thereon, and an over-coating layer thereon. The invisible IR or UV image, or both, provide security information. The visible image provides the graphic image. The label is permanently fused by an in-mold molding process to an article made of plastic, rubber or the combination thereof to render it tamper proof.

Claims

1. A system for providing and verifying security information on in-mold labeled articles, said system comprising:

an article comprising a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof;

a label permanently fused into a surface of said article during a molding process, said label comprising;

a single-layer printable sheet comprising a microporous material having a thickness of 10 mil (0.010 inches;

0.254 mm) or less, said single-layer printable sheet lacking an additional adhesive substance on a fusion surface of said single-layer printable sheet;

at least one printed image on a first surface of said single-layer printable sheet, said at least one printed image comprising a security feature that provides security information;

a layer of a cured polymeric material disposed over said first surface and said at least one printed image, the combination of said microporous material and said layer of cured polymeric material increasing the surface coefficient of friction and tensile strength of said single-layer printable sheet so as to resist movement and stretching of said single-layer printable sheet in a mold when a molten plastic or a molten rubber flows over said single-layer printable sheet during said molding process,

 

such that said fusion surface of said single-layer printable sheet is permanently fused into said surface of said article without an intervening adhesive between said label and said article; and

a verification system comprising verification equipment that verifies the security information provided by said security feature on said label.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one printed image comprises a bar code and said verification system comprises a bar code reader.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one printed comprises a production lot identification containing text, logos, graphics, barcodes, or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the microporous material is a precipitated silica filled microporous material.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said cured polymeric material is a UV cured polymeric material.