Kit containing sealing liquid for safety closures

• US 9,383,322 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
• Inventors: Gerhardt, Thomas, Muhl, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/089,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 731/50.R, 156/325
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 5/00 Devices for closing envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 7/00 Devices for opening envelopes cutting tools in general B26
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 11/06 organic
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 11/08 Macromolecular additives
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/84 Systems specially adapted for particular applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/03 of security seals means for indicating unauthorised opening of container closures B65D, e.g. B65D27/30, B65D55/02; theft deterrent tags E05B73/0017

Abstract

A sealing liquid for sealing mail pieces contains water and a penetration agent. The sealing liquid is applied by letter-closing devices and franking machines containing such a sealing liquid. Once sealed, the opening of the letter produces a pronounced pattern so that it is clear that the letter has been opened. Therefore any attempts to reseal the once opened enveloped are easily detected.

Claims

1. A kit for detecting an unauthorized opening of a mail piece, the kit comprising:

at least one sealing liquid for sealing mail pieces and containing water and a safety additive not being visible by immediate observation;

at least one device for application of said sealing liquid to the mail piece, said at least one device including a surface having a pattern thereon, said pattern configured to apply a defined lateral inhomogeneous distribution of said sealing liquid to the mail piece; and

at least one further device for a visualization of said safety additive.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said safety additive is selected from the group consisting of luminescent substances, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, nucleic acids with 2 to 50 nucleotides, low-molecular inorganic and organic substances different from other components of said sealing liquid.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said sealing liquid contains:

a) 50 to 99.9 wt.-% of said water;

b) 0 to 10.0 wt.-% penetration agent;

c) 0 to 10.0 wt.-% wetting agent;

d) 0 to 10.0 wt.-% of at least one of a stabilizer or a buffer;

e) 0 to 5.0 wt.-% dyes;

f) 0 to 5.0 wt.-% aromatic substances;

g) 0 to 10.0 wt.-% of at least one of biocides, fungicides or other usual auxiliary substances;

h) 0.0001 to 10.0 wt.-% of said safety additive; and

wherein said components a) to h) always add up to 100 wt.-%.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said device for application of said sealing liquid to the mail piece is selected from the group consisting of a roller, a stamp, and a sponge.

5. The kit according to claim 4, wherein said device for application of said sealing liquid to the mail piece applies said sealing liquid manually.

6. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said further device for the visualization of said safety additive is selected from the group consisting of a UV-lamp and a CCD camera.

7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said sealing liquid contains:

a) 70 to 99.0 wt.-% of said water;

b) 1.0 to 30.0 wt.-% penetration agent;

c) 0 to 3.0 wt.-% wetting agent;

d) 0 to 3.0 wt.-% of at least one of a stabilizer or a buffer;

e) 0 to 2.0 wt.-% dyes;

f) 0 to 1.0 wt.-% aromatic substances;

g) 0 to 1.0 wt.-% of at least one of biocides, fungicides, other usual auxiliary substances;

h) 0.0001 to 2.0 wt.-% of said safety additive; and

wherein said components a) to h) always add up to 100 wt.-%.

8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said sealing liquid contains:

a) 80 to 99.0 wt.-% of said water;

b) 1.0 to 20 wt.-% penetration agent;

c) 0.01 to 1.0 wt.-% wetting agent;

d) 0.01 to 2.0 wt.-% of at least one of a stabilizer or a buffer;

e) 0.01 to 1.0 wt.-% dyes;

f) 0.01 to 0.1 wt.-% aromatic substances;

g) 0 to 0.1 wt.-% of at least one of biocides, fungicides or other usual auxiliary substances;

h) 0.0001 to 0.1, wt.-% of said safety additive; and

wherein said components a) to h) always add up to 100 wt.-%.

9. The kit of claim 1, wherein said pattern is a geometrical pattern.

10. A kit for detecting an unauthorized opening of a mail piece, the kit comprising:

at least one sealing liquid for sealing mail pieces and containing water and a safety additive not being visible by immediate observation;

at least one device configured to apply said sealing liquid to the mail piece with a defined lateral inhomogeneous distribution and to automatically close said mail piece over said applied sealing liquid; and

at least one further device for a visualization of said safety additive.