LINE A UNIQUE COLOURED SIGN WITH REFLECTING DOTS,

HAVING AN ALPHANUMERIC CODE INSCRIBED AT THE CENTRE, FOR FILING AND READING THE ORIGINAL AND COMPARING IT WITH A FAKE

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical sector of the invention

The invention relates to a method for providing, via some accessories, directly on a graphic printing line and on each individual product or label, a unique unrepeatable sign with a number of colours and reflecting dots that has a two-dimensional alphanumeric code at the centre. In various preferred applications, the invention regards, in particular, the mode of distribution, obtained electrostatically, of microencapsulated chromatic colours, blind colours/inks or ones variable on the basis of the various ranges of wavelength and frequency of exposure, magnetic colours, and glitters and squeezing thereof on the paper using a laser barrier to give rise to the unique sign. The invention moreover regards a method for creating a particular new unique sign having at the centre a two- dimensional alphanumeric filing code that simplifies remote re-reading thereof and corresponding comparison of the original with a fake and distinction between the original and a photocopy.

Prior art

In the sector of graphic printing in general, there is known the idea of micro-encapsulation of printing colours for creating unique and differentiated patterns. This solution is described in the international patent application No. O2008059552 , filed in the name of the present applicant. In this innovative printing system, the micro-capsules of different colours are mixed with a paint or randomly sprayed over a base support, and then, squeezed by exerting pressure, thus generating unique printed signs, different from one another. The system described in the document No. WO2008059552 , which is recalled integrally herein, represents a considerable innovation in the graphic-printing sector, but the inventor has found that the industrial application of the system could be further improved, as described in the international patent application No. O2010001203 and in the document No. IT2012000296 filed in the name of the present applicant, wherein the micro-drops or glitters could be distributed by spraying or via a ribbon and squeezed for generating a unique sign. A limit of the known art is in fact the rigidity of the procedure as regards the density of distribution of the micro-drops of colour or encapsulated glitters and specifically, in the case where there is the need to create a unique sign with particular characteristics of selective chromatic density.

Purpose of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a method that differs from those described in the aforementioned patents, wherein the micro-drops of colour or inks are mixed with microencapsulated glitters and are not mixed with the basic vehicle or sprayed but are attracted electrostatically and squeezed not between a roller and counter-roller but with laser-beam barriers. With this new system, a new unique sign is obtained that is simpler to read and to file, is such as to enable an original to be distinguished from a photocopy, and is easier to re- read remotely using any mobile-phone apparatus or a purposely provided portable apparatus, and then to compare with the one previously filed. To sum up, the three innovations that are described in this new invention are: a new pattern of the unique sign obtained with new microencapsulation of colours with different hues, blind colours/inks or ones variable on the basis of the various ranges of wavelength and frequency of exposure, magnetic colours and glitters, distribution thereof obtained electrostatically, and squeezing and anchorage thereof on paper using a laser- beam barrier.

Summary of the invention

The above purposes have been achieved with a method and an apparatus according to at least one of the annexed claims. A first advantage lies in the fact that, according to the invention, using electrostatic charge, the distribution of the microcapsules of colours and glitters creating can be dosed and regulated thus creating a new unique sign that is more precise and has a clearer outline so that it can be filed and re-read remotely in a more secure way. A second advantage is represented by squeezing of the microcapsules using the laser-beam barrier, thus eliminating the passage of squeezing between rollers and counter-rollers with absorbent paper. Finally, a third advantage lies in the fact that, with this new system, a unique sign can be obtained, at printing speed, having a two-dimensional barcode inscribed at the centre that facilitates and guarantees proper rereading and positioning of the datum to be sent so that it can be compare it with that present in the database, using a purposely provided portable reader or a standard mobile-phone apparatus.

List of the drawings

The above and further advantages will be better understood by any person skilled in the branch from the ensuing description and from the annexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:

- Figure 1 represents schematically, on the printing line, the path of the paper and the succession of steps of a method, modified with respect to the previous ones, for creating a unique sign according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a synthetic representation, in greater detail, of the various stations, positioning of the accessories, and their specific functions for creating the unique sign; and

- Figure 3 shows as a whole the new pattern of the unique sign, with a two-dimensional alphanumeric code inscribed at the centre, surrounded by a pattern of chromatic colours, blind colours/inks or ones variable on the basis of the various ranges of wavelength and frequency of exposure, magnetic colours, and reflecting glitters, which can be obtained with the method described in what follows.

Detailed description Figure 1 is a synthetic illustration of the path of feed of the paper directly on the printing line 1, in which a printing unit 2 creates a square of 1 x 1 cm of transparent paint 3; then the paper is turned upside down 6 using rollers 4 and 5 so that the square facing downwards 7 will pass through a reservoir of encapsulated micro-drops 8 and a timed electrostatic- charge inverter generator 9; as the square proceeds, it passes under an aspirator 10, and then under a laser barrier 11, and finally under a UV lamp 12.

With reference to Figure 2, described in greater detail below are the functions of the steps shown in Figure 1. After printing the square with a very adhesive transparent paint 13, by turning the paper upside down, the square positions itself on the bottom side thereof and passes through a reservoir 14 filled with micro-drops of different colours and with encapsulated reflecting glitters. Above the reservoir and the paper, there is an electrostatic-charge converter generator 15, which, activated in a time- regulated way, attracts the micro-drops and the encapsulated reflecting glitters upwards 16, causing them to adhere and stick to the square of highly adhesive paint 17.

The square coated with the micro-drops of colour and the encapsulated reflecting glitters then passes under an aspirator 18, which, via a strong suction, sucks up the residual parts of micro-drops and encapsulated reflecting glitters that fall outside the square of paint 19. The square of paint covered by the micro-drops of colour and the encapsulated reflecting glitters now passes under a laser-beam barrier 20 that squeezes and bursts the micro-drops of colour and the encapsulated reflecting glitters, thus creating a unique sign with a pattern with a number of colours and reflecting dots 21. The final station is constituted by a UV lamp 22 that has the function of solidifying and drying the colour that has come out of the squeezed micro-drops 23. For a greater integrity of the sign, after these steps, a possible printing unit can protect the sign definitively, by printing thereon a protective transparent and slightly opaque paint to facilitate remote reading. Advantageously, this new solution using electrostatic application of the micro-drops and glitters and bursting thereof with the laser makes it possible to dose and distribute the micro-drops in a targeted way and create a new and improved geometry and shape of the unique sign, as illustrated in Figure 3, to enable an immediate comparison to check for originality, and a more secure remote reading using purposely provided mobile-phone or reader apparatuses. Highlighted in Figure 3 are the improvements, over the previous solutions, that this new printing method affords by providing a highly precise and clear unique sign. The unique sign is formed by an external square 24 that, via squeezing of the micro-drops of colour and reflecting glitters, forms a pattern with multiple colours 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 and with encapsulated reflecting glitters 29 - 30 that reverberate. Represented alongside is the same counterfeit sign, obtained by four-colour printing or by photocopying. The difference is evident and is due to the fact that, if magnified, in each colour 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 there may be clearly seen the halftoning of the print or the dots of the photocopy, whereas in the original the colour is formed by squeezing a pure pigment that remains solid and compact. Moreover, the blind colours in the photocopy change hue. Finally, in the original the reflecting glitters 20 - 30 reverberate, whereas in the print or in the photocopy it does not reflect light and is opaque 35 - 36. After being printed, the unique sign is read and detected by a high-definition camera, which, via a purposely provided software that counts each individual pixel, processes and encrypts an alphanumeric datum, which via a printer, is then impressed on a white square inscribed within the unique sign 37 and sent telematically to a centralized database. This datum serves for future comparison between the original and a fake with any apparatus for remote reading of the datum. The important novelty of this new unique sign is the possibility of a first visual check, which highlights the presence in the original of the sparkling effect of the reflecting glitters, which in the fake is absent, and the chromatic change of the blind colours in the fake. This sparkling effect may be detected also by an apparatus for remote data transmission provided with a flash, for example a mobile-phone apparatus. A second advantage is the simplicity of framing and focusing of the sign using any remote data-reading apparatus, such as cellphones, smartphones etc., since it is sufficient to frame the alphanumeric code, take a photograph, and send it to the central database for a comparison to determine whether it is an original and a fake.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments provided purely by way of example, but equivalent variants may be devised, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection granted.