The present invention provides an anti-counterfeit marking technique for verifying authenticity of objects using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis.

A sheet handling apparatus includes a transport path that includes a first path, a second path, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path, the transport path circularly transports a sheet along the transport path in a forward direction or a backward direction. The sheet handling apparatus further includes a rolling body that is disposed at the curved portion and rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and a plurality of rollers that are opposed to the rolling body and sandwich the sheet between each of the plurality of rollers and the rolling body along the curved portion of the transport path. The rolling body transports the sheet in the forward direction by rotating clockwise and transports the sheet in the backward direction by rotating counterclockwise.

A sheet handling apparatus includes a transport path that includes a first path, a second path, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path, the transport path circularly transports a sheet along the transport path in a forward direction or a backward direction. The sheet handling apparatus further includes a rolling body that is disposed at the curved portion and rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and a plurality of rollers that are opposed to the rolling body and sandwich the sheet between each of the plurality of rollers and the rolling body along the curved portion of the transport path. The rolling body transports the sheet in the forward direction by rotating clockwise and transports the sheet in the backward direction by rotating counterclockwise.

A method for tracing materials to its source through the insertion of one or more physical tracers made of one or more radioisotopes at the source or sources, and the measurement of radioactivity at the source(s), as well as latter stages of the product production process are disclosed. The radioactivity data at the insertion time, as well as at every stage in which it is measured, is securely stored in one or more databases. The material to source matching process is accomplished by reading each radioisotope's radioactivity and comparing it to the emissivity it would have if coming from a determined source which is predictable.

A substrate can include at least two scintillator materials that are mixed at a predetermined ratio. In an embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a decay time difference of at least 50% when exposed to a same radiation source. In another embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a maximum emission wavelength difference of at least 25 nm when exposed to a same radiation source. At least one of the scintillator materials has a decay time of at most 10 s. A system can include the substrate and a logic element configured to determine an identity represented by the substrate. A method can include generating an electronic pulse in response to the substrate being exposed to a radiation source; and analyzing the electronic pulse to determine an identity represented by the substrate.

A substrate can include at least two scintillator materials that are mixed at a predetermined ratio. In an embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a decay time difference of at least 50% when exposed to a same radiation source. In another embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a maximum emission wavelength difference of at least 25 nm when exposed to a same radiation source. At least one of the scintillator materials has a decay time of at most 10 s. A system can include the substrate and a logic element configured to determine an identity represented by the substrate. A method can include generating an electronic pulse in response to the substrate being exposed to a radiation source; and analyzing the electronic pulse to determine an identity represented by the substrate.

The application concerns a method of authenticating an object, the object comprising an identification substance including at least one amorphous phase, at least one crystalline phase and at least one complex metallic phase. The method includes the steps of: subjecting the identification substance of a candidate object to XRD analysis to determine an XRD signature thereof; comparing the XRD signature of the candidate object to a reference XRD signature, and concluding to the authenticity of the object when its XRD signature substantially matches the reference XRD signature.

A method of authenticating an article, the method comprising: reading a label associated with the article, the label comprising article fingerprint information; retrieving, in dependence on the article fingerprint information, an article fingerprint, the fingerprint describing the resonance response of the article to an excitation signal; applying an excitation signal to the article; receiving the resonance response of the article to the excitation signal; comparing the resonance response to the fingerprint; and determining in dependence on the comparison whether the article is authentic.

A method of authenticating an article, the method comprising: reading a label associated with the article, the label comprising article fingerprint information; retrieving, in dependence on the article fingerprint information, an article fingerprint, the fingerprint describing the resonance response of the article to an excitation signal; applying an excitation signal to the article; receiving the resonance response of the article to the excitation signal; comparing the resonance response to the fingerprint; and determining in dependence on the comparison whether the article is authentic.

The application concerns a method of authenticating an object, the object comprising an identification substance including at least one amorphous phase, at least one crystalline phase and at least one complex metallic phase. The method includes the steps of: subjecting the identification substance of a candidate object to XRD analysis to determine an XRD signature thereof; comparing the XRD signature of the candidate object to a reference XRD signature, and concluding to the authenticity of the object when its XRD signature substantially matches the reference XRD signature.