Apparatus and methods for protecting smart components associated with articles and packaging of articles, including articles and packages labeled with shrink sleeve labels, pressure sensitive labels, and other labels.

The invention relates to a peel detection label that is a laminate including a support, a pattern layer formed in a part of the surface of the support, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive laminate having at least a low modulus layer (X), a high modulus layer (Y) and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (Z) in that order, in which the low modulus layer (X) has an n-layered structure (where n is an integer of 1 to 10) having a surface in contact with the support and the pattern layer and a surface in contact with the high modulus layer (Y), and the low modulus layer (X) satisfies a specific thickness-average shear storage elastic modulus.

A security seal identification that may be matched with an identification of a utility measuring meter. This matching may be done, for instance, by a code which is imprinted on the seal and then matched to a meter number in a database, or by a code such as an encryption of the number assigned to the meter. An encryption may be read by an app on a smartphone or checked offline to determine whether the seal belongs to the meter or if it was altered or changed. A mismatch of numbers or symbols may generally indicate a change or manipulation and warrant an investigation.

Provided herein are methods, systems and computer program products for detecting tampering, comprising a sealing process and a seal verification process. The sealing process comprising analyzing a seal applied to seal an object as a tamper evident element, recording one or more manufacturing defects of the seal identified based on the analysis, each of the one or more manufacturing defects comprising one or more non-reproducible deviations from seal generation instructions used to produce the seal, and generating a signature comprising the one or more manufacturing defects. The seal verification process comprising obtaining the signature, analyzing the seal sealing the object, and determining whether the object is tampered based on a comparison between the analyzed seal and the signature.

A sealing device for sealing at least one storage and/or packaging device for durable goods, particularly machine tools, and/or for sealing at least one piece of information includes at least one information carrier unit for receiving the at least one piece of information and/or a security key, particularly durable-goods-specific information and/or a durable-goods-specific security key. The sealing device also includes at least one fastening unit, particularly an adhesive unit for fastening at least the information carrier unit to the storage and/or packaging device or to the durable goods, particularly machine tools. The sealing device further includes at least one sealing unit for an at least substantially irreversible visualisation, for the first time, of the information carrier unit and/or a first-time opening of the storage and/or packaging unit. The sealing unit covers at least the information carrier unit in the at least one sealing state such that it cannot be seen.

A visual-information security system that includes an information security label positioned to conceal visual information on a substrate. The information security label may include a spiral-shaped cut (or other complex shape) within the body of the label and a pull-tab, such that when a user pulls on the tab, the label peels off of the substrate in a spiral pattern, revealing the information concealed beneath the label. The complex-shaped cut makes reapplication of the label difficult and evident, thus providing security to consumers. The label may include multiple layers of material, for example, a peel-off layer and an adhesive layer.

A tamper evident identification tag and a method are provided. The tag includes inner and outer layers. A tab is integral with and extends from at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer and though an article. A unique code associated with an article is printed on a first portion of the inner layer. The outer layer is configured to be foldable such that with a second portion of the inner layer removed from a second portion of the outer layer, the inner surface of the second portion of the outer layer is configured to be bound to the outer surface of the first portion of the inner layer so as to capture the first portion of the inner layer and a portion of the tab with the terminal end extending through an aperture between the first and second portions of the outer layer.

A method, comprising: providing a combination of a package and a label attached to the package, wherein the label comprises a fluorescent substance, illuminating the label with excitation light so as to cause the label to emit fluorescence light, capturing an image of the label by using an imaging unit, and detecting the position of the label by analyzing the captured image and/or detecting a degree of adhesion of the label by analyzing the captured image.

A combination shipping label and greeting card in which the entire printable surface of the greeting card is exposed and customizably printable by the shipper to include both shipping information as well as a customizable logo or photo and a personalized greeting selected by the sender if desired, all of which can be printed by the shipper utilizing a conventional laser printer for example. The back of the greeting card portion may be pre-printed with the shipper's or sender's general information or any other information the shipper/sender feels is desirable such as advertising or the like.

A method of associating a tamper evident tag with an article is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the tamper evident tag with first and second layers laminated to each other and inserting a fastener through the article at a user selected location thereof. A terminal end of the fastener is positioned on a second layer of the tamper evident tag and a first portion of the second layer is removed to expose an adhesive on a first portion of the first layer. The first portion of the first layer of the tamper evident tag is folded over a second portion of the first layer so as to capture a second portion of the inner layer between the first and second portions of the first layer and to capture the terminal end of the fastener between the first portion of the first layer and the second portion of the second layer of the tamper evident tag thereby retaining the article on the fastener.