SMART LABEL SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a smart label and a system that allows the handling of the label. The smart label system is formed by a) a smart label having a hidden message that becomes visible in the event of an attempt to remove the label from an item to which it is affixed; b) a chip with an antenna embedded with the label; c) an electronic mobile device for communicating with the chip; and d) an algorithm on the chip and on the electronic mobile device for unique encoded reading (padlock) encryption.

Claims

1. A smart tag system comprising: a label including: a transparent or translucent film having a printed indicia provided on an outer surface said transparent or translucent film and an ink layer deposited on an inner surface of said transparent or translucent film; a message layer formed by a clear varnish film deposited on said ink layer; an adhesive layer having an outer surface configured to be adhered to an article and an inner surface adhered to said transparent or translucent film, wherein said ink layer is contained between said transparent or translucent film and said adhesive layer so that the varnish film with the message is completely adhered to the inner surface of said adhesive layer; a chip positioned on said adhesive layer; and a mobile device including a software application that allows data transfer between said mobile device, said chip and a remote cloud server.

2. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said software application decodes data received from said chip and encodes data send to the chip.

3. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The smart tag system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna connected to said chip.

5. The smart tag system of claim 4, wherein said antenna is positioned on said adhesive layer.

6. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said software application downloads information related to said chip from said remote cloud server.

7. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said transparent or translucent film is a high-density polyethylene film.

8. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer is a polymer-based hot-melt adhesive resistant to chemical transgressors.

9. The smart tag system of claim 1, further comprising a carrier layer having said label adhered thereto, wherein said label is removed from said carrier and adhered to the article.

10. The smart tag system of claim 9, wherein said carrier layer is a siliconized, calendared glazed paper.

11. The smart tag system of claim 1, wherein said message layer with the ink remains adhered to said adhesive layer and becomes visible when said transparent or translucent film is removed from the label.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates the label that when partially detached, shows that this manipulation was carried out.

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the different elements of the system permitting the handling of the tag of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates another label according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the label affixed to a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention relates to a smart label system which achieves the objectives that the prior art has not achieved. Having shown the advantages of the present invention and the problems it solves, will be understandable its conceptualization, but to date it has not even been glimpsed in the prior art, with results, never imagined by the inventors.

[0032] The elements that make up the system are four: a smart tag with ability to show tampering, a communication algorithm between the tag and a smart device, such as a Smartphone, a Tablet or other device that allows the communication protocol and the ability to display the information received. It is required in addition to this communication protocol and a device, a cloud which containing a database with the information related to the information read on the label.

[0033] For information security in the cloud and in the mobile smart device, this information is encrypted, and only have sense with the algorithm located in the smart mobile saying.

[0034] The structure of the smart label capable of displaying an improper handling comprises a transparent or translucent film with a print on one of its sides. On this print there is a varnish layer and, on this varnish, another different print with a special ink is provided, which will become visible when trying to take off the label of the article in which it is attached. Finally, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on this impression. This adhesive is a high adhesion polymer based adhesive, sensitive to removable pressure.

[0035] The transparent or translucent layer with a printed on one of its faces is a high-density polyethylene layer.

[0036] The chemical composition of the layers, ink and varnish allow to take off the transparent or translucent layer and leave in the article the layer of the adhesive, with a visible legend that says the label has been improperly manipulate.

[0037] Some modalities have to do with the colors of the legend that will appear in the article, or in the disposition of this legend. It is also possible to have a UV radiation filter in the printed layer, or the adhesive itself will comprise an absorbent of this radiation.

[0038] In the beginning, this label will be attached to a carrier layer, which will easily allow it to be peeled off to adhere to the article to be labeled. This carrier layer is a glazed paper, siliconized and supercalendered.

[0039] Between this support layer and the adhesive layer, a chip is located that will have the character string that makes it unique and hence the article in which the label will be fixed. There is also, as a preferred modality, an antenna connected to the chip, which has no dependence on WIFI.

[0040] In addition to the proprietary data, the chip will have an algorithm for single coded reading encryption (padlock) and decoder communication APP.

[0041] The Hot Melt adhesive is of high anchorage, ultra-sensitive with polymer base, resistant to chemical transgressors.

[0042] An example of a label with the possibility of indicating whether it has been fraudulently manipulated or not, is the one that exists in the market with the Label Look brand in its dual Layer version.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates the label which, when is partially detached, shows that this manipulation was carried out. In this figure the numeral 1 indicates the layer transparent or translucent with a printed on its upper face. The numeral 2 indicates the legend that becomes visible when partially or totally detaching the transparent or translucent film. The adhesive with stronger adhesion to its surface of the article than to the surface with which it is in contact with the transparent or translucent layer is indicated by the numeral 3, numeral 4 points to the chip, it is located between the translucent layer 1 and the adhesive 3, but may be in any required zone.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates the different elements of the system permitting the handling of the label of the present invention. The number 4 shows the chip, number 5 points out to the tag with the characteristic of making truculent manipulation thereof apparent, number 6 indicates the mobile device with the application for reading the contents of the chip of the tag and the algorithm for decrypting the information on the label and the one that is related to this information in the cloud 7.

[0045] Depending on its use, the label can be reused by rewriting the chip or relating the information contained therein, with other information contained in the cloud.

[0046] FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrate a smart label according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0047] A substrate 10 is provided as a transparent or translucent layer with printed indicia provided on its outer surface 10a, which will usually show information relevant to the user or to the product where the label is affixed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the substrate 10 is made from a high-density polyethylene material and/or can also be of a solid or mixed color. However, other materials can be used as long as its properties allows fixation of a printed indicia and ease of removal from the label structure as will be explained below.

[0048] A layer of ink 11 is deposited or printed over the substrate 10 so that a lower surface 11a covers an inner surface 10b. This layer of ink 11 can cover the entire inner surface 10b or could only cover a portion of the inner surface 10b leaving another portion uncovered such as but not limited to a border (having a defined width) around the periphery of the inner surface 10b. The ink 11 can be natural or artificially made and according to a preferred embodiment, can be applied by flexographic printing.

[0049] A visual indicia or message 12 is deposited/printer/transferred over the upper surface 11b of the ink 11. The message 12 can be printed or deposited with the transparent varnish by flexographic techniques or by screen printing techniques. The message includes numeric and/or alphanumeric characters, special characters, images or any other visual indicia.

[0050] According to the invention, the message 12 is made from a clear paint or varnish that when applied over the layer of ink 11 will have at least a portion of the painted message covered with the ink 11. As can be appreciated, the deposited/printed message 12 can be completely immersed inside the ink layer 11 or only a portion of the message 12 is immersed inside the ink layer 11 so long as a message can be read by virtue of the ink when the label is removed.

[0051] In addition, it is envisioned that when the message 12 is applied, the ink 11 can get mixed or diffused with a portion (or completely) of the paint or varnish 12 so that the message 12 appears to have the same color as the ink 11. This diffusion is completed when the label is fixed on the article or product 15. In any case, the drying times and drying temperatures are controlled in order to allow the ink 11 to settle over the substrate 10 and the message 12 to be formed and/or diffused with the ink 11 avoiding premature undesired drying of the different components.

[0052] An adhesive layer 13 is positioned over the substrate 10 to cover the surface of the ink layer 11 that contains the deposited/printed message 12. The pressure-sensitive adhesive material used for the adhesive layer 13 is selected to have a bond strength sufficient to allow the outer surface 13b to remain completely adhered to the product or article 15 while the message 12 also remains adhered to the inner surface 13a when the substrate 10 is removed. The adhesive is a high adhesion polymer based adhesive, sensitive to removable pressure and a hot melt adhesive is of high anchorage, ultra-sensitive with polymer base, resistant to chemical transgressors.

[0053] A chip 14 is preferably positioned and adhered to the outer surface 13b so that it lies between the label and the article or product 15. Other locations within the label are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The chip 14 serves the same purpose and is operated the same way as chip 4 previously described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0054] This label will be attached to a carrier layer which will easily allow the label to be peeled off to adhere to the article to be labeled. This carrier layer is preferably a glazed paper, siliconized and supercalendered.

[0055] As the color diffused in the clear varnish is the same as the ink 11 on the label, the message 12 is not visible from the outside until someone tries to fraudulently remove the label. When the label is removed, the message 12 with the diffused ink is uncovered and visible.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion (or completely) of the surfaces 10a, 10b, 13a, and 13b can be treated by mechanical processes (e.g. grinding, jet-cleaning), chemical processes (e.g. etching; gas-phase fluorination) and/or physical processes (e.g. low-pressure plasma, corona) in order to modify the structure and/or chemical composition of the surfaces. This is performed for example to increase or decrease the adhesion characteristics of the surfaces and/or the ability of the surfaces to highly retain or repel the ink 11 and the varnish message 12.

[0057] The invention has been sufficiently described so that a person of ordinary skill in the art can reproduce and obtain the results mentioned in the present invention.

[0058] However, any skilled person in the field of the art of the present invention may be able to make modifications not described in the present application. However, if for the application of these modifications in a particular product or in the process of manufacture of the same, the matter claimed in the following claims is required, such structures should be understood within the scope of the invention.