Abstract
A hand stamp has a stamp plate which has a static clich and has an adjustable type assembly which has different printing characters, the static clich of the stamp plate having a two-dimensional stamp code, and the type assembly having a bridge with a supporting face, which supporting face is provided to support a printing character, set for a stamp impression, of an adjustable type strip of the type assembly, and the extent of the width of which in the adjustment direction of the type strip is greater than the extent of the printing character in the same direction.
Claims
1. A hand stamp (1) comprising a stamp plate (2) having a static clich (3) and comprising an adjustable type assembly (4) having different printing characters (5), wherein the static clich (3) of the stamp plate (2) has a two-dimensional stamp code (7), wherein the type assembly (4) has a bridge (11) with a supporting face (12), which supporting face (12) is provided to support a printing character, set for a stamp impression (13), of an adjustable type strip (9) of the type assembly (4), and the width extension (B) of which in the direction (R) of adjustment of the type strip (9) is greater than the extension (E) of the printing character in the same direction (R).
2. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional stamp code (7) represents a unique user identification.
3. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the static clich (3) additionally has a two-dimensional application code (8) which differs from the two-dimensional stamp code (7).
4. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional stamp code (7) and/or the two-dimensional application code (8) is a two-dimensional machine-readable character code, in particular a matrix code, preferably a OR code.
5. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 3, wherein the two-dimensional application code (8) represents an Internet address.
6. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the width extension (B) of the supporting face (12) is at least 1.5 times as large, preferably at least twice as large as the extension (E) of the printing character in the same direction (R).
7. The hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the type assembly (4) has at least two, preferably at least four independently adjustable type carriers (9), in particular with numbers and/or letters as printing characters (5).
8. A method for producing a marking serving to authenticate an object on the object, using the hand stamp (1) according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: setting at least one printing character (5) of the type assembly (4) for a stamp impression (13); producing a stamp impression (13) of the static clich (3) and the at least one set printing character (5) on the object; creating a digital representation of the object having the stamp impression (13); and registering a combination of the static clich (3) with the at least one set printing character (5) and linking the registered combination with the created digital representation.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein when registering, a user identification assigned to the static clich (3) is linked to a digital representation of the set printing character (5).
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein before registering, an authorization linked to the static clich (3) is checked for registering new connections with set printing characters (5).
11. The method according to claim 8, comprising generating and displaying a specification of the at least one printing character (5) of the type assembly (4) to be set, wherein the setting of the at least one printing character (5) takes place according to the displayed specification, and wherein during registering a combination of the static clich (3) with the generated specification of the printing character (5) is registered.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein during setting both the printing character (5) of the type assembly (4) and also the position of the set printing character (5) in the impression relative to the static clich (3) are set, wherein at least the position of the set printing character (5) is randomly specified.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein during registering the position of the set printing character (5) in the impression relative to the static clich (3) is registered.
Description
[0044] The invention will be further explained hereinafter with reference to preferred non-restrictive exemplary embodiments with references to the drawings. In the figures:
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a hand stamp according to the invention;
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a stamp unit of the hand stamp from FIG. 1 with a one-part stamp plate having a static clich and with an adjustable type assembly having different printing characters;
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a variant of the stamp unit from FIG. 2 with a two-part stamp plate having a static clich and with an adjustable type assembly having different printing characters, wherein a part of the stamp plate comprises a two-dimensional stamp code and the other part of the stamp plate comprises a two-dimensional application code;
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a stamp impression produced with the stamp unit from FIG. 3;
[0049] FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b show alternative embodiments of stamp impressions which can be produced with a hand stamp according to the invention;
[0050] FIG. 6a shows a stamp unit for a hand stamp with an adjustable type assembly which has a bridge with a supporting face and several type strips, wherein the width extension of the supporting face in the direction of an adjustment of the type strips is greater than the extension of the individual printing characters of the type strips in the same direction;
[0051] FIG. 6b shows a stamp impression which is produced with printing characters offset with respect to one another and with a static clich;
[0052] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram with process steps carried out by a user of the hand stamp to produce a marking on the object used to authenticate an object; and
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram with process steps carried out by an inspector to authenticate a marked object.
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a hand stamp 1 which comprises a stamp plate 2, not visible in FIG. 1, with a static clich 3 and an adjustable type assembly 4 with different printing characters 5, cf. in particular FIG. 2. The hand stamp 1 is a self-inking stamp with inking in an upside-down position. The hand stamp 1 can, as is known per se, be configured in various embodiments and preferably has an actuating part 6, for example, a handle 6a, for actuating the hand stamp 1. By moving the actuating part 6 from the depicted exemplary rest position downwards into an impression position towards a substrate to be stamped, in particular towards an object to be stamped, the stamp plate 2 and the type assembly 4 can be pressed towards the substrate or towards the object.
[0055] FIG. 2 shows a stamp unit 14 of the hand stamp 1 from FIG. 1 with the stamp plate 2 and the type assembly 4 relative to a rest position of the hand stamp 1 in a view from below onto an imprint surface, wherein the stamp plate 2 has a static clich 3 with a two-dimensional stamp code 7. The two-dimensional stamp code 7 preferably represents an encrypted and unique user identification. The static clich 3 can additionally comprise a two-dimensional application code 8 which differs from the two-dimensional stamp code 7. The two-dimensional application code 8 preferably represents an internet address. The two-dimensional application code 8 can be arranged according to FIG. 2 on the same stamp plate 2 as the two-dimensional stamp code 7 and can be configured to be substantially one-part or jointly with the stamp code 7 so that the stamp code 7 and the application code 8 appear as a single two-dimensional code when observed visually (geometrically).
[0056] The two-dimensional stamp code 7 and/or the two-dimensional application code 8 can, as can be clearly deduced from FIG. 2, be a two-dimensional machine-readable character code, in particular a matrix code, preferably a QR code. The two-dimensional stamp codes mentioned within the framework of this description are also known as 2D codes. The static clich 3 of the stamp plate 2 can comprise a stacked code, a matrix code, a point code or another known two-dimensional stamp code, but a matrix code, in particular a QR code is preferred.
[0057] The type assembly 4 with different printing characters 5 can be additionally identified in FIG. 2. The printing characters 5 are arranged on six adjustable type strips 9 in particular running around an axis of rotation D of the type assembly 4, wherein adjusting wheels 10 coupled in a torque-proof manner therewith are provided for the adjustment of the type strips 9. The type assembly 4 has a bridge 11 with a supporting face 12, so that by turning the adjusting wheels 10 the printing characters 5 of the individual type strips 9 exposed with respect to the supporting face 12 can be selected.
[0058] FIG. 3 shows a two-part stamp plate 2 with a static clich 3 and a type assembly 4 in a view from below as a stamp unit of an alternatively configured inventive hand stamp 1. Here a first part 2a of the stamp plate 2 comprises the two-dimensional stamp code 7 and a second part 2b of the stamp plate 2 comprises the two-dimensional application code 8.
[0059] FIG. 4 shows a stamp impression 13 produced with a hand stamp 1 according to the invention. As described previously, this is applied by a user of the hand stamp 1 to an object not depicted in FIG. 4 after setting the type assembly 4. The user then deposits a digital representation of the object with the stamp impression 13 in a data memory or in a database whereupon after detecting the stamp impression 13 of an object to be checked for authenticity, an inspector obtains an insight into the digital representation of the object identified with the stamp impression 13. The stamp impression 13 comprises an impression 7a of the stamp code 7, an impression 8a of the application code 8 and an impression 5a of the set printing characters 5 of the adjustable type assembly 4. In the depicted example the printing character of the numbers 1 to 6 are set on the adjustable type assembly. Assuming that the six type carriers for the six digits of the type assembly each comprise ten different printing characters (0 to 9), 1,000,000 different settings of the type assembly (000000 to 999999) are possible so that a corresponding number of objects can be clearly marked and clearly authenticated. Furthermore, the stamp impression comprises references to the use of the stamp impression for authentication and validation of the object carrying the stamp impression.
[0060] FIG. 5a shows a stamp impression 13a produced with a hand stamp 1 according to the invention with a single QR code which contains the impression 8a of the application code 8 and optionally the impression 7a of the stamp code 7. This embodiment has the advantage that an inspector cannot be confused by the presence of two different QR codes, namely the impression 7a and the impression 8a in one stamp impression 13. In this example, the impression 5a of the printing characters 5 is surrounded by the impression of the static clich 3. If the stamp impression 13a comprises no impression of a stamp code 7, a unique user identification is also lacking. In this case, the setting of the type assembly 4 must be unambiguous for all users of such a hand stamp (e.g. identifiable from a specific static clich, e.g. with an application code) if a unique marking is desired or necessary. This can be achieved, for example, if the setting of the adjustable type assembly is predefined from a central location (e.g. a central web service). This central location then ensures that as far as possible, each setting is only used by one user and only for one object.
[0061] Compared to FIG. 5a, FIG. 5b shows a stamp impression 13b which can be produced with an inventive hand stamp 1 comprising two separate QR codes of which one is the impression 7b of the stamp code 7 and the other is the impression 8b of the application code 8. When using a stamp code 7, the static part of the imprint surface, i.e. the static clich is in particular configured and produced individually for each stamp. As a result, a larger multiplicity of stamp impressions can be produced overall since each setting of the type assembly can be used with each stamp code. The uniqueness of the stamp impression 13b is already ensured if the setting of the type assembly for the respective stamp code is used only once. According to one embodiment, the stamp code can uniquely identify a stamp; alternatively however, several stamps (e.g. of one user) can have the same stamp code wherein within this, relatively small, group of stamps the uniqueness of the setting of the type assembly is ensured. The advantage of this alternative is that by means of the marked objects, it cannot be identified which of several stamps of the same user was used for marking which otherwise could allow conclusions to be drawn as to the internal processes of this user.
[0062] FIG. 6a shows a stamp unit of a hand stamp 1 with an adjustable type assembly 4 having six type strips 9, each having different printing characters 5. The type assembly 4 according to FIG. 6a (and also that according to FIG. 2 or FIG. 3) has a bridge 11 with a supporting face 12. The supporting face 12 is provided to support a printing character 5 of an adjustable type strip 9 of the type assembly 4 set for a stamp impression 13. That is, the type strips 9 run transversely over the bridge 11 and are mounted slidingly on the supporting face 12 so that strip sections of the type strips 9 resting on the supporting face 12 are held in one plane. The width extension B of the supporting surface 12 in the direction R of the adjustment of the type strip 9 is greater than the extension E of the character or the printing character 5 in the same direction R. Thus, when setting the printing characters 5 of the type assembly 4, both the respective printing character 5 and also the position of the set printing character 5 relative to the static clich 3 provided for the stamp impression 13, i.e. along the width extension B of the supporting face 12 can be set. Preferably the position of the set printing character 5 on the supporting face 12 is specified randomly. In the example of FIG. 6a, the type assembly 4 has six type strips 9 with numbers as characters or printing characters 5. According to FIG. 6a, the numbers can be arranged over the supporting face 12 offset with respect to one another in direction R. A stamp impression 13 with printing characters 5a or numbers printed offset with respect to one another in such a manner and with a static clich 3, such as can be achieved with the stamp unit according to FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 6b.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows schematically a flow diagram with process steps to be carried out by a user of the hand stamp 1 to produce a marking on the object which serves to authenticate an object. In step S1 a preferably multi-digit code, for example, a numerical code is set with the type assembly 4. The code can be checked for first-time allocation by means of a software program or the code is generated by a software program itself and displayed. In step S2 the object is stamped with the static clich 3 and the printing characters 5 by the user of the hand stamp 1 in order to produce a stamp impression 13. In step S3 the stamp impression 13 alone can be recorded digitally, for example, scanned in or photographed and preferably checked for one-off allocation. In step S4 the entire object or at least that part of the object which is essential for verifying the authenticity of the object is recorded digitally, for example, scanned in or photographed to create a digital representation of the object. In this case, the object can also be recorded in a slightly distorted manner. Additional digital data can also be recorded and assigned to the digital representation of the object. In step S5 the digital representation of the object is optionally stored, i.e. uploaded, with the additionally recorded digital data on a storage medium accessible to an inspector, in particular in a database. In this case, firstly the authorization for the registration of a combination of the static clich 3 used or a user identification assigned to the static clich 3 is checked with a setting of the printing characters 5, e.g. using existing access data and authorizations of the user. If the necessary authorization exists, the combination of the static clich 3 used or a user identification assigned to the static clich with the at least one set printing character 5 used is registered and the registered combination is linked to the created and uploaded digital representation. The linking is used for the retrievability of the digital representation by means of the combination of static clich or user identification and setting of the printing characters. The payment of a fee can also be associated with the uploading.
[0064] FIG. 8 shows schematically a flow diagram with process steps to be carried out by an inspector to authenticate an object. In step S10 the stamp impression 13, for example, a QR code is recorded digitally on the object to be authenticated, for example, scanned in or photographed. The application code 8 of the recorded stamp impression 13 preferably leads the inspector to an internet address at which a software program for checking the object for authenticity, i.e. a checking software, is provided. If this checking software is not already available on the reader used and is installed, in step S11 it can be loaded into the reader, for example, a smartphone of the inspector. In step S12 the recorded stamp impression 13 is processed by the checking software. Should it be found here that the stamp impression 13 could not be detected sufficiently accurately, the two-dimensional stamp code 7 alone can be recorded and the information depicted by the printing characters 5 can be input manually into the reader. In step S13 the inspector is informed by means of the checking software whether the combination of the stamp code 7 and the information depicted by the printing characters 5 is valid, i.e. an object had previously been registered by a user under this combination. Optionally access to the digital representation of the object in the database is only possible after payment of a fee. In this case, the inspector pays the required fee in step S14. In step S15 the digital representation of the object in the database is loaded onto a display device, for example the reader, in particular the smartphone of the inspector whereupon the inspector can make a comparison with the real object.
