Security information and graphic image fusion
View Patent ↗A security information and graphic image fusion system to be used with verification equipment to provide a tamper proof labeled article having security information thereon. The label comprises a printable sheet having at least one invisible IR or UV image, or both, printed thereon, at least one visible image printed thereon, and an over-coating layer thereon. The invisible IR or UV image, or both, provide security information. The visible image provides the graphic image. The label is permanently fused by an in-mold molding process to an article made of plastic, rubber or the combination thereof to render it tamper proof.
1. A system for providing and verifying security information on in-mold labeled articles, said system comprising:
an article comprising a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, and combinations thereof;
a label permanently fused into a surface of said article during a molding process, said label comprising:
a single-layer printable sheet comprising a microporous material having a thickness of 10 mil (0.010 inches; 0.254 mm) or less, said single-layer printable sheet lacking an additional adhesive substance on a fusion surface of said single-layer printable sheet;
at least one printed image on a first surface of said single-layer printable sheet, said at least one printed image comprising a security feature that provides security information;
a layer of a cured polymeric material disposed over said first surface and said at least one printed image, the combination of said microporous material and said layer of cured polymeric material increasing the surface coefficient of friction and tensile strength of said single-layer printable sheet so as to resist movement and stretching of said single-layer printable sheet in a mold when a molten plastic or a molten rubber flows over said single-layer printable sheet during said molding process,
such that said fusion surface of said single-layer printable sheet is permanently fused into said surface of said article without an intervening adhesive between said label and said article; and
a verification system comprising verification equipment that verifies the security information provided by said security feature on said label.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one printed image comprises a bar code and said verification system comprises a bar code reader.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one printed comprises a production lot identification containing text, logos, graphics, barcodes, or combinations thereof.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microporous material is a precipitated silica filled microporous material.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said cured polymeric material is a UV cured polymeric material.